The Journey off Reality and towards Insanity

At 6:00 a.m. I awoken to an announcement being made, Attention all staff, we need all patients awake and ready by 7:00 a.m. . Doctor SparkBolt wants all staff and patients in the main auditorium., it said. I awoken like any normal day I've spent here so far, got up, waited for a staff member to give me my medication for the day, and went to the nearest restroom to wash up. Only this time it was different, I had a friend with me, I know it sounds pathetic, but the thought counts. As me and Ironjaw walked to the nearest restroom, an idea popped into my head.

"Crimson you've got a great idea. Showing Ironjaw around will definitely improve you now, besides it would help you and him." LightningStar said.

I thought about it and went with his word, besides what's the worse that could happened?

After we washed up, the staff pointed us towards to main auditorium, along the way Ironjaw spoke and said,

"This place seems to good for being ranked ten among other facilities."

"Well, it was ranked one, but after a year it went down for some reason", I said. I didn't want to tell him that I caused it, he wouldn't want to be around new, causing me to lose my only friend in this place.

"Oh, well that makes some sense, also why do you think they called everyone to the auditorium?

"If I had a clear idea, I think Dr. SparkBolt struck an something genius, and wants to tell of his discovery." I said.

"Well that is a good guess." Ironjaw said as we walked into the auditorium. We was then pointed towards a section based on what hallway we was on, we had a pretty great view of the area. When everyone was seated I noticed something strange, there was the professional looking ponies near the front, maybe that's the reason why. Two of them looked like doctors, but the third one trumped me, she looked like a doctor, but as well as a business pony. I stopped thinking about that when Dr. SparkBolt called us to attention. He went up to the mic and spoke,

"Attention everyone, you're all wondering why I called everyone here. Well the reason why was to show off our three new employees of the Manehatten institution! Everyone please give a warm hand to Dr. SilverWing, Dr. Cromwell, and finally Dr. BrightStar!"

Everyone began clapping as the three doctors took the stage under all the commotion. As the clapping died they each shook hands with Dr.SparkBolt and then Dr. BrightStar took the mic first. She began,

"Thank you all so much and Dr. SparkBolt for the honors. I am gladly to say that I will be helping the most troublesome patients, and when I say that, the ones with the most mental problems. Dr. SparkBolt gave me someone to work with. I now want CrimsonBlaze to come up to the stage so I can meet my new patient and soon to be friend!"

I was shocked when she called my name, but I did what she said. I slowly rose from my seat and walked down the isle. I stepped onto the stage and when I got up there, I saw her holding a hoof out, I quickly shook it and stayed next to her as she said,

"He will be the first of many I will work with here, I am guaranteed that by the end if this year, Crimson here will be able to live a semi-normal life and will learn how to deal with his mental issues each and every day. I am proud to say that I'm an employee working here to advance the life's of everyone, including the one next to me."

I thought about her words and they filled me with hope, I did what my mind told me and I quickly hugged her, I know she felt surprised, but she quickly embraced it.

I merely whisper to her,

"thank you, just thank you." I couldn't really say much after that because I was choking on some of the feelings I felt. Dr. SparkBolt quickly took the stage again and said,

"Now, I would like all staff to stand up and please escort the group you had to their representative places for their schedule. We will be off scheduled due to this event so we will call for these groups when lunchtime hits. Thank you all for you're cooperation!"

I saw a glimpse of Ironjaw as he smiled at me, I could tell he was happy for me. I then followed BrightStar to the elevator, I never went to the first or third floors, nor have I seen them so it was a little spooky going towards it. She and I enter as well as the other three doctors, and then pressed the First Floor button. The doors closed and we quickly went up. After the elevator I waited outside of another office and then me and Dr. BrightStar went back to the elevator and back to the Second Floor. I followed her down a couple of hallways till we reached her office, I then enter and took a seat as she did.

"So, you're the one they call CrimsonBlaze. I've heard a lot about you, some good and some bad, but that doesn't matter right now, what does is can you tell me a couple of things. Dr. SparkBolt says you talk very little when around us, so can you speak for me at least?"

I didn't know what to do so I simply said quietly,

"I can speak."

She was booming in happiness as she heard me, she then ask me,

"Now, I why was you sent here?"

I said, "Because I suffer from mental issues."

"Good you are very smart, now how do you feel about you're mental issues?"

"I really don't know, i feel normal, but I can tell something is wrong with me."

"A very good start, you're very aware of how you feel and you have a great understanding of it. Now, do you hear a voice from time to time?"

I really didn't want to answer that, but I know I needed to it would help me a lot,

"Yes I do, this voice I hear gives me a reasoning of understanding and hope, I call it LightningStar, because I feel it deserves a name."

"CrimsonBlaze, you don't know how much progress was made from those little questions. I find it un-natural that schizophrenics in you're type of case would lie, but you shine bright amongst all of them. I also understand why you gave it a name, and LightningStar is a lovely name. Remember, just because I asked only three questions doesn't mean a lot, it does on how a patient responds on them."

"Wow, thank you Dr. BrightStar.", she could tell I was now more confident in my speaking. Talking to her brought something into me, a void that use to fill me, now brims with light. My spirit literally rose from the depths of it and ascended towards the light, I felt whole again for awhile. A smile adorn my face and she was happy for that.

"Now, if you wouldn't mind I'd like to perform an examination on you just to see if you're physically healthy. After that we can move on to you're new treatment."

I quickly hopped into the examination table and laid back, she told me I would be put under, just to make things fly faster, and for the reason to numb some pain that it could induce. I then quickly drifted off, when I awoke I saw Dr. BrightStar and

Dr. SparkBolt. They helped me up and Dr. SparkBolt said,

"Today we are trying a new treatment, I know you're aware of this so let's begin shall we?"

I quickly nodded and then they quickly put these patches around my body. Wires were attached to them and lead to a strange looking machine.

"Okay Dr. BrightStar will be asking you questions while I look over the readings we receive from you're answers. This machine sends electrical impulses throughout you're body via those patches on you. With every answer we get from you they will be sending back data to this machine here. This type of treatment has been around for quite some time and has helped many people like you Crimson. So no need for worrying, it's better you stay calmed and relaxed, which is why you will be laying down, as Dr. BrightStar ask questions you two will do a couple of breathing exercises for thirty seconds, sounds easy enough?" Said Dr. SparkBolt.

I quickly nodded and we began the treatment. After an hour we decided to end, I saw Dr. SparkBolt removing a roll of paper, to me it looked rather large. They took of the patches and I was given a drink and a bit of food. After that I asked Dr. SparkBolt,

"Would you mind if I showed Ironjaw around the facility? Before all this happened he was my closet friend I knew."

"I would love to see you do that I'll send along Dr. BrightStar with you as well, so you can show her around too." I then got up, and went to the elevator along with the other two doctors. Me and Dr. BrightStar got off on the Second Floor and went where Ironjaw was suppose to be, but we ran into him at the nurse's office, he had a bloody nose when he got punched accidentally by another patient, he told us.  I then quickly went to where the main auditorium entrance is and began my tour for the two.

Crimson, I know it was tough talking to Dr. BrightStar about that touchy subject and questions, but you powered through and did it anyway, I'm proud of you.

I simply smiled and pointed my two tour attendees down another hallway leading outside where the patients have a recreational time.

I ended my tour abruptly when an announcement came up.

Attention all, we are now calling for lunch, will group A please report now.

"Well looks like I need to go, you two can come along with me, I should know the way with the tour you gave me Crimson", she giggled and we followed her.

"Crimson, thank you for the tour, I was getting so lost in this place from the start." Ironjaw said to me.

I replied, "hey man no problem, besides it gelled me a lot, along with you."

I saw that Dr. BrightStar was stopped ahead when I saw what looked like a massacre, one of the rooms has blood coming from the bottom of the door, next to that door was on of the staff who had a shocked look on his face, the patient in that room killed herself. No one didn't want to look neither did any of us, but we all saw the gruesome scene. The patient somehow got a hanger from somewhere and mutilated their eyeballs. It then looks like they stabbed the hangar through their throat, I held mine at the look of it. The other staff members arrived and covered her body and placed her on a stretcher. We three walked towards the cafeteria without another word. After that little "incident", I was then sent to my normal schedule, luckily I had a recreational time. I decided to pick a few flowers, I saw one of the staff members who carried the patient, I gave him the flowers and told him,

"Please give these too the one you carried, I feel like she would want this."

He smiled at me and immediately left, I felt happy for doing that. As soon I was walking from that spot I saw something, it was a shadowy figure I saw before, it was coming back go me. I heard little whispers, but they quickly went away along with the shadow figure, I then heard a little yelp from behind me.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

"Sorry you startled me. Did you see that shadowy figure as well?" She asked.

"Yes, I was wondering the same, also who are you?"

"My name is FeatherLight, but I'm just known as the Bird girl of Manehatten, I don't like that name, the only reason because is I like watching the birds during this time. I feed and play with them as well."

"Well FeatherLight, I am CrimsonBlaze. It's nice to meet you."

"You're CrimsonBlaze? I thought well you was in solitary confinement?"

"I was but that was a long time ago, still nice to meet ano-"

Attention all patients thirty minutes till everyone must report towards their room. After that ten minutes till lights out.

"Well nice talking to you, but If I get the chance I'll speak with you again.

"Bye Crimson." She quickly said and left.

I found Ironjaw already asleep in his bed, I took my time and red a book before lights out. I heard the call and quickly saved my place and put the book back. For the first time in a long time, I slept with no night terror awakening me, I had an actual happy dream. I was smiling in my sleep, I could tell because I knew this was the start to something good. I could feel like I was getting better already.

"Crimson, I don't how to express my happiness for you. You've done so much in a days time that would of been done in a month. You really are getting better..." LightningStar's voiced faded and I fell into a deep sleep.