Of Magic and Flame

Over the past few days, not much has happened. The doctors have been running a lot of tests. At least four a day. They only tell me what a few of them are. They tell me that they're testing my blood for poison because they're not sure if changelings are venomous. I feel like the other tests are just things given to them by Twilight to do. I say that because every time she visits, she asks if they ran any tests that day. She also asks a lot about my fire.

When I told her that it's tied to my life force, she seemed confused, but just continued to shoot me questions.

Twilight hasn't been the only one to visit me. That crazy pink one appears out of nowhere sometimes. But, she always gives me candy or something, so it's alright, I guess.

The princess came by the other day too. She told me that she would pay for this whole hospital visit and my recovery. I thanked her and it got really awkward for about five minutes. She was just standing there, and the doctors wouldn't let me get up, so we just stared at each other for the entire time. Then I remembered the letter. I gave it to her and she left soon after.

I kinda regret what I wrote in that letter. I mean, my parents are probably super depressed, but I just sent them this short little memo saying "hey mom, dad. How's it going? Yeah, you probably think I'm dead, but I'm in a magical place now. Don't worry, and I love you."

It probably seems really inappropriate for such a circumstance, but I've never been one who is able to really express my feelings.

Anyways, Applejack showed up too. She gave me this apple pie, and it was the best dang pie I've ever had. I mean, I almost went into another coma. After that, Rarity and Fluttershy came in. Fluttershy had this rabbit with her. She called it Angel. The thing's a devil. It gave me this look, like "keep one eye open at all times, because I will kill you the second you even blink." What did I do? I think it just might have a blood lust.

Rarity also gave me something. While we were talking she rummaged through her saddle bags and pulled out a box. Inside was a number of small gems and a replica of Ash's hat from the original anime! She told me that Bruteroot and Shellshocker had told her what it looked like, and she made it for me. I thanked her profusely for the the gift, probably too much. When they left, Rainbow Dash came in. She had few books with her. She told me that they were her favorites and she read them while she was in the hospital with a broken wing. She also threatened to break all of my bones if I told anyone that she liked books.

The books were about this adventurer Daring Do. To me, it was basically like reading about a female pony Indiana Jones. Anytime something exciting would happen, I would start humming the theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark. A few times some doctors and nurses walked past and gave me strange looks.  I just smiled at them as they walked on to another room. In fact, they were so similar, that it had a Temple of Doom parody.

A pony in some country I forget the name of stole some magic gems. A city nearby suffered from famine and drought. Then, Daring Do visited the ruler and discovered a tunnel to an underground temple. In the temple, various ponies in masks chanted "Kali-Mare" while another pony sliced the cutie marks (which I recently learned are the symbols on a pony's butt) then discarded the pony into a flaming pit. The cutie marks burned with the pony. Then there was this whole chase through a canyon, some sword fighting, the Royal Guard showed up and saved Daring Do from the crazy ponies, and then the gems were returned and there was a happy ending. It's pretty crazy how similar they were.

Later, I tried to eat the gems Rarity gave me. She said that Spike liked to eat them, and I might too. So I tried. Never again. Those things almost broke my teeth, and when I finally chipped one (it was cracked already) it tasted like a pistachio threw up on the love child of a watermelon and teriyaki chicken. When Bruteroot came to visit, I told him to stash them under my pillow at the library. Who knows? I may need them someday.

So, that brings us to today. The doctors said that I may be able to leave finally. Yay. Twilight came by with Bruteroot and Shellshocker to pick me up. When we were leaving, Twilight dropped a sack of large gold coins on the counter. The nurse thanked us and we left.

As we exited the doors, I was blinded by the sun. I sneezed. You would think that spending six days in a white room would prepare you to see the outside world, but no. We walked back to the library, this time I walked all the way around it too, checking bushes and windows to make sure there weren't any more surprises. I thought I saw something ducking in a corner when I looked in the window, but it was too bright to be a changeling, so I disregarded it.

When I finally walked in, I was assaulted with the boom of a cannon and a loud "Surprise!" from a certain crazy mare. Many streamers were decorating the library, and every pony I knew was there, plus some more. So about twelve. Spike was there along with Bruteroot and Shellshocker.

Spike was standing near three little girls, I think they're called fillies. I have been trying to brush up on my horse terminology since Twilight yelled at me for calling Princess Celestia a woman. So Spike, standing by them was still gawking at Rarity. For some reason, I wouldn't doubt it if someone told me that he's been following her and doing this since I left him at the carousel place.

There were a few ponies I didn't know. There was one who was wearing glasses and playing some music from enormous speakers. Another was gray and had some eye condition. My mom used to work at a public school. She worked with people who had mental or physical disabilities. So I am kind of used to being around people like that. From how this pony was acting, the only problem was with moving around without hitting something. Probably just from her eyes, not mental disease or anything. There was another pony there who I vaguely remember. I think it was Big Macintosh, but I did notice that he was spending a lot of time with Applejack. So, I'm probably right. The only ponies left besides the six that came to visit me were the three fillies. I think the yellow one was Apple Bloom, because she talked like Applejack. And her friends called her that. But I don't know who the other two were.

For about two hours we partied, drinking punch, eating cupcakes, and talking. The DJ was pretty good to. Apparently, they don't even need to make the mixes sometimes. There's this "song magic" that happens when a pony really wants to sing or there is something big happening. And there's Pinkie Pie. She does it whenever.

        So the DJ, Vinyl Scratch from what she told me, sometimes can just imagine the song in her head and it'll play. So, I decided to try it out.

I tried to think of a good song, when in saw Shellshocker and Twilight standing there alone. I knew I had to do this, especially with what Celestia told me about them. I grabbed a microphone and walked up in front of the turntables. I signaled for the music to stop when I began.

The piano began playing with a synthesizer. Somehow Spike had gotten to a piano and Vinyl was playing the synth on a keyboard. I took a deep breath and began to sing.

" I can't fight this feeling any longer

And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow

What started out as friendship, has grown stronger

I only wish I had the strength to let it show

I tell myself that I can't hold out forever

I said there is no reason for my fear

Cause I feel so secure when we're together

You give my life direction

You make everything so clear

And even as I wander

I'm keeping you in sight

You're a candle in the window

On a cold, dark winter's night

And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might"

Cymbals crashed as the drums entered. There were no drums, just the sound of them playing in our ears unexplainably. As perplexed as I was, I kept on singing.

"And I can't fight this feeling anymore

I've forgotten what I started fighting for

It's time to bring this ship into the shore

And throw away the oars, forever

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore

I've forgotten what I started fighting for

And if I have to crawl upon the floor

Come crushing through your door

Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you

I've been running round in circles in my mind

And it always seems that I'm following you, girl

Cause you take me to the places that alone I'd never find

And even as I wander I'm keeping you in sight

You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night

And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might

And I can't fight this feeling anymore

I've forgotten what I started fighting for

It's time to bring this ship into the shore

And throw away the oars, forever

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore

I've forgotten what I started fighting for

And if I have to crawl upon the floor

Come crushing through your door

Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore."

The music began to fade out after I stopped singing. Twilight looked happy like the other ponies, but I looked at Shellshocker and he had the most hilarious face. He was both embarrassed and annoyed. I winked at him and put the microphone back. As I re-entered the party, the three fillies ran up to me.

"Wow! Ah didn't know that y'all could sing!" said Apple Bloom.

"That was so cool! Like, half a Rainbow Dash cool!" The orange pegasus spoke up next.

"That's a lot comin' from her." Apple Bloom explained to me. However, the white unicorn gave me this weird grin. Almost like saying "I know your secret."

"So," she began, " who was that about?"

"It was for a friend. Just to help em seal the deal with his new crush."

"Not buying it."

"Well, it's the truth. So, deal with it." At that I put on imaginary sunglasses and walked away.

After a few more hours of partying, mostly everyone had given up and gone home. The last one to leave was the crazy pink one. Once she left, we all decided to hit the hay for the night.

In the basement, Bruteroot and Shellshocker had already fallen asleep, so when I got down there, I had to sneak into my bed. When I finally reached it, I fell down onto my pillow face first. I felt a sharp pain in my mouth. I checked under my pillow and found the gems that Rarity gave me.

"Fricken gems. Gonna break my teeth one way or another."