Sprout slowly limped along down the hospital corridor, with his front left leg in a sling that was being supported by his neck. At the moment, he figured that with his luck, he'd get perfectly used to moving about on three legs just in time for the cast to come off. But right now, it was worth it to hobble along just to get out of the hospital.
He turned the corner, and saw Hitch waiting for him over by the reception desk. The sheriff spotted the red stallion as soon as he had turned the corner, and smiled at him warmly.
"Hey there, deputy. I've got a bedroom with your name on it all set and ready to go. Don't worry, we can go as slow as you like," Hitch told him when he reached the desk.
Sprout smiled.
"I'm just glad to have a change of surroundings. I'd even ask to chill at the beach for a bit if I wasn't afraid of getting sand all over this cast. But do you mind if we make a stop first? I'd like to... Pick up some things," Sprout replied.
From the expression on Sprout's face, Hitch immediately figured out where the stallion wanted to go.
"In that case, we can go get the wagon," Hitch told him.
"Don't wait up on me, you can go get it faster," Sprout said.
"Are you sure?" The sheriff asked.
"Hitch, I'm hurt. I didn't lose my sense of direction," Sprout said, giving his friend a light smirk.
"Alright. If you do beat me there, don't go in without me. That is now legally a prison cell, and you're still off-duty," Hitch told him.
Sprout nodded, and Hitch went on ahead of him while he slowly sauntered to the exit and headed north towards CanterLogic. He was barely a block away by the time he heard Hitch approaching with the precinct's small cargo wagon. Without any words, they silently came up to the Cloverleaf residence.
"Are you going to say anything to her?" Hitch asked quietly as he detached himself from the wagon yoke.
"I really haven't figured out what I'd say yet, honestly," Sprout admitted as they went up the front walk.
"I'll see that she doesn't bother you," Hitch assured him as they came to the front door, and he slid the key into the lock, turning it, and opening the door.
Nodding, Sprout stepped in first, then Hitch went in immediately after, staying at his side as they walked through the small foyer.
"Anything I can do for you, Sheri—, Oh, sugarcube!" Phyllis said the moment she came around the corner from the living room, immediately spotting her son on the other side of Hitch. "They... They didn't tell me you'd be coming home today."
"I'm not," Sprout said simply, and then stepped forward towards the west hallway, going down to the last room on the left, his bedroom.
"What do you mean you're not? Would you at least—"
"Not another word, Phyllis," Hitch told her, before following Sprout into his room and closing the door.
The pair silently spent the next few minutes gathering up some of Sprout's personal belongings into a set of large saddlebags, which Hitch insisted on carrying out to the wagon himself. Included were some of his favorite comics, a gift card to Pizza Time that still had a balance on it, and a few of his favorite Choose Your Own Adventure books.
"Alright, I guess I'm ready," Sprout told Hitch, who slung the saddlebags across his back, and nodded.
Hitch opened the bedroom door, saw that Phyllis had not pursued them down the hall. He went first, with Sprout following right behind him. They turned back towards the front door, and Hitch saw Phyllis sitting in the chair in the back right corner, keeping a watchful eye on the foyer, waiting for them to come back through. As Hitch continued towards the front door, Phyllis saw Sprout behind him, and got to her hooves.
"Sprout, would you at least say something to me??" Phyllis pleaded.
Sprout noticed Hitch bristle in anger a moment before he turned around, and the red stallion stepped between his friend and his mother, so Hitch would see him first, he gave him a look that told him he would take care of it.
"Just what do you want me to say?" Sprout asked his mom, still facing Hitch, not looking at her. "You know what you did, and you know what you wanted me to do. You wanted me to take my best friend's job while he was away. You could have gotten ponies killed, mom. You have to think very long, and very hard about how you're going to make amends."
Finally, Sprout turned his head slightly and glanced at his mother.
"Until then, I have nothing more to say to you."
With that, Sprout resumed walking and passed Hitch out the front door, while the sheriff stood his ground and turned to look at the mare.
"Wanted him to take my job? Now that, I didn't know."
With another glare, Hitch turned to leave, closed the door, and locked it, before joining Sprout out at the wagon.
*whistles*
Well dang. That went better than I thought that... "conversation" isn't the right word here... "confrontation" maybe? could have gone. My hat is off to Sprout.
(And great use of Hitch in this chapter as well, btw. ^_^)
Not everyday you get a miles chapter without a bit of artwork at the end.
Not to piss on a pretty sober chapter, but one hoof in a cast, one to tell Hitch to hold up, Sprout, how are you standing?
I have to wonder where Phyllis' character goes from here, if anywhere. I still almost feel sorry for her with Sprout not wanting to talk to her. Almost.
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Okay, I have to rewrite that...
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Rearing up momentarily?
Come to that their were bits in G4 that I fanwank by saying that Ponies can use tactile telekinesis to sick their Hindu moves to the ground so they can gesture with both forehooves without rearing up.
That was awkward but that was to be expected.
REALLY enjoyed the work that went into the characterizations and future chapter set-up in this latest installment. REALLY liked the show of the progress Sprout is making on his mobility as well as Sprout basically just staying around Phyllis long enough to collect his belongings and give his mother a very appropriate chewing out.
Most assuredly looking forward to more of this.
That's true you really did mess up Phyllis
Well then that was something so sprout decided to get his stuff from his house even though hitch thinks this is not a good idea for him to go there but he needs to once they got there Phyllis wants to talk with him but Sprout didn't say nothing and continue packing then she tries again hitch was about to say something but then Sprout beat him to it and he said everything to his mom what she did was horrible and not only that all he can say is he has nothing to say to her and with that they left leaving Phyllis leaving her own guilt and thoughts well that could have done well I wonder what else could happen guess we'll find out next time
Phyilis is gonna need a senzu for that one.
Hitch and Sprout remaining bros is one of the highlights of this story. It’s so satisfying how, despite the temptations and the easy chance to seize power, Sprout kept a level head and supported Hitch. Having Hitch return the favor makes Sprout’s arc genuinely heartwarming.
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Thanks for reading, hope you've enjoyed everything, and what's to come!