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Chapter 6: "Fate?"

"Number 230!.."

The clock ticked.

"Number 245!"

it keeps ticking, it wont stop.

"Number 255!"

She wondered if she should just kill herself, would be a better reality then this, less depressing. Two hours. Two hours was how long she was waiting, if this is what everyone had to go through whenever they needed medical attention she guessed the death toll would be high. From people not getting help on time and others just killing themselves to save the wait.

The image of this stupid clock will forever be engraved in her mind, its dull grey design would put whomever dare look at it in a deep slumber. Which would cause them to miss their turn.

The world around her had blurred long ago, the line between fantasy and reality had became hazy, it forced her eyes to appear foggy. Causing her to look dead to any onlookers. Not like she was pretty to look at anyway, pink on pink? She contemplated dying her hair, would be a good thing, changing her appearance would attract less attention and lower her chances on getting caught. She just hoped she could get the chance.

"Number 25-"

The number shouting was not what woke John from her mesmerising gaze, it was the shrieking that deafened most eardrums in the surrounding area. Blasting through the main entrance came what could only be described as a robot.

Or a heavily armored bipedal being. Whatever you prefer.

Racing through the line, while knocking through any who's fate it was to collide with this metallic goliath, stopped right before destroying the counter. Upon closer inspection wielded intriguing results. Within the behemoths arms lay the bloodied remains of may have used to be someone of some description, reduced to nothing but gore. Despite the scene in front of her the clerk remained as bored and blank faced as ever.

She was a professional.

"Help us! We- we need a doctor!" His voice was frantic and panicked, John looked into his eyes, they were bloodshot and dark at edges. His fatigue was obvious. The clerk, in her professionalism slowly got out of her chair and reached above view of the window. A loud ringing was heard, followed by several doctors entering the scene seconds later. Using a stretcher they picked up the bloodied mess and ran through the hallways and out of view.

As fast as the scene had unfolded, it had ended. Mostly. Ponies whispered, the few that had been thrown across the room picked themselves up, and with slight angry muttering swiftly got back into line. Thundered steps vibrated John's chair, the titan was approaching. Louder and louder the steps became as he advanced on John. Or so she thought, now sitting opposite John the leviathan rested its withered body, its armor and fur stained black and red.

All seemed to quietened down, until his whimpers emerged. He glanced at a piece of ribbon he had been carrying, now stained rouge, he cradled its tattered remains. John watched the giant as he quietly sobbed, cuddling the fabric.

"Number 260!"

John peered down at her note, sure enough it was her. Standing, she trotted before the doctor, looking back at the sorrowful guard, she wanted to say something, to make it seem like not all is lost. But followed the doctor anyway. She argued with herself that it was for the best, he just needed time alone.

she lacked the courage.

John followed the doctor at a brisk pace, through the winding corridors she passed many exhibits. One housed a Pegasus whose wing seemed to be broken. One shown hospitality to a group of unicorns, each sporting various gashes and cuts.  Many simply sheltered young ponies getting jabs, must be flu season.

The doctor eventually turned a corner into his own little enclosure. John followed, searching the small room she discovered that each one of these small rooms were duplicates. The same drab colour scheme, the same boring floor tiles and the same boring furniture, which only consisted of cabinets, a table, a bed and chairs.

Sitting down the doctor beckoned her to also take a seat. Hesitantly she sat on the bed.

"So, other then what's under those bandages, what seems to be the problem?"

The doctors voice was very deep but soothing, when he spoke she imagined a fearsome bear, who gave out sweets.

"no. Just my leg."

"Lets unbandge that puppy then."

John couldn't stand it, his voice was like milk chocolate, calming yet assertive. She ran like pudding through his arms.

"John, I have come for you, you are mine."

"Yes Mr. Doctor Man! Take me away with you!"

"I plan to never let you out of my sight. John."

The world around them darkened, all that mattered now and forever was them. Floating in eternal darkness, as the worlds only light they shined. Plummeting through the darkness, they fell. Time was not a virtue, it too seemed none existent.

Mr. Doctor Man stirred, he looked up, frowning.

"What wrong Doctor?"

"I love you, but it looks infected, we probably need to give you medication."

"What?"

The world came crashing back to her, like a shock reality flew back and slapped her across the face.

"Are you feeling OK?"

The Doctor was slightly confused, was she drooling? He peered at her happy drunk face. She looked into oblivion with glazed eyes, he may have to call a doctor. Wait, he's a doctor. That was awkward.

John sat up straight, swiftly wiping the pool of drool that slid down her face and onto her arm. She looked back at the doctor and gave him a grand toothy smile.

"Oh, yes I'm fine! Terrific even!..."

At that the doctor continued to rebandage the deep pulsating gash, not the worst he's seen, but definitely infected.

"Well, in any case a few weeks of good bed rest and medication your leg should be fresh as a daisy"

The doctor turned and began to rummage though various drawers, he produced a small container, on its side exhibited diverse coding and symbols. All seemed fine and dandy, except currency, she was broke.

"Medication? But I don't have anything to pay for it."

The doctor turned and smiled

"They don't cost anything, hospitals are payed directly through the royal treasury." Well that was convenient, taking the pills John stood up.

"So I don't have to pay for anything?"

"Not at all." Well, considering her luck recently, karma must have taken a raincheck and blessed her! Looks like everything is coming up Millhouse! She froze and turned slowly back to the doctor. He stood staring contently at her.

"Excuse me?"

"Err, Nothing! Thanks for everything!" With that John took off, leaving a very confused and worried doctor. She promptly walked down the corridor, she sworn she could hear the doctor mutter, "What's a Millhouse?". She didnt even know what a 'Millhouse' was! Why she say that? Swiftly hopping through the labyrinthine corridors, she appeared once again at the waiting room. Something was off, gone had the whining and complaining of patients, gone, the bored sighs of the clerk, and so have the slight weeping of Sir Knight, it too had vanished.

Peering through the doors she carefully walked to the centre of the room, it was ghostly. No one was coming in, no one going out, just silence. Her hoofsteps echoed, she hobbled straight for the door. Turing the handle she emerged through the door. She failed realise how dark it had become , opening the doors dulled her vision.

The sudden abandonment seemed justifiable, for just a few meters away stood something like no-other, whatever this was, it didn't come for a cup of sugar.

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The abomination woke with a daze, this always happened when it was out in the light for too long. Blood had seeped from its wounds throughout the day, and now, it was malnourished. In its weakened state it would be lucky to find a meal worth eating. But eating was not a priority, it didn't consume flesh.

It tried picking itself up, on unstable legs it plummeted back to earth, it growled in protest. The caves shadow had already been consumed, the monster will find no healing there. Dragging itself to its entrance it faced the dusk, not as harsh as direct sun, but still irritating. Crawling through the woodlands was surprisingly rowdy this evening, more particularly the west. Ponyvilles direction, it wondered, what have they come for?

No matter what they desired, it didn't want to intrude, especially it its current condition. As fate would dangle survival from a tree, it followed, through bushes and foliage. Unconsciously it began to heal, the shade became its nourishment and began to rejuvenate it. Stronger and stronger, it began its rise to complete health, the healthiest an animal can get.

It was far away now, very far, the commotion had shifted closer. So it ran. Its condition was still poor,but running was no longer a problem. Dashing through the woods it passed streams, stumps and fields. Dust had become night,  it was now at its full potential.

Coming to a stop it observed the ground. Cobblestone, it did little to revive its memories of before, for they have been consigned to oblivion. All that remained was how it currently felt, which was always. Anguish. The moon was high, darkness rained over the land, the beast was no longer visible. The path ran throughout the woods, rupturing it in halve.

Said pathway lead away from the excitement, the demon followed. Charged through the night.

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Dynamically this plan was a sure-shot. Weaker ponies would have asked the princess for help, not Twilight. Calling for the Princess was basically admitting you were powerless, she was far from it. With intelligence and common sense Twilight rounded the elements.

Together they had set out into dawn, there was allot of Everfree forest to cover, and daylight was their only friend. No rock nor bush went unturned, each nick and cranny was observed thoroughly. Through shadow and shade, they wondered upon a clearing, rounding the foliage there appeared at a tree, but not just any tree, a hollowed out tree. Someone had made this tree thier home, decorating it with various masks and personal items. Memories of this tree and its inhabitant raced to their minds.

As on queue, someone exited the hut. Exiting the hoot was a small foul, someone they all knew, but someone they all least expected to be here.

"Applebloom! What is tarnation are you doin out here!"

Applejack sprang up to her little sister expectancy of a worthy answer.

"But sis! I came t'see if Zecora was OK! I heard all the commotion about a monster so I wanted to see if she needed help or nothin!" Unimpressed by her siblings answer Applejack squared off Applebloom.

"Now, I told ye to stay put!"

Pouting Applebloom attempted to justify her actions.

"But sis!"

"But Nothin! Just wait till we get home."

The family dispute had ended, and the group grew by one. Although their search had been shortly halted, it swiftly got back on track. Minutes turned to hours as the group of six searched for what little they had to go of off. Something with no eyes would prefer darkness, so caves would be ideal. Due to the Everfree forest random nature no one was really able to map it correctly, but what twilight could gather she determined that there are, or was a gathering of caves to the east. So they set off.

Twilight was slighlt discomforted when Zecora turned up gone, she hoped she too hadn't fallen. Though thick and thin, they  eventually found the caves. Twilight warned in caution that anything could be in there, the silence of the Forrest had unnerved her. They had grouped outside the cavern, with everyone all ears, Twilight began.

"Ok, Everypony ready?"

This was followed by various confirmations a slight squeaks. Venturing into its depth the group trudged on. If they thought it smelt back from the outside, they were heavily shocked by the vulgar that corrupted their scent inside the pit. They didn't search for long, for they had found their proof. In a far corner of the cave, it dejectedly sat. Applejack covered Appleblooms eyes. Fluttershy fled, Pinkie Pie looked on, unnamused. All their attention focused on the lone soul.

They had found their Gryphon.