House Guest

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Bubble Gum gave a short gasp as her frantic eyes snapped open.

She was in a spacious room, the constant ticking of a grandfather clock somewhere off to one side. The room was rather dark, glowing curtains drawn to keep the sun’s light at bay. Just moving her head, Gum noted that she was laying in a luxurious four-poster bed. The walls were a medium oak colored plaster.

‘Where the hell am I?’ she wondered to herself, eyes flicking back and forth wildly.

Gum tried to sit up and get a better look around the room, but a stabbing fire bit into her left side and forced her back down with a hiss of pain. A wave of dizziness and nausea following the pain, a light headache sliding into her skull.

“Ow! Shit!” Gum spat between gritted teeth, laying back down as the wave of pain slowly ebbed, pressing a hoof to her head and feeling a bandage. The pain reminded her of what had happened the last time she’d been conscious.

Leaving the strip joint, walking to her usual spot, the alley and muggers, her resistance and the ensuing pain…

‘So how’d I end up here?’ Gum wondered.

Once the pain had ended, she lifted a portion of her thick blankets from atop her, noting the intricate patterns woven into them as she did so. A short and ugly, red line of flesh lay across her side, stitches holding it together. A knot filled her gut.

“No! No! No! Damnit!” she moaned at the scar, fear filling her belly.

“...tats and piercings need to be approved by me, lucky you that you haven’t got any,” Hot Rod told her, brushing a hoof against her pretty face, “scars, injuries, malformities, any of that stuff? Not okay. Hate having to turn those ones down, but, again, you haven’t got any, so you’re good…”

“If this thing doesn’t heal then I’m out of a fucking job!” Bubble Gum worried, again looking about the room, “Damnit! First things first…”

More slowly this time, trying not to use her left foreleg or strain her left side lest she agitate the wound again, Gum propped herself up and got a better look around the room. The flooring was carpet, its intricate and darkly colored tabriz-rug-like patterns matching that of the blanket. A series of expertly-carved wooden furniture, everything from fancy changing curtains to eight-foot tall dressers and painstakingly detailed end tables with golden lining.

‘Okay, seriously? How the hell did I end up here?’ Gum wondered to herself, confused, ‘last thing I remember was those thugs in the alleyway and if that scar means anything it’s that that wasn’t a dream. Besides,’ she threw another look around the luxurious room, ‘I know that none of my clients has a house like this,’ she used her right hoof to throw away the bedcovers and proceeding to try to get out of the bed, ‘Fuckers can hardly afford to pay me half the time!’

Rolling onto her uninjured side, she paused for a moment in surprise as she noted that she was still a little more than her body’s width from the edge of the evidently expensive engorged bed.

“Fancy,” she mused to herself, rolling onto her stomach and getting to her hooves. Another lash of pain bit into her wound and she gritted her teeth against it, fighting back a few tears. Gum limped to the edge of the bed and hopped down to the carpeted floor, the thick material silencing the movement.

Gum took in her surroundings again, this time more thoroughly analyzing them. The bedroom was rectangular in shape, the far wall being one of the shorter sides. This wall was adorned with two doors. Midway down the longer wall to the right of the bed was another door. The left, long, wall bore two curtained windows.

“Let’s see what’s behind door number one,” Gum muttered to herself as she limped to the door on the right wall.

The knob was a shiny brass color with a large keyhole below. She peered through the keyhole, closing one eye and peering around. On the other side she could see another mahogany door with brass door knob. To either side was a chalk-white wall. It appeared to Gum to be a hallway.

The next door, on the short far wall, led to a large closet that looked as if it could be a lesser bedroom of its own with the right furniture. The last of the three doors was a bathroom with pearly tile flooring and marble countertops.

Finally, Gum made her way to the first window, pulling back the curtain.

Blazing sunlight blinded her, forcing her to cover her eyes as they adjusted. Once they did, she was only blinded again.

Uptown Canterlot.

Each and every house was its own unique mansion, each having been built by powerful ponies as Canterlot itself had been constructed ages ago. Some were wider, some were taller, and all were magnificently breathtaking in both size and beauty.

Most had lawns stretching out before them, fenced by hedges or high, golden or silver fences adorned with intimidating spikes or smaller statues. A few lesser ponies trimmed lawns and hedges into either blocks or other, more exotic, shapes.

The cobblestone streets were wide and impeccable, as if every stone had been measured and placed by gods. Not a bit of grime covered them to a degree where they appeared to sparkle in the sun’s light.

Those trotting over them, the medium amount that there were, were dressed to perfection with crisp and clean suits as sharp as a general’s uniform, but all far more dazzling and wealthy. Many strolled with partners of the opposite sex, often towards massive and dazzling homes or to other, unknown destinations.

Dazzling enough to silence a sudden creak that heralded the opening of a door behind Gum.

“Ah!” a cultured voice spoke up from behind her, making Gum jump and wheel around, “You are awake, madam.”

‘Shit!’ Gum mentally swore, eyeing the speaker up and down as she demanded, “Who the hell are you? What am I doing here?”

An tall and thin, elderly light grey unicorn with a greying black mane trotted in. One of his dull green eyes was partially hidden behind a golden monocle and he wore a grey, upper body suit with a white undershirt, brass buttons, and a large, red bowtie. His wrinkly old face seemed to droop into a permanent frown, his dull eyes complementing the unhappy look.

He had been pushing a silver cart with his magic, a single bowl of steaming liquid in a china bowl rested atop a china plate atop a large, white napkin. A silver spoon rested in the bowl.

“My name is Alfalfa, madam. You are,” his eyes flicked to the bed, “or at least should be resting. It would not be very good if you tore those stitches walking about and forced me to close your wound again. Additionally, I don’t know for certain if you have a concussion or not, and if you have then I would not advise walking about. I fear that I may not have the strength to lift you back to bed should you faint, at least without doing so myself.

“So, all that said, if you would, please, get back to bed to give you wounds a little more time to heal.”

Gum gave the bed a glance, ‘First time I’ve ever been asked onto a bed by a stallion for something other than sex,’ she silently mused, “So I’m here to rest after I got fucking stabbed. How did I get here?”

Alfalfa wrinkled his nose at the explicative, “I understand that a lady in your position would have quite a few questions and be justifiably upset, but at least let me tend to your injuries first.” He gestured with a hoof towards the bed, his expression unchanged.

“No, you give me my answers and then I do what you want, okay?” Gum retorted, not moving.

Alfalfa let out an annoyed breath, “You were brought here by master Mane, he found you with your injuries in an alleyway and brought you here on one of his midnight strolls.”

“Who’s ‘master mane’?” Gum asked, combatative tone not faltering.

“Master Mane is the owner of this mansion, madam.”

“Well, yeah, I guessed that much, but who is he?” Gum replied with a pair of rolled eyes, ‘Because I could swear that that name rings a bell’ “like, is he some doctor? Some big time celebrity I might know of? Something like that to maybe let me know who the hell he is?”

“You will have to see for yourself who he is, madam, as he would be better suited to explain,” Alfalfa replied, neither dull expression or tone ever changing, “now are there any further questions or may I check you for a concussion, madam?”

Gum held Alfalfa's gaze for a few moments, glaring back into his dull eyes, trying to spot some form of deceit. All she saw was an old guy looking back at her.

“Ugh, fine, but make it quick,” she said with a sigh, “Also, is this thing going to leave a scar?” she pointed to her injury, remaining where she was, “My line of work isn’t very tolerant of such things.”

“I am afraid that the odds are not in your favor when it comes to that, madam. Knives tend to be very unforgiving when it comes to things like that. Now if you could please come over here to let me check you, please?” Alfalfa gestured to the bed.

Gum let her eyes flick to the bed before setting them back on Alfalfa, “I’m good standing,” she said, trotting over to him.

“I would advise that you get your rest, madam,” Alfalfa said as she came to a stop in front of him.

“I had a good night’s sleep, that’s all I really need besides breakfast to keep me going,” Gum replied, ‘though getting some chow might be a bit hard without any damn money.’

“Very well, madam,” Alfalfa said, looking into each of her eyes, “if you could please stand still a moment and answer a few questions. Do you feel sick or off balance at all, madam?” he asked, “Have you ever had a concussion before?”

“Nope and nope,” Gum replied.

“Do you remember how it is that you hit your head, madam?” Alfalfa continued, moving around to her side and eyeing her knife wound.

“One of the fuckers grabbed me with magic as I tried to take off, used my momentum to throw me into the ground,” Gum reported, watching Alfalfa as he eyed the knife wound, “And you can call me Gum, no need for that ‘madam’ crap.”

“Very good, then, madam Gum,” Alfalfa replied, face never changing except a deplorable flicker at Gum’s deplorable language, “It hurts to move your left wing and left legs?”

“Just my left foreleg and wing,” Gum replied, “only when I reach out like I’m walking,” she frowned momentarily, “Are you a doctor? No offense, but that cutie mark doesn't fit the title." She gestured to his flanks and the single alfalfa sprout cutie mark resting upon it.

“It would be a lie to claim that doctoring is my special trait, madam Gum,” Alfalfa said, turning and trotting off at a slow pace, “However, I consider myself to be more than adept when it comes to healing wounds. After having dealt with many bloodied noses, scraped knees, and broken bones over the years a simple knife wound is far within my abilities. You may trust me when I say that you are in able hooves.

“In any case, it seems that you do not have a concussion and your other wound appears to be healing nicely,” he turned back to the cart, “I brought up some soup, though if you wish I can make you something of more sustenance as I assume you are quite hungry.”

As if to prove a point, Gum’s stomach gurgled happily at the mention of food.

“Well if we’re done here then I could go for a bagel or something quick like that, I guess,” Gum replied, “I mean, thanks and all for saving my butt, but I’ve got to get to work, which way’s out?” she asked, starting for the door, ‘Maybe I can cover this stupid scar with some makeup or something--’

“I would advise that you rest a while longer, madam Gum. As nopony reported you missing I would assume that you haven’t any family in Canterlot and are welcome to stay here for the time being,” Alfalfa said, turning to her as she reached the door, “Your wound has not yet entirely healed and stressing it by moving about would not be wise.”

“I’ve got a job, pal! Rent isn’t going to pay itself, now which way’s out?” she asked, turning a demanding look on Alfalfa.

Alfalfa was quiet at first, but gave an annoyed sigh before replying, “Master Mane wished to speak with you first,” he began, “and for the record, you have been asleep two days, now I would assume that you would need far more than a bagel.”

Silence fell over the room.

“What?” Gum asked, the word dropping from her lips like a brick.

Alfalfa’s face failed to falter, “You were unconscious when master Mane found you, you only awoke today. You have been on a liquid diet for the past two--”

Gum turned from Alfalfa, “Shit,” she muttered in the middle of Alfalfa’s speech, not noticing as the unicorn again appeared annoyed at her choice of language as she pushed past the door.

Alfalfa froze for a moment as the door slammed shut behind Gum, a flicker of surprise showing in his eyes before he followed as fast as his long, old legs could carry him.

“Madam Gum? Where are you going?” he called after her.

“Out. Thanks for the wound care and all, but I’ve gotta--” Gum froze mid-sentence and -step as she came face to face with another pony.

His coat was a light mocha color, mostly hidden by a purple silk robe. Jade eyes sparkled above a friendly smile, his two-tone chocolate mane impeccably done into a fancy hairdo.

It was features Gum recognized, the name clicking in her head.

“Oh, shit. You’re Spruced Mane!?” Gum exclaimed.

Alfalfa wrinkled his nose at the curse.

Author's Note

So yeah, like I said: don't expect updates often. Sorry about it.