Author's Note

Short fic, maybe 6k or so broken up by time cuts.

I think

I think I was smiling. I think I was happy. Somewhere down that long tunnel where the pony is, I thought I could hear laughing. Now she's just sitting there, smiling. Don't spit on her Smalls...just don't. I watched as the massive mare stepped back. Come on Smalls...what's.

"Doctor! Doctor I think he's having a seizure!" Her voice sounded hollow, like it had to travel through a cavern to get to me. "Doctor!"

I sat and watched as my narrow viewpoint shook violently. I let out a sharp groan as my body went through another seizure. Smalls, you're a constant disappointment. I rubbed my face as I thought at my body. You were a painter, now look at you. What a fucking mess.

I hated to see my body like this. I had been something, and now I was some drooling husk waiting for them to turn the lights out. But they never would. They don't have to touch me, they use magic to stop the seizures, they place me down with the mad and I laugh, Smalls laughs, I stand here and wait more. They just won't let me die.

"Do they?" A strangely calm voice came from behind me. My black void now inhabited by a light blue mare with a grey mane. She walked over and stood before me. "Strange isn't it?"

I looked the pony over. Strange doesn't begin to describe it. I sat down on the black void, my tunneled vision still shaking violently off to the side. So what are you? Hallucination?

The mare walked past me, towards my view into the outside world. "No, no. I'm very real. Maybe I'm not supposed to be in here, but most ponies here don't really like me in their heads. One more voice amongst many I suppose."

Just you and I in here.

The mare chuckled and turned to me. Her voice was rich and proper. "And you talk without opening your mouth. An interesting enough pony I suppose." She pushed her foot against my knee. "I am Steely, but, everypony here calls me Screw Loose." She smiled and turned to my eyes, watching as a few ponies worked to stop my shaking. "I suppose you're not actually Smalls, are you?"

I scratched my head. I could feel the deep gash where the shrapnel had gone in. No. I'd tell you my real name if I remembered, but, lost a lot when I got here.

The mare's smile faded. "Ah, so not mad?"

Damaged.

The mare nodded. "My condolences. Any chance of recovery?"

I scratched my upper lip. My hoof dragged across my patchy mustache. Not sure. They were talking about something, but it might kill me. I don't think they're going to try it.

The mare hummed softly and walked around me. "Screw seems to think she's a dog, which leaves me in a bit of a tough spot. And your Smalls cant really talk, now can he?"

Not well. Maybe a few mumbles and grunts. I watched through my eyes. It really did feel like being knocked out of your own skin. You have a plan?

The mare laughed. "That depends, are you patient?"

I sighed loudly and sat back down. You learn to be.

"Do you mind me sticking around your brain a little?" She looked around the endless black void. "It seems empty enough, and I'm sure you wouldn't mind the company."

I rubbed my hooves together and hopped upright. I suppose. Not much I could do to stop you if I cared.

The mare smiled and shook her head. "So you don't mind?"

No.

"Then I'll be sure to visit." She nodded and walked back over towards me. She sat down next to my leg and stared out the shaky pony filled view of my eyes. "Potassium-carbonate, poison joke, and powdered Opal. You think you can get any of that?"

I watched as the view stopped shaking, and a few rather large ponies picked me up. Not soon. But yes.

The mare nodded. "I tried it once. I think it could work if I just had more. They took me here before I could finish in Ponyville." She sighed heavily. "What do you need?"

I rubbed my face. They need to pull the metal out of my head. I looked up, drawing the mare's attention with me. A large metal spike was hanging over us, dangling in my dome like a pendulum. It might kill me, but if they can pull it out, they said they can try something to reconnect the tissue.

The mare licked her lips and nodded quickly. "Smalls...has it changed much? Equestria I mean."

For the better, but quite a bit, yes. I thought back to the new ones, roaming around Equestria with no land to call their own. Humans are new. Brought phones and computers and such with them, but it's close enough.

The mare sighed and stood up. "Then I suppose the sooner we leave, the sooner we can fall back into the fold, yes?"

If you want. To be honest I was enjoying your company.

"Then I'll stay." The mare sat back down. "Screw is going to be getting abused or barking at the walls about this time. I'd rather not be around for it."

I licked my lips. Abused?

"Raped. One of the nurses." She nodded quickly. "I think...when I leave here, I think I'll kill him on my way out."

I watched as I was thrown down into a hard bed. Smalls let out an extremely loud whine that turned into a soft moan as he laid there. They're certainly not gentle, are they?

"Fetlock ponies never are." She shook her head. "But I suppose these ponies aren't exactly the prime example. Most of them are actually very nice, if a bit drunk."

I nodded and looked down at the blue mare. Could be said for most ponies.

"That we're drunk?"

Maybe. But I meant that most are nice, with the exception of a few assholes. I coughed into my hoof. "Not really a fan of pegsus. They're very loud.

The mare cocked her head to the side. "I suppose. I'm honestly not a fan of unicorns. They think they can solve everything with magic." She snorted loudly. "They use spells on me, try to fix a small disorder and ended up making my body act like a dog." She closed her eyes and grimaced. "Good intentions don't really make up for malpractice."

I watched as another pony came in with a syringe in her mouth. Oh...well, I have to imagine it's time to leave.

The mare frowned hard as Smalls started to scream. "nO! HurT! No!" Smalls just kept flailing as a few others came in and held him down.

"He doesn't sleep otherwise, does he?" The mare asked, scratching the ground with her hoof. "What a shame. But, I do look forward to--"

What room?

"Ah. Ward Six, room twenty." The mare stood up. "You'll hear the barking."