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The Re-Awakening of Anonymous

By CosmicButthole
Created: 2025-05-19 22:13:19
Updated: 2025-06-20 04:44:45
Expiry: Never
anonfluttershysafeanonymousanonstallion

  1. >This job sucks.
  2. >All you do is stand behind a cash register in a dingy gas station and sell chips and cigarettes and lottery tickets to a wide variety of people.
  3. >That variety ranging from high school students that reek of marijuana to old men whose breath smells of liquor.
  4. >The work is, by no measure, difficult.
  5. >All that’s demanded of you is scanning each item, put them in plastic bags, and give them to the customer along with change if applicable.
  6. >But God, is it soul rending.
  7. >You’re locked in place like a shopkeeper NPC in a significantly less scenic setting.
  8. >Not to mention you’re stuck with the graveyard shift ninety percent of the time, which means your only company most of the time is the dull buzzing of the lights and the in-store radio.
  9. >You wouldn’t call any of the music bad, but it’s the same five songs interrupted by the occasional in store ad.
  10. >It got old a long time ago.
  11. >But this is your life.
  12. >Wake up, go to work, go home, play vidya, masturbate, rinse and repeat.
  13. >Living the dream.
  14. >But lately things have been feeling… weird.
  15. >It’s hard to describe, because nothing’s really different.
  16. >Everything just feels different.
  17. >The lights are brighter, there’s a slight echo to every sound, and you feel somewhat light headed.
  18. >Maybe you’ve come down with something.
  19. >But you don’t have the time or money to go see a doctor, so you’ll just tough it out.
  20. >Famous last words.
  21. >With nothing else to focus on, and your various social media feeds having dried up on account of it being 1 AM, you just lean against the wall behind you and listen to the music.
  22. >Cake By The Ocean by DNCE.
  23. >Pretty catchy song, one with the kind of subtext that makes you wonder how it could get played in public spaces like this.
  24. >Maybe it’s because the average person doesn’t know anything about subtext.
  25. >That’s probably it.
  26. >The song ends, and in its place takes the in store radio ad.
  27. >”Hey there, all of you out there in radio land, hope you’re all sleeping well!” The radio DJ says in his usual chipper tone.
  28. >Sleeping well.
  29. >Ha.
  30. >”Not much changes for us out here, we’re all settled into our little routines here in Podunk-y-Ville!” The radio DJ continues.
  31. >Huh?
  32. >Podunk-y-Ville?
  33. >Why does that sound vaguely familiar?
  34. >”Truth be told, today was a pretty quiet day for us out here. Rachel-Lee’s been hard at work on her dresses, Abigail Jackson’s been hard at work on the farm, and you should’ve seen Rainbow’s sash today.”
  35. >The hell is this guy talking about?
  36. >By now he’d be playing some crap by Katy Perry, nobody asked for his life story.
  37. >Silence fills the air for a moment, raising your suspicions even higher.
  38. >”...Angel misses you, Anon.”
  39. >What the fuck?
  40. >That’s your name.
  41. >Anon Y. Mous.
  42. >The hell kind of shoutout song request is this?
  43. >”...I miss you, too. I really, really miss you.”
  44.  
  45. >The radio DJ’s voice is changing.
  46. >He’s starting to sound more like a she.
  47. >Are you going insane?
  48. >Have all these graveyard shifts taken their toll on you?
  49. >You step out from behind the cash register to look up at the speaker playing the radio.
  50. >The lights sting your eyes a little.
  51. >The landscape outside the convenience store is almost pitch black, like you’re trapped in a void.
  52. >”Twilight, she… she said the most… I mean, I know she meant well, but…”
  53. >The lady on the radio sounds like she’s about to cry.
  54. >Also, who’s Twilight?
  55. >”...She… she said I should think about… m-moving on…”
  56. >The lady on the radio takes a shaky breath.
  57. >...That voice…
  58. >It’s vaguely familiar.
  59. >Like you’re hearing the voice of a long lost friend.
  60. >”I m-mean, I know w-why she would… say that to me… since it’s been… a year…”
  61. >Her voice trails off.
  62. >She’s barely holding back tears now.
  63. >You have no idea who this young woman is, and yet she’s doing a great job of tugging on your heartstrings.
  64. >Your head starts to feel lighter, too.
  65. >”...B-But I could never move on from you! I love you, Anon! Nopony could ever replace you in my heart!”
  66. >...Nopony…
  67. >There’s a ringing in your ears.
  68. >The young woman on the radio’s openly sobbing now.
  69. >Each grief wracked sob is a release of untold amounts of emotional baggage.
  70. >It’s making your eyes water.
  71. >And your head lighter.
  72. >You have be going insane.
  73. >Or something.
  74. >”Juh… j-just please, Anonymous…” The young woman quietly begs of you through her shaky whimpers.
  75. “Please, what?” You ask aloud to the speaker.
  76. >Right now you don’t care if you’re going insane.
  77. >You need answers.
  78. >From somewhere.
  79. >Anywhere.
  80. >”...Please… please wake up…”
  81. >Wake up?
  82. >What is she talking about?
  83. >You are awake.
  84. >You are awake…
  85. >The lights around you get even brighter.
  86. >There’s strange sounds filling the air around you.
  87. >Strange, yet familiar sounds.
  88. >You feel dizzy.
  89. >You stumble backwards.
  90. >It feels like you’re trapped underwater.
  91. >Moving your arms to steady yourself on a shelf of processed snack foods feels like you’re trying to surface.
  92. >You open your mouth, but you can’t breathe.
  93. >You’re trapped under invisible, intangible water.
  94. >You lose your footing and collapse onto the floor.
  95. >The young woman on the radio’s voice echoes in your ears.
  96. >Her voice lost the tonal adjustment that comes with being played over a speaker
  97. >It’s like she’s speaking right in your ear.
  98. >Her voice gives you goosebumps.
  99. >The temperature around you shifts.
  100. >The air smells different.
  101. >More sterile.
  102. >And faintly of… equine?
  103. >All the while, the young woman’s voice repeats those two words in a vulnerable, near silent whisper.
  104. >”Wake up.”
  105. >”Wake up.”
  106. >”Wake up.”
  107. >And then… white.
  108. >Your eyes open.
  109. >You wake up.
  110.  
  111. >The light in your new environment blinds you.
  112. >You instinctively shut your eyes to protect your vision.
  113. >But you don’t want to keep them shut.
  114. >Something tells you that your eyes have been shut for too long.
  115. >You try to sit up from your… bed?
  116. >Your body barely moves.
  117. >The effort makes your entire body ache like you’ve spend a month straight lifting weights.
  118. >You open your mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out.
  119. >Your mouth is so dry.
  120. >You feel like death.
  121. >Or undeath.
  122. >Whatever this is.
  123. >You summon the ounces of strength in your body to open your eyes and adjust to the light.
  124. >You see… colors.
  125. >Colors fade in.
  126. >Red, pink, light blue…
  127. >And yellow.
  128. >Mostly yellow.
  129. >The sounds surrounding you become understandable.
  130. >Through the idle talking you hear the young woman from the radio.
  131. >It’s coming from the yellow figure beside your bed.
  132. >Yellow with a pink mane.
  133. >She’s hunched over your bed, clutching your body, and weeping.
  134. >Clutching your pegasus body, laying in a hospital bed covered by a blanket.
  135. >The yellow pegasus.
  136. >The young mare’s voice belongs to her.
  137. >You know her.
  138. >You open your mouth and speak.
  139. “Fl… fluh…”
  140. >Your voice comes out dry and raspy, but her ears perk right up.
  141. >Her eyes shoot open and stare you down, cautious but desperate hope in her eyes.
  142. >”...Anon?” She whispers.
  143. “...Fluttershy…”
  144. >Fluttershy is at a loss for words.
  145. >She forgets to breathe for a moment, overcome with emotion.
  146. >She stares at you, her eyes wide with shock like she can’t believe what she’s seeing.
  147. >But as the tide recedes when a wave is about to come in, it all comes back with a crash.
  148. >”Oh, Anonymous!” Fluttershy cries out, throwing her forelegs around your body and burying her face in your chest, openly weeping.
  149. >Except now, these aren’t tears of desperation, they’re tears of relief.
  150. >She’s clinging onto your body with all her might, the effort makes your extremely fatigued body cry out in pain, but you stomach the pain.
  151. >You’ve been reunited with your special somepony, that’s worth any amount of pain.
  152. >”I… I… I… Gosh, I don’t know what to… Oh, Anonymous, you’re really back! You finally woke up!” Fluttershy cries, her voice muffled by your tuft of chest fluff.
  153. >Come on, Anonymous, hug your special somepony back.
  154. >She deserves it.
  155. >You try to lift your forelegs, you try with all your might, but you can barely budge.
  156. >You need answers.
  157. “Wuh… what… happened?” You manage to raspily ask Fluttershy.
  158. >Fluttershy tears her face away from your chest and wipes the residual tears away from her eyes with her hoof, casting her gaze downward as she recalls the memory.
  159. >”You… w-when you came with my friends and I to defeat King Sombra, he… one of his magic spells hit you r-really hard… you fell and… hit your head really hard…”
  160. >Tears of sadness threaten to return to Fluttershy’s eyes as she looks up at you.
  161. >”Anon… you were in a coma for a year.”
  162.  
  163. >You blink.
  164. >What?
  165. >So that’s what your life was?
  166. >All that time spent wageslaving, it was all a dream?
  167. >None of your time spent dealing with obnoxious customers actually meant anything?
  168. >You don’t know what to think.
  169. >You don’t know if you should feel relieved or disappointed.
  170. “But… we won… right?” You ask Fluttershy.
  171. >She laughs a little through her mess of emotions and nods.
  172. >”We won.” She confirms.
  173. >Somepony comes running over to see you and Fluttershy.
  174. >Somepony you quickly recognize as Nurse Redheart.
  175. >Her bedside manner wavers for a moment when she sees you awake, judging by how she drops the clipboard she was holding.
  176. >She rushes over to you, nudging her way in on the opposite side of the bed from Fluttershy.
  177. >”Give me some space, please, Fluttershy.” Nurse Redheart instructs her as she sticks a thermometer in your mouth and pokes and prods at your pegasus body with various instruments.
  178. >Fluttershy is very reluctant to comply, but she concedes only because she can delicately hold your hoof in hers.
  179. >”Do you remember your name?” Nurse Redheart asks you, not looking up from her medical readings.
  180. “Yeah, it’s Anonymous.” You answer.
  181. >”Good, good. What’s the last thing you remember?” Nurse Redheart asks you further.
  182. >You struggle to conjure a mental image of the last thing your equine eyes saw before waking up in this bed.
  183. >The effort brings a small headache, but you manage something.
  184. “I was… falling.”
  185. >Fluttershy squeaks and holds your hoof even tighter.
  186. “...I dunno, it’s all such a haze. I don’t remember exactly where it was, but Fluttershy said King Sombra hit me with some magic right before I fell.”
  187. >”Oh, have some water.” Nurse Redheart remembers just as she finished jotting down notes, producing a glass of water from who knows where for you.
  188. >You struggle to lift your forelegs to hold the glass of water, but Fluttershy is quick to assist by holding your hooves steady.
  189. >Gosh, you needed this.
  190. >Your throat sings its thanks as you greedily gulp down every last drop of the refreshingly cold drink.
  191. >But this drink ends far too soon, and you’re left with an empty glass.
  192. “Thank you. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.” You apologetically say to Nurse Redheart.
  193. >”No no, memory loss is a common symptom of coming out of a coma. As is muscle atrophy and dehydration.” Nurse Redheart assures you as she scribbles down some more notes.
  194. “Is he going to be okay?” Fluttershy worriedly asks Nurse Redheart, clutching your hoof.
  195. >”Yes, of course. It’s just going to take him a bit of time to heal and get back to his normal self. You’re lucky he doesn’t need speech therapy.” Nurse Redheart informs her.
  196. >”Oh yes, I’m very, very lucky.” Fluttershy beams, nuzzling her head against yours.
  197. >She’s so warm.
  198. >You could drift back to sleep snuggling her like this.
  199.  
  200. “Then, what kind of help do I need?” You ask Nurse Redheart, your voice more more closely resembling intelligible speech thanks to the water.
  201. >”Well, you’re going to need a walker to get around until your leg muscles have returned to normal mass.” Nurse Redheart answers, motioning to a spare walker behind her.
  202. >It’s a harness attached to your rear half with large wheels to act as your hind legs while your actual hind legs get strong enough to support your weight.
  203. >”You will also need a specialized diet to ensure maximum muscle growth, so that means no sugary foods.” Nurse Redheart continues.
  204. >Guess that means you’re not gonna be paying Mr. and Mrs. Cake a visit anytime soon.
  205. >”And then, of course, it’s going to take even longer for your wings to support your weight, so no flying until further notice.”
  206. >You sink down into your hospital bed.
  207. >No flying.
  208. >You don’t even know for how long.
  209. >You just escaped that miserable existence of being trapped in a dirty store and now you don’t get to enjoy soaring above the clouds like you used to.
  210. >”Of course, you may also need help feeding and caring for yourself, and there’s no shame in that.” Nurse Redheart makes sure to note.
  211. >”That’s no trouble! That’s no trouble at all! I’ll do anything and everything to help my dear Anonymous!” Fluttershy jumps in, clutching you even closer.
  212. >”In fact, I’m ready to help him get home right now-”
  213. >”Anonymous can’t just leave right now, Fluttershy. He woke up from a year-long coma two minutes ago. I’m going to have to keep him overnight for more standard tests and proper checkout procedure.” Nurse Redheart interrupts her in a very matter-of-fact tone.
  214. >This is getting better and better.
  215. >You finally woke up from a coma and however long of working as some kind of hyoo-man cashier, and your reward is sitting in a hospital bed with the sick and injured instead of with your special somepony.
  216. >You don’t have the strength to hide how disappointed you are.
  217. >You wish you did, Fluttershy seeing your expression stings your heart with guilt.
  218. >Fluttershy tried to fight Nurse Redheart’s assertion.
  219. >”But… I bet I could handle whatever tests you need to give Anonymous! He’ll probably feel more comfortable at home with me anyway. I promise-”
  220. >”Fluttershy, your dedication to your coltfriend is very sweet…” Nurse Redheart speaks up, with a faint twitch in her eye to indicate she’s wounded by seeing such an open display of commitment to one’s special somepony.
  221. >”...But another side effect of coming out of a coma is a weakened immune system. Don’t you think it’s possible that Anonymous could get sick from something all those animals around your home could be carrying?”
  222. >Fluttershy shrinks back with a guilty look on her face.
  223. >”...I suppose so…” She admits.
  224.  
  225. >”Anonymous has a lot of medicine he needs to take before he can go home. But I assure you, once he’s had his shots and a proper sleep and a breakfast meal prepared by a medical professional and the necessary medical equipment, he’ll be good to go home tomorrow.” Nurse Redheart tries to assure Fluttershy.
  226. >Fluttershy sinks closer to the floor, but she maintains her grip on your hoof.
  227. >”...I understand this is an emotional time for both of you, so I’ll give you two sweethearts a moment.” Nurse Redheart says before stepping outside to check on some other patients.
  228. >Leaving you alone with Fluttershy.
  229. >This is so much to take in.
  230. >And you’re still so weak.
  231. >All you can do is hold onto Fluttershy’s hoof.
  232. >You look at her, and she peers past her mane to look at you.
  233. >You can’t imagine what she’s going through.
  234. >You should say something.
  235. “...Fluttershy…” You murmur to her.
  236. >Her eyes glisten.
  237. >”...I’ve missed your voice so much.” She whispers, trying to not cry some more.
  238. >You smile at her, feeling tears of your own well up.
  239. “I’m through the worst of it, Flutters. I’m here, I’m awake, and I’m not going anywhere. Just one more night and I’ll get to go home.” You try to assure her.
  240. >Fluttershy doesn’t respond, she doesn’t want what you’re saying to be true.
  241. “...Flutters, you’re a really strong mare. Twilight knows it, Rainbow knows it, Applejack knows it, and I know it. I’ve been in this coma for a year, and all this time you never lost hope that I would wake up. Even after Twilight suggested you move on.”
  242. >Fluttershy gasps lightly.
  243. >”You heard that?”
  244. >You gently nod.
  245. “I did, in my dream. It was over a speaker… it’s a little tricky to explain.”
  246. >She giggles a little.
  247. >”I can only imagine…”
  248. >Another moment of silence passes.
  249. >Fluttershy takes a deep breath and looks you right in the eyes with newfound determination.
  250. >”I want you to promise me that you’ll be here tomorrow.”
  251. >You can’t help but weakly chuckle.
  252. “Where else would I be?”
  253. >”Anon, please promise me.”
  254. >The humor fades quickly and you give her a solemn look.
  255. “I promise, Fluttershy.”
  256. >Her face melts into a loving, relieved smile.
  257. >”I love you, Anonymous.” Fluttershy delicately says to you.
  258. >Those four words wrap your heart in a loving embrace like no other.
  259. >In that one moment, when those words were fresh in your ears, everything was alright.
  260. “I love you too, Fluttershy.” You wistfully say to her.
  261. >A lovely smile spreads across her face before she leans in and nuzzles her muzzle against yours.
  262. >Her lips brush against yours for a brief moment, but it’s enough to make your heart flutter.
  263. >You had no idea how long you’ve been missing this.
  264. “J-Just a heads up, my breath probably isn’t… great…” You admit with a weak chuckle.
  265. >With a grin, Fluttershy leans in even closer and kisses you.
  266. >”You’re worth it~” She whispers to you.
  267.  
  268. >You could die right now and die a very happy stallion.
  269. >Of course, dying now would emotionally destroy Fluttershy.
  270. >So you don’t die.
  271. >Nurse Redheart signals her return with a less-than subtle throat clearing, making Fluttershy jump back in surprise and faint embarrassment.
  272. >Her cheeks look so cute when they’ve got that rosy blush on them.
  273. >”I… guess I should be going…” Fluttershy sulks, sinking away but still holding your hoof.
  274. “Yeah…” You reluctantly agree.
  275. >Fluttershy thinks for a moment before perking up a little.
  276. >”Oh, all your critter friends are going to be so excited to see you come home! We’ve got lots and lots of work to do to get ready for your return home! Of course, we’ve been cleaning your nightstand and bookshelves every week since you… went into your coma…” She trails off.
  277. >There’s that feeling of homesickness creeping in again.
  278. >Fluttershy tugs away from you, but her hoof stays attached to yours.
  279. >”Fluttershy, please, you’re not making this easier for anypony.” Nurse Redheart tries to remind her.
  280. >And so, with the pain of a thousand bandages being torn off at once, Fluttershy lets go of your hoof.
  281. >With great reluctance, Fluttershy trudges over to the end of your little hospital enclosure and looks back at you.
  282. >Her eyes are filled with so many thoughts and emotions that just trying to parse the surface of her mind could take all day.
  283. >Just one more day, Anonymous.
  284. >Then you can go home.
  285. >For the first time in… however long.
  286. >Fluttershy doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t need to say anything.
  287. >She gives you a smile, and leaves.
  288. >Your ears pick up each and every step she makes as she heads out the door.
  289. >Your heart sinks when you can’t hear her hoofsteps anymore.
  290. >”...You know, she visited you every day.” Nurse Redheart notes to break the silence.
  291. >You blink.
  292. “Really? Every day for a year?”
  293. >She nods.
  294. >”You’re a lucky stallion, Anonymous.”
  295. >You really are.
  296. >You’ve spent so long working as some kind of hairless ape that you’ve forgotten what Fluttershy’s love feels like.
  297. >You’ll never forget again.
  298. >Nurse Redheart produces a box of pill bottles and syringes in every color of the rainbow.
  299. >”Okay, this isn’t gonna be fun, but hey, you’ve survived an encounter with King Sombra, you can survive this.” She says to lighten the mood.
  300. >You chuckle and nod.
  301. “Yeah, I guess so.”
  302.  
  303. >You sink back into the bed, feeling a new wave of exhaustion come over you as Nurse Redheart prepares the first of the countless injections.
  304. >She’s saying something about what kind of medicine you’re gonna receive, but you’re succumbing to sleep fast.
  305. >Not a coma sleep, but an actual, real good night’s sleep.
  306. >You’re not sure where the difference lies, maybe it’s the peace of mind that comes with going to sleep of your own accord.
  307. >Before you drift off to slumberland, you glance down at the ends of your forelegs.
  308. >Hooves.
  309. >The same hooves you were born with.
  310. >Not those “finger” things your “other” self had.
  311. >A tall, pink, hairless ape called a hyoo-man.
  312. >What a weird coma dream.
  313.  
  314. >...You didn’t get much sleep.
  315. >You sleep intermittently, only being able to get some shut-eye for an hour or two at a time before returning to staring up the ceiling.
  316. >For a number of reasons.
  317. >The hospital bed isn’t very comfortable, for one.
  318. >But it makes sense, nopony should want to stay in a hospital for longer than they need.
  319. >Two, you’re restless.
  320. >You’ve so sick of lying in bed.
  321. >You’ve had plenty of sleep already.
  322. >More than plenty.
  323. >You want to get out of here, and…
  324. >...Well, gosh, you don’t know where to start.
  325. >There’s so many things you want to see.
  326. >How’s Sweet Apple Acres holding up?
  327. >What’s been added to the menu at Sugarcube Corner?
  328. >...Is Twilight willing to overlook you not returning that book you borrowed from Golden Oak Library before you went under?
  329. >So much can change in a year.
  330. >...A year…
  331. >You might as well have not existed for an entire year.
  332. >You missed out on Hearth’s Warming, you missed out on Nightmare Night, you missed out on Hearts and Hooves Day, everything.
  333. >So many memories have been made in a year, and you’re not in any of them.
  334. >All you have are fake memories.
  335. >Memories that are already beginning to fade.
  336. >Memories of standing behind a cash register all night, and staring at one screen or another in your off hours.
  337. >...But those memories are real to you.
  338. >You lived all of that, coma or not.
  339. >You suffered through all those shifts of ringing up customers and mopping up the floor.
  340. >You beat all those video games.
  341. >Except Persona 5.
  342. >Dumb game’s over a hundred hours long even ignoring a good amount of the side stuff.
  343. >And now you’ll never get to beat it.
  344. >Because Persona 5 only exists in your mind.
  345. >At least you got to beat Silent Hill 2.
  346. >You groan and sink into the pillow.
  347. >This sucks.
  348. >Ponyville’s head and shoulders above… wherever it was you lived as a hyoo-man, but the world of your coma dream had some benefits.
  349. >Those video game things were cool.
  350. >That inter-net thing was pretty neat at times.
  351. >And there were some really good snack foods like Swedish Fish and Skittles.
  352. >Plus some of your coworkers were pretty cool.
  353. >There’s so many songs you’ll never get to listen to again and so many movies you’ll never get to watch again.
  354. >So many things you took for granted are gone and they’re never coming back.
  355. >Because they’re not real, and they never were real.
  356. >You roll onto your side and stare at the floor.
  357. >The floor’s so far away.
  358. >Even if you had the willpower to trudge out of bed for a glass of water or something, your legs wouldn’t be able to hold you up.
  359. >You’d rather lie in bed than lie on the floor.
  360. >Sigh.
  361. >Morning can’t come fast enough.
  362. >Fluttershy’s gonna come back in a few hours and get you out of here.
  363. >You’ve got a lot of catching up to do with her.
  364. >As long as you have her, everything’s gonna be alright.
  365.  
  366. >Your vision goes in and out a few more times.
  367. >Before you know it, the sun’s risen.
  368. >It’s officially tomorrow.
  369. >The rays of Celestia’s sun bathes you in its warmth, as if welcoming you back home.
  370. >You rub the sleep from your eyes and arch your back with a small groan to stretch out your legs.
  371. >Your wings don’t stretch much, though.
  372. >You can only extend them a little.
  373. >Bummer.
  374. >It’s a work in progress.
  375. >You look over to the edge of your little section of the hospital and to find Fluttershy peering at you from just behind the curtain.
  376. >Looks like she’s trying to avoid looking like she was camped out there since visiting hours started.
  377. >Key word: trying.
  378. >”I told you, he was just sleeping.” Nurse Redheart says to her in a notably tired and annoyed tone as she made her way into your makeshift room carrying a tray of pureed breakfast.
  379. >The piles of colored goop don’t look very appetizing, but it’s surely nutritious.
  380. >The tray is placed in front of you with short legs to sit above your lap with a spoon to the side of the plate.
  381. >”Good morning, Anonymous. How are you feeling?” Nurse Redheart asks you in a clinical tone.
  382. >Fluttershy continues to try to hide behind the curtain, seems like Nurse Redheart must’ve given her a rundown on hospital protocol.
  383. >You yawn before you can answer the nurse’s question.
  384. “Pretty good, I guess. Kinda sick of sitting in this bed.” You answer honestly.
  385. >”Well, good news, your medicine went down smoothly. Once you eat your breakfast and get your walker fitted, you’ll be good to go.” Nurse Redheart informs you.
  386. >You can hear Fluttershy squee with delight behind the curtain.
  387. >Nurse Redheart sighs defeatedly and takes a step back from you.
  388. >”You can come in now.”
  389. >As if she were shot out of a cannon, Fluttershy darts right over to you.
  390. >”Good morning, Anon!” Fluttershy excitedly greets you.
  391. >”Gosh, I’ve been wanting to say that to you for such a long time! I mean, say it to you once you’ve actually woken up and can say it back to me. I did say good morning to you every time I visited, although sometimes I had tom come a little later, so I’d say ‘good afternoon’...” She trails off with a shy giggle.
  392. >She’s so adorable.
  393. “Good morning, Fluttershy.” You gently greet her in return.
  394. >Her cheeks flush a shade deeper as she succumbs to a fit of flustered giggles.
  395. >”I, uh… I wanted to bring you some fresh fruits and veggies for breakfast. You know, to help you get healthy soon, but Nurse Redheart said that you needed specially formulated food for breakfast, even though I tried to tell her that pears are your favorite and that would probably help you recover faster-”
  396. >”She was VERY insistent on that.” Nurse Redheart noted, exhausted.
  397. >”But don’t you worry! You can have all the pears you want tomorrow morning after we wake up next to each other in the same bed!” Fluttershy beamed, already anxious for it to be tomorrow.
  398.  
  399. >You’ve never seen her this lively before.
  400. >And she’s right, pears are your favorite.
  401. >Pears sound a heck of a lot better than… whatever’s on your tray.
  402. >But, nurse’s orders.
  403. “I’m really looking forward to it. Thank you, Fluttershy.” You say to her in a warm tone.
  404. >With Fluttershy’s beaming smile warming your heart, you feel invigorated enough to lift the spoon and begin eating your breakfast.
  405. >Your forelegs still have a lot of recovering to do, turns out.
  406. >The spoon shakes in your grip as you try to lift it to your mouth, risking the goop being held spilling back onto the tray.
  407. >”Oh, dear! Don’t worry, I’m here to help!” Fluttershy assures you.
  408. >She delicately holds your hoof in hers and guides the spoon to your mouth.
  409. >It tastes… not bad.
  410. >Slightly above tasteless, hints of actual favor.
  411. >The liquefied nature of the food means it’s much easier to eat than your usual breakfast fare.
  412. >You swallow your current mouthful of breakfast and give Fluttershy an appreciative smile.
  413. “Thank you, Fluttershy.” You softly say to her.
  414. “I get the feeling I’m gonna sound like a broken record with how much I’m gonna be saying that while in recovery.” You chuckle.
  415. >”Then it’s a good thing I’ve been sorely missing your voice!” She giggles.
  416. >With Fluttershy’s assistance, your breakfast is safely stored inside your stomach.
  417. >You’ve successfully eaten your first real, non-imaginary meal in a year, and you had to be fed like a foal.
  418. >A small wave of depression washes over you.
  419. >At least you didn’t have to wear a bib.
  420. >”Is something wrong, Anon?” Fluttershy asks you in a notably worried tone, bringing you back to reality.
  421. >You must’ve let some of your inner turmoil spill over onto your face.
  422. >Fluttershy’s been through enough as is, she’s been worried sick about you for a year.
  423. >Put on a happy face for her, Anon.
  424. “...Yeah, I’m just thinking about everything I want to do once I get out of here.” You answer somewhat untruthfully.
  425. >Fluttershy’s eyes light up at the prospect.
  426. >”I’ve been thinking about that a lot too! Gosh, there’s so many things we can do together! Angel and the rest of the bunnies have missed you so much, and the girls will be so happy to see you again, and oh, we HAVE to visit the-”
  427. >”Before any of that, you’ll need to be fitted for the walker.” Nurse Redheart butts in, motioning over to the harness sitting beside the edge of the curtain.
  428. >”Yes, that’s right.” Fluttershy agrees, hopping over to the walker and, with Nurse Redheart’s help, carries it over to your bedside.
  429. >”Isn’t this exciting, Anon? You’re finally gonna leave the hospital!” Fluttershy cheers.
  430. >Not on your own four legs, though.
  431. “Yeah, it is!” You agree.
  432.  
  433. >”Okay, Fluttershy, you’re going to help me get Anonymous out of the bed and into his walker. It’s very important that you keep a good hold on him throughout because he’ll bruise easily and won’t be able to get up by himself if he falls.” Nurse Redheart instructs her in a clinical tone, walking to the other side of the hospital bed so she’s standing beside Fluttershy to your left.
  434. >”Don’t worry, I’ve been waiting a long time to hold him nice and night, I won’t let him leave my embrace!” Fluttershy promises her, proving her point by wrapping her forelegs around one of yours and snuggling you close.
  435. >Her mane smells like lilacs.
  436. >You can’t help but nuzzle into her embrace and sigh happily.
  437. >Nurse Redheart’s eye twitches.
  438. >”...Okay. You hold him in place. I’m going to rotate his hind legs off the bed so he can slide into the walker. Anonymous, please roll over.” She guides you.
  439. >You comply, though the effort takes more exertion than you expect it to.
  440. >It’s the first thing you’ve actually had to do since hitting your head a year ago, and it’s pretty humbling to lie on your stomach with Nurse Redheart looming over your flank.
  441. >Your wings fall limply to your sides like they belong to a dead bird.
  442. >The side of your bed is lowered to allow Nurse Redheart to move your body while Fluttershy holds your back tight.
  443. >”You have him tight?” Nurse Redheart asks Fluttershy.
  444. >”Yes I do! Are you ready to get out of bed, Anon?” She asks you with a small giggle.
  445. “I’ve been ready.” You answer her with a weary smile.
  446. >Nurse Redheart takes a breath.
  447. >”Okay, on the count of three. One… two… three.”
  448. >Nurse Redheart drags your hind legs off the hospital bed and fastens your rear half into the walker.
  449. >With a couple belts tightened, you’re decked out with some hot wheels.
  450. >Fluttershy holds you with all her might to keep you from slipping off the bed and onto the floor.
  451. >Her forelegs wrap around you from behind as she buries her face in your shoulder.
  452. >She clings onto you with all her might, afraid something could happen to you again.
  453. >”Got it, try easing yourself off the bed, Anonymous.” Nurse Redheart instructs you.
  454. >Fluttershy’s hold on you tightens.
  455. >”...Fluttershy, it’s important that Anonymous tries to support himself so he can-”
  456. >”Sorry, I’m sorry…” Fluttershy sheepishly apologizes, taking another moment to release you from her grip.
  457. >Okay, you’re on your own now.
  458. >Showtime.
  459. >Your forelegs wobble a little as you try to get yourself steady, but you power through it.
  460. >Then, with a groan, you push off the bed and plant your forelegs on the ground.
  461. >It doesn’t go very well.
  462. >Your forelegs buckle on you almost immediately and trying to steady yourself on your hind legs legs to you results in your new wheels sending you barreling backwards.
  463. >Fluttershy and Nurse Redheart are quick to catch you and keep you from crashing into anything.
  464. >You feel like a baby deer, not a pegasus.
  465.  
  466. >”Fluttershy, you’re going to have to be Anonymous’ caretaker while he recovers the strength to support himself. That could take a few weeks, depending on his diet and exercise. I’ve prepared a list of meals that will best help him regain muscle mass, the sooner he gets on that the better.” Nurse Redheart informs Fluttershy, handing her the most clinical shopping list you’ve ever seen.
  467. >”Ooh, we can go to the market and shop together! And it’s such a lovely day, too! I could take you on a little tour of Ponyville now that you’re better!” Fluttershy excitedly offers you.
  468. “That sounds wonderful, I’d love to!” You answer with a smile, feeling your forelegs steady themselves beneath you.
  469. >Fluttershy squees with delight and reattaches herself to your body.
  470. >Like a magnet, you lean your head against hers.
  471. >You can’t get enough of Fluttershy, and Fluttershy can’t get enough of you.
  472. >It’s a deadly combination.
  473. >”Okay, you’ve gotten your walker, your medicine, and your new dietary guidelines. Just sign here and you’re good to go.” Nurse Redheart says to you, presenting a clipboard filled with incomprehensible legal jargon and a blank line at the bottom calling out to you.
  474. >This is it.
  475. >Fluttershy holds you a little tighter and watches your every movement with wide eyes.
  476. >You grasp the pen with your mouth, and slowly, carefully, write the name Anonymous.
  477. >With that, Nurse Redheart pulls the clipboard away and sighs in exhaustion.
  478. >”You can go home now.”
  479. >Fluttershy bounces in place, absolutely vibrating with joy.
  480. >She looks like she wants to cheer, but she’s so overwhelmed with excitement that she doesn’t know what to say.
  481. >She can’t even bring herself to move from her current spot.
  482. >Fluttershy’s borderline hyperventilating, you better intervene.
  483. “Come on, Flutters. Let’s get outta here.” You suggest to her.
  484. >She doesn’t say anything, she just smiles as wide as she can and nods up and down.
  485. >It takes you a second to adjust to the wheels on your hind legs, but you get the hang of it.
  486. >The two of you walk past the rows of hospital beds, past the receptionist’s desk, and through the front doors.
  487.  
  488. >On the other side of the front doors…
  489. >...Ponyville.
  490. >Home.
  491. >The grass on the ground is a lively green.
  492. >All the buildings look so friendly and inviting.
  493. >The town’s abuzz with ponies of all kinds going about their day.
  494. >Birds flutter about in a brilliantly blue sky only scarcely covered with clouds.
  495. >High in the sky is the sun, an eternal symbol of Princess Celestia’s love and care for Equestria.
  496. >And beside you is Fluttershy.
  497. >Your special somepony.
  498. >It really is a beautiful day.
  499. >For the first time in far too long, you feel truly alive.
  500. >You feel Fluttershy shift beside you.
  501. >You turn to see what she’s doing, but she soon sates your curiosity.
  502. >She wraps her forelegs around your back and under your limp wings to capture you in a tight, loving hug.
  503. >A hug she’s pouring all her love and protection into.
  504. >You read a lot of emotions from her as she nestles her head into your neck.
  505. >Relief that you’re finally awake.
  506. >Excitement at all the things you’re going to do together.
  507. >And determination.
  508. >Determination to protect you from the world if she has to.
  509. >A few tears fall from her eyes as she gently weeps, unloading months of emotional baggage in one gesture.
  510. >So you hug her back.
  511. >Tightly.
  512. >You even allow a few tears to escape your eyes.
  513. >The two of you stand there for a moment, savoring each other’s embrace after so much time being worlds apart.
  514. >It pains you to pull away from Fluttershy, but you wipe a tear off of her cheek and give her a reassuring smile.
  515. “Let’s go on a stroll through town.”
  516. >Fluttershy giggles with the most adorable smile you've ever seen.
  517. >"There's nothing I'd like more."
  518.  
  519. >Walking is weird.
  520. >For the past year you’ve spent in dream land you’ve walked on your hind two legs.
  521. >Well, your only two legs.
  522. >Hyoo-mans only have two legs, and arms instead of forelegs.
  523. >So walking like this, like you were born to, feels vaguely like you’re lumbering around like a gorilla.
  524. >Which is ironic, since your coma dream self more closely resembled a primate.
  525. >It doesn’t help that you’re stuck in a walker.
  526. >The wheels drag behind you awkwardly and the belt’s fastened probably a little too tight around your midsection.
  527. >Getting through doorways is gonna be a little trickier now that you’re a little wider.
  528. >And the wheels bump and snag on every little thing on the road.
  529. >It’s definitely gonna take some getting used to.
  530. >You look to your left to see Fluttershy bouncing with every step she takes.
  531. >She’s walking on sunshine, happy as a clam.
  532. >Humming a happy tune to herself as she trots right next to you, as if attached to you.
  533. >You wish you could enjoy the moment more, but the mere act of walking is commanding most of your attention.
  534. >Each and every step has to be placed deliberately.
  535. >Even the slightest misstep and you’re flat on your face.
  536. >The walker definitely helps a lot, though.
  537. >It lets you focus on your forelegs without having to worry about your hind legs.
  538. >Fluttershy’s also helping, the way she’s leaning on you allows you to lean a little on her in return so you’ve got a brace.
  539. >Where would you be without her?
  540. >Probably still in that hospital bed.
  541. >Before too long, you’re in Ponyville’s marketplace.
  542. >Familiar feelings come rushing back to you as earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi walk to and fro, talking amongst each other and doing their shopping.
  543. >You see some familiar faces and some unfamiliar faces.
  544. >The town looks pretty much the same.
  545. >The same buildings, the same shops, the same-
  546. “What in the world is that!?” You exclaim in shock, pointing at one very out-of-place building in the distance.
  547. >Past the rows of cozy cottages and humble shop buildings stands a massive castle made of blue crystal on top of what looks like a crystalline tree.
  548. >The majestic, faintly imposing building is adorned with golden roofing and balconies, truly a structure fitting for majesty.
  549. >What’s it doing in Ponyville?
  550. >Fluttershy is confused by your question at first, then smacks her forehead in realization.
  551. >”Oh, that’s right! You weren’t here when it happened!”
  552. “When what happened?”
  553. >”The Golden Oak Library was destroyed by Lord Tirek while you were in your coma. But we found a chest at the base of the tree that created this castle for Twilight!”
  554. >What?
  555. >You should’ve seen this coming, having one question answered only leads to more questions.
  556. “I’m sorry if this is weird to ask, but… why does Twilight need a castle? Why wouldn’t the library be rebuilt?” You delicately ask Fluttershy.
  557. >”Because Twilight’s the princess of friendship now, silly!”
  558.  
  559. “What!?” You can’t help but blurt out.
  560. >Fluttershy’s ears droop and she looks away, faintly embarrassed.
  561. >”Oh, right, you weren’t there for that…”
  562. >You blink.
  563. >It feels like Twilight moved into Ponyville with that baby dragon of hers only just recently, but she’s already done this much?
  564. >You don’t even have the headspace to wonder who this Lord Tirek guy is.
  565. “...You mean, like, an ACTUAL princess? Alicorn and everything?”
  566. >Fluttershy nods.
  567. >”It was such a big day for her, we’re all so proud of how far she’s come!”
  568. >You exhale, feeling that sulking feeling return.
  569. “I really did miss out on a lot…”
  570. >Fluttershy, sensing your troubled soul, rubs your shoulder lovingly.
  571. >”I understand all this is a lot to take in, but for now let’s just focus on getting you the food you need to get you on track to recovery. We’ll make sure to ease you into how things have changed, okay?”
  572. >You don’t answer for a moment, but you eventually nod in agreement.
  573. >Dwelling on how you lost an entire year of your life isn’t gonna help.
  574. “...Okay.”
  575. >Fluttershy’s heartwarming smile returns to her face.
  576. >”That’s the spirit, Anon! Now come on, I think I see some spinach over there!” She leads you on.
  577. >You walk alongside her through the crowd, feeling your walker bump into some of the nearby ponies.
  578. >Some of them turn around to give you an annoyed look, but most of their faces turn apologetic when they see you’ve got a walker.
  579. >You feel so out of place.
  580. >As Fluttershy carefully looks over the spinach available at the stand, you stare blankly at the crowd.
  581. >Look at all those stories to be told.
  582. >Each and every one of them has a story to tell about what happened to them in the past year.
  583. >New friends were made, new goals were achieved, new memories were made.
  584. >All your memories from the past year are fake.
  585. >”What do you think, Anon? Does this look fresh to you?” You hear Fluttershy ask you, raising a small plate of spinach up for your inspection.
  586. >The question momentarily draws you back to the present moment.
  587. “Huh? Oh, yeah, looks good.” You answer in a noncommittal tone, barely glancing at the greens.
  588. >Fluttershy cocks her head to one side with concern.
  589. >”Are you still upset about what we talked about earlier?” She asks you in a hushed tone, backing away from the spinach vendor to give you two some privacy.
  590. “Kind of.” You admit.
  591. >She looks down, experiencing a rough mixture of emotions before looking back up at you.
  592. >”...Well, how about this: because this is your first day back on your hooves, we can find one special treat for you to enjoy later today. Nurse Redheart gave us this list to make your diet, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you had one little treat on the side.” Fluttershy offers to you.
  593.  
  594. >You know that she doesn’t really think Nurse Redheart would be fine with that, she’s just saying that to make you feel better.
  595. >There’s a pleading look in her eyes, like she’s desperate to make things right.
  596. >You can’t imagine how painful it must be for her to see you like this after a year of being apart from you.
  597. >It pains you to see her like this.
  598. >And you could really go for something sweet.
  599. “...I’d really like that.” You softly admit.
  600. >Fluttershy’s face lights up again and she throws her wings around you to hug you.
  601. >”That’s the spirit! I can’t imagine how hard all this must be for you, but just focus on the moment, okay? We’ll get you up to speed on everything that’s happened up until you woke up, but what matters most is that all your friends really missed you and they’ll be so happy to see you awake!” Fluttershy promised you, muffled slightly by how she’s buried her face in your neck again.
  602. >She’s much more huggy than you remember her being.
  603. >You wish you could hug her back.
  604. >Your wings are still recovering and you can’t balance yourself on the walker’s wheels, so you’re going to have to settle for nuzzling into her neck.
  605. >It’s still very, very nice.
  606. >”Uh… you gonna pay for that?” The spinach vendor asked Fluttershy, his voice thick with impatience as he ruins the moment.
  607. >”Yes, sorry!” Fluttershy hastily apologized to the vendor before fishing the appropriate amount of bits out of her satchel and exchanging them for the spinach.
  608. >”My special somepony woke up from a coma yesterday, he needs all the spinach he can get!” Fluttershy excitedly informs the vendor as she neatly bags up the generous helping of the vegetable she’s purchased.
  609. >”Really?” The vendor asks her before turning to you.
  610. >You manage a small nod to co-sign Fluttershy’s statement.
  611. >”Well then, sounds like you’ll be needing more spinach in the future.” He notes, his mood lifted by the prospect of a returning customer.
  612. >”Absolutely!” Fluttershy eagerly confirms, completely oblivious to his sales pitch.
  613. >”Oh, but we should get going, have a nice day!” Fluttershy bid the vendor farewell before skipping right back to your side.
  614. >You gave him a polite nod before you ventured further into the market with your marefriend.
  615. >It’s strange how familiar everything sounds.
  616. >Everypony’s voices sound familiar, the sounds of the birds in the air sounds more like birds than what you remember the birds in your coma dream sounding like, even the way the wind brushes past the tree branches sounds familiar.
  617. >It makes the world of your coma dream feel that much more alien.
  618. >Subtle differences lying just beneath the surface.
  619. >Fluttershy doesn’t say anything to you beside pointing out ponies selling eggs or beans or nuts, you imagine it’s because she doesn’t want a repeat of dumping some big development from the past year while you’re still finding your footing.
  620. >Figuratively and literally.
  621.  
  622.  
  623. >”Excuse me, are you Mr. Anonymous?” A young voice asks you from behind.
  624. >You and Fluttershy turn around to find two young colts looking up at you, both holding a book.
  625. >...Rumble and Button Mash, that’s their names.
  626. “Yep, that’s me.” You confirm with a small smile.
  627. >You can feel Fluttershy smiling wide next to you.
  628. >”Couldja settle an argument between us?” Rumble asks you.
  629. “Uh… sure.” You ask, unsure of where this could be going.
  630. >”Who would win in a fight between Toa Lhikan and Toa Takanuva?” Button Mash asks you.
  631. “What?” You exclaim at them.
  632. >This is getting weirder and weirder.
  633. >Those two are from Bionicle, something from your coma dream.
  634. >How in the world could they know about Bionicle?
  635. >Is all this another coma dream?
  636. “Um, Anon, aren’t they characters in those books you write?” Fluttershy asks you.
  637. >Before you can ask her “what books?”, you get a better look at the book Button Mash is holding.
  638. >”Bionicle: The Destiny War, by Anonymous”.
  639. >...Oh, yeah, that’s right.
  640. >You were a writer.
  641. >You probably still are.
  642. >You’ve published a few books, but none of them got much of a following before you started writing the Bionicle series.
  643. >Looks like memories of those books you wrote leaked into your coma dream world.
  644. “Oh, right. Sorry, my memory’s a little spotty after waking up from a coma yesterday.”
  645. >”So that’s why the next book still isn’t out yet!” Rumble deduced.
  646. >”I’m terribly sorry to disappoint you, but Anonymous is going to rest and recover as long as he needs to before he gets back to writing!” Fluttershy jumped in on your behalf, much to the two colt’s disappointment.
  647. >”Aw, darn…” Button Mash sulked.
  648. >”Well, can you at least tell us who’d win in that fight?” Rumble asks you.
  649. >Those two must’ve been waiting for a year to settle this debate, you don’t want to keep them waiting longer.
  650. “...Toa Lhikan.” You confidently answer.
  651. >”What!?” Button Mash cried out.
  652. >”Told you.” Rumble reminded him smugly.
  653. >”But- but how? Takanuva beat Makuta all by himself!” Button Mash reminded you.
  654. “That was because Takanuva is a Toa of light, and shadow beings like Makuta are weak to light. Lhikan has centuries more experience as a Toa, both in terms of fighting and using his elemental powers. Really, he only lost to Nidhiki because he surrendered in order to save Vakama’s life.” You retort in an academic tone.
  655. >Button Mash sputters for a few moments before sinking to the ground dejectedly when he accepts that he doesn’t have a good counter argument.
  656. >Talking about this stuff helps you root yourself back in reality and what your life is supposed to be.
  657. >”So how long’s it gonna take for you to get better, anyway? The last book ended on a huge cliffhanger and you went and got into a coma-” Rumble tried to ask you, but is interrupted by Fluttershy.
  658.  
  659. >”Excuse me, are you Mr. Anonymous?” A young voice asks you from behind.
  660. >You and Fluttershy turn around to find two young colts looking up at you, both holding a book.
  661. >...Rumble and Button Mash, that’s their names.
  662. “Yep, that’s me.” You confirm with a small smile.
  663. >You can feel Fluttershy smiling wide next to you.
  664. >”Couldja settle an argument between us?” Rumble asks you.
  665. “Uh… sure.” You ask, unsure of where this could be going.
  666. >”Who would win in a fight between Toa Lhikan and Toa Takanuva?” Button Mash asks you.
  667. “What?” You exclaim at them.
  668. >This is getting weirder and weirder.
  669. >Those two are from Bionicle, something from your coma dream.
  670. >How in the world could they know about Bionicle?
  671. >Is all this another coma dream?
  672. “Um, Anon, aren’t they characters in those books you write?” Fluttershy asks you.
  673. >Before you can ask her “what books?”, you get a better look at the book Button Mash is holding.
  674. >”Bionicle: The Destiny War, by Anonymous”.
  675. >...Oh, yeah, that’s right.
  676. >You were a writer.
  677. >You probably still are.
  678. >You’ve published a few books, but none of them got much of a following before you started writing the Bionicle series.
  679. >Looks like memories of those books you wrote leaked into your coma dream world.
  680. “Oh, right. Sorry, my memory’s a little spotty after waking up from a coma yesterday.”
  681. >”So that’s why the next book still isn’t out yet!” Rumble deduced.
  682. >”I’m terribly sorry to disappoint you, but Anonymous is going to rest and recover as long as he needs to before he gets back to writing!” Fluttershy jumped in on your behalf, much to the two colt’s disappointment.
  683. >”Aw, darn…” Button Mash sulked.
  684. >”Well, can you at least tell us who’d win in that fight?” Rumble asks you.
  685. >Those two must’ve been waiting for a year to settle this debate, you don’t want to keep them waiting longer.
  686. “...Toa Lhikan.” You confidently answer.
  687. >”What!?” Button Mash cried out.
  688. >”Told you.” Rumble reminded him smugly.
  689. >”But- but how? Takanuva beat Makuta all by himself!” Button Mash reminded you.
  690. “That was because Takanuva is a Toa of light, and shadow beings like Makuta are weak to light. Lhikan has centuries more experience as a Toa, both in terms of fighting and using his elemental powers. Really, he only lost to Nidhiki because he surrendered in order to save Vakama’s life.” You retort in an academic tone.
  691. >Button Mash sputters for a few moments before sinking to the ground dejectedly when he accepts that he doesn’t have a good counter argument.
  692. >Talking about this stuff helps you root yourself back in reality and what your life is supposed to be.
  693. >”So how long’s it gonna take for you to get better, anyway? The last book ended on a huge cliffhanger and you went and got into a coma-” Rumble tried to ask you, but is interrupted by Fluttershy.
  694.  
  695. >”Anonymous has a long journey of recovery ahead of him that we should really be getting back to, you two be sure to get home safe, okay?” She requested them.
  696. >”We will!” The two of them answer in unison before turning around and heading off, books in tow.
  697. >It’s nice to see your presence was missed while you were gone.
  698. >If nothing else than for your work.
  699. >”Ooh, look! Quinoa! I’ve been meaning to try that!” Fluttershy excitedly pointed out, ushering you back down into the hustle and bustle of the market.
  700. >But before she could bag another generous amount of healthy foods, a familiar voice calls out to her.
  701. >”There you are, Fluttershy!”
  702. >Both you and her freeze in place and turn to see who it is.
  703. >Rarity, carrying tons of rolled up fabrics, looking pretty peeved, as Flutters would say.
  704. >”Oh, hello Rarity!” Fluttershy greeted her, happily but with a hint of uncertainty.
  705. >”I’ve been looking all over for you, darling! You didn’t arrive at the boutique when we agreed, and when I went over to your cottage to collect you, all I found was that… rabbit of yours!” Rarity reminded her, censoring herself when it came to referring to Angel.
  706. >You love Fluttershy with all your heart, but Angel…
  707. >”Oh, that was today…” Fluttershy realized.
  708. >”Indeed it was! I’m a very busy mare these days, Fluttershy, so when I schedule my clients for a dress fitting, I have little to no room for tardiness!” Rarity scolded her in that professional tone she always uses when her work comes up.
  709. >You feel like you should intervene, but Rarity can be pretty tough to get through when she’s upset about something.
  710. >”Yes, I understand, but-” Fluttershy tried to respond, but Rarity kept going.
  711. >”I imagine something truly important must have come up if you were unable to so much as leave a note for me!”
  712. >”Yes, something really big did happen!” Fluttershy spoke up.
  713. >”Oh, then what was it?” Rarity asked her.
  714. >Time to intervene.
  715. >You step forward to announce your presence, but one of your walker wheels gets caught on a small rock.
  716. >You manage to get the wheel free, but the force you were exerting ends up making you bump into another pony that was walking by with groceries.
  717. “Sorry, sorry!” You hastily apologize to the earth pony, who continues on with an annoyed look.
  718. >At least this got Rarity’s attention.
  719. >She reacted to seeing you like she just saw a ghost, staring wide eyed and frozen in place.
  720. >”...Anonymous woke up…” Fluttershy finally answered her question.
  721. >”ANONYMOUS!” Rarity cheered, dropping her fabrics and rushing over to you to give you a big hug.
  722. >You gasp in slight pain at how fiercely Rarity hugs you, and the wheels serving as your hind legs almost make you fall over, but Rarity holds you in place.
  723. >”Oh, darling, I cannot TELL you how tremendous it is to see you finally awake and out of that hospital! We’ve all missed you terribly!” Rarity gushes, still embracing you tight.
  724.  
  725. “Yeah, good to see you too…” You speak in a strained tone.
  726. >”Um, Rarity, he still needs to recover…” Fluttershy speaks up on your behalf.
  727. >Rarity comes to her senses and releases you from her vice grip, allowing you to gasp for air.
  728. >You’re surprisingly sore after the hug as Fluttershy rushes over to rub your shoulder, Nurse Redheart really wasn’t kidding when she said your muscles need to recover.
  729. >”I’m terribly sorry, darling, it’s just… you’re awake! After so long! It’s a miracle!” Rarity continued, excited.
  730. >”It really is!” Fluttershy agreed, nuzzling into your neck a little.
  731. >Aww.
  732. >Your cheeks take on a faint blush at all the fuzzy feelings flying around.
  733. “Thank you, Rarity. It’s really nice to be able to breathe fresh air again on my hooves again.” You graciously say to her.
  734. >”Heavens, I couldn’t even imagine! To think, waking after so long, to truly feel the wind in the air and the grass beneath your hooves, I almost envy you, Anonymous!” Rarity continues to gush, drawing a raised eyebrow from you and Fluttershy at her over-romanticization of your recovery.
  735. >”...Almost, that is.” Rarity attempts to recover.
  736. >Fluttershy clears her throat to speak up.
  737. >”I’m so sorry for not telling you earlier, it’s just-”
  738. >”Oh, say no MORE, darling! We can simply reschedule for another day! What matters most now is the reunion of Ponyville’s cutest couple!” Rarity quickly assuages her concerns with a dismissive wave of her hoof.
  739. >”Besides, I imagine you two lovebirds have MUCH catching up to do~”
  740. >Fluttershy’s cheeks take on a darker hue of pink.
  741. >As do yours.
  742. >”W-We’re just out shopping for groceries, we’re not up to… anything like that…” Fluttershy tries to rebut, but Rarity isn’t so easily convinced as she turns her eyes to you.
  743. >”What you need is a bold new look, Anonymous! Something that announces to all of Equestria: ‘Here I am! I have returned! I’m as you remember me, yet I’m all new!’” Rarity boldly proclaims, throwing her forelegs up in the air for emphasis.
  744. >Your mood dampens a little when you hear how Rarity describes you.
  745. >You’re as they remember you, yet you’re all new.
  746. >How “all new” can you be?
  747. >”Perhaps something that would go nicely with that risqué little number you had me design for you for Hearts and Hooves~?” Rarity then turns to Fluttershy, whose cheeks turn several shades darker as she averts her eyes in an embarrassed manner.
  748. >”Rarity…” Fluttershy mumbles.
  749. >”Ooh, you’re right, I won’t say another word! Wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise for your coltfriend~” Rarity corrects herself, turning her eyes back to you.
  750. >...Huh.
  751. >Normally your mind would run wild with the possibilities of what Fluttershy’s new outfit could be, but you’re still stuck on what Rarity said to describe you.
  752. >Familiar, yet new.
  753. >Everything’s changed around you in subtle ways, did you change, too?
  754. >Just from being in a coma?
  755.  
  756. >”Is that who I think it is!?” Another familiar voice calls out to you.
  757. >This scratchy voice belongs to a pegasus who almost tackles you when her wings constrict you in a hug of her own.
  758. >It’s Rainbow Dash.
  759. >As spunky and full of energy as ever.
  760. “Urg… yeah, it’s me.” You groan through the blue pegasus’ hug.
  761. >”Rainbow, be careful with him!” Fluttershy pleads her.
  762. >Rainbow quickly realizes how tightly she’s got her wings around you, so she lets up, though nonetheless excited to see you.
  763. >”I knew you’d up and at ‘em again soon! I could feel it in my feathers!” Rainbow excitedly says to you as you regain your footing.
  764. “Heh, I’d have thought you’d have some witty remark saved for me waking up, like ‘I was wondering why it suddenly felt dorkier around here.’” You chuckle, throwing in a poor impression of Rainbow’s voice to add some flair.
  765. >”You kidding? You beat that coma that King Sombra put you into! That’s wicked cool! And hey, you’re really rocking those wheels!” Rainbow cheers you on, genuinely happy to see you again.
  766. >Beside Rainbow is Fluttershy and Rarity, absolutely beaming as they enjoy the good vibes.
  767. >You’ve missed this.
  768. >A lot.
  769. “Heh, thanks, Rainbow. Seems like I’ve missed out on quite a bit since that happened.” You remark, glancing again at Twilight’s castle.
  770. >Twilight’s castle.
  771. >Twilight has a castle now.
  772. >That’s gonna take a while to get used to.
  773. >”Oh, you have no IDEA! I mean, first Twilight becomes an alicorn, then we’re all using rainbow power to defeat this evil Lord Tirek, and now she’s got an entire castle for her-”
  774. >Rainbow freezes in place as she realizes what she’s saying.
  775. >”Uh, eheh, sorry…” Rainbow awkwardly chuckles.
  776. “It’s cool, I get that I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” You assure her.
  777. >”Which he’ll do at a careful pace as he recovers! Would you excuse us, girls? Anon and I still have grocery shopping to do, and he’s long overdue for a bubble bath in the comfort of his home!” Fluttershy steps in, insisting that the current conversation end as politely as she can manage.
  778. >”Of course, darling! Ta-ta!” Rarity bids farewell, collecting her fabrics off the ground, dusting them off, and trotting back towards her boutique.
  779. >”Yeah, I oughta get going, too. Really great to see you back, Anon! Give him a smack on the flank for me, Fluttershy!” Rainbow cheekily requests of Fluttershy before darting back off into the clouds.
  780. >You don’t have to see Fluttershy’s face to know she’s giving Rainbow a dirty look as she leaves.
  781. >Your eyes follow Rainbow Dash as she soars high in the sky to rest on a fluffy looking cloud.
  782. >...If only you could join her in savoring the freedom of the open skies.
  783. >Your wings are still limp.
  784. >They might as well be extra legs.
  785.  
  786. >Your eyes then drift back to Twilight’s castle.
  787. >A grand monument dedicated to how the world has changed since you left it.
  788. >Ponyville itself is largely the same, but that castle…
  789. >It towers over the rooftops, it glistens in the sunlight, it represents everything everypony has done while you were out.
  790. >Dreams came true while you were trapped in a dream.
  791. >You sigh.
  792. >Home sweet home's tasting a little bitter.
  793.  
  794. >The rest of the afternoon carried on in much a similar fashion.
  795. >You and Fluttershy stroll through the market, picking up healthy foods Nurse Redheart recommended while occasionally saying hi to some friendly faces.
  796. >Derpy’s still the mailmare, bless her heart.
  797. >Daring Do books are still selling like hotcakes.
  798. >Something pink zooms out of the corner of your vision at one point.
  799. >You couldn’t tell what exactly it was, but the brief glimpse of it stuck with you.
  800. >But that didn’t remain in the forefront of your mind for very long, as that mental real estate was stolen when you and Fluttershy arrived at Sugarcube Corner.
  801. >Your sweet tooth aches just thinking about the sugary treats that wait within.
  802. >Fluttershy notices what your eyes have landed on and giggles.
  803. >”It looks like we’ve got everything you’ll need for the next week, I think you’ve earned your treat.” She says to you with a smile.
  804. >Your legs are sore and your eyes are straining a little from all the natural sunlight.
  805. >Plus all the idle conversation around you is making your ears ring a little.
  806. >You hope you’ve earned this.
  807. >”Do you want me to order for you? I still remember your favorite treat!” Fluttershy pridefully offers.
  808. >Your favorite treat.
  809. >Your favorite treat…
  810. >...It’s a blur.
  811. >”Oh, yeah? Then what is it?” You ask her with a smirk, subtly inviting her to fill in the blank.
  812. >”A chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles!” Fluttershy confidently answers.
  813. >That sounds right.
  814. “Hey, that’s right! You really did remember!”
  815. >”Of course I remembered! I wanted to make sure you got to enjoy your first day back on your hooves!” Fluttershy beams at you before leaning in a little closer.
  816. >”By the way, you can just say you forgot.” She whispers to you.
  817. >Your cheeks flare up at having been found out.
  818. “L-Let’s just go inside.” You try to dismiss the topic.
  819. >Fluttershy giggles victoriously as she trots ahead of you towards Sugarcube Corner.
  820. >You follow her, making your way through the doors as Fluttershy holds them open extra wide to make space for your walker.
  821. >The moment you cross the threshold, your nostrils are met with the delightfully familiar scents of baked goods of all kinds.
  822. >You don’t live here (unlike Pinkie), but it’s the kind of scent that immediately makes you feel at home.
  823. >Fluttershy helps you move past the tables full of townsfolk enjoying their baked treats to make your way to the counter.
  824. >Behind the counter is Mrs. Cake, who gives you a wide smile when she sees you.
  825. >”Is that- gosh, we haven’t seen you around here in ages, Anonymous!” Mrs. Cake says to you cheerfully.
  826. “Yeah, sorry I haven’t been here in a while, I slept in a little.” You joke, earning a nice giggle from the baking mare.
  827. >Good to see you’ve retained your dry wit throughout your coma.
  828.  
  829. >”Are you two here for your usual orders?” Mrs. Cake asks you and Fluttershy.
  830. >”Yes, please!” Fluttershy happily confirms.
  831. >Mrs. Cake turns around and, a quick few moments later, presents you two with a plate of two cupcakes.
  832. >One of the cupcakes is your favorite, and the other is a vanilla cupcake with strawberry frosting and sprinkles: Fluttershy’s favorite.
  833. >The two are connected by a heart drawn with chocolate sauce.
  834. “Wow, that was fast!” You remark.
  835. >”You should thank Pinkie for that when you see her! She personally whipped up these two for ‘Fluttershy and her special somepony’ before rushing out of here.” Mrs. Cake informs you.
  836. >”Do you know where she went?” Fluttershy asks Mrs. Cake as you take hold of the tray of cupcakes.
  837. >”She wouldn’t say, it must be somepony’s birthday in town. Oh, by the way, Pinkie paid for the cupcakes for you!”
  838. >”That’s so nice of her! I wish I could say thanks, but I’m sure we’ll run into her soon. Right, Anon?” Fluttershy says.
  839. >Because you’re holding the tray of cupcakes with your mouth, you answer by slowly nodding up and down to signal agreement.
  840. >”Well, I won’t take any more of your time. You two have a nice day!” Mrs. Cake bids the two of you farewell as she turns her attention to the next customer in line.
  841. >”Thank you, we will!” Fluttershy says to her, then joining you in finding a spot to sit and enjoy your treats.
  842. >As fate would have it, there’s a table for two right beside the window.
  843. >Fluttershy trots on over and helpfully pulls your seat out for you.
  844. >You place the tray on the table, then look at the chair.
  845. >How are you gonna do this with the walker?
  846. >”Oh, um, I think you can just sit back on it. I’ll hold it for you so it doesn’t slip.” Fluttershy offers, getting a good hold of the chair with her teeth.
  847. >Okay, just turn around and sit down.
  848. >But the wheels on your walker…
  849. >”...Anon, do you need help?” Fluttershy asks you.
  850. “No, no, I got this, it’s just… gonna take some getting used to.” You brush off her concerns.
  851. >You pivot around so that your rear is facing towards the chair.
  852. >While holding your breath, you slowly walk backwards to acquaint your flank with the chair.
  853. >When they do meet, the sensation startles you enough to make you lose your footing and fall backward onto the chair.
  854. >You fall back with enough force that the chair slips away and you fall to the floor, drawing the eyes of everypony in Sugarcube Corner.
  855. >You try to turn over and get back onto your hooves, but you don’t have the strength to get back up.
  856. >Your legs wobble and give out every time you try to stand back up, leaving you pathetically struggling on the floor like a newborn foal.
  857.  
  858. >”Here, hold on.” Fluttershy says to you, holding your forelegs tight.
  859. >She’s strong enough to lift you back up onto your hind legs and get you slowly settled into the chair.
  860. “Thanks, Flutters…” You sheepishly mutter with your head low.
  861. >You know some of the customers are still looking at you.
  862. >You can faintly hear a young filly ask her mom about your walker.
  863. >The sunlight streaming in through the window loses some of its warmth as you stare blankly at the cupcake.
  864. >”...Are you okay, Anon?” Fluttershy quietly asks you.
  865. >You look up to see her giving you a very concerned look.
  866. >She hasn’t touched her cupcake either.
  867. “...Maybe Nurse Redheart’s right, I shouldn’t be eating sugary stuff like this until I can get up off the floor without needing help.” You mutter.
  868. >”But…”
  869. >Fluttershy looks at you pleadingly, visibly conflicted with herself.
  870. >She wants you to enjoy your favorite treat, but she knows that doctor’s orders are what’s best for you right now.
  871. >”...You’re right. I’ll just get these all wrapped up and we can go home, okay?” Fluttershy suggests.
  872. “Okay, thank you.” You say to her.
  873. >Now you feel really stupid.
  874. >You made a scene of falling on the floor trying to get into your chair for nothing.
  875. >”...Hey, we can save these for a really special day, like when you can walk all by yourself! I’m sure Pinkie won’t mind!” She rebounds into a more positive outlook.
  876. >You nod along with her.
  877. “That’s a good idea.” You agree.
  878. >Fluttershy’s slightly wounded by your less-than cheerful response, but she’s got the cupcakes ready to go in no time.
  879. >”Come on, I think what you need is a nice bubble bath and a good night’s sleep in our big, comfy bed.” Fluttershy offers you after securing the cupcakes in her satchel.
  880. >...That does sound really nice.
  881. >You’ve spent the past year immobile in a sterile hospital bed, you’ll probably fall asleep the moment you reach the bed, if you somehow stay awake during the bath.
  882. >Fluttershy offers her hoof to you to help you get going off the chair.
  883. >After hesitating a little, you take her hoof and get up off the chair and the two of you leave Sugarcube Corner.
  884. >Wow, today’s been a long day.
  885. >It’s something you only realize when you see the sun setting.
  886. >It’s the first real sunset you’ve seen in a year.
  887. >Neither you or Fluttershy say anything on the way back to the cottage, although the silence is a little more uncomfortable than it was before.
  888. >The silence is tainted with the experience from Sugarcube Corner.
  889. >If you stumble and fall again, you’ll need help getting up again.
  890. >Even when you were a hyoo-man, as lame as your life was, you could still get up when you fell over.
  891. >Everypony else is doing great.
  892. >Rarity’s got her business, Rainbow’s taking life easy, Twilight’s a princess now for heaven’s sake.
  893. >They all went on to do great things after fighting King Sombra, all you got was a coma and a walker.
  894.  
  895. >Oh, look, it’s the cottage.
  896. >On the edge of Ponyville, illuminated by the evening sky.
  897. >It looks so peaceful, so serene.
  898. >Such comfortable architecture made even more so by the lush greenery surrounding it.
  899. >It looks just like how you remember it.
  900. >You feel your muscles relax, releasing some tension you didn’t know you were holding.
  901. >It’s a little trickier to get your walker to the cottage with the road becoming less maintained, but you don’t mind.
  902. >That bubble bath sounds really nice right about now.
  903. >Fluttershy must be able to sense what you’re feeling, she gives you a warm smile and goes ahead of you to unlock the door.
  904. >”Here we are, home sweet home.” She welcomes you.
  905. >It’s pitch black inside, but you’re sure it’ll feel alright once you’re actually inside.
  906. >Fluttershy lets you inside, hits the lights, and-
  907. >”SURPRISE!”
  908. >Your heart almost stops.
  909. >You’re blinded by lights and colors, and deafened by the sounds of countless voices all yelling at once.
  910. >When your senses readjust to your new environment, you see what must be half of Ponyville gathered in your and Fluttershy’s living space, all wearing party hats.
  911. >Some of them have kazoos, some have confetti poppers, but all are decked out in party regalia.
  912. >At the front and center is Pinkie Pie, having just tossed out a generous helping of confetti.
  913. >Above all of them is a giant colorful banner reading “WELCOME HOME ANONYMOUS!”
  914. >The colors on the banner are slightly faded, like the banner was made a long time ago in preparation for today.
  915. >You blink to get your mind going again.
  916. >But before you can ask any of the questions fighting to be asked, Pinkie lunges forward and traps you in the tightest hug you’ve felt today by far.
  917. >”I’m so, so, SO sorry I didn’t say hi to you today, but I just KNEW that you needed the biggest, bestest welcome back party Ponyville’s ever seen!” Pinkie explains herself to you, unrelenting in her vice grip.
  918. “Urg… it’s… fine…” You manage to struggle out.
  919. >You’re gonna be bruised in the morning for sure.
  920. >”Pinkie, please be gentle with him, he’s got a lot of recovery ahead of him.” Fluttershy speaks up on your behalf.
  921. >Pinkie only half listens as she pulls away from you, a manic look in her eyes.
  922. >”You wouldn’t BELIEVE how much running I’ve had to do to get all of this put together in time for you two to come home! But I did it! I probably set a new speed record in Pinkie party planning!” Pinkie proudly informs you.
  923. >”Yes, um, how did you do that, by the way? I locked the door when I left this morning…” Fluttershy asks her.
  924. >”But you didn’t lock one of the windows!” Pinkie beams.
  925. >That’s Pinkie alright.
  926.  
  927. >You glance past Pinkie at the crowd of townsfolk gathered in your living space.
  928. >Their names emerge from your brain fog as your eyes scan the crowd.
  929. >Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack and her folks, Derpy, Lyra and Bon Bon, Octavia, Vinyl Scratch with her DJ setup, Berry Punch, Cheerilee, Carrot Top, the list goes on.
  930. >Twilight’s nowhere to be seen, though.
  931. >And there are some you don’t recognize.
  932. >They’re all wearing party hats and holding little cups of fruit punch, and all looking at you happily.
  933. >There’s a massive cake behind all of them, with a little plastic figure of you sleeping in a hospital bed at the top.
  934. >It’s a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting and sprinkles.
  935. >The little critters that Fluttershy cares for are peppered about along the upper levels of the room, watching the imminent party with close attention.
  936. >Angel’s sitting conspicuously close to the cake, the little mongrel.
  937. >You’d never let Fluttershy hear you call him that.
  938. >”Ooh, I almost forgot!” Pinkie excitedly says to you.
  939. >Before you can ask her what she possibly could have forgotten, Pinkie turns around and presents you with a custom made medal from who-knows-where.
  940. >The medal reads “Ponyville Nap Champion”.
  941. >”Made it just for you!” Pinkie beams.
  942. >Nap champion.
  943. >The only thing you did for the past year was lie in a hospital bed, and Pinkie thinks that warrants a medal.
  944. >Out of the corner of your eye, you can tell Fluttershy isn’t very touched by the gesture either.
  945. >You stare at it for a moment before ultimately accepting the medal, feeling an obligation to.
  946. “...Thanks, Pinkie.”
  947. >”No problemo, Anonymo!” Pinkie giggles.
  948. >”Now come on, you’re WAY overdue for a party, so let’s get this party started!” She declares, shoving a slice of cake into your grasp.
  949. >With that, the party begins in earnest.
  950. >Lively music plays as lighthearted conversations are had.
  951. >Pinkie bounces off to attend to other party-related matters, leaving you with the slice of cake and Fluttershy standing beside you.
  952. >”I’m so sorry about all this, Anon. If you want, I can try to get them all to leave.” Fluttershy offers, somewhat timidly.
  953. >You know that she’s going to really struggle with that, and you’d never put Fluttershy on the spot like that.
  954. “Thanks, Flutters, but I can handle myself. I’ve gotta get used to being around others again.” You assure her.
  955. >”Are you sure? Because I-”
  956. >”Howdy, Anonymous!” Applejack’s voice interrupts Fluttershy as she greets you.
  957. >Thankfully, you’re spared a demonstration of Applejack’s strength as she knows better than to hug you tight.
  958. “Uh, hey, Applejack.” You greet her in return, managing a smile.
  959. >When you turn to face her, you find Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh standing right behind her, looking just as happy to see you.
  960. >”I can’t tell ya how nice it is to see ya up and at ‘em again, we were all worried sick about ya.” Applejack says to you.
  961. >Fluttershy shifts a little closer.
  962.  
  963. “Yeah, well, can’t keep me down.” You softly chuckle.
  964. >”Heh, ain’t that the truth! That King Sombra fella ain’t as tough as he says he is, that’s for sure.” Applejack notes in a satisfied tone.
  965. >He’s tough enough to put you in a coma.
  966. >”Mister Anonymous, we saved this bottle of cider just for you for when ya finally wake up!” Apple Bloom pipes up, proudly presenting the bottle of Sweet Apple Acres’ famous apple cider to you.
  967. >Your heart melts a little when you see those big, adorable eyes of hers looking up at you.
  968. >How could you say no to a face like that?
  969. >You graciously accept the bottle of cider and smile at Apple Bloom.
  970. “Thank you, I’ll save this for the perfect time.” You promise her.
  971. >”Alrighty! Can I go play with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle now?” Apple Bloom asks her two older siblings.
  972. >”Eeyup.” Big Macintosh answers her, allowing her to bounce off into the crowd.
  973. >Apple Bloom still doesn’t have her cutie mark and Big Macintosh is still a stallion of few words.
  974. >The more things change, the more things stay the same.
  975. >”I’m gonna go keep an eye on ‘em, Scootaloo gets a little hyper on too much sugar and Rainbow ain’t exactly a good influence on them in that regard.” Applejack dismisses herself, subtly following Apple Bloom’s trail into the party.
  976. >You look at Big Macintosh, who gives you a firm “Eeyup.” before he goes off to do his own thing, probably to manage things back at the farm.
  977. >”I’ll go put that somewhere safe.” Fluttershy says to you, gently taking the bottle of apple cider.
  978. >”Are you gonna be okay out here while I’m gone?”
  979. >You glance at the crowd.
  980. >Good question.
  981. “...Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’ve got some catching up to do anyway. Besides, you won’t be far.” You answer her.
  982. >Fluttershy smiles at you before she gently flies off to keep the apple cider stored properly.
  983. >Leaving you alone in a crowd of partygoers in your living room.
  984. >Time to rekindle some friendships.
  985. >...Something that proves easier said than done.
  986. >You sheepishly mosey from small group to small group, trying your best to make conversation with them, but it doesn’t take long for you to realize it’s a lost cause.
  987. >You step in, they say hi and welcome you back to reality, you ask them how things have been going, and they spin you a little yarn of what they’ve been up to in the past year, then things trail off and you dismiss yourself.
  988. >You’ve got nothing to talk about with them.
  989. >They’re all talking about sports and events that, to them, is common knowledge.
  990. >You might as well have not existed this past year.
  991. >You haven’t had a single bite of your cake yet.
  992. >Your walker makes it difficult to get around.
  993. >And this stupid medal is really weighing down your neck.
  994. “Oof!” You involuntarily exclaim as you bump into another pony while lost in thought.
  995. >You turn to face them and find a gray colored mare with a short, straight mane.
  996.  
  997. >”It’s fine.” She bluntly responds to you in a monotone voice.
  998. >You don’t recognize her, you’re sure of it.
  999. “...I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.”
  1000. >”We haven’t. I’m Maud.”
  1001. >”Ooh, that’s right, I haven’t gotten to introduce you two yet!” Pinkie’s voice suddenly returns as she bounces between the two of you and throws her forelegs around you two.
  1002. >”Maud’s my sister! She came back to Ponyville just this year!” She lets you know.
  1003. “You have another sister? I thought I met your whole family when you invited me to your mom’s birthday party.” You ask Pinkie.
  1004. >”Maud’s been out of town! I just wish you could’ve met her sooner!”
  1005. >You too.
  1006. >You look over at Maud, who looks completely unaffected by Pinkie’s bounciness.
  1007. >”I should introduce you to Boulder, you’ll get along with him.” Maud says to you.
  1008. >”Boulder’s her pet rock!” Pinkie is quick to clarify.
  1009. “Uh…”
  1010. >”So sorry we’re late, there was a TON of organizing that needed to be done at the castle!” You hear a familiar voice speak up from behind you.
  1011. >You turn around.
  1012. >It’s Twilight Sparkle and Spike, standing in the doorway.
  1013. >Not Twilight Sparkle the unicorn.
  1014. >Twilight Sparkle the alicorn.
  1015. >With a horn and wings and even a little taller than you remember her.
  1016. >Wearing a golden crown with an amethyst gem in the shape of her cutie mark.
  1017. >A true princess.
  1018. >Your blood runs cold.
  1019. >Things really have changed around here.
  1020. >”It’s no problem, you’re right on time! We’re only just getting started!” Pinkie assures her, letting go of you and Maud.
  1021. >Maud, seemingly used to Twilight being an alicorn, goes off to do her own thing as Pinkie greets Twilight.
  1022. >Your eyes linger on Twilight’s alicorn features, like you’re trying to convince yourself that what you’re seeing is real.
  1023. >”It’s all because we HAD to organize Starswirl’s old scrolls chronologically…” Spike mutters as he rubs his eyes.
  1024. >”Hey, we got out of there sooner than we thought you thought we would. Now we can focus on unwinding a little here!” Twilight reminds him before her eyes fall on you.
  1025. >Neither of you say anything for a moment, neither of you are sure how to broach the moment.
  1026. >Where is Fluttershy?
  1027. >”Uh… hey, Anonymous!” Twilight awkwardly greets you.
  1028. >You blink.
  1029. “...Uh…”
  1030. >What do you say?
  1031. “It’s… an honor to… meet you again, your majesty.” You stammer out.
  1032. >Twilight lets out a shaky laugh.
  1033. >”Anon, it’s okay, it’s just me.” She says, trying to ease your pressure.
  1034. >It’s just her.
  1035. >Just the Princess of Friendship.
  1036. >Not the unicorn you remember her being.
  1037. “...Yeah…”
  1038. >Twilight’s smile gets a little more crooked as she visibly struggles to come up with something helpful to say.
  1039. >Pinkie swoops in to spare her the trouble.
  1040. >”You’re here just in time, Twilight! Anon’s about to give his big speech!” Pinkie excitedly says to her.
  1041. >”He is?” Twilight asks her.
  1042. “I am?” You ask her.
  1043.  
  1044. >”Yeah! Your big welcome back speech! Hey everypony! Anonymous has something to say!” Pinkie announces to the whole party “on your behalf”.
  1045. >On cue, the music stops and all eyes fall on you in the center of the room.
  1046. >Only now do you see Fluttershy returning, at the very edge of the room.
  1047. >You gulp.
  1048. >Twilight and Spike give you some space to speak.
  1049. >You scan the crowd and see everypony looking at you so expectantly.
  1050. >Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie and her sister, all eyes on you.
  1051. >Fluttershy, in the back, is visibly worried.
  1052. >You gotta say something.
  1053. “...Um…”
  1054. >You clear your throat.
  1055. “...It’s good to be back.” You speak up.
  1056. >The crowd cheers.
  1057. “I’ve, uh, got some serious catching up to do, though.” You continue, earning some scattered chuckles from your audience.
  1058. >You’re only now noticing how tired you sound.
  1059. “And I mean, a LOT of catching up to do.” You continue.
  1060. >There you go, you’ve found a groove.
  1061. “Like, I was in that coma for a whole year. I lost a whole year of my life, just lying in that hospital bed. That time is gone, and it’s never coming back.”
  1062. >No response from the crowd.
  1063. “You only really notice how much can happen in a year when you look back on it. I mean, look at Twilight. She became a princess and got a castle all to herself in that time.”
  1064. >Twilight lowers her head a little.
  1065. “But it’s not like I did nothing while I was in a coma. I had a life in there. I was a cashier who worked the night shift at a dingy store. I didn’t have any friends, my boss was a jerk, and the customers were all a pain in the neck. I was miserable.” You admit.
  1066. “And then I just… woke up from that. I returned to my real life. You’d think that’d be a relief, that I get to escape that awful life, but looking back, it’s like the universe was telling me ‘none of that mattered because none of it was real’.”
  1067. “Really, everything in my coma dream was for nothing. I put up with my boss and my poor social life for nothing. Because it wasn’t real.”
  1068. “...But it was real to me.”
  1069. >You sigh, then continue.
  1070. “...And it’s not like waking up from the coma’s been all sunshine and rainbows. I can’t fly. I can barely walk. I have to use this thing to get around. In fact, just today at Sugarcube Corner, I fell over and couldn’t do anything but struggle on the floor like a baby deer-”
  1071. >You stop yourself.
  1072. >You look up at the crowd.
  1073. >They’re all suffocating on an extremely tense silence.
  1074. >Some of the ponies are exchanging uncomfortable looks.
  1075. >Fluttershy looks really worried about you.
  1076. >Stupid Anonymous.
  1077. >Pinkie just wanted you to make a toast, this isn’t a therapy session.
  1078. >You hang your head.
  1079. >You’re so tired.
  1080.  
  1081. “...I’m gonna go lie down.” You dismiss yourself.
  1082. >You turn around and disappear into the bedroom you share with Fluttershy.
  1083. >The walker’s wheels squeak as you leave.
  1084. >You shut the door behind you trudge over to the bed.
  1085. >You’re so tired that you don’t even bother trying to get the stupid walker off of you, you just lay your upper body over the bed and immediately succumb to the plush, welcoming softness of your own bed.
  1086. >What a day.
  1087.  
  1088. >Your sleep is interrupted when something jostles you awake.
  1089. >The feeling of being moved around by an unknown being fills you with panic, making you shoot awake and yelp in surprise (and slight fear).
  1090. >”Sorry! I’m sorry!” Fluttershy’s voice hastily apologizes.
  1091. >You settle down and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness, where you see Fluttershy beside you on the bed, hiding behind her mane and looking down at the blanket.
  1092. >You look down at yourself.
  1093. >You’re tucked into bed with the walker neatly placed beside the bed, and the nap champion medal has been removed from your neck.
  1094. “Ngh, what happened?” You groggily ask Fluttershy, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.
  1095. >”Um… well, you didn’t miss anything. After you left the party, everypony started going home.” Fluttershy quietly answers your question.
  1096. >She pauses for a moment before continuing.
  1097. >”...I’m really sorry you were put on the spot like that. I should’ve told Pinkie that it would’ve been best to reschedule the party for after you recovered. Please don’t think you ruined the party.”
  1098. >You’re about to assure her that it’s okay, but she continues.
  1099. >”Anyway, I went upstairs to check on you once Twilight and Applejack promised to make sure everypony cleared out, and when I found you asleep like that on the bed, I wanted to make sure you got the best sleep possible.”
  1100. >Fluttershy’s breathing gets a little shaky.
  1101. >”But… after I got you out of that walker and I tucked you into bed… and you didn’t stir even a little, I just… I know, I should’ve known you were just sleeping but I… I just got so worried that something… I wanted to make sure something didn’t… you didn’t…”
  1102. >Her attempts to explain herself devolve to a struggle to stop herself from crying.
  1103. >You lean up and rub her back reassuringly.
  1104. “Flutters, I’m okay, I promise.”
  1105. >Fluttershy wipes a tear from her eye and nods.
  1106. >”I know, it’s just… seeing you sleep like that, I just got so worried… I’m sorry for waking you up, Anon.”
  1107. >You sit up even more to wrap both your forelegs around Fluttershy to bring her into a hug.
  1108. >Fluttershy sinks into your embrace, draping her forelegs around you in return and allows herself to gently weep into the crook of your neck.
  1109. >You two sit like that for a few moments, just savoring each other’s presence here in this room.
  1110. >It’s been a year since Fluttershy shared this bed, and it’s been a year since you’ve lied in a bed that wasn’t in the hospital.
  1111. >You two have been sorely missing each other.
  1112. >”...I missed you so much…” Fluttershy whispers to you with a faint quiver in her voice.
  1113. >You want to say you missed her too, but in honesty, as cruel as it sounds, you didn’t.
  1114. >Fluttershy didn’t exist in your coma dream.
  1115. >You didn’t miss her because you didn’t know to miss her.
  1116.  
  1117. >Fluttershy’s forelegs tighten around your body before it quickly loosens and she backs away from your embrace.
  1118. >”I’m sorry, I should be letting you get your sleep…”
  1119. >Poor Fluttershy doesn’t know what to do with herself.
  1120. “Fluttershy, I’ll never be upset at you for waking me up.” You gently promise her, maintaining your hold on her, though loosening it enough to give her some space.
  1121. >Through the darkness of night, you can see her smile a little.
  1122. >She sinks into the cushiony mattress, and brings you down with her.
  1123. >With the thick blanket draped over the both of you, Fluttershy snuggles close to you and gently rests her snout against yours.
  1124. >Her breathing’s calmed down, returning its delicate, almost musical tone.
  1125. >Her green eyes shine like emeralds in the subtle moonlight.
  1126. >She looks at you with such love in her eyes.
  1127. >Love that hasn’t been allowed to be shared since you went into that coma.
  1128. >”...Anon?” She whispers to you.
  1129. “Yeah, Flutters?” You whisper to her.
  1130. >”I can’t imagine how hard all of this must be for you, but I’m really proud of you for putting your best hoof forward despite it all. Recovery takes time, and you’ll be back to normal before you know it.”
  1131. >Fluttershy takes a breath, then gazes deep into your eyes.
  1132. >”But no matter how long it takes for you to get better, what will always matter most is that you came back to me, just like I knew you would.”
  1133. >She leans in closer and rests her forehead against yours.
  1134. >”Promise me you won’t hurt yourself trying to settle back into your life.” She whispers to you.
  1135. “I promise.” You whisper to her.
  1136. >”I mean it, Anon. Please don’t hurt yourself, physically or emotionally.”
  1137. >Her eyes glisten as tears threaten to well up again.
  1138. >The sight is enough to make you hesitate before answering.
  1139. >You think back to earlier today, sulking about how you were stuck in a walker and how you missed out on stuff like Twilight became a princess.
  1140. >Everypony at the party was happy to see you.
  1141. >They all want to see you get better.
  1142. >You want to get better.
  1143. >You want to get out of that walker and back to living the life you used to live.
  1144. >You’re out of that coma, that’s what matters most.
  1145. “...I promise I won’t hurt myself, Fluttershy.”
  1146. >Fluttershy, content with your answer, smiles warmly and snuggles deep into your embrace.
  1147. >”I love you, Anon.” Fluttershy says to you.
  1148. “I love you too, Fluttershy.” You say to her in return.
  1149. >With the two of you holding each other tightly, snuggled close in a big, comfy bed, you succumb to your drowsiness with your marefriend Fluttershy.
  1150. >Before you fully succumb to sleep, your promise echoes in your mind.
  1151. >You won’t hurt yourself.
  1152. >You’re gonna try your hardest.
  1153. >You’re gonna get better.
  1154. >Fluttershy knows so.
  1155.  
  1156. >Morning arrives as gently as the sun streaming in through the window.
  1157. >On the other side of the window, families of birds happily flutter about, singing their little songs.
  1158. >Further beyond are the familiar trees and hills of Ponyville, your home, so lush and full of life.
  1159. >The warmth of Celestia’s golden grace shining high in the sky slowly stirs you from your sleep.
  1160. >Gosh, that was the best sleep you’ve ever had.
  1161. >You’ve sorely missed the plush comfort of Fluttershy’s bed.
  1162. >It’s so much more heavenly than the hospital bed, or the bed your “other” self slept in during your coma dream.
  1163. >The weighted blanket you’re tucked into is like you’re being hugged by the universe.
  1164. >You soon notice you’re being hugged by a more tangible being: Fluttershy.
  1165. >Not only are her forelegs holding you close, her wings are draped around your body, like she’s protecting you from the world.
  1166. >She breathes so delicately, so adorably.
  1167. >Her eyelid twitches a little.
  1168. >Her eye peeks open, just a tiny bit, but quickly shuts again when your eyes meet hers.
  1169. >Was she pretending to be asleep?
  1170. “Good morning, Fluttershy.” You drowsily murmur to her.
  1171. >Fluttershy can’t help but smile as she nuzzles you even closer into her embrace.
  1172. >”I’ve wanted to hear you say that to me again for so long… just like how long I’ve waited to say ‘Good morning, Anon’.” She whispers to you through the snuggle.
  1173. “Were you pretending to be asleep?” You ask her.
  1174. >With some trepidation, she nods and opens her eyes.
  1175. >”When I woke up, I wanted to get breakfast started so you could wake up to your first nice homemade meal since waking up from your coma, but I also didn’t want you to wake up in a bed by yourself, so all the little critters agreed to pitch in and cook breakfast for you while I made sure we could wake up together!” Fluttershy explained herself.
  1176. “...How long ago did you wake up?” You ask further.
  1177. >Fluttershy hesitates.
  1178. >”...An hour ago?”
  1179. “So you spent an hour in bed waiting for me to wake up?”
  1180. >“...Yes…”
  1181. >You gently chuckle and snuggle into her embrace.
  1182. “I don’t deserve you, Flutters.”
  1183. >Fluttershy giggles and presses her snout against yours.
  1184. >”That must be the memory loss acting up, my dear Anonymous knows better than to say silly things like that.” She lightly teases you.
  1185. >Interrupting your cute little back and forth with your special somepony is the scent of a fresh cooked breakfast wafting in from the kitchen.
  1186. >For a bunch of woodland critters, they sure know how to cook.
  1187. >You should know that by now, you’ve been living with Fluttershy for a good while.
  1188. >Right on cue, a small flock of blue jays fly into the bedroom, all of them working together to carry a tray of food with their beaks to place it on your lap.
  1189. >The scent of this lovingly cooked breakfast wakes you right up and soothes your soul.
  1190. >Before you sits a plate full of blueberry pancakes, hash browns, a small salad, and a tall glass of apple juice.
  1191.  
  1192. >The tray sits with legs that extend so that you don’t have to worry about accidentally knocking it over and ruining the bedsheets.
  1193. >The pancakes and hash browns have been pre-cut for your eating convenience.
  1194. >You sniff the air to savor the scent of the breakfast before you, and sink into the pillows as you sigh contentedly.
  1195. “Mmm, this smells delicious. Thank you, Fluttershy.” You softly say to her, leaning your head against hers as she snuggles up beside you.
  1196. >”You’re very welcome, Anonymous, but I couldn’t have done this alone~” She reminds you as the blue jays settle themselves at the foot of the bed and look at you expectantly.
  1197. >You chuckle and nod at the birds.
  1198. “Thank you for cooking this for me.” You properly thank the small flock.
  1199. >The blue jays chirp happily and fly off to attend to other matters in the cottage.
  1200. >”Go on, have some!” Fluttershy urges you, somewhat impatiently.
  1201. >You oblige her by slowly and carefully picking up the fork on the tray, impaling one of the chunks of pancake with it, and eating the pancake.
  1202. >...Gosh, you missed this.
  1203. >Your mouth sings its thanks for you finally eating something made with love for the first time in a year.
  1204. >Each chew is like another wave of flavor and warmth washing through you.
  1205. >Your stomach quickly pipes up, demanding more.
  1206. >You oblige.
  1207. >You being quickly stuffing your face with the warm, delicious breakfast foods like you’re being timed.
  1208. >”Anon! Slow down! You might choke!” Fluttershy warns you, nudging you.
  1209. >You freeze mid-chew.
  1210. >It would be pretty pathetic of you to die from choking on hash browns after surviving a battle against King Sombra.
  1211. >”I’m very glad that you like your breakfast so much, but you need to be careful if you’re going to get better, okay?” Fluttershy requests.
  1212. >You can do that.
  1213. >You carefully swallow your mouthful of hash browns and slowly nod.
  1214. “Okay, I’m sorry.” You apologize to her.
  1215. >”You don’t have to apologize, just please be careful.”
  1216. >You hang your head a little like you're being scolded.
  1217. “I’ll be careful.” You promise her.
  1218. >Fluttershy feels a little guilty about risking spoiling the nice morning and rubs your shoulder.
  1219. >”...You know, there’s nothing I have planned for us today. We can do whatever you want! If you want to stay in bed and rest the whole day, that would be just fine!” She assures you with a smile.
  1220. >You laugh a little.
  1221. “Flutters, I kinda wanna get moving on getting out of that walker, I won’t be able to do that if I spend all day in bed.” You remind her.
  1222. >Fluttershy’s eyes fall to the bed.
  1223. >”I guess that’s true…” She admits.
  1224. >Fluttershy clings onto your body and idly strokes your numb wings as you finish eating your breakfast, slowly and carefully.
  1225. >Before you can ask what to do with the dirty dishes, a family of squirrels darts into the room and carries off the tray and dishes.
  1226. >Now that it’s just you and Fluttershy in the bed, she clings onto you tighter.
  1227.  
  1228. >”...What do you want to do now?” Fluttershy cautiously asks you with her face buried in your shoulder.
  1229. >This bed is so comfortable.
  1230. >You want to stay here for the rest of the day.
  1231. >For the rest of your life.
  1232. >But you can’t.
  1233. >The road to recovery starts with getting out of bed.
  1234. “...I want to get out of bed and stretch my legs.” You answer.
  1235. >Fluttershy can’t hide her disappointment, but she relents and nods.
  1236. >She rolls out of bed and sets up your walker at the edge of the bed.
  1237. >Here we go again.
  1238. “Is there anything you need me to do?” You ask Fluttershy, feeling that awful sense of helplessness creep up within you.
  1239. >”You don’t have to worry about a thing, Anon. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.” Fluttershy assures you.
  1240. >She then takes hold of your hind legs and spins you around so that you’re facing away from the walker.
  1241. >You feel Fluttershy wedge the walker’s holster straps around your midsection.
  1242. >It’s very humbling.
  1243. >You instinctively lower your head to hide your shame.
  1244. >”Okay, the walker’s on nice and tight. Try backing up a little. I’m right here if anything happens.” Fluttershy instructs you.
  1245. >You strain a little pushing your body back off the bed, but soon enough, you’re free of the addictive comfort of the bed and back on your legs (and wheels).
  1246. >”You know what, it’s such a lovely day outside, maybe we should go for a walk by the pond!” Fluttershy suggests.
  1247. >”That would be a nice way for you to ease back things!”
  1248. >The atmosphere outside makes a persuasive argument.
  1249. >All the birds and butterflies should take your mind off how feeble you are.
  1250. “That sounds good to me!” You agree with a tired smile.
  1251. >Fluttershy beams and carefully leads you through the cottage.
  1252. >She did an impressive job cleaning up last night.
  1253. >If you didn’t know there was a party, you’d never have guessed.
  1254. >Angel hops out from behind a corner, dragging a massive basket of muffins towards you.
  1255. “What’s this?” You ask.
  1256. >”It looks like it’s from Pinkie.” Fluttershy deduces as she looks at the basket.
  1257. >The basket is absolutely packed to the brim with muffins.
  1258. >The handle of the basket has the word “I’m” written on it, the body of the basket has “Sorry” drawn onto it, and each and every single muffin has the word “Really” written on it with chocolate chips.
  1259. >There’s even a sad face doodled on the other side of the basket to really drive the point home.
  1260. “Yep, it’s from Pinkie.” You confirm.
  1261. >But before you can put aside the basket and head out on your little stroll with Fluttershy, there’s a loud banging on the front door, taking a sledgehammer to the gentle peacefulness of the morning and scaring off some of the critters resting in the living room.
  1262. >”Now, who could that be?” Fluttershy wonders aloud.
  1263. “I’ll get it.” You jump to action, moseying on over to the front door to find…
  1264. >...Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle, both looking excited.
  1265.  
  1266. “G’morning.” You greet the two mares.
  1267. >”Gooood morning, Anonymous! How’re ya feeling?” Rainbow asks you in a peppy tone.
  1268. “Pretty good, I guess.” You answer, not sure what else you could have answered the question with.
  1269. >”Didja eat breakfast?”
  1270. “Yeah, why?”
  1271. >”’Cause day one of training begiiiiins NOW!” Rainbow boldly answers.
  1272. >You blink several times, fully waking up thanks to Rainbow’s loud, scratchy voice.
  1273. >Today’s sure off to a start.
  1274. “Training? What are you talking about?”
  1275. >Twilight steps forward, making you realize that she’s gotten a bit taller than you remember her being before your coma.
  1276. >”Rainbow and I were talking last night as the party was wrapping up, and we thought we would help you recuperate by overseeing your physical therapy!” Twilight beamed.
  1277. >”And who better to help you get back in the sky than THE best flyer in all of Ponyville?” Rainbow boastfully butted in, flapping her wings for emphasis.
  1278. >”Is everything okay?” Fluttershy asks from behind you, joining the conversation.
  1279. >”We’re gonna be training Anon to get back to his old self, starting today!” Rainbow answers her.
  1280. >You can feel the air pressure around Fluttershy shift when she hears this.
  1281. >You can sense her disappointment.
  1282. >”But… but Anon and I were gonna have a picnic by the pond today.” Fluttershy meekly informs her.
  1283. >”We’re really sorry to be butting in on your time with Anon, especially since he’s been gone for so long, but… not to put this the wrong way, but don’t you want Anon to get back to flying through the sky with you?” Twilight asks her.
  1284. >Fluttershy nervously looks around, stepping slightly closer to you.
  1285. >”I just think he needs a little more time to get used to things. If he exerts himself too much too soon, he could really hurt himself.” Fluttershy says to Twilight, stepping in front of you and extending a wing to cover you.
  1286. >”Come on, Fluttershy, the longer Anon waits to get training, the harder it’s gonna be for him! Do you want him to be in that walker forever?” Rainbow counters, notably more aggressively.
  1287. >”No, of course not!” Fluttershy defensively answers.
  1288. >”Girls, I think it would be best if Anonymous speaks for himself.” Twilight interrupts them, directing the conversation back to you.
  1289. >Rainbow and Fluttershy both look at you, each with different looks.
  1290. >Rainbow gives you an expectant look, like she’s waiting for you to quit dragging your hooves and get your head in the game.
  1291. >Fluttershy looks at you pleadingly, she wants you to return to the comfort of your time with her and save your training for another day.
  1292. >But there’s conflict in Fluttershy’s eyes, she knows she can’t ask you to not begin your physical therapy.
  1293. >You look down at her wing, still guarding you from Twilight and Rainbow.
  1294. >...You still can’t feel your wings.
  1295. >You look up at the sky.
  1296. >So faintly familiar.
  1297. >The clouds are cleaner than the clouds in your coma dream.
  1298. >But they’re so far away.
  1299. >Beyond your reach.
  1300.  
  1301. >You look back at the girls.
  1302. “...I’m ready when you are.” You say to Rainbow.
  1303. >”Yeah! That’s the spirit!” Rainbow cheers.
  1304. >Fluttershy slowly lowers her wing dejectedly.
  1305. >”Spike’s been setting up your training course while we were talking!” Rainbow adds, using her wing to point behind her.
  1306. >Looking past her, you see Spike adjusting a set of foreleg rails and a tank of water.
  1307. >Once he’s finished making sure the foreleg rails are sturdy, he leans against them and wipes the sweat from his brow.
  1308. “...That’s it?” You ask Rainbow and Twilight.
  1309. >”You gotta trot before you can gallop, Anon! I’ve been reading up a lot-”
  1310. >”That’s a first.” Rainbow sarcastically interrupts her.
  1311. >Twilight rolls her eyes at Rainbow before continuing.
  1312. >”I’ve been reading up on physical therapy. I’ve created a six month schedule for your physical therapy complete with dietary recommendations!” Twilight beams with pride.
  1313. “Wait, the party was last night. You went home and made a six month schedule for my rehabilitation in ONE night?” You ask her, both incredulous and impressed.
  1314. >”A lot of the physical therapy books I looked at already had general routines for both pegasi and former coma patients. All I did was adjust the recommended repetitions and weights for your specific build!”
  1315. >Twilight’s always really good at making this kind of stuff sound easy.
  1316. >”You keep talking about your book stuff, I’m gonna go add some finishing touches to the training course.” Rainbow excuses herself, flying over the foreleg rails to inspect Spike’s handiwork for herself.
  1317. >You turn your attention back to Twilight.
  1318. “I’m kinda surprised you’re here, too. I figured you’d just give Rainbow the schedule and go back to your princess duties.” You say to her.
  1319. >Twilight dismisses her concerns with a wave of her hoof.
  1320. >”I’ve got room in my schedule. Seeing as how I’m now the Princess of Friendship, it’s my responsibility to ensure that all the residents of Ponyville are as happy as they can be.” Twilight answers in a notably regal tone.
  1321. >Then Twilight leans in a little closer after glancing back at Rainbow and Spike.
  1322. >”I’m also here to make sure Rainbow doesn’t get carried away.” She whispers to you and Fluttershy.
  1323. >”I can make sure of that, too! If Anon’s going to be undergoing physical therapy, then I’m always going to be nearby to make sure he’s not being pushed too hard.” Fluttershy steps in on your behalf.
  1324. >”That’s totally fine! In fact, emotional support from a loved one is very beneficial for a recovering patient!” Twilight assures her.
  1325. >You can still sense some tension from Fluttershy, like she’s still apprehensive about all this.
  1326. >”Get your dorky flank over here, Anon!” Rainbow waves you over.
  1327. >Fluttershy sharply inhales but eventually lowers her wing to let you pass.
  1328. >”I’ll be right behind you, Anon. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” She quietly promises you.
  1329.  
  1330. >You spare a moment to savor her closeness and rest your head against hers.
  1331. >Fluttershy leans into your small embrace, making you wish you could stay there with her and not have to deal with physical therapy.
  1332. >But separating from her is a necessary evil.
  1333. >The sooner you’re rid of these awful, squeaking wheels and the uncomfortably tight holster, the better.
  1334. >The sooner you’re back up in the sky, the better.
  1335. >You follow Twilight over to the little training setup they made for you, with Fluttershy close behind you.
  1336. >The course is very, very simple, it’s just two foreleg rails with a large tub of water at the end.
  1337. >”This section is just for getting you used to supporting your own weight. We’re gonna take the walker off of you so you can practice walking on your hind legs to the end of the railing. I’ll be right here to catch you if you can’t support yourself.” Twilight informs you as you get a feel for the railing.
  1338. >You nudge the metal bar and sure enough, it doesn’t budge an inch.
  1339. >”I’m gonna lift you up a bit to remove your walker. When you’re ready, just say the word and I’ll lower you down so you can take hold of the rails.” Twilight says to you.
  1340. >Just as she said, you’re lifted into the air in a casual display of her magical prowess.
  1341. >The walker’s straps are loosened and removed from your body, making you feel even more self-conscious.
  1342. >You probably could’ve done it yourself.
  1343. >The walker is carefully placed on the ground beside Fluttershy, who takes careful hold of it as she watches you with anxious eyes.
  1344. >”Are you ready, Anon?” Twilight asks you.
  1345. >You nod.
  1346. “I woke up ready.”
  1347. >”Attaboy, Anon!” Rainbow cheers you on.
  1348. >Slowly, like a feather descending to the earth, you’re lowered to the ground slow enough for you to get a good grip on the two rails at your sides.
  1349. >When the magic dissipates, your hind legs almost immediately buckle under the weight of your own body.
  1350. >You can’t help but yelp as every muscle below your waist strains and threatens to give out.
  1351. >You can’t stop your legs from wobbling.
  1352. >”Anon, are you okay? Do you need help?” Fluttershy asks you, making her way over to you before you can answer.
  1353. >”Give him a second! He can handle this!” Rainbow assures her, swooping in between her and you.
  1354. >”Come on, Anon! One hoof in front of the other! Just to the end of the railing!” Rainbow cheers you on.
  1355. >You can only groan in response.
  1356. >You can’t bring yourself to move an inch.
  1357. >You’re fighting just to stay upright.
  1358. >Your breathing quickens as your strength leaves your body.
  1359. >You peer over to Fluttershy and Rainbow.
  1360. >Rainbow has her wings outstretched to block Fluttershy from rushing over to you, all Fluttershy can do is look at you pleadingly.
  1361. >Spike and Twilight stand beside them as they cheer you on.
  1362. >”You got this, Anon! Show those rails who’s boss!” Spike encourages you.
  1363. >Your eyes meet Fluttershy’s.
  1364. >...You have to do this.
  1365. >For her.
  1366.  
  1367. >You clench your teeth, shut your eyes, summon all your might, and shift one of your forelegs a little further down the railing.
  1368. >One of your hind legs gets dragged a little forward.
  1369. >”That’s what I’m talking about! Just keep going that!” Rainbow cheers you on.
  1370. >It hurts.
  1371. >It hurts so much.
  1372. >But you can’t give up.
  1373. >You shift the other foreleg down the railing.
  1374. >Your other hind leg moves forward.
  1375. >You’ve made progress.
  1376. >A tiny little bit of progress.
  1377. >Keep going, Anon.
  1378. >You shift a foreleg forward.
  1379. >Your forelegs begin to wobble.
  1380. >Your hind leg moves forward.
  1381. >Painfully slowly, you inch closer and closer to the end of the railing.
  1382. >”Keep going! You’re doing great!” Twilight assures you.
  1383. >Fluttershy still hasn’t said anything, she’s too nervous watching you.
  1384. >Just keep going.
  1385. >Just keep-
  1386. >You hit the ground.
  1387. >You lost your grip on the railing.
  1388. >You’ve strained yourself more than you ever have in your life before and all you got was a face full of mud.
  1389. >”Anon!” Fluttershy cries out, pushing past Rainbow to help you up off the ground.
  1390. >”Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Did you break anything?” She asks you in a flurry, looking you over for any sign of injury.
  1391. >”It’s okay, it’s okay, recovery can take a long time, stumbling like this is normal!” Twilight assures you and Fluttershy.
  1392. >”Yeah! Don’t beat yourself up, Anon! You were awesome on that rail!” Rainbow chimes in.
  1393. >You don’t hear what Spike says to you.
  1394. >You just lie on the ground without even the strength to struggle.
  1395. >You feel so helpless.
  1396. >So pathetic.
  1397. >So weak.
  1398. >Fluttershy helps you up and holds you close.
  1399. >”We’re all very, very proud of the progress you’ve made, and you’re going to make even more progress soon! As a reward, I’m going to make you a very special tea! Would you like that?” Fluttershy tries to cheer you up.
  1400. >Your eyes meet Twilight’s.
  1401. >Twilight Sparkle.
  1402. >Princess Twilight Sparkle.
  1403. >Princess of friendship.
  1404. >You both travelled to fight King Sombra.
  1405. >She became a princess.
  1406. >You became a coma patient.
  1407. >She became powerful, you became powerless.
  1408. >She spent the past year achieving the impossible, you spent the past year trapped in a miserable coma dream where you did nothing but work a terrible job and go home to an empty apartment.
  1409. >She can even fly better than you.
  1410. >”Anon?” Fluttershy asks you.
  1411. “...Uh huh.” You eventually answer her, not breaking eye contact with Twilight.
  1412. >Twilight takes a step back, feeling a little uncomfortable.
  1413. >It’s only then that you realize you were glaring at her.
  1414. >”Are you okay?” Fluttershy asks you in a more delicate done.
  1415. >...
  1416. “...Yeah.” You lie.
  1417.  
  1418. >Fluttershy sees right through your lie.
  1419. >The concerned, hurt look she gives you says so.
  1420. >It’s the kind of look that makes your heart sting.
  1421. >After being away from her for so long, after everything she’s been through waiting for you to return to her, you don’t trust her enough to tell her the truth.
  1422. >Why didn’t you tell her the truth?
  1423. >...Stay strong, Anon.
  1424. >As strong as you can be.
  1425. >Lying on the ground, sore all over, and caked in mud.
  1426. >”Maybe it would be a good idea to take a break for now. We really should’ve started with some lighter exercises to warm you up, sorry about that…” Twilight sheepishly speaks up.
  1427. >”That sounds perfect! I’ll go get some tea!” Fluttershy quickly agrees.
  1428. >She makes to head back into the cottage, but she spins around and quickly helps you sit beside the end of the foreleg railing in a more comfortable position.
  1429. >”You stay here, okay? I’ll be back before you know it!” Fluttershy promises you right before she rushed off inside the cottage.
  1430. >She then returns impossibly quickly, carrying a tray holding a teapot and two teacups.
  1431. >Twilight takes a step back to give her some space, then she turns to Rainbow and Spike.
  1432. >”Say… there’s probably some stuff we can go over while Anon’s recovering, why don’t we all go over there!” Twilight unsubtly dismissed herself, ushering Spike and Rainbow behind the water tank before they can protest.
  1433. >Thank goodness, they can enjoy their functioning wings out of your sight.
  1434. >You look at the teacup.
  1435. >You’re still so sore.
  1436. >Too sore to hold that teacup.
  1437. >How pathetic.
  1438. >Fluttershy, sensing your troubled spirit, delicately holding the teacup up to your lips and tipping it just enough for you to take small sips from it.
  1439. >The warm, aromatic goodness of the tea relaxes your aching body, but your aching spirit needs more than leaf water to heal.
  1440. >”It’s okay to need help, Anon. I promise you’re doing great.” She says, trying to make you feel better.
  1441. >The mud coating your body still weighs you down.
  1442. >You’d be “doing great” if you could walk on your own.
  1443. >You don’t say anything in response, you focus on taking sips of the tea to avoid being expected to speak.
  1444. >But once your teacup is drained, Fluttershy sets the tray down beside her while trying to hide the sad look in her eyes.
  1445. >As you wipe the wet dirt from your body, she gets an idea.
  1446. >”Why don’t we try some memory exercises?” Fluttershy asks you.
  1447. >You take a break from scrubbing the mud out of your fur to look at her.
  1448. >Remembering things.
  1449. >You can do that.
  1450. “Okay, what do you have in mind?” You ask her, relenting.
  1451. >”...Do you remember the first time we met?” Fluttershy quietly asks you.
  1452. >You close your eyes and concentrate.
  1453.  
  1454. >Having to actually remember any fine details beyond the day you got out of your coma is enough to give your head a small but piercing pain.
  1455. >Sounds and colors fade in and out of your mind, slowly gaining focus the more you try.
  1456. >The sounds become voices, and the voices become voices you recognize.
  1457. >The colors become tangible shapes, which become environments in turn.
  1458. >A-ha, there we go.
  1459. “Yeah, I do. We bumped into each other at the market.”
  1460. >”That’s right!” Fluttershy beams.
  1461. >”Do you remember the first thing you ever said to me?”
  1462. “Oh, how could I ever forget?” You answer with a small smile growing on your face.
  1463. “The world froze around me, the town of Ponyville fell silent as I gazed into your eyes, and somehow, as if compelled by fate, I found it within me to say to you…”
  1464. >You lean in a little closer for dramatic effect.
  1465. “...’Excuse me’.”
  1466. >Fluttershy giggles at your little theatrical retelling of that mundane encounter.
  1467. >”To think that our romance was born from that one moment, it’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” Fluttershy asks you in a dreamy tone.
  1468. >Neither of you knew it at the time.
  1469. >Neither of you knew each other’s name, nor spared each other any thought after parting ways, but it set the foundation for what was to come.
  1470. “It really makes you wonder, what other seemingly mundane choices in your life could have led you down a drastically different path?”
  1471. >”I don’t worry about that kind of thing, I’m perfectly happy with where my life went!” Fluttershy brushes off your musing with a smile and a nuzzle.
  1472. >She makes such a good point when she does that.
  1473. >Your head gravitates to hers as she briefly nuzzles you, taking some of the soreness away from your body.
  1474. >”Why don’t you retell the story of how we fell in love? You’re such a wonderful storyteller~” Fluttershy urges you.
  1475. >How could you say no to a face as pretty as hers?
  1476. “Okay, lemme think…”
  1477. >You concentrate your mental power, trying to conjure the story of Anonymous and Fluttershy from the hazy depths of your mind.
  1478. “Um… what happened after we met…”
  1479. >”Would you like a hint?” Fluttershy asks you.
  1480. “No, no, I can do this.” You assure her.
  1481. “Uh…”
  1482. >You’re starting to strain yourself.
  1483. >It feels like you’re trying to force those shapes and colors in your mind to take form with your bare hooves.
  1484. >But those shapes and colors keep slipping out of your grasp, melting into a slurry of senses.
  1485. >”It’s okay if you need a hint, Anon.” Fluttershy says to you.
  1486. >It’s starting to come together.
  1487. “Wait, wait, I think I’ve got it now…”
  1488. >Come on, think!
  1489. “Was it…”
  1490. >So close, get it together!
  1491. >Outdoors, birds, ponies, stalls…
  1492. “...Back at the marketplace?”
  1493. >”That’s right! Good job, Anon!” Fluttershy cheers for you.
  1494. >Your heart flutters a little with pride at her praise for your meager accomplishment.
  1495.  
  1496. “I think I’m getting it now…”
  1497. >Your memories are really taking form now.
  1498. >Relaxing your mind allows your memories to melt together into images and scenes, rather than being mashed together in a mess of sensations.
  1499. “We… we kept running into each other. Like, once a week, we’d always run into each other at the…”
  1500. >Darn it, you were doing so good.
  1501. >What were you shopping for?
  1502. >Celery? Broccoli? Cherries?
  1503. >Come on, think!
  1504. >”...brd…” Fluttershy mumbles.
  1505. >Your train of thought interrupted, you glance up at Fluttershy to see her covering her mouth with her wing and glancing off to the side.
  1506. “Huh?”
  1507. >”Oh! Um, sorry, I just… um… coughed.”
  1508. >Wait a minute.
  1509. >Fluttershy was giving you a hint!
  1510. “Bread!” You realize, the image of the warm sourdough loaf you always liked appearing clear as day in your mind.
  1511. >”Yay! You got it!” Fluttershy cheers.
  1512. >It’s all coming together now.
  1513. “I remember, one day when the line for the sourdough was really long, we were waiting right next to each other, and we decided to officially introduce ourselves to each other.”
  1514. >Fluttershy co-signs your memories with an enthusiastic nod.
  1515. “We… didn’t really say much to each other, aside from our names and what we did. You told me you take care of animals, and I told you that I’m a writer.”
  1516. >Fluttershy chuckles sheepishly, nodding along.
  1517. “It kind of continued like that for a while, except we started talking more to each other. We’d ask each other how things are going, we’d talk more about our friends and family, that kind of friendly stuff.”
  1518. >”Do you remember the first time we saw each other outside of the market?” Fluttershy asks you.
  1519. >You do.
  1520. >You know you do.
  1521. >Instead of straining yourself, you take a deep breath and let the contents of your mind flow freely.
  1522. >Like water coursing through a river, images shimmer with a heavenly glow.
  1523. >The scene shifts from the outdoor market to an indoor setting.
  1524. >One you know closely…
  1525. >The bookstore!
  1526. “I do! I was doing a live reading of the prologue of one of my books - Bionicle: Island of Doom.”
  1527. >Or, was it Web of Shadows…?
  1528. >”Mm-hm! I was there with Rainbow Dash that day, she really wanted to get the new Daring Do book that just came out. I wish I could’ve said hi, but you were so busy with your audience, and Rainbow was insistent that we hurry on…”
  1529. “Hey, it’s no worries. We made up for that lost time, didn’t we?” You ask her.
  1530. >”We sure did!”
  1531. >Your brain’s loosened up, you can recall more memories now.
  1532. “There was another time, the second time we met each other outside the market…”
  1533. >Come on, what was it?
  1534. “It was at night…”
  1535. >You look to Fluttershy to see if you’re on the right track.
  1536. >She gives you an anxious look, like she’s waiting to see how much you remember.
  1537. >You’re getting warmer.
  1538.  
  1539. “There was a storm, I think…”
  1540. >There’s gotta be more to it than that.
  1541. >You know that night was significant for you and Fluttershy.
  1542. >But your fake memories leak into your real memories.
  1543. >The scenery surrounding the cottage that night, as you try to remember it, is infected with the scenery outside that store you worked in as a hyoo-man.
  1544. >Even the birds in your memories sound strange.
  1545. >Their chirps are a warped amalgamation of real birds and dream birds.
  1546. >A sharp, piercing headache snaps you out of trying to build the scene further, so you sigh in defeat.
  1547. “...I can’t remember it. I’m really sorry.”
  1548. >”That’s okay! Memory loss is normal in cases like yours!” Fluttershy is quick to assure you.
  1549. >”I’ll always remember that night, because… it’s when I fell for you.” She recalls fondly in a dreamy tone.
  1550. >You manage to settle yourself into a comfortable position by the foreleg rail to listen to her retelling.
  1551. >”It was a dark and stormy night, and I was at home looking after the little ones. Some of them can be so frightened by the thunder that they won’t eat, so I had to be there to help them.”
  1552. >”But then, there was a loud crash on the roof, followed by banging and scraping sounds.”
  1553. >”It was so loud, and it went on for so long that it sounded like some kind of monster was trying to break in!”
  1554. >Fluttershy’s a little visibly troubled by the memory.
  1555. >”I… All I could think to do was hide under the bed and hold my teddy bear close, and hope the monster went away…” She continues, her voice dropping lower.
  1556. >Then her expression lifts.
  1557. >”Then I hear a knock on the door, and your voice on the other side! You came by to return the basket I let you borrow, but you must’ve not noticed the monster on the roof. I quickly raced over to get you inside before the monster got you!”
  1558. >But… when I told you about what was happening, and you heard the banging and scraping, you said you’d go look on the roof and see what it was!”
  1559. >Now it’s coming together.
  1560. >The rain shooting down from the sky, the wind whipping you and the trees, that unnerving scraping on the roof of the cottage.
  1561. >”The scraping got even louder, and you took a while to come back, that I got so worried something happened to you, all I could do was hold my teddy bear and hope you’d make it back okay…”
  1562. >Fluttershy takes a deep breath to collect herself as the memory brings a lot of emotions with it.
  1563. >Then she gives you a wide smile.
  1564. >”Then you came back! Turns out, it wasn’t a monster at all! It was a tree branch that got caught on the roof!”
  1565. >”...You were so brave, Anonymous. It could’ve been a timberwolf, or even a chimera, but you did it anyway!” Fluttershy commended you in a deeply admiring tone.
  1566.  
  1567. >The memory is as clear as day now.
  1568. >As clear as day as night can be, anyway.
  1569. >You remember being scared.
  1570. >You remember how the scraping and banging on the roof chilled you to the bones.
  1571. >...And you remember how scared Fluttershy was.
  1572. >As scared as you were, you knew you couldn’t let Fluttershy down when she needed help.
  1573. >”And… and then when that branch business was taken care of, I felt so embarrassed for having to hold my teddy bear to feel better…”
  1574. “Then I told you about my teddy bear.” You fill in for her, now that the memory’s completely filled in for you.
  1575. >Fluttershy’s face lights up when you join in on retelling the story.
  1576. >”You did! We spent the rest of the night enjoying some nice tea and sharing stories of how our teddy bears helped us get through bad days when we were little!”
  1577. “I slept on the couch your night, but only after you insisted I take most of the cushions you had in your bedroom as a reward for my bravery. The next morning we agreed to introduce our teddy bears to each other… but I think that was only because we were too shy to call it a date.” You giggle.
  1578. >Fluttershy giggles along with you and snuggles you close to her, draping her wings around you.
  1579. >”But you’re the best teddy bear in the world, Anon~”

Risky Business

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Lightning Man

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Predator and Prey

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King of the Castle

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