Say Goodnight.

Chapter 3: Doctor Who?

“You can't leave the tent, Sun. Not yet anyway. You need to eat and stay warm,” she warns me.

I don't wanna stay inside, but I figure I could at least have something to eat and sneak out later when she retires to where ever she sleeps; whenever she sleeps.

“Fine,” I mutter.

I turn around, my body shivering and aching from sudden chills from the outside weather. I lay in bed and cover myself within the blankets I am provided with - leaving my forearms out. Warmness surrounds me and comfort relaxes my body and mind. Maybe I won't sneak out after all, but I'm still curious as to why I'm forced to stay within a tent. Surely they have some kind of hospital in this community.

The nurse comes to my side, tucking the blankets under my body securely, and sets up a metal plating that slides up from the side of the bed and over my body to serve as a table. A heavily clothed pony then comes in through the tent's opening with a metallic tray – closing the tent behind them – that floats within mid air, surrounded by a dull, opaque lighting.

“What the. . .” I whisper to myself, watching the juggernaut clothed pony approach me, setting the tray down in front of me. I instantly notice another light source, similar to the one surrounding the tray, coming from what looks like a slender growth on top of their forehead. They light disappears and the pony turns and exits. I take a few moments to think about what I just saw then look at what I had just received.

“Apples and hay,” the nurse informs me.

Obviously the knock off hospital would have nothing better than simple foods, but I can't complain. I lift my right hoof to grasp the apple and take a bite, chewing slowly to what I knew would be an average taste.

After I finish my meal, the nurse comes and takes the tray away, repositioning the table-like metal slab to the side of my bed. She then tells me that she's going to go to sleep and that the replacement nurse would arrive shortly. This is my chance to sneak away and find out where I really am. Once she leaves, I roll out off the right side of my bed – the edge of the metal tray cuts into my left leg just above my cutie mark – and I quickly stand and cringe to the stinging sensation. I ignore the cut completely and focus on my current task.

I know how cold and harsh it is outside, so I must find the clothing they found me in first. I obviously had heavy clothing and an I.D like everyone else, I just need to know where it is. I look to my left and scan slowly from left to right. Nothing but desks, medical supplies, and machinery that obviously have no function. I stop when I spot a tall, metallic box big enough to block a doorway. My stuff had to be in there. I run over to it and pull it open. Jackets, helmets, goggles, shirts, pants, vests, socks, and shoes in all colors and sizes tumble out and scatter onto the floor. I dig through the pile and notice that every article of clothing had a medical first aid symbol on it. I discard those to my side, picking out every thing within the pile until I come upon pieces of clothing. Turning them over and examining them, I confirm they belong to me when I realize that each clothe has my cutie mark imprinted on them.

Quickly, I put each piece on in layers. It's a very heavy suit, I literally felt like I was a juggernaut suiting up to go off into battle. I debate whether I should find my I.D but I'll be back so It doesn't matter to me right now.

I brave my way out into the wind and snow. Every movement was a battle to push forward, with both the suit and wind and what not. My goggles are the only thing allowing me to see, keeping the blistering cold from freezing my eyes shut. As I journey farther from the tent, darkness engulfs me, and the only thing visible to me is what's five feet in front of me. The wind pushes me back and I struggle to keep my balance.

I search every direction for anyone else, all I see are ravaged buildings covered in snow. In the middle of nowhere, I stop to look around. I've always loved snow so much, to me it was always peaceful and quiet, but now it stings and destroys. My eyes cringe in confusion and slight sadness but I push on.

Buildings now became more common. Everyone of them toppled over and buried. Homes and storefronts are now piles of trash hidden by white masses. Furniture thrown about here and there. A tall round building stands tall in the middle, half of it on the ground while the other half struggles to stay up right, and in front of that; a stone statue as tall as three grown men stood tall, covered in snow and frost.

When I come up to the statue, I wipe the frost off my goggles to get a better look. Six ponies stood tall with an inscription engraved in gold. I life my hoof and rub the snow away, letting it fly off into the distance. I squint my eyes and slowly read to myself what's been written.

“Rainbow Dash – The Loyal. Apple Jack – The Honest. Rarity – The Generous. Fluttershy – The Kind. Pinkie Pie – The Laughter. Twilight – The Magical. We shall remember them for their courageous act and sacrifice they made to our community. Though there efforts where in vein, their memory lives on in us.”

I don't understand. What sacrifice? Who are these ponies?

“They sure did sacrifice a lot for us!” I hear shouted next to me which startles me, causing me to whip my head to my  right.

A male pony with dark clothing and an hour glass cutie mark symbolized on his attire stood there, staring up at the faces of the statue.

“What happened!?” I ask him.

He didn't look at me. “Nightmare Moon happened!” He said.

“Who!?”

“Nightmare Moon. You must be new here so let me explain. About a month ago. Nightmare Moon returned from being trapped in the moon to bring darkness to all of the Equestria forever. Well, she succeeded and these six brave mares failed. Nightmare Moon  used her practiced magic to trap our princess – Princess Celestia – within the sun.  At first everything was fine, but nights grew colder and colder and now, snow and wind attack us twenty-four seven. Buildings and crops were destroyed. We can't rebuild because we don't have the time just to sit out here, and the unicorns refuse to help us, they're too busy with Canterlot. The Pegasi are powerless and can't control the storm at all, lucky for them they live above it all in Cloudsdale. Lucky them,” he explains to me.

“You're kidding, right?”

“I wish I were.”

“And who are you?”

“The names Doctor.”

“Doctor what?”

“Doctor Whooves.”

“What are you doing out here in the first place?”

“Not like I have anywhere to be. Besides, I have time.”

“Shouldn't you be in the triage helping others or something?”

“I'm not a literal doctor.”

Apparently anyone can get the name “Doctor” without actually having a medical degree.

I don't say anything else and turn my head back to the statue. The whistling of the wind in my ears fills the silence between us. I feel very awkward at this point, not knowing what to say.

“What's your name?” he breaks the silence and looks at me.

I look at him and tell him,“Oh um, Jes- I mean, Sun Shower.”

I don't think my real name would make much sense to them at this point.

“Ah, Okay. Well, I'll be seeing you around Sun Shower. Can I just call you Sunny?”

Before I can answer, he nods and walks off beyond my vision, fading away into the night of darkness and snow. Nothing but me and the sound of wind funneling its way past my ears to create a deafening squeal that even my thoughts can't surpass. I look up to the sky and suppress tears that start to form in my eyes. I don't know why I feel like this, maybe because I was all alone in the darkness, in the cold – alone in the snow that now caused so much destruction in this once, probably, peaceful village by the very thing I myself once found peace within.

I have so many questions. How did I go from being hit by a car being stuck here? Why is my cutie mark a raining white cloud? When did something so peaceful become so destructive? That makes no sense. I mean, I like the dark, but not like this.

Snow begins piling up on my goggles so I reach up to wipe it off. I take one more glance at the honorable statue and begin my trek back to the camp site. Only problem is, I don't know where that is. Every foot step I took so far is now covered up under another layer of snow.