(41) Out of Character
Platick Fortuna's POV
After all of the adrenaline of tearing apart the Nothic left my system, I couldn’t move. I was leaving behind a trail of blood everywhere I went and the whole way there, Stostine was acting as my crutch until we made it inside the Stonehill Inn. In a cruel turn of irony, she was now the healthiest and strongest of all of us that remained.
She didn’t have the strength to set me down gently, however. Once we made it to my and Ricven’s former room, Stostine let me fall onto the bed and fell to the floor, heaving and coughing as bad as I was. She wasn’t heaving blood but her eyes were flaring in every shade for the time.
She left me in the room once she recovered. She needed to help Rava and Vareén next. Rava’s armor was now too heavy for her to do much other than crawl and Vareén...I’m not sure. I thought I saw her impaled on the creature, but she was moving a little too well for that. Maybe. It was hard to tell in the darkness and lack of focus.
For a while, I drifted in and out of consciousness. I couldn’t tell how long it had been. But when I woke up long enough to try untying my boots, my body seized and I let out this agonizing howl. I don’t think I had ever heard myself scream so loud.
Stostine, followed eventually by Rava, rushed in to check on me. But the moment they had, Stostine retreated into the taproom and I heard retching. The entire time I was lying in here, I was bleeding liters. The healing potion I forced into my stomach continuously replaced that blood. The result was an endless fountain.
I couldn’t speak without screaming. I just looked at Rava pleadingly. A cold chill ran down her spine, but she got the message.
I managed to keep my eyes closed until, all at once, the pain ended. Suddenly, my body relaxed, and the pained groaning I made no longer had a reason to exist. It was over. I owed Rava a great deal.
I gave myself a couple of seconds before slowly opening my eyes. I was outdoors, lying on the nonexistent floor courtesy of the cube of air in the sky. I saw the moon partially hidden by clouds just as it was when Stostine and I were here last. It gave me just enough light to make out silhouettes of everyone who ended up here before me.
Except, I didn’t need it. For whatever reason, about ten feet to my left, a campfire was set up on the ‘ground’ and illuminated the entire space. Below us as well. It cast a few of the others’ shadows against the clouds around us.
As I looked around the fire, five people looked up to greet me. Ricven, Glemerr, and Thorn I already expected and from their reactions, they did not seem surprised to find me showing up either. The other two were also expected to find here. They had been dying over and over like our group and met us here each time. They usually died before us too.
The first was a goliath woman named Gekio. She had multiple furs adorning her; most from animals larger than myself. However, she had removed most of them this time around. They were now being used as mats for the others to lie on. The sides of her head were clean shaved while the center had black hair grown out and swept backward into a tight braid. Sparks of electricity coursed across their gray skin and her muscle mass rivaled Glemerr’s. She was probably taller than Glemerr, but it was hard to tell when they were both cross-legged near the fire.
The second was a tiefling, but there was no way they were related to the Redbrand Stalwart. This tiefling was blue-skinned, had small horns that would better fit a young goat, and had a thin, meek body type. He was dressed in merchant’s attire with a small backpack beside him, a large-ish satchel in his lap, and a roll of cloth with tools and parts in front of him. Even the way he looked up at me and then returned to his work made him appear mousy.
I didn’t know his name. The first time we all died, he and Gekio were already here and he was in a fetal position in the corner. The next two times he was one of the last to die. He appeared, the cube shattered, and we reset back to where we were when our Player’s game ended to fight the Nothic again.
“About time ya finally kicked it,” Ricven said with a short smile. “After the maulin’ it gave ya, I was almost sure you'd beat me here.”
I sat up, taking a deep breath now that my body allowed it. Then I wiped my face. The cold sweat followed me up. Interesting. “Eeyup. I’m fine, by the way. Nevermind however long I was bleeding out.”
I started to stand, silently relishing the freedom of mobility. Glemerr stood up to meet with me and Thorn greeted me with a nod.
Over the last several times, Gekio introduced herself to the rest of us. Stostine, Glemerr, and Ravathyra worked to introduce the rest of us from their previous visits up here. It wasn’t the best introduction though. She was one of the first to die each time and she was usually too angry to explain what was happening on her side before we were all sent back. Well, angry and distracted from the—
Wait a second.
I looked all around the space. It’s not here. “Hey, guys? Where’s the horse?”
I watched the tiefling flinch, finally reacting to my presence. After a short breath to calm himself, he glanced back at me. “H-He, erm. Spark is still alive. I hope. I unhitched him before the troll could reach us once more and set him free.”
“Troll?” I blinked. “Is that what’s been killing you?”
He nodded. “Yes. And each time I returned, there was less time to act. This recent attempt, he was closer than previously.” The tiefling spoke with a foreign accent. It sounded...Bosheren. From the deserts south of Leodaav. “I think it was waiting for me. It might have realized I keep appearing in the same place.”
When Glemerr reached me, she offered me a little berry. I recognized it as one of Thorn’s Goodberries. “Thanks fer pickin’ up me slack, Platick. Thorn told us what ya did ‘fore she dropped too.”
“She did?” I gave Thorn a suspicious look. “And exactly how much did she manage to convey?”
“Not much, admittedly.” Ricven shook his head. “Said you appeared ‘like a predator’ from the shadows and ripped out its eye. All while you leaked ‘healin’ liquid’ from yer gut.”
Gekio gave me a toothy grin. “Gotta say, beanpole, I can hardly believe that story. Didn’t think ya had it in ya.”
“Glad to entertain, “ I deadpanned. I refocused on the tiefling, who was about to pick his work back up. “You seem more talkative than the first time you were up here.”
He paused, staring at his work for a moment before sighing. He began to put it back. “Yes, well. You’re friends and I have had a few hours to talk things over. Originally, Gekio. She, erm...Frightened me. No offense.” He nodded at her.
She waved it off. “None taken. That’s what I go for. You just caught me at a bad time. I still can’t believe that ball a’ goo is what keeps doing me in.”
“Ooze,” the tiefling corrected. “And if you’re correct on the color and reactions, it is more directly known as a Black Pudding. Very problematic for one with an affinity for lightning. My condolences.”
Gekio mumbled and groaned in frustration before laying on her back. Glemerr smiled at me. “Platick? Allow me ta introduce ya! Dis here’s Nicor! Or Journey! Either a’ dem names work apparently. And Journey? Dis is Platick! He’s one a’ the grumpy ones.”
Glemerr took one large step forward and loudly whispered. “Although, actually, he’s not really. He’s pretty nice.”
“Cupping your mouth doesn’t make you any quieter.”
“...He’s also super smart an’ perceptive.”
Nicor smiled as he finished putting away his tools and materials. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Platick. I would say it is a pleasure, buuut~” he held up his hands, gesturing to where we were. “You know.”
“Mostly.” I walked forward and joined the circle around the campfire. “The only thing I don’t know is how you all have a fire. Did someone die with firewood?”
“No, not firewood. But, it is my doing,” Nicor informed me. He clapped his hands twice and the campfire, firewood and all, vanished. While my eyes were still unadjusted to the light, I heard Gekio let out a groan towards the tiefling. “Sorry, I was making a point. I will bring it right back.”
I watched Nicor’s silhouette pull out a thin tool and reach forward towards the center of where the fire was. He made a few small motions, produced a small bag from within his robes, and flung it in the same place.
Then, suddenly, a campfire again. The logs of firewood appeared exactly as they did before and the fire roared for a few seconds before settling back into what it was before. “See? Not an issue.”
I gave Nicor a look. “Was that magic? I didn’t hear any incantation.”
“Well, in a way, yes. But, really no,” Nicor explained, putting his thin tool back. It was merely a paintbrush. “I could never master the trade. Not enough for the Arcane Academy, at least. It all stems from glyphs and prepared materials. Which, thankfully, arrived with me. It’s weird though. I could’ve sworn I left some of my tools I have here back in my wagon when the troll arrived, while those in my pockets are now gone. It was the same with Gekio and your friends.”
Ricven nodded. “My runnin’ theory is that we arrive with whatever was on our person when our Players stop the game. Shame. It means we’re stuck with only trail rations and water. Plus whatever Thorn conjures with her vine.”
I turned to Thorn. She had her arms wrapped around her knees and her other hand weaved into her vines. Her scythe was beside her. After she adjusted to the fire vanishing and reappearing, she kept her feet near it.
“How is your vine?”
Thorn looked up at me, somewhat taken aback by the question. I guess she didn’t think I’d care.
“...Vine good.” She held the vine with her other hand, tracing the tendril with her fingers. “Whole. Alive.”
I nodded, popping the Goodberry into my mouth. It tasted like an apple. Like a Sweet Apple Acre one. It caught me off guard for a second, and I almost spat it out from confusion alone. I guess, in a way, I was glad I didn’t. It tasted pretty good.
“How are da others down there?” Glemerr asked, her face turning stoic for a second. “Ah know Rava and Vareén were bad. Ya don’t think any a’ dem are gonna show up next, do ya?”
“The Nothic’s dead,” I reminded her. “Long as they don’t look for trouble, they’ll be...Well, alive, I guess.”
“Ya sure ‘bout that?” Ricven raised an eyebrow. “‘Cause, maybe I misinterpreted Miss Thorn, but she said Vareén got impaled and then hit point blank by that Nothic’s rottin’ gaze.”
“No.” I sighed. “Thorn told you correctly. That all happened. Rava was gazed too, but it didn’t get her as bad. Although, it did more than try to rot Vareén. You remember how it tried to get in your head?”
Ricven took a slow breath and drew out his violin. “Lemme guess. It went straight fer her Player’s memories?”
I shook my head. “I think worse. I think it went for her Player.”
Ricven nearly let his violin fall out of his hands. The others went silent with varying levels of shock or confusion covering their faces. The only one who didn’t was the gnome himself as he turned to glare at Thorn.
“Ya didn’t say it got ta her Player! Or that it got in her head!”
Thorn flinched, but quickly found her spine and glared back. “Say Twilight. Not Player.”
“Twilight’s the NAME a’ Vareén’s Player!”
“...Oh.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Gekio stood up. Likely too anxious to stay in place. “That monster managed to reach out at one of our Players? That’s a thing? They can do that?”
Ricven let out a disgruntled growl and put his violin right back away. “That’s what it nearly did ta me. At the time, I had no idea it was gunnin’ fer Rarity herself. If I’da been any less weak-willed, it woulda prolly succeeded too.”
“It would have finished,” I repeated. More for myself. “And by how it spoke, it would’ve probably fused itself into Rarity or something.”
“Wait, what, fused?” Nicor shuddered. “How do you mean fused? A Nothic can fuse with people?!”
“Not normally, no.” Ricven shot the idea down and then looked at me. “Platick, the heck you mean fuse?”
“It called Vareén a ‘gate.’” I used air quotes. “And it said it would escape this world and make Twilight his.”
Ricven took the words and turned them over a few times, settling his gaze toward the fire. “Is that even possible?”
“Not when Platick’s dere ta stop ‘em,” Glemerr assured. However, her bravado faltered for a second when she looked to me. “You, uh, did stop ‘em. Right?”
I nodded. “Something tells me that if it comes back, it’ll have a personal vendetta against me. I tore out its eye, remember?”
Again, a shudder went down Nicor’s back. “It sounds so disgusting when you say that. All the ichor and grime. Urgh! Although, in a practical sense, that would be the fastest way to nullify a Nothic. Well, mostly nullify. It would still have claws.”
“Trust me, I am aware of that.”
“Twilight.” Thorn looked at me. “Twilight. Vareén. Okay?”
“Actually, that’s a good question.” Ricven looked over as well. “We know Vareén ain’t dead. If she were, she’d be up here with us. But how is she really?”
I shrugged. “No idea. Stostine dragged me to my bed and that’s where I stayed until I finally died. I know Vareén was aware enough to drink a potion when Rava gave it to her after the fight. But Stostine needed to go back out to move her next.”
“And dat’s it?” Glemerr slumped. “She didn’t say err do nothin’ else?”
It took a moment, but I remembered. “There was one thing. I was going in and out of unconsciousness. The pain was what woke me up most of the time. But one time, I woke up to screaming. It wasn’t the kind of scream from someone getting scared or attacked. They were shouting something. And then, I heard Rava’s voice. And…I think a door? By that point, I decided everything was safe and I fell back asleep.”
Glemerr got more depressed. “Vareén didn’t like lettin’ me tend ta her wounds. Was prolly Rava tryin’ ta help. She knows first aid a bit.”
Ricven went back to the fire. “I learned about Nothics from a Dark Auction in Agix. The Master’s the one who gave me that memory. They mentioned how Nothics could be used to drag knowledge out a' unwillin’ victims. Even said it was a torture method in its own right. How long was Vareén under it?”
I took a second to take stock of that moment. “I’d give it...half a minute? Maybe more?”
Ricven grimaced. “They said it takes one look to drag up a specific memory. How much searchin’ would ya say you could do in half a minute?”
“Enough.”
“Exactly.”
The silence followed. I watched the campfire start to peter out. Nicor did too, and quickly reached for a small pouch on his belt, produced a pinch of white sand-like material and flicked it at the flames. The fire flared back to its regular strength and he kept the pouch by his side.
“...But. Vareén’s Playa.” Glemerr brought up again. “Is she okay dough? And, is yer Playa, Ricven?”
Ricven let out a hollow chuckle. “Oh, I’m sure my Player’s fine. She’ll have no worries carryin’ on like nothin’s the matter.”
“And the Twilight girl?” Gekio pressed. When no one had a clear idea, eyes fell back on me.
I shrugged. How am I supposed to have any idea?
Twilight Sparkle's POV
Twilight’s House, Bedroom
6:00PM
“I promise, Sunset, I’m okay. And if you don’t believe me, Spike’s right here keeping an eye on me. He can speak for me.”
I put my phone on speaker and held it out between myself and Spike, who was sitting on my bed beside me. Spike hopped up onto all fours and smiled at the phone even though it wasn’t a video call.
“Yeah, everything’s okay over here,” Spike told her. “Twilight tried pacing around her room and I made sure to pull her right back into bed.” I rolled my eyes. When he said he ‘pulled me back,’ he meant he pulled at my sweatpants by the ankle until I relented.
For the most part, I was doing alright. When Shining brought us all back to our house, walking from the car to the top of the stairs felt more taxing than it should have. Shining had called our parents on the way as well and they set up my room so that I wouldn’t have to leave my bed for anything. Not even food or water. But when Sunset had helped make sure I made it alright, I heard my parents and Shining debating what to do next for me. Especially since this was magic-related.
“No more Nothic or Midnight Sparkle or anything? Everything’s quiet?”
“None of that’s happened since.” I set my phone down and pulled my laptop over. I had it opened to a few articles and explanations about seizures. I wasn’t about to take any of it as definitive, but it helped me to have a better grasp on the subject.
“A few sources say that the side effects that result from a seizure can last anywhere from hours to days. Except, from what Spike’s seen, it doesn't sound like I’m having normal side effects.”
Spike lied back down in front of the phone. “There’s been a couple of times where Twilight’s just fine and typing on her laptop, and then the next she starts staring off in a random direction. Just doing nothing. For like a minute or two. She doesn’t even know she’s doing it. She just snaps out of it and goes on doing what she did before.”
“O-Okay? But why is she doing that?”
“I dunno.” Spike shook his head. “I try asking her, but she doesn't remember doing it. And each time it happens, she acted funny too.”
“Funny how?” Sunset’s voice cracked a bit, making me flinch.
“From how Spike explains it, it looks like I’m reacting to something. One of the times, I looked angry. And in another, I had tears in my eyes. I don't even feel any time pass. It feels like I blink and suddenly Spike's calling my name...I’m. It’s starting to concern me. But the worst part is that I get this feeling in the back of my mind. Like I don’t want to remember what caused me to get emotional.”
The phone went silent for a little bit before Sunset responded again. “Give me a minute. I think I want to check something with Story.”
“Story?” I blinked. “But I thought he blocked us all. How are you going to get his opinion on any of this?”
She didn’t answer me immediately. All I heard was incomprehensible muffled sounds. She likely had her phone away from her ear and was moving around. After about ten seconds, I could hear distant voices. It sounded like Sunset speaking to someone else.
I glanced at Spike. “I’m not misremembering, right Spike? Story tried to walk away from all of us, didn’t he?”
He shrugged at me. “That’s the last I heard.”
After about five more seconds, I heard more sounds from the phone before a new voice spoke from the other side of it. His voice.
“Um? Hi. Uh, Twilight?”
“Story?” I blinked, trading glances with Spike for a moment. “You’re with Sunset and the girls?”
“Kind of a long explanation,” Story told me. “And it’s still kind of going on. But, more importantly, how are you feeling? Sunset told us all about the Nothic. And the, erm, seizure. I’m so sorry that you’re going through all of this.”
My jaw tightened while I remembered how Sunset felt after Story’s blowup, but I put it out of my mind and stayed cordial. For her sake. “Right. Well, I’m resting as well as I can. And we’ve noticed that I’ve been blacking out constantly since I got home. Or, in truth, Spike noticed. It feels like no time passes. And this doesn’t seem like a typical side effect for seizures.”
“Oh. I see what you mean now.” That last part I assumed he said to Sunset. And that’s when I realized why Sunset brought him over.
“Um. This might sound kind of out of left field, but I gotta ask. Do you feel afraid? About your own memories, I mean? Obviously, this is all probably scary, but does it feel like there’s this—” “Unfounded fear?”
Those words we said in unison. It was exactly as he said and I sat up once he proved it. “Yes! Yes, that’s exactly it. Spike tells me that I look emotional whenever I black out, but when I try to figure out what I was so mad, or sad, or happy about, I get this overwhelming fear welling up in me. As if something terrible would happen if I remember it.”
I could hear Story take in and then release a breath. “Alright. Yeah, that’s. That’s how I would describe it. Okay.” He mumbled to himself. Mostly small ramblings as he tried to recall something.
“Okay, uh. Alright. So, what you’re going through is when a Nothic feels around in a person’s mind for memories. Usually for Nothics, they either reach out for the deepest secrets a person has or for something specific. And I’m assuming a Nothic doesn’t know you personally. It probably tried scraping for whatever was easiest. Like, again, deepest secrets.”
I scrunched my body up in a small fetal position. “My deepest..."
...moRe KnoWledGE...thAt lItTle DeVIce…
...wHAt doOrS MaY...tRY to usE It...
...uNLeaSh thE mAGiC...
...I dIdN’t unDerSTanD MAgic BefOre. bUT i dO noW...
“...twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Come on, snap out of it! You gotta stay with us here!” Spike was frantically shaking my shoulder and shouting into my ear until I finally snapped out of it.
“Huh?! Spike? Spike, I-I’m okay! I’m okay.” I wiped my tears and tried to smile. “See? Perfectly fine.”
Wait, tears? Am I crying again?
I paused. Spike looked scared and the phone was still on speaker.
“Spike? Spike, what’s going on?!” It was Sunset’s voice again. “Story, what did you do?!”
“Nothing, I swear!” Story was talking loud enough to just barely be heard. “You heard everything I said, you were right here!”
I scooped up my phone and held it in front of me. “Sunset, I’m here. I’m okay.”
“Are you?! Twilight, you went quiet for almost a minute! You were—y-you..."
I felt my face. I let out this uncontrollable sniffle before I could calm myself. I didn’t even know what I was crying about. Just that I...That I was responsible for something.
“At least put it on speaker,” Story’s voice was there, barely audible. After a second, I heard him sigh at regular volume. “Okay? Twilight? You blanked out again. And, you were sobbing.”
“Sobbing?” “Sobbing?” I and Sunset said that at the same time.
“He’s right,” Spike nodded along. “It was just like the last time. And she looks okay again. Her cheeks are a little puffy, but she doesn’t look sad anymore.”
“Sad, huh?” Sunset asked. “And Story, you said deepest secrets? I mean, I’m not sure if it’s a secret, but could the Nothic have found—” “Bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah!” Story cut her off loudly.
“Whatever it is, don’t talk about it! Twilight, if you start thinking about it, you’ll just blank out again.”
I understood what he told me, but it was easier said than done. Just hearing them talk about it made me try by instinct to recall what I had done. Although, when I tried, this alien chill ran down my spine like before.
“Well, no problem there. I don’t think I want to remember it.”
“And that's part of it too,” Story told us. “Any memories a Nothic finds, it drags them up front and invades them. And the person it happens to relives the Nothic scrambling around in there for a bit.”
“How long?” Sunset asked. “How long is it going to last?”
“Depends how much it messed with her. In my game’s world, Nothics are used for torture. Purely because of this reason.” He sounded anything but proud of that. “I’m hoping that wasn’t garbled. Rarity rolled high enough to know, so I’m assuming the whole party would know.”
“But what kind of memories would it try to go after?” I asked him. “Crying, I guess I understand, but Spike said I looked mad and happy. I don’t have any deep secrets that would make me act like that.”
“There’s been some other times where she’s just smiled or frowned,” Spike added on. “Like she’s been daydreaming.”
“That sounds pretty wide range,” Sunset pointed out.
“I said that’s what it probably went for,” Story replied. “I don’t know what that thing wants exactly. It could have aimed for whatever. Secrets are just what Nothics prefer.”
“Well. Is there a way to recover from it faster?”
There was a pause. “Maybe? I designed why and how Nothics are used for world-building. I didn’t sit and think about an entire healing process afterward. Especially since magical healing exists.”
“Tell me it wears off.” Sunset tone was far from pleading.
“It does, it does. Anywhere from a night’s rest to a few days. So long as the Nothic doesn’t keep getting her. Just, for now at least, try not to set any of those memories off.”
I guess that does have some logic to it. “Okay, I’d be willing to try that. Any advice on how?”
“Well, it probably grabbed a bunch of memories that are either important or that you have a lot of. In other words, the biggest or most common things you do. So, without thinking about it, what would that be?”
I rolled my eyes but tried to oblige. “I like to read.”
“Okay. Great. Stop reading.”
“You can’t be serious.”
Spike snickered. “He knows who he’s talking to, right?” I turned my frown at him next, but he kept snickering.
“Story, I can’t just avoid reading everything. That’s ridiculous.”
“I think he means to try and avoid reading until you’re okay,” Sunset said with more sympathy.
That’s still cruel. “Why would reading in general set it off?”
“You said you’ve been reading articles online,” Sunset reminded me. “And Spike said you blanked out when you did it. On top of that, I didn’t see you blank out like that when I was there. Something’s triggering it. Even with articles you’ve never read before.”
“But. B-But. What about school? I have assignments I need to work on. There’s a math test this Wed—”
...oPeN teXtbOoKS to pAge 178…
…nOW. sCaLenE. IsoSCelEs. And eqUIlAteRAl. wHAt...
...cORreCt twIlIgHt. bUt tHAt’S neXt weEk’s aSsigNMenT...
Story Spinner's POV
Canterlot Mall, Near the Entrance
“Twilight? Twilight! Not again,” Spike groaned over the phone. “She’s just smiling at the wall this time.”
I shook my head. “Great. One of her trigger words is Math.”
Sunset looked at me. “How long will she act like this?”
“Probably a day or two? Maybe more? It will wear off but I don’t know when.” I wrapped my arms around me and walked a few steps to the side. Sunset had moved me away from everybody so that we could talk to Twilight without anyone passing by to hear. The others were waiting around the entrance of the mall with our siblings.
Originally, we tried to gently fill Button and Applebloom in on how our friends were missing and that we wanted to find them. Button went kind of quiet and understood why Mom was coming. Applebloom was the reverse. She wanted to come help too only for Applejack to tell her that wasn’t an option and that Big Mac was already on his way.
Soon enough, my mom arrived to pick up Button. I started to fill her in myself and that was when Sunset pulled me aside. My mom still wanted to understand what was happening, but that was when Shining Armor explained it was about his sister.
Sunset’s glance had me stay nearby. “You said maybe she could recover faster. What’s the maybe?”
I faced her fully. “Eventually, she’ll be able to remember the things she keeps spacing out about. At that point, she can focus on the memory as many times as she needs until that fear goes away. But I won’t lie. It’s gonna suck.”
Sunset was about to say something else, but at that point, Twilight’s woke back up on the other end of the phone. Rather than have both of us keep talking, Sunset took the phone off speaker and focused on Twilight.
While she finished up the call, I excused myself back to the mall entrance. It didn’t take both of us to rehash what I told Sunset and it would probably come off better from anyone beside myself.
It only took a few steps to get into view of the others. Mom was talking directly with Shining Armor, who listened intently while the others had a mix of emotions. Mostly concern. And after Mom finished speaking, Shining looked upset. And as I got close enough to hear them, he replied.
“More than anything, we’re worried that bringing Twilight to the hospital might end up making her feel worse. Not physically, I mean, but mentally,” Shining told her. “The last few days have been exhausting for her. We just want her to get some rest. What if the hospital makes her more stressed than before she arrived?”
It was a weak excuse. Probably because it wasn’t the truth. I and the others had avoided telling my mom about anything magic-related. We just focused on the facts. For the most part, we had our story straight with her. It was only when one of us tried to fill in the blanks with lies that Mom saw through us.
However, Mom gave Shining this sorrowful look. “Shining? I know that what happened was terrifying. And I couldn’t begin to imagine what would happen if either of my sons had something like this happen to them. And I am so sorry about what happened with Twilight. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to hear that she is home with her family instead of moving around. And I agree that it sounds like she could use some rest. However, a seizure doesn’t stop being a problem when someone wakes up. There may be lasting effects. Complications that might exist that we cannot spot immediately. Especially if this is her first seizure like you mentioned.”
Shining took a second to take that in. He had no counter. Neither did the girls who were slowly recognizing how serious Twilight’s situation was. The only one among them that was trying to find something to counter with was Rainbow, who was trying and failing to rack her brain for some excuse that would keep Twilight from going to the hospital. The others were apprehensive of it as well, but not to the same degree.
Out of the group, Fluttershy admitted defeat first. “Shining? I think Dr. Tap might be right. What if Twilight really should go to the hospital?”
“Fluttershy, hold on,” Rainbow started, catching my mom, the doctor’s, attention. “This is a one and done thing. It’s not gonna happen to her again.”
“We.” Applejack shook her head. “RD, we don’t know that fer sure. Everythin’ is up in the air now. And we can’t all be helpin’ ta track down Aloe an’ Lotus as well as keep an eye out on Twilight. Not ta mention, Shining’s the only one of us that know how to handle it.”
“Not true. Fluttershy knows how to handle this kinda stuff. Right Fluttershy?” Rainbow pointed over to her, causing Fluttershy to quickly shake her head.
“N-Not for seizures, no. I don’t.”
Again, Mom stepped in. “Both Story and Fluttershy know first aid. I know because Fluttershy’s Mom and I signed them up. Handling seizures takes more.”
“She’s right.” Shining frowned. “I took a few courses after high school, but I’m not going to pretend I know everything. I don’t think my parents know enough either. They’re just trying to have Twilight get some rest and make sure she’s okay.”
“Well.” Fluttershy took a small breath and built up the nerve. “What does Twilight want to do? The hospital can’t help her if she doesn’t want them to. Isn’t that right?”
My mom gave a slow nod. I think there was more to it, but she left it at that.
“Twilight..." Shining looked guilty. “I’m not sure. I talked to her over the phone while most of you were in the hunting store, but she kept assuring me she’s fine. I think she’s trying to put on a brave face.”
Mom nodded understandingly. “From what you’ve explained, she sounds like a responsible girl. And, ultimately, Fluttershy is right. A person won’t get any help from a hospital if they themselves do not want help. But if you’re concerned, even a little, about her health, you know what I'm going to suggest.”
“...You think that we should take her to the hospital.”
Rather than nod along, Mom folded her hands together in front of her. “A seizure should always be taken seriously. Now, I am not about to give you any medical advice. Nor am I going to ask any questions about what happened with her. I am not in a position to give medical advice right now. What I can do, however, is possibly help with the delay.”
“You. You can?” He blinked.
“Yes. I know a neurologist that works there.” For emphasis, Mom took out her phone. “I can call and inform her that she should expect a patient who’s had a seizure. It’s no guarantee, but it may help your sister be seen right away. Although, that depends on whether or not she wants to be seen and if someone is willing to take her. But I assure you, the hospital is trained, and glad, to help with these situations.”
Hearing that, the girls started to relent. Rainbow was still apprehensive, but was in agreement with Fluttershy; let Twilight decide.
Applejack moved forward at this point. “Excuse me, err, Dr. Tap? If Twilight does go ta the hospital, are they gonna keep her overnight?”
Mom shook her head. “I couldn’t answer that. It depends on the severity of the seizure or her general condition.”
From behind me, I heard Sunset walk up. I was close enough to hear all of them without getting in the way. Sunset missed most of the conversation, but she already knew my mom was a doctor. Seeing her talk with Shining Armor had Sunset put the pieces together.
“Are they going to take her in?” Sunset asked.
“Depends on Twilight,” I told her. “Is that a problem?”
Sunset furrowed her brow for a second, but softened up. “No. I don’t think so. I was trying to suggest something else Twilight could do instead of reading, and she blanked out again. Then, I heard her dad checking in on her. He and Spike spent another minute trying to snap her out of it.”
I noticed how she was taking it all and felt like I had to say something. “I don’t know what you’re guilty about. It’s my monster.”
Sunset didn’t take to the idea kindly. She simply glared. “Stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Taking credit for every terrible thing,” she told me. “Might sound weird coming from me, but there’s enough problems you’ve actually caused. I don’t want to hear you trying to cover it up with fake ones.”
“It’s not fake,” I spoke slowly. “Besides, I could say the same thing to you. You’re not exactly pure of fault either. All the self blame just makes it harder to pick apart your real issues.”
“Funny. I seem to recall telling you the real issues. Point-blank. You didn’t take it that well,” she jabbed.
“Maybe because the mad ramblings of a lunatic finally made me realize that I was being used.”
“Lunati—used?” Sunset’s glare deepend. “I didn’t use—” “Yes. You did.”
I frowned. “We’ve been over this. And I’m not doing it again. We help Twilight. And Rarity’s friends. Then the Principal, or ‘puh-rin-cess,’ since that’s what you keep calling her. And then we’re done. You and me never speak again, and all becomes right with the world. Both of them.”
Sunset scoffed before brushing past me to rejoin the others. “Works for me.”
“Great,” I mocked, following suit.
From the others, Mom was wrapping up a few more simple questions about what Twilight’s visit might be like. The tension was still there a little, but not as it was before. And when Sunset rejoined them, the others tried filling her in only for Sunset to admit that she already assumed.
While they did, Shining took a breath. “I think I’ll call ahead on my way back home and check with Twilight. I know you said that you’re probably not going to see her, but would I be able to speak with you afterwards to let you know whether to call your friend?”
“Of course!” Mom grinned, reaching for her purse. “Here, it might be easier if you call me rather than use Story or the girls as a go-between.” After a moment, Mom pulled out a business card. “Take one of these. I’ve had a few of them forever now, but the phone number’s still the same.”
“Wait.” Rarity moved forward and stared at the card in surprise. “A wooden business card? You have a wooden card?”
“Err, yes?” Mom blinked. “Like I said, I’ve had them forever. My husband got them for me as a gift, but I’ve just been sitting on them.”
“Rainbow Dash, do you have the other one?!” Rarity watched the jock among us pull out the one from the store and Rarity quickly compared the two. “No doubt about it. Cherry Wood made this one too! Story!”
Rarity whipped around to me as I finally rejoined the group. “How come you didn’t tell us your father bought these cards?!”
I held up my hands. “Woah, I had no idea! I didn’t even know my mom had business cards!”
“I mean, doctors use business cards as well. It’s not that weird,” Mom said with an awkward glance towards the side. “Besides, a wooden business card is kinda cool.”
“See?! I told you they were cool!” Rainbow told us. “That settles it, we’re so getting cards after this.”
Rarity, and the rest of us, ignored Dash for now. “Dr. Tap, do you think your husband knows the man who made those cards? Possibly where he may live? We’re almost certain that one of our missing friends are his granddaughter and that they may be trapped there!”
Mom quickly focused up. She dug in her purse for a second and pulled out a second card, also, wooden, and passed it to Shining. “Get going. Your sister shouldn’t wait on our account.”
“Right.” Shining tucked the card away and then looked to Sunset. “Will you be fine getting around with the others?”
Sunset smiled. “No problem. Drive like the wind.”
He smiled back. “That’s the plan. Good luck girls!”
At that Shining took off while Mom thought for a second. “I know that Game Plan mentioned how the guy who made these was working out of his house. That was years ago though.”
“You mean, he used to work out of his house?” Rarity glanced back at the wooden business card. “Then...Does he even have a workshop?"
“I mean, you said he lives in the woods,” Sunset reminded us. “Plenty of wood and no one to care about the noise. Is there any law against working out of your own home?”
“No, not at all,” Applejack told her. “Not fer farms or anythin’ else fer that matter. Long as ya tell city hall that ya wanna set up shop, yer square.”
Rarity didn’t take her eyes off the business card. “Than, that means the address on Cherry’s card. Is this his actual address?” She took out her phone, opened it to a map, and started typing.
Mom thought about it for a moment. “I mean, addresses are usually on cards. Maybe it’s weird to have your own, but if it’s your business address too...”
Rarity kept typing, with everyone watching her until, finally, her eyes lit up. “A-HAAA! This is it! The address leads right outside of town! It says it’s seventeen minutes away!”
“Alright! Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Rainbow was throwing her fists in the air while Pinkie was spinning around us in celebration. “Nothing’s gonna stop us from getting them outta there!”
“Do any of you have a car?” Mom asked them. “I don’t think all of you can fit in Story’s alone.”
“I do.” “So do Ah.” Rarity and AJ confirmed. “With three cars, we ain’t lackin’ on seats. We’ll caravan over no problem. Well, soon as Big Mac gets here.”
Applebloom started to pout. “Applejack, he’ll prob’ly be here any minute. Ah’ll be just fine on mah own until then. Ya don’t got anythin’ ta worry about.”
Except a creepy hunting store clerk, I thought to myself. It must’ve shown too, because Applebloom and my family picked up on all of our expressions pretty fast.
“If it helps,” Mom started. “I could watch her. I don’t have anything going on and I'm probably just going to take Button for take out on the way home." Mom glanced over to Button, who was leaned up against the wall playing his JoyBoy. Once the focus changed from picking him up, he was content to let us talk while he played his game. "Although, I understand if you’d rather watch her yourself. I don't want to intrude.”
Applejack's face lit up. “Ya kiddin'? Yer Story’s kin. That’s all the proof Ah need ta trust ya. Would that be alright with you, Applebloom?”
“Yeah, Ah guess so,” she said begrudgingly. “It’d still just be easier ta come along with ya. Ah promise Ah wouldn’t get in the way err nothin’.”
“We don’t think you would either,” Fluttershy assured her. “But, Big Mac’s already on his way here. We wouldn’t want him to come all this way just to have to turn around. And he’s worried too.”
From that, the girl gave in. “Fair enough. ”
Rainbow started moving out ahead of us. “Come on girls! We gotta get going.”
“I’ll ride with Applejack,” Pinkie shouted before she and the farmgirl took off.
“Here, Story, take this.” Rarity passed me Cherry Wood’s business card. “Applejack hardly uses her GPS. She’ll probably follow one of us. Best that we both know where we’re going.”
I nodded and opened my phone to start typing it in while she and Sunset hurried off to catch up with Rainbow Dash. That left my family, Applebloom, and Fluttershy with me.
“Fluttershy?” My mom looked at her. “Does Camera Shy know you were planning to be out this late?”
Fluttershy froze up. “Oh my! With everything that’s been going on, I completely forgot to call my parents. They must be getting worried.”
“I’ll let your mother know,” she told her. “In the meantime, could you make sure that someone from your group calls the police? If those girls have really been trapped for two days, they may need emergency care.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I can do that. Thank you again for all of your help Dr. Tap.”
“No problem. And Story?”
I finally got the address typed in and looked up. “Yes, Mom?”
“Once those girls are safe and found, I want you to head back home. Consider all this charity as an upfront payment for telling me what’s really going on. Okay?”
At that, I watched Button pause his game and look right at me. He might've been playing his game, but he knew how to split his focus when he wanted. He likely wanted to know too.
I bit my lip, but had no objections. “Alright, that’s fair. I’ll do that.”
“Good. Now hurry up. Go.”
Obeying, Fluttershy followed me off to where I parked. Once we got in, I rolled out and found Rarity, who pulled aside near the mall’s exit waiting for us. Then, despite leaving first, Applejack was the last to join us.
With everyone gathered up, we peeled out of the parking lot and drove off with the city lights and other cars being the only light sources around us. Once we got past the busier roads, Rarity started pulling ahead and I and Applejack did our best to follow behind as we drove out of the city.
The whole way there, Fluttershy messaged the others to let them know that someone needed to call the police. Since Rarity was busy driving and most of the others had only second-hand knowledge of it all, that left Fluttershy to do it since we still had Cherry Wood’s business card with all the details.
Unfortunately, that didn’t pan out too well. After we left the city limits to the west, where Fluttershy’s call dropped. She was only part way into telling the police why she was calling before the call dropped and we had no choice but to follow the others down the road until we arrived.
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Another excellent chapter. Well done.:D
I was a little unsure when I picked this back up, but I've really enjoyed catching back up! Very curious as to how this shakes out, if Sunset's theory holds true or if it can be bypassed.
Super excited for the D&D chapters, seeing how the characters interacted and what they thought of their players has to be one of my favourite things about this fic