Inkyarn; My Secret Heart

Exhaustion seeped through her, sending her mind reeling. Still she pushed on, grim determination wavering in her expression. Her wings beat furiously, each movement sending shocks of icy pain through her shoulder blades. She gave a groan of agony as her wings forced her higher into the merciless air. Higher and higher she climbed but she could not hold out forever. Her wings buckled and she was sent spinning, crashing into the hardened, unforgiving earth.

Her weak hoof dug into the ground, struggling fruitlessly to pull her from the dirt. No, she told herself furiously. I can’t give up. I have to keep… On… Moving.

A cloud of dust billowed about her as she collapsed in the dirt. Her eyes fluttered shut and she knew no more…

She jolted awake, tossing the flimsy little sheet encasing her. It billowed and fluttered about the strange little bed, settling just as she discovered the rest of the tiny room.

Everything was pristine and white. An odd plastic smell seemed to cling to the air itself, inescapable even near the open window beside the bed. Inkyarn, the confused pony sitting atop the bed, glanced about her. A large machine to her left set off a constant whirring noise, while a small one to her right rang with a shrill beeb. That beeping sound played a constant beat that echoed painfully in her head. She looked about this strange small  room with apprehension. The last thing she remembered was flying toward-

A noise from outside alerted her. Her quick blue eyes snapped to the partially open curtain a few yards away. Beyond it she could see nothing but another distant curtain, but through it she could hear a voice.

"Doctor, she’s stable but i’m afraid we can’t release her for a while yet. She was severely dehydrated when she was brought in. We’re giving her fluids now but I don’t think it’s safe to release her just yet."

Inkyarn shook her head. The couldn’t be talking about her, could they?

She gave a start, glancing wildly about. “No, I can’t be stuck here!" She whispered frantically. The curtain was the only exit, other than…

She forced her sore wings apart and leaped through the open window. The fresh air soothed her hot fur and flowed through her mane. In her excitement, she didn’t see the neat pot of flowed on the windowsill. Her hoof knocked into it, sending it shattering to the ground.

"Are you alright?" Said the nurse from before. She stuck her head through the curtain, smiling reassuringly, “Are you awake?" A gasp left her suddenly. Her patient was gone! “Oh no, oh dear, oh my!" She ran to the window, barely catching a glimpse of the pony’s black and blue tail. A spark of anger shot through her. “That little runt!" She snapped, turning briskly from the window, “If she makes my job ANY harder, so help me…"

Her confusion was as immense as her curiosity. As she walked down a wide little road she passed many quaint little shops. Each one was decorated almost as though explaining what the shop contained. One building in particular was exceptionally cute. It was built like a large cupcake, with bright frosting for a roof. She giggled at the sight of it but that was all the time she could spare. She had to find a way out of here; but where should she go?

“Look Out!" She glanced up just in time to see a panicked face before she was sent spinning. An excited mare bowled her over before springing to her hooves. “Oh man, did you see that?" She exclaimed, stamping a hoof. She spread her wings, taking to the sky. “Another perfect maneuver, masterfully executed!" She bowed to an imaginary crowd of screaming fans, “Thank you, thank you!" She landed, turning to the pony she had tripped. “Did you see that?" She pursed her lips, glancing down at the ground. Inkyarn laid in the middle of the road, head spinning. “Hey, what’re you doing down there?"

The mare helped Inkyarn to her hooves. “Oh nothing," She groaned, stretching painfully, “Just taking a nap. I hear granite is good for the back." She felt a pop in her spine and a sliver of relief slithered through her.

The mare laughed merrily, shaking Inkyarn’s hoof. “You’re funny, kid. I’m Sky Fire."

Inkyarn stepped aside, bowing her head in acknowledgement. “I’m-"

A voice cut through her, startling both of them. “Hey!" A cheerful pink pony piped up. She trotted into the group, coming to a halt at the sight of Inkyarn. Her smile dropped to an indignant look, “What?" She gasped, “There’s a new mare in town and no one invited me?!" She bounded forward, shoving her face into Inkyarn’s. “Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie. Who’re you?"

Inkyarn slid back a step, tossing her fallen bangs back nervously. “Umm, I’m-"

"Wait!" Pinkie Pie practically exploded with joy. “I bet I can guess!" She lifted Inkyarn’s wing, peering intently at her cutie mark. Set deep into the cheery purple fur was a ball of blue yarn. It twisted and spun, releasing one thin string. Attached to the end of that string was a little black quill. Pinkie Pie’s brow furrowed in concentration. “Oh, I know! You’re a yarn quill maker! A knot tier! A yarn decorator! A crocheter. A feather maker? No wait, a quill knitter! A yarn writer? Oh, I know, a yarn fluffer! A kitten tamer!"

Inkyarn and Sky Fire exchanged looks while Pinkie Pie continued to spout off possible occupations. Storm Fire rolled her eyes in amusement. “Don’t mind her. What did you say your name was?"

Again she opened her mouth to speak but again she was cut off. A deeper voice cut her off, turning Inkyarn’s and Sky Fire’s heads. A bored looking stallion marched toward them, turning to Inkyarn. “I know who you are. You’re Nurse Redheart’s patient. She’s looking for you by the way."

Inkyarn sighed, frowning deeply. “Sorry for the trouble," She murmured. She didn’t want to go back to that dreadful hospital. She had to keep moving.

The stallion placed a comforting hoof across her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter what you intended," He said monotonously, “The outcome is still the same." She turned her frown to him, startling him. He took his hoof away, biting his lip awkwardly, “Umm, let’s get you back to the hospital, huh?"

Sky Fire smiled. “Don’t worry kid. This is Cyan," She indicated the blue unicorn, “He’s cool."

Pinkie Pie cut off, mid sentence. She shot forward, clasping her hooves. “Oh, I can take her back!" She shouted, “Let me do it! Pleaseohpleaseohplease!"

Inkyarn smiled through the sweat pouring down her face. “Thanks for the offer," She said breathlessly, “But I can go by myself, really."

Cyan threw her a sideways glance. “Oh you can, can you?"

"Yes."

He stared deep into her blue eyes, an expression of disbelief blossoming across his face. She tried giving a reassuring smile but it faultered beneath his smoldering stare. She was forced to look away. A moment later, he shrugged, “Eh, alright."

She gave a sigh of relief, turning away from the odd party. She gave a start, turning to smile nervously at them, “Uh, i mean goodbye!" Without another word, she hurried away.

Pinkie Pie grinned. “I like her!"

Sky Fire could not keep a smile off her face either. “Yeah," She said, as though it was no big deal, “She’s a cool kid. What do you think Cyan?" She turned to find empty space. She cocked her head to the side. “Cyan? Where’d he go?"

Misery followed her every move. Each step sent a sizzle of icy agony through her, each breath rattled painfully in her lungs and seared her throat. The winding roads she traversed looped intricately and wove about the town, always beginning and ending in the main square. She paused many times for breath, wiping the sweat from her brow. Her stomach rumbled and her head pounded but she couldn’t afford to stop. She groaned again and slumped to the ground. “How am I supposed to get out of here?" She rolled over, stretching her wings across the soothing cool of the concrete beneath her. It scraped her skin but the relief from the heat was worth the twinge of pain.

She sighed at the sky, wishing more than anything she could be up there, resting on a puffy white cloud…

She sat up, glancing down at her wings. “Oh, right," She murmured. In the next instant she was swooping up at the big blue canopy. The winds flowed through her mane and whipped her tail back. She relished in the cool embrace of the air. “Goodbye strange little city, and hello—uuhh, he-hello…"

A gleam of glorious sunlight caught her eye. It glinted off one of the many marble spires in the distance. Each tower dropped elegantly down to connect with the most marvelous castle she had ever seen. Its walls were made of the sleekest stone, its towers soared into the heavens. The mountain beside the castle spewed a constant stream of beautiful water. The light caught the droplets perfectly, sending miniature rainbows streaming in all directions. Just below the castle, a cute little city was nestle in the mountain crook. Its buildings were tall and together they held a similar glory as the castle, though they were no match for its splendor.

Inkyarn couldn’t keep the wonder from her voice. “Wow," She said slowly, eyes widening, “What is that?"

A voice came from a roof behind her, “That is Canterlot." Cyan said.

Inkyarn could only stare. “You mean it’s real?" Her voice rose only to a faint murmur.

Cyan gave her a sideways glance. “Of course it’s real, why wouldn’t it be?" She could only stutter in response. Cyan shrugged, returning his stare to the magnificence of Canterlot. “I suppose it’s a matter of perspective; though whether or not you perceive it, it’s still there." A grin touched his face, “Or is it? Does anything really exist if you’re not there to see it?" Inkyarn turned to him, confusion drawing on her face. Cyan continued, “Does anything really happen if you’re not there to witness it? There’s no way you can be one hundred percent sure. For all you know, you could be the only pony that really exists. All this could be a facade, a trick your mind plays to fool you so you don’t go insane." He raised an eyebrow, “Or perhaps you’ve already gone."

Inkyarn stared openly at him. “What?" Her voice swam with confusion.

Cyan gave a disappointed sight, standing and stretching. “Oh, nothing. C’mon, let’s get you back to Nurse Redheart, before she has a conniption," He rolled his eyes, “Again."

"No!" Inkyarn dropped a few feet. She struggled to level herself with the unicorn. “I mean, I don’t need the nurse. I’m fine!" She gave an unconvincing smile.

Cyan didn’t buy it. “Really?" He raised a brow, “You’re sweating an unhealthy amount and I can see exhaustion on your face." He frowned. “Where do you need to go so badly that you’d risk your health?"

She snorted, “Anywhere no one would recognize me."

"What?"

She groaned, “Oh nothing! Sorry, sorry," She covered her face with her hooves. “Ugh, you’re right, I’m sorry. I know, I’m a complete wreck!"

"Exactly," Cyan’s horn began to glow with a faint blue light. His body shimmered with the same glow and slowly he was lifted off the rooftop. He floated over to hover beside Inkyarn, placing a comforting arm around her. “Which is why you should really go back." He caught Inkyarn’s eye, “Trust me, Nurse Redheart is the best. She’ll take care of you."

He turned and led her through the air back to the hospital.

The hospital doors loomed above her, darkening with the setting sun. They opened eerily, showering Inkyarn with the stale white light from within it. She took a deep breath and turned back to the ponies she had met that day, smiling gratefully at them. They watched her enter the forbidding doors and waved enthusiastically. Inkyarn turned away with a smile on her face. Dear my secret heart- She turned to the nurse, who stood in the middle of the aisle. She cringed and padded carefully forward. -I’ve come across a quaint little town- The nurse turned to see her, gasping in relief. -It’s name is Ponyville…. I think I’m going to like it here…

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"