Stronghold: New Beginnings.

Chapter 10:

Recovery Hurts...

I guess you could say I thought I was dead, because when I woke up, I saw a Pegasus flying right above me, a lovely smile on her face. “Am...am I in...Pony Heaven?” My voice sounded dry, like as if I swallowed sand (not literal). The Pegasus then said “No, silly. You're in my room. I'm letting you recover here.” That's when I started noticing different things, like the bunny next to me, and the bookshelves at the front of the room. Then I realized where I was; and the answer was definitely not dead.

I was in Fluttershy's room.

“What happened? Wh—where are my clothes?” “Oh, you see, the doctors removed your clothes so they could operate. Don't worry, though. They only operated on your upper body. They left your pants on.” I looked down, and saw pants on. 'Oh, good. That'd be embarrassing', I thought. “But if I'm in your room, then where have you been sleeping?” “Downstairs on the sofa. I don't mind, really. It's just as cozy.”

I got up, But stopped halfway and held my abdomen. I was in bad shape. I looked at my gut, and saw a scar that stopped at my sternum. War wounds, I guess. Then I looked at the shoulder I used against the door—the same shoulder that Reggie cracked with a mallet The size of his arm. A scar ran down towards the end of my shoulder starting at the end of my trapezius.

“It took them a while to fix your ribs. It also took them longer to fix your shoulder, since bits of bone were separated and splintered. They also noticed something about your blood...said it was radioactive. They told me to make sure you fully heal. Otherwise, they bring you to Zecora's hut. An option they think is scary because the Everfree Forest isn't grown like the rest of Equestria.”

“Do I have to? I feel fine.” “You holding you gut tells me otherwise. Don't worry. They also noticed you heal pretty quick. They believe you'll be completely healed by about midnight.” “Fine. Can't be too bad, I guess...Hey, Fluttershy? Do I have white hair right now?” “Um, Yes. Why?” “Before Reggie flung me across his castle boarders, he said 'Think of this waste as a gift, white hair.'” “What waste, Max?” “He dumped toxic waste on me right after he broke my shoulder.” “...Oh no. That stuff is poisonous. It kills all cells on contact.”

“I think it only killed my cancerous cells. I had heart cancer. It was terminal. I was luckier than any other cancer victim. I had two years and a month before I died. I think the radiation in the waste killed the cancer cells. Did my eyes change color at all?” “Yes. They're silver.” “Crap. That sucks.” “If it makes you feel better, I think you still look handsome.” I grinned, and said, “Thank you, Flutters.”

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'It's now three in the afternoon, according to the clock in Fluttershy's room, and I'm starting to feel better', I thought as I got up. I Walked toward the chair at the front of the room, where I saw my hood, jacket, and gloves. I went in my Jacket pocket, took out my ace-bandage roll, and wrapped it around my Shoulder, and my gut. Then I wrapped more of it around my hands and forearms, up to the elbows. I put on my hoodie, my jacket, and my gloves, then left the room, heading downstairs.

I stopped when I reached the front door, and asked Fluttershy “How long had I been out?” “A few days.” “Time to make up for lost time.” I opened up the door, and...it was snowing. Apparently, I landed on Equestria on the last few days of autumn. “You know, it's a shame that this lovely snow will be tainted with Reggie's blood.” I said as I left.