Above Eagles

    Have you ever wanted to kill someone?

    I certainly know the answer to that question for myself. It had been a day since I had paralyzed that mare, and a day full of guilt at that. I didn't want to talk to Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie when they came in (through the door this time), and only opened my mouth to say our farewells. I felt slightly bad for those two mares, but only slightly. Cactus Blossom was the main focus of my guilt, and the main reason why I wanted to kill someone.

    Not somepony, but someone.

    "C'mon, get up higher," Nurse Redheart was saying as I zoned back in. Realizing my current situation, I held on tight to the bar in front of me as I shakily stood upright. Redheart, holding onto the same metal, facing me on the other side, nodded. "Again."

    I bit my lip out of pain as I bent my knees, lowering to a squatting stance. My legs flexed hard, yet they wouldn't give out. My entire body shook from the unfamiliar feeling of putting intentional exhaustion on my upper legs for the first time.

    Meanwhile, Nurse Redheart was already as low as I was to go, her tail splayed on the tile floor below. I exhaled quickly, staring forward as I, once again, slowly descented. My arms shook with determination as they held strong.

    I bucking hate Stress Tests. Apparently, they were exercises which "everypony has to do after a stroke. We're only recording your muscle strength, and renewing your spirit. It's for your safety!" Bullshit is what I say. This was an excuse for Redheart to see me squirm and sweat.

    Now, my tail was scraping the floor, slowly splaying out. I lowered more, my teeth gritting as I panted. I was almost to Redheart's level when I felt my muscles give out-- I fell to the floor with a thud.

    Nurse Redheart sighed out of exasperation, but I was focused on the relaxation settling in on my quads. She pushed off the metal bar, before dropping to all fours and trotting to the bench with her clipboard on it. I was starting to wonder if she had a wood-metal-and-paper fetish.

    "Just two more days of this and you'll be back to full strength," Nurse Redheart susurrated pleasantly. "I usually do flash cards after this part, but you'll need to learn how to read first. We both know how that turned out, don't we?"

    I glared at her, momentarily wondering how much force it'd take to crack her back, too. With a shake of my head, those thoughts were shoved to the back of my dark, shadowy mind. "...I'd like t' see the maire I injurrd," I said as I crawled back up to all fours. My Equestrian was getting better by the day, but I was still at a "noticeable speech disorder level."

    Nurse Redheart peered up at me. "No, you may not see Cactus Blossom," she replied. I felt a tinge of venom in her voice.

    I stood up on all fours, before making my way to Nurse Redheart. I saw her bristle at my presence, but I didn't care. "I want to say sowrry to her."

    "I'm sure you do," Nurse Redheart deadpanned, her cyan eyes still peering into my (don't know the color) ones.

    I backed down, muttering just loud enough so she could hear me. "It's not nice to keep things to yourself." I felt her fur bristle more, and I mentally smiled. She knew I knew. And I wasn't going to let up until she showed me the tapes.

    Nurse Redheart growled, before landing back on the tile floor, her clops echoing in the small room. "Let's try the Bar Test again."

    "What did you tell them happend?" I asked, turning back to the nurse. Redheart raised an eyebrow. "The other pohnies. When I injurrd Cactus? You didnt tell them our li'l secret, did you?"

    "I told them one of our unicorn patients was on her period, and was doing that to you out of emotional stress from another room."

    Wow.

    "Grab the bar," Nurse Redheart commanded as she trotted past me, wrapping her own hooves on the bar, standing on her hind legs.

    Maybe I could stimulate the serotonin receptors in her brain to make her stop acting like she confused her dildo with a cactus this morning. Then again, that might just make her brain explode. Oh well, both are ideal for me.

    I grabbed the horizontal bar, across from Redheart. We both peered at each other, the tension steadily growing as we retained eye contact.

    "Half way," she said simply, squatting her legs to a 90 degree angle. I still kept eye contact, trying my best to look intimidating enough for her to get my message. With some straining, I slowly lowered myself to a squatting stance. My muscles burnt as I held my pose, but I kept at it. "Back up." The mare in front of me easily stood back up. I followed, although a bit slower.

    "Does Cactus Blossom hav a famly?" I asked.

    "A husband and two fillies," Nurse Redheart said. "All not interested in seeing you."

    "How do you know? They dunt even know it was me."

    "Half way again," Nurse Redheart changed the subject. She knelt back down to her pose, and I saw some muscle under her white, fur legs.

    I squatted down to her level, shaking all the way. We were now at eye-level. "Does her famly know what happend?"

    "They know she's paralyzed," Nurse Redheart murmered, hints of anger creeping into her voice. "Stop asking about them. Now, all the way down."

    As the mare sank to the floor with ease, I tried to follow suit. The metal, plain room around me echoed my grunts as I shook, my leg muscles straining with the foreign efforts. I lowered myself to the floor shakily, yet I didn't fall.

    "So, who is this Twilite Sparkl, really?" I asked as I lowered my flank to the cold, tile floor. I shivered, before relaxing.

    "Princess Twilight Sparkle," Nurse Redheart corrected. "And she's an acquaintance of mine. A teacher for young fillies and colts."

    That, I knew was a lie. Twilight specifically said she wasn't a teacher last night. I glared at the nurse, but my growing strain eventually won over my anger, and I relaxed on the ground.

    "...Good job for today," Nurse Redheart said suddenly, standing back up on all fours. I followed suit, although slower. The mare disregarded me as she trotted back to the bench, picking something up. When she turned back, Nurse Redheart was holding a cup of water.

    Curious, but not suspicious, me thinks. I graciously accepted the liquid as she hoofed it to me, before gulping it down.

    "Go back to your room and get some rest," Nurse Redheart informed. "We'll work our way up to you being released."

    Released...?

    Well, that was a problem. I didn't have a house, or any money to afford one! Somepony would have to take me in, but besides Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, "Princess" Twilight Sparkle, and Nurse Redheart, nopony knew me. Nurse Redheart was out of the question, obviously. I'd have to mentally restrain myself from attacking Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash would probably tell the entire town of my presence, and my head would explode if I spent more than fifteen minutes with Pinkie.

    "What will I do when I get releesd?" I asked, after lowering the empty cup. Nurse Redheart gave me a look, and I explained my reasoning to her. Not two seconds passed before Redheart answered, just after taking the plastic cup from me.

    "Oh, Rarity already volenteered," she said bluntly. I tilted my head. "She's one of Rainbow Dash's friends-- the Ponyville Fashionista, as us doctors call her. Uptight to a fault, but she's titularly generous."

    Rainbow Dash had some weird friends.

    "Oh, that reminds me," Redheart exclaimed, before walking past me, holding her clipboard with a hoof. She turned around, before holding the door open for me. It led to the hallways of the hospital. "We don't force you to do anything here, so it's your choice if you would like to be placed in Rarity's custody." (My fur bristled via her child-innuendo.) "If you accept, she'll like to meet you tomorrow."

    I didn't have much of a choice, but I was cautious. "Why does a stranger want to help me?"

    Nurse Redheart peered at me, answering immediately. "Because that's the Ponyville way."

    ...Woah.

    I mentally took a step back, uneasy at the intensity of the statement. Redheart seemed to know what she had just said, before clearing her throat. "Rarity is generous," she said simply. "She won't pass up an offer like this."

    I saw a flash of something in her eyes, but Nurse Redheart looked away before I could make the emotion out. It was as if she was trying to prove a point-- as if this place was better than another. She was intentionally trying to make me feel at home.

    Did she see just what Twilight was talking about last night, and felt pity for me? Was she worried about me? From what I've heard (even if it was just a small demo), I must've had a shitty life.

    It was then I realized I was gazing at Redheart like an idiot. She had already recovered from her mini daydream, and was raising an eyebrow posed at me.

    "Uhh, Yes," I finally answered, warmth rushing to my face. "Tha'd be cool." Without so much as a glance, I trotted forward, into the bright hallway-- contrary to the gray, metal room I had just resided in. Redheart closed the door and followed me as I made my way out, which brought another question to mind. "...Why didnt you tell me earlier? This seems like an importnt mattur."

    Redheart, after a moment of hesitation, responded. "I think a lot."

    ...Are you shitting me?

    No, scratch that. Are you royally raping me with a blender? This is bull. *SHIT.***

    Nurse Redheart drugged me! Was that even legal?! So, not only did I wake up a few mornings ago with a motherfucking hole through my chest, gushing out blood, *leaving a freaking trail**, but I was also given a sleeping drug, *by a nurse. Through a cup of water. Whelp, now it was certain. I'm the main character of some amateur author's salacious fanfiction. Fuck this.

    I didn't know what I was going to do when Redheart opened that door, to this empty room. Key Word: empty. As in, she cleared the room of everything, even my bed-- I was sleeping on a thin mattress. Which was the floor. The entire room was padded. Was I going to rip her throat out, or was she going to rip mine out first? Was I going to just collapse the entire building out of rage? Celestia-dammit, she deserved to have a building collapsed on her!

    How the Hell was I supposed to function in here? Be happy? Go to the bathroom? What, was she going to send somepony to spot me when I do my business? CELESTIA-DAMMIT, WHY DOES SHE THINK I'M A THREAT? I'VE MADE IT PRETTY DAMN CLEAR I FEEL GUILTY. If she's too idiotic to see me struggling with the fact I just ruined a mare's life, then she better try brain surgery on herself!

    I was glaring a hole through the wall, my entire frame shaking with rage when the door to the room opened. My head snapped to the side, and I gave the entering pony a death glare. My hooves clenched into fists (I didn't bother to look down and see how that could possible look) as I recognized Nurse Redheart, who was currently giving me a look.

    "Now, Andrew..." she started.

    "Buck you and your entire family," I inturrupted, my irises narrowing in the meanwhile. I could've said "fuck," but that would mean she wouldn't have gotten in. Oh, well, I can fucking say it as fucking much as I fucking want in my fucking mind! FUCK YOU REDHEART!

    Redheart endured the blow with a cringe. "I knew you'd have some harsh words to share. But, please, try to look an this from my perspective."

    "Sorry, I can't. Your pers...pectiv is too blurry via your lust for shoving a cactus up your gaping--"

    "Andrew! Shut it! Listen to me, for once, and pay attention this time." Nurse Redheart growled, before closing her eyes. She massaged her temples with her hooves. "You are making this very difficult for me."

    "I hope I am, Bitch Cakes."

    "Andrew...!" Nurse Redheart was fuming as she bit her lip, clenched her eyes, and curled her hooves into fists. I smiled, knowing I knew what buttons to press to rustle her jimmies to oblivion. "...Stop talking to me in that manner. Right. Now."

    Ooh, Ms. Red-No-Heart is getting angry!

    "I had to ensure you would not hurt anypony else," the small part of my brain which was listening to her said. "Including yourself. No more falling out of windows, no more holding Automatic-IV machines, and no more visits from Twilight."

    Wait. Why did she say that last part? It was only one time, and it wasn't exactly going to be a reccuring thing.

    "Just..." Nurse Redheart was finishing, her eyes closed in a half-meditating state. "...Nothing. Tomorrow, Rarity will meet you. Two more days of Stress Tests, and you'll go home with her. But until and between those two events, your days will be summed up to: sleeping, eating, and Stress Tests. You will knock on the door, asking the pony outside if you can go to the restroom. You can jog around in this room for exercise. Are we clear?"

    I glared. This was completely unnecessary-- what was her problem with me? It's not like I was openly against her, ever. Was this her way to get back at me for Cactus-- who I was extremely guilty about?

    ...Or did this somehow have something to do with her seeing those tapes?

    My ears perked in realization. It was a stretch, obviously, but it could very well be the reason. Redheart knows me more than I do, and thinks this is the best option. Either that, or she knows what I'm capable of.

    Was Nurse Redheart scared of me?

    "...Crystal clear," I hissed quietly, noting the faint twinkle of relief in her eyes.

    I like it when they scream.

    The sound is soothing to my ears, like rich, creamy milk pouring into a tube. It was smooth and amazing, almost so much that I'd want to hang my mouth open, letting the pained snack sleek in. However, I resisted. I didn't want them to think I was insane, did I? I only wanted them to love me.

    I was sitting in a lifeguard's high chair on the edge of a pool. I held a large plank, about twelve feet long and five feet across, as I spectated the unfolding scene before me. 6 colts and 66 fillies were all in the large, deep pool in front of me. They were all splashing, screaming, and climbing on top of each other for breath as the edges of the pool was spiked, damaging any hooves that laid upon them to get out. Below the panicking bunch were the bodies of their friends, hundreds of feet below, having drowned days ago. Above was the maroon sky, black clouds watching over my good deeds as I kept watch, making sure the order of things were in motion.

    It was then I spotted a colt in the pool, trying his best to float on his back. He was breathing lightly, floating atop the water as chaos reigned around him. I growled, momentarily searching for anypony who wanted to drag him down to their level. When the opportunity never presented itself, I took matters into my own hands.

    Raising the plank above the helpless colt, I slowly set it down. He was paralyzed as he stared up at his impending doom, steadily descending. I tilted my head slightly as it rested on top of his small body, before dragging him under water. He instantly struggled, hooves flailing about under water. I, however, was not to be deterred. I shifted the plank left and right, jostling him as the water pressure caught up with him. Just a few more feet, and his head would explode...

    Before I could finish off the colt, something soft bucked me off the chair. It was enough to send me flying, launching my submissive body off of the high point in society. I went up and up, leaving the bloody pool behind as parents rushed in to help their babies. However, my attention was not on them as it suddenly became apparent that I was flying.

    I stayed level with the black clouds, my eyes lazily capturing the scene around myself. I didn't spend two seconds in the air before a city came into view-- Cloudsdale, as the ponies called it. I felt a smirk crawl across my features as I zoomed by the city.

    I heard screams again. My anti-magic cancelled any flight, solid clouds, or order as the entire population of Cloudsdale fell through the floor. It was beautiful, really: the sight of thousands of helpless, flailing bodies in front of the dark red sky, screaming as they fell to their death. They must be so confused, so terrified. So, I accompanied them on their fall.

    I let all focus slip away from myself as my body fell, staying near the pegasi as they followed suit. I saw their wings flapping, their eyes wide, and their hooves clenched as they continued all the way down to the floor. It was quick, when the first one splattered on the floor in a gory, bony mush. One by one did the pegasi die, and I followed swiftly.

    The last feeling I had was my eyes closing.

    "...Oh my, Nurse Redheart, is it truly nessesary to have the door bolted shut? He can't be dangerous, after all!"

    I already liked her.

    "Andrew has had a few sleep-walking related incidents, so he must be under professional, 24/7 supervision."

    "Oh, come now. Subconscious movement never truly hurt anypony, now, has it? And, can I say, I truly adore his name? 'Andrew.' It's very exotic, non? It sounds distinctively... Saddle Arabian."

    And everyone else's name sounds distinctively Candy Shopian.

    I peered to the door of my room, momentarily thinking about using my talent to make the worst impressions of Redheart I could. However, that would just ruin my first impressions with Rarity. I was interested in her.

    She sounded sophisticated, mature, and Junoesque. Those were all things I could definitely get used to in this world. Someone calm and collected, who won't have a mental breakdown when I show them my talent. Well, hopefully she didn't freak out, because I might not remember any education I've had, but I'm not stupid. I know that if we'll start spending time together, she'll eventually find out. I'll just try to tell her when she's in a good mood.

    I realized my eyes had drifted away from my point of interest. With slight effort, my attention shifted back to the door as it opened slowly. In trotted Nurse Redheart, who gave me a "Don't screw this up" glare. I shot back a "Gee, thanks for trusting me" look. Redheart glanced behind her, before trotting into the room. After that, in came another mare...

    ...

    ...Whelp, now I officially know that I am, indeed, straight as Hell.