I would be lying if I said I didn't miss being outside. Hearing the natural sounds that would be made, consistently changed by the passing of seasons and time; adding to the canvas that had dulled so greatly from my seemingly eternal time of lost consciousness.

It is for that reason that it felt so... Brilliant, to have been able to leave the hospital, not a few days after I had woken up.

To hear the sounds of chirping birds and crumpling leaves, coupled with the forthcoming breeze of a calm autumn afternoon.

Many ponies had been more than willing to send me their cheerful regards as they saw me, just as happy to see that I had exited the hospital as well, relatively unharmed and unbothered in my doing so.

The same party pony from my earlier days here in Ponyville had even caught up to me once more, asking if it would be alright to throw a sort of celebration on the fact; I politely refused though, my head still having felt a light ache to it at the time.

It was barely a day or so before everything began to return to how it previously was: ShimmerSky continuing to care for and be kind to me as if she were a volunteered caretaker; my usual walks about Ponyville going on without issue–though, admittedly, it took a bit to convince ShimmerSky to allow me to do this once again, considering her overall worry of some sort of repeat of past events; and, thankfully enough, the return of a certain mare's involvement with my daily routine.

...

Though, as glad as I was for Octavia's return, the previously withheld project in the canvas of my mind being put back into work, this was also exactly where the issue was; the only discernible difference in my usual interactions.

For instance, on an average day, everything would seem to be following the same trail as it did before.

I would enjoy a helping of breakfast with ShimmerSky, just before she would go off to work, and make my way outside for a time. From there, I would greet the many recognizable ponies I passed–and vice versa–as I sought out a calm place to seat myself, my walking stick, which I had managed to recover and reclaim sometime after the crash, steadfast directly in front of me.

The ground was always just as smooth, yet earthy, as it had previously been, the occasional lead in my path being all to break this pattern of left and right.

Once I had found a seat, I would listen for a moment or two, discerning if this particular area would do, and sit myself down soon after.

The same as before.

The repeated cycle would only go on in an even greater form as, shortly after I would hear the delicate and resounding footsteps that I had grown to long to hear approach.

A smile would shortly after make its way to my features as her voice chimed through the air.

"Good morning, Eugene." She would once again say as I turned my head to face her.

"And a very good morning to you as well, Octavia." It would only be a scant moment of these introductions before I moved myself over in my seat for her, and, upon feeling the shifting and slight creaking of the bench below me, it would seem as though everything would return to how it previously was.

... At least, that's what one would expect. This was, in actuality, where things would be different.

"Are you feeling well today?"

Octavia would begin, a small smile on my face as I took notice of the upcoming repeat of the more recent change she had made to our past pattern.

"Yes, Octavia, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You don't feel cold, or anything, right?"

This was the difference. The change.
Ever since Octavia had first come to see me at the hospital, since she had made that promise to 'make it up for me', she had seemingly made it her self-appointed duty to keep me happy and contented, no matter what the situation.

From the rest of my short stay in the hospital–wordlessly fluffing my pillows, adjusting my blankets, and the like–to now, she would do whatever was in her ability to help keep me 'satisfied'. Now, as kind of a gesture as this was, it simply felt unnecessary.

I had told her myself, 'there is no need for you to put me before everything else', but every time I had, it would always be the same response.

'But it's still not enough'.

Without a doubt, I enjoyed spending time with Octavia; allowing her and myself to delve into our surroundings and simply take everything in. Now, however, it seemed as if she had given up her own ability to do so in order to better mine. I didn't want this. I wanted her to be content just as well as I. This was Octavia... Yet, at the same time, it was not.
"if you like, I can go to the market and get you some-"

"Octavia, believe me, there's no need to be so concerned." I calmly told her, turning my head to face her voice once more, a reassuring smile on my face as I did so.

"Please, just relax for a moment. It sounds as though it will be another day of beauty." And it was true; already, I could hear the birds coming, and the wind beginning to shift. I hoped for her to simply agree and enjoy this upcoming music, but instead, the silence I received as a response was tense, eventually brought to an end, but with a sigh.

"Thank you, but-" Before she could continue any further, a familiar rumbling sound filled the air around us, only serving to add to my previous smile and draw a silent chortle from me as I quickly recognized it.

"Hungry, I take it?" I asked teasingly.

"I-I'm fine." Her immediate response removed whatever amusement I felt from the situation, replacing it with exasperation; I continued to retain my smile nonetheless, if only to keep her from worrying any more than before.

That was another thing that broke the normality of Octavia and I's time together, wasn't it? Since my stay at the hospital, those lunches that she and I would have–filled with conversation and interaction–had just suddenly come to a stop. She would always claim not to be hungry, despite the clear signs of her being so, and would only suggest food of any sort when she believed me to be hungry; She'd never eat herself though. Every time, she'd go to the market, asking me to wait where I was until she came back with something for me to eat.

Though she told me that she would eat at home, she still only did so around the time that the clock struck 7, and I began to make my way home. This couldn't possibly be good for her, and it worried me every time I thought about it.

From here, the rest of the day would flash by in an instant; Not from pure enjoyment though, so much as it was from utter concern.

This went on for quite some time, to the point that, eventually, all the birds began to leave, and the leaves that were left to fall from the trees started to clear. It was not quite winter just yet, but it certainly was becoming close, from what I could sense.

Soon... It was ShimmerSky that took notice of this issue of mine, during one of our many breakfast sessions together, fittingly enough.

"... Eugene?" She had questioned, drawing me out of my thoughts with a slight start.

"Oh, um, pardon?" My head jolted upwards, away from where ShimmerSky had likely placed my own serving for the morning and towards where I believed her to be.

The sound of her seat shifting, ever so slightly, made itself clear as she spoke to me. "Is... Everything alright? You haven't touched your breakfast."

In all honesty, that was an understatement; I had been so involved with my thoughts that I hadn't even noticed that breakfast was served. Of course, I didn't tell her this, but...

"Sorry. I... Just have a lot on my mind." I responded, distractedly turning the fork I held in between my fingers left and right.

I could hear ShimmerSky seem to click her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "... It's her again, isn't it?" She hadn't exactly held the best opinion of her for quite some time after I was hospitalized, so, suffice to say, I needed to show care with what I said.

"Well... Yes, but even more so, no." She gave out a sigh and, already, I could imagine an expression of some sort of irritation on her face. My lips pursed as I faintly heard her place her forehoof against the table.

"So help me, if she's hurt you again, I'm going to-"

"No, no, it's not... That." I quickly interrupted, not wanting her to make any assumptions, or do anything hasty. Again though, I heard a forehoof plant itself on the table.

"Then what is it?" At first, I was unsure if I should answer. A part of me felt as if this was a more... Personal issue, considering who it was that the topic revolved around; another, greater part of me, however, felt it necessary. After all, ShimmerSky knew Octavia before I did, and, perhaps, she'd have an idea on what to do.

Taking in a breath, I decided to side with the latter of the two segments. "It's just... Things haven't been the same. Octavia is constantly concerned about me, and, while I don't blame her–nor can I say that it isn't kind of her–it just doesn't feel right." I leaned myself ever-so-slightly forward, passing a hand over my head and through my hair.

"It's obvious that she still feels guilty about what happened, but that's not at all what I want from her. I... Just want things to be like they were." As I finished, I tried to give the utensil in my fingers one last spin. In doing so, however, it slipped through the smallest of openings I had distractedly allowed falling to the floor, and myself helpless to catch it.

"... Sorry." I apologized, listening as the fork gave out a solid metal collection of clangs as it crashed against the floor, before soon after coming to rest.

A moment of silence came shortly after, leaving me to believe that ShimmerSky either didn't hold any answer as well, or she had simply disregarded what I had said.

The sudden sound of wood scraping against the floor caught my attention through this silence though; followed immediately after by the sound of hooves navigating their way over to my right, where the fork had fallen, and that of the utensil momentarily scraping against the floor as it was lifted.

"... Have you asked her to do anything for you?" I rose a brow at her sudden, and seemingly random, question, but replied nonetheless.

"No. She's offered quite a bit by now, but I always tell her that it's fi-"

"Ask her for something." Again, this confused me.

"Excuse me?" I asked, seeking out some sort of clarification. ShimmerSky simply gave out a hum though, her wings beginning to flap and give out a small breeze.

"Ask her for something." She restated, as I then overhead her make her way away from my direction, and the sudden squeak of metal, followed by flowing water, allowed me to guess that she was at the sink. "I mean, the fact that you're trying to be nice about this, telling her that she doesn't have to do anything for you, is sweet and all... But that's not going to help her. She wants to make what happened up to you, but she can't do that if you don't tell her to do anything at all."

I blinked blankly as she said this, tilting my head and crossing my arms as I looked directionlessly ahead.

"What do you suggest?" She gave out yet another hum in thought as she continued at the sink, the sound of the water flow occasionally being interrupted every now and then being my only hint as to her progress.

"Hm. Didn't you already ask her for something a while ago?" She questioned, turning of the sink and water with another squeak of the handle, followed shortly after by a faint drip, and beginning to fly back towards me. "During one of the lunches the two of you had?"

I sat there in silence as she placed the fork down on the table near me, racking my mind in an attempt to recall... And when I did, I smiled.

"... Thank you."

Soon after, it was time for me to get going, ShimmerSky likely exiting shortly after me for her job in weather duty, while I made to attend to my own business; I could already feel a positive burst of energy flow through me, but I attempted to keep it suppressed nonetheless.

If Octavia were to catch hint of my intentions, she likely would not see it as a sort of 'repayment', as she so wishes it to be.

With cheer, I found a suitable place to seat myself, allowing myself to rest from the seemingly short walk I had taken and wait.

For the first time in quite a while, time seemed to pass slowly, as I waited gleefully, under control, for Octavia to arrive.

A short breeze came along, brushing calmly along my form while I held my walking stick in between me, my right leg twitching slightly as I suddenly heard the growing sounds of hoofsteps.

They of course came closer and closer with every passing second, of which seemed like an eternity, until finally...

"Good morning, Eugene."

I turned my head towards her direction and gave her a warm nod of acknowledgement, moving myself over to the side so as to allow her a seat.

"Good morning, Octavia."

Again, my excitement spiked as the seat gave a slight shift under her weight, my mind already fluttering with what was to come.

"Are you feeling well today?" I chuckled softly as I sensed the upcoming repetition of our cycle.

"Yes, Octavia, I am well."

"Are you sure? Nothing's wrong, or-"

"Actually," I interrupted, quickly silencing her, "if you do not mind, there is something I would like to ask you about."

She seemed to give out a slight gasp as I said this, and, before I knew it, I felt a pair of hooves on my chest, and a sudden violent shifting from the bench as she apparently moved herself onto me.

"R-really? What is it? Anything!" This surprised me for a moment, partially leaving dumbstruck as I silently thanked ShimmerSky for her advise.

After a moment though, I recovered, offering a greater smile to where I believed her to be.

This would be it. Once everything was done, she'd be back to her previous self, and my mental art piece could go on unhindered.

The end of the delay, and onto the next step.

Author's Note

... Speaking of delays... Sorry...