Author's Note

~~Hey guys, sorry for the wait on a new chapter. Busy 2 weeks has been a busy 2 weeks. After this, expect one chapter a week for however long this ends up going. I literally have very little planned for this other than it being something to have some fun with. I haven't had a chance to fully edit this yet, so if any of y'all see anything wrong, let me know!~~

~~Just a bit of an FYI for y'all. I'm no medical expert, most of the medical shiz in the chapter is a combination of what i know from growing up with my grandfather, who was an infectious disease special, my 1 year of Psychology, and google searching medical terms i kinda knew the meaning of.~~

~~As for my horse related mumbo jumbo, I am more confident that I got most of that right, as i spent 12 years riding the damned things, so although I'm a bit rusty in the knowledge department, I know horses (and ponies) fairly well. That said, If anyone sees anything i DID get wrong, speak up!~~

Same thing as the last chapter, a re imagining of the story is taking place, and while the original 2 chapters will be left up for prosperity sake, they aren't required reading, as there will be a decent amount of repeating going on in the new version of the chapters.

"Speech Bubble"
'Thought Bubble'

Is this real life? (Old Version)

As the hospital room faded to black, my eyes slowly closed, everything going dark until….

My eyes snapped open as I woke up. The steady sound of a heart monitor the only sound that greeted me. As I lay there, my surroundings slowly came into focus as I took stock of my situation.

‘Ok, heart monitor, from the smell and the look of the room, I'm still in the hospital. But was I really in the hospital? That had to be a dream… But it felt so real! The clean smell of the air, the feel of the grass, and the other ponies as they lifted me. The pain…’

Lifting my head, I looked myself over, finding my left arm done up in a sling.

‘Ok, so, left arm in a sling, probably broken.’ lifting my right arm, I looked it over ‘And I have hands. Ok, so that obviously was a dream. Just a very… vivid one I guess.’

Before I had a chance to check myself over any further, the door opened as a nurse walked in to check on me.

“Oh, you're awake? Give me just a minute, I'll go fetch a doctor.” After a quick once over, the nurse left, closing the door behind her.

Laying my head back, I started thinking over my apparent dream. ‘What was up with that weird dream, and why did it feel so real? I mean when they lifted me into that wagon it actually hurt! A lot! And what did it mean? I mean I'm no stranger to the HiE section of FiMfiction. Hell, I'd be lying if I said I didn't entertain a fantasy of going there myself!’

Before I could go any further with that train of thought, it was promptly derailed as the door opened and a doctor came walking in.

“Good to see you're awake, you took quite the spill you know?” The doctor said. “You took quite a blow to the head, so we were a bit worried.”

“Wh-” I started, having to pause to clear my throat. “What happened?”

“Well, according to the students who witnessed your fall, they said you passed out while going down the stairs at school. You hit your head and shoulder on the steps while falling. Along with a minor contusion on your frontal lobe from the impact, you also broke your collarbone and fractured the radius bone in your left arm. As for why you passed out, while doing an MRI on the contusion caused by the fall, we noticed that there was a reduced amount of Hypocretin-1 in your cerebral cortex. Tell me, have you been having trouble staying asleep? Or perhaps getting sleepy or falling asleep at random times during the day?”

Thinking back, I nodded. “Yeah, it's been been getting worse lately, but for the last month I haven't been able to stay asleep at night, and during the day I tend to get really tired. That's actually the last thing I remember in the hall. I was getting ready to go down the steps and just got extremely tired, then nothing.”

“Interesting,” the doctor stated, writing down what I told him “well that pretty much confirms what we were thinking. Judging from what we found in the MRI, as well as what you just told me, it would appear you are narcoleptic. We'd like to run some more tests, just to be sure, and we'd also like to keep you overnight for observation. Head injuries aren't something you want to take a chance with.”

“Ok, yeah. Whatever you have to do.” I responded despondently.

As the doctor started going over the procedure for the additional tests, I zoned out to think on what had happened. ‘Was that all a just a dream though? It felt so real… Then again, the injuries I suffered when I fell were similar to the ones I had in that… whatever it was. Was it a hallucination? I think I remember hearing somewhere that narcoleptics tend to hallucinate. I think. Maybe? Maybe I should ask the doc about that.’

Turning to question the doctor, I realized I was alone in the room. ‘Huh, I really do need to not zone out when someone is telling me something important…’

With the doctor gone, and nothing to keep me occupied, I lost myself in thought again. Thoughts of everything from the repercussions of my injuries and my condition on my daily life, to what abilities from different characters in different games would be applicable in different situations. You know, normal stuff. At some point my dad came by, having left work and driven 2 hours from Hershey after he heard I was in the hospital. Giving him the keys to my apartment, I told him he could stay there tonight if he wanted, so long as he brought me something to read. About an hour later, and countless scenarios later, my dad returned with the music theory book I had recently picked up, and after a short visit, and multiple assurances I was ok, he left me to my reading.

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, with only the nurse stopping by to bring me dinner, and the doctor taking me for a few more tests. The sun was on it’s way towards the horizon, when another bout of drowsiness hit. As hard as I tried to continue my reading and power through it I could see the darkness encroaching on my vision. I closed my eyes to attempt to blink the sleep from them, and when I opened them...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The hospital room looked completely different. When I closed my eyes, I was in an off-white room, a small television in the corner, and windows with the shades partially drawn to my left. When I opened them, I found myself in a manilla room, a dry erase board to the left, with notes jotted on them. The window, which had been on my left, barely blocking the rays of the setting sun, was now to my right, allowing an unobstructed view of the sunrise.

Looking myself over, I saw my left arm still in a sling as well as a cast. Lifting my right arm, I saw it wrapped in some type of ace bandage. I also noticed that both of my arms were now green, and ended in… ‘Hooves? So I’m a pony again?’

Giving myself a more thorough look, I saw that I was indeed in the body of a little green pony again. Shifting to try and get a better look at myself, I rolled to the left and instantly regretted it. I felt something get trapped between me and the bed, followed by a searing pain originating from my back, around where my shoulder blades would be.

‘Ok, that didn’t exactly tickle.’ Gritting my teeth in pain, I rolled back to my right and looked over my left should to try and figure out what I just laid on. ‘Wings, so I’m a pegasus? And it’s in a sling… Did they say something about a wing when they brought me in? I know I heard something about a break, and maybe a dislocation?’

Lifting the sheets, I decided to check myself out while I was still alone. ‘Going off my coloring, and the fact that I’m a pegasus, I’m going to go ahead and assume that I’m my OC. Which means that my Cutie Mark should be… Not there? I know I gave my OC one, unless I’m not my OC…’

After a slight moment of panic, I spread my legs to make sure I was all there. ‘Thanks Zombie Raptor Jesus, still got my dangly bits.’

Laying back in bed and exhaling in relief, I drop the covers just as the door opens. Looking up, I see a very familiar white earth pony with a light pink mane and a Cutie Mark of a red cross with a quartet of hearts surrounding it. ‘Nurse Redheart? Sweet.’

Looking up from the clipboard she’s somehow holding in one hoof while she walks, she gives me a gentle smile as she notices I’m awake. “Well hello there, little one. I’m glad to see you’re finally awake.”

“Ha… Hello.” I manage to squeak. ‘Ah hell, if the lack of a Cutie Mark didn’t prove it, that voice sure as hell did…’

“Do you remember where you are? How you got here?” Redheart questioned, keeping the same compassionate smile on her face.

“H… hos… hospital.” I struggle to reply. ‘What the hell is up with that? Why is it so hard to speak? I kinda figured I was young again, but I didn’t think I was that young.’ “Ah… I. Fff. Feel. Fffall.”

“It’s ok, sweetie, don’t force it. Why don’t we keep it to yes or no questions, how’s that sound?” Redheart suggests, a slight bit of concern showing through her calm, compassionate mask.

“K” I force out, growing frustrated with my inability to force even the simplest of words out.

“Judging by your injuries, we assumed that you fell from somewhere. Do you remember where you fell from?”

‘Yeah, I fell down a flight of stairs and apparently knocked myself into another reality.’ Knowing the nurse would never believe a tale like that, I simply shook my head no.

“You said you remember falling though, do you remember anything before that, or just the fall?”

‘Nothing you’d believe.’ Again I shake my head.

“Do you know how old you are? Until we find some way to identify you, we can only assume based on your size. We were thinking you were between 8 and 10, does that sound right?”

‘God, I hope I’m not that young.’ I shrug, ‘Your guess is as good as mine.’

By this point, Redhearts smile has all but fallen, a concerned frown forcing it’s way onto her face. “Name?”

‘If I’m my OC like I think I am…’ I nod my head. “Duh. Dree. Eem. We. Ver.” ‘Jimmeny Cricket this shiz is getting redonculous.’

“Dream Weaver?” Redheart asks, a small smile returning to her face.

‘I hope so.’ I nod in response.

“Well, at least now we have something to work with! Now, before I pass what we learned on to the nice ponies trying to find your parents, how about I go over your injuries with you?” Redheart asks, her cheerful demeanor returning.

‘If I’m as young as you supposedly think I am, I don’t know how you’d expect me to really understand any medical terms, but go ahead.’ I snark in my head, nodding in response.

“Alright sweetie, you have a hairline fracture on your right metacarpal, that’s your front right cannon, bone, as well as a full break in your front left metacarpal bone and humerus. You also dislocated your left wing, as well as slightly fracturing the shoulder joint. For these injuries you will need to keep your wing in its sling, and your right foreleg wrapped for about a week and those will be fine. As for your left foreleg, that will need to stay in it cast and sling for at least 3 weeks.”

‘About what I expected, recovery time. Didn’t think I had quite that many injuries though. At least there’s no head injury on this “side”’ I nod to let her know I understand so far.

At this, Redheart takes on a slightly worried expression again. “As for your head.” ‘Aw shit, I jinxed it.’ “You hit your head pretty hard in that fall. The unicorn doctors did all they could to help, but you have some slight damage to your frontal lobe, more specifically the Broca’s area. That’s the part of your brain that controls speech production.”

‘And I did just take Psychology this semester, so I know exactly where this is going.’ My expression must have given away what I was thinking, because no sooner had that thought gone through my head, than Redheart’s expression became even more somber.

“The doctor said it was possible that you would have trouble speaking properly once you woke up. He also said there was a chance your brain could heal the rest of the way on its own, but more than likely you will have a speech impediment for the rest of your life.”

‘Well, shit… That’s kinda dark for happy little horsie world. And she just told an 8 year old flat out like that? The hell Redheart?’

Forcing a smile Redheart continued. “Don’t worry though, sweetie, once we find your parents we can help you get set up with someone that might be able to help. I need to go drop these notes off with the doctor and check on the other patients. If you need anything, just hit the call button on the side of your bed.” With one last fake smile, Redheart turned and hurried out the door.

‘Has Equestria ever heard of using a bit of tact? Like seriously, a trained professional nurse just came in here and delivered a diagnosis to a supposed 8 year old… Like that.'

Laying back in bed, I decided to occupy myself with something else. ‘Fukit, not even gunna think about it right now. This is all some kind of dream. Some kind of long, repetitive dream.’

Glancing out the window, I saw that the sun was climbing high in the sky. ‘Did… Did she seriously not bring breakfast either? From the looks of the sun, its getting close to noon, and no one brought breakfast? I’m supposed to be 8! Are the ponies seriously going to forget to bring a child food?!’

Not long after my mental tangent, a blue earth pony mare with a green mane and a Cutie Mark identical to Redheart’s pushed a cart into the room. “Alright dearie, I hope you’re hungry! Lunch today consists of a fresh garden salad with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing, a bowl of Sweet Apple Acres apple sauce, and a nice big glass of milk to help those bones of yours heal!” She lifted the lid with an extremely enthusiastic smile to reveal a spread of everything she mentioned, plus a few more things.

‘Is that Jell-O with fruit in it? Oh, I hope it’s pears. I haven’t had pears in ages!’

Noticing me eyeballing the jell-o, the nurse slid it to the back of the tray as she set it in front of me. “Now now dearie, if you want dessert you gotta make sure you clear your plate first!”

‘But the salad has tomatoes in it.’ I mentally pouted ‘Hey wait, and it has onions in it, too. I thought equines can’t eat tomatoes or onions? Well, she da nurse, I’m sure she knows better than me.’

I start devouring the salad before I notice I’m using my right wing like a hand to hold the fork. ‘Pegasus wings are prehensile?! Bad ass!’

I get most of the way through the salad before I realise something ‘Wait a minute… I hate tomatoes. And onions. Yet I just wolfed that salad down like it wasn’t shit. What?’ Shaking the thought from my head, I finish the rest of my meal. ‘I’ve got more important things to worry about than my sudden taste for foods I used to hate. Like the fact that I’m, you know, a friggin pony! And not just a pony, but a little colt!.’

Picking up the empty tray and putting it back on the food cart, the nurse turns to leave. “Well dearie, I’m Nurse Tenderheart, and the pony you met early is Nurse Redheart. We are both on this floor, so if you need anything don’t be afraid to hit that call button, okay?” With one last smile, the nurse, now identified as Tenderheart, turns and leaves the room.

‘Well alone again, wonder if there is anything to do in here. Maybe I can get them to bring me a book.’ Looking around the room, I spot a book sitting on the table next to my bed. ‘Hello there! What do we have here?’

With a bit of stretching, I manage to reach the book and bring it over to me. ‘“Music Theory for Computer Musicians” What? This is the book I was reading in the hospital. The real hospital. How do I have it here, too? Is it because this is some kind of hallucination? Is it just just filling the world in with things I already know?’

Flipping through the book, I notice something is off. ‘But wait, I haven’t finished this book, so how is the entire thing here? If my mind was just filling the world with familiar things, wouldn’t it only put the parts of this book I’ve already read? Screw it, I’m giving myself a headache. Imma just go ahead and pick up where I left off, and read till I’m human again.’

After a few hours of reading, Tenderheart returns with another cart of food, and after I clean my plate, she leaves me to my book. Not to long after eating, I find it hard to keep my eyes open, and the slowly darkening sky clues me in to just how late it’s getting. Putting my book aside, I find a comfortable position and snuggle in, waiting as sleep slowly overtakes me.