A Land of Giants and a Stallion Named Smalls

Steel sat with me, watching as the human who called me Cross sat apart from Smalls. "Who is he?" Steel asked, poking my foreleg.

I licked my lips. "I have no idea, but I'm not about to complain."

The human coughed. "So...Cross, how are you feeling?" Smalls mumbled loudly. The human just nodded. "That's good."

I shook my head. "We can use him. We need to find a way to tell him what we need."

Screw scratched her chin. "Well, they use potassium carbonate in the food...we could try there." She tapped the ground. "I don't know though, Smalls can't exactly--"

"Putasum Carbuns!" Smalls shouted at the human, spitting slightly.

Steel cocked her head. "Well...fuck my ass." She looked up at me and started laughing. "Did you know he could do that?"

I shook my head. "I think he's very much aware of us, but I'm not sure if he wants to help or if he just wants us to shut up."

The human cocked his head. "Car buns? Cross...what happened to you?"

Smalls started huffing. "Want! Potassum!"

The human rubbed his face. "Sir, you've been gone a year, what happened?"

"Oh...well, shit." I laughed softly. "That is going to be a problem."

Smalls shook his head. "Pottassum Carbite!" He snorted loudly. "K! Want K!"

I felt my mouth hang open slightly. "Periodic symbols?"

The human's eye tensed up. "Potassium Carbite? The hell-- Smalls...what--"

"Pottassums Car-bun-ates!"

"Good boy Smalls! Use your words boy!"

Smalls started laughing. "Yay! Smalls good pony!"

The human pressed his hands together and knocked his fingers against his forehead. "Alright...." He scratched his head and looked me up and down. "Why do you--"

Smalls snorted. "Smalls need potassum to save pretty mare!"

The man scratched the back of his head. "It's like for.... Yeah, harmless." He looked up at me with a smile. "Sure, give me a second. Get you a little bit of...that...." He huffed and turned away. "Oddly specific."

Smalls cheered to himself and bounced in his seat. "Smalls good pony!"

I laughed and rolled onto my side. "Oh dear...this wasn't really as horrid as I thought it would have been."

Steel walked up and put her hoof on my head. "I told you, patience would pay off. All it took was time."

I snorted. "it doesn't even feel like its been that long."

Steel smiled at me. "Time spent with good company isn't very taxing."

I sighed and watched Smalls' view bob up and down as he cheered. "Truly." I sat upright and stretched my neck. "So what happens next?"

Steel took a deep breath. "Next...I go away for a while...and you...you go under a knife."

I sighed heavily. "Do try and make it quick." I smiled at her, she had a nervous look about her. "Tell the human to ask about removing the metal in my head, insist it, demand it. And whenever I wake up...well, I'll see you there I hope."

Steel nodded fervently. "Oh course."

"Here ya go buddy." The human walked back over with a brown packet. "Good for feeling a little nervous, right?" He tossed the packet into Smalls' hoof and jostled his foreleg. "We'll get you out of here Lord Cross, just give me some time."

I turned to face Steel. "Well, you heard him. I look forward to seeing you in person."

Steel slowly backed into the white fog that surrounded us. "I'll hurry then." She faded away into the fog, leaving me to watch as Smalls lead the human down the hall towards the end of this little trip.

I took a deep breath and looked up at the bright metal piece still looming overhead. "To tartarus with you...I'm about done with you anyways." I snorted and sat down. It was out of my hooves, and in the flow of fate now. All I could do, once again, was wait.