Author's Note

Holidays killed me. That is all.

Healing Montage!

First Day of Healing:

After practicing my levitation magic for a bit I decided to try something a slight bit more advanced.

Come on... I know I can do it! It can't be THAT much harder! Just imagine it happening.. That's how magic works here. Imagination... Too bad mine died years ago, hah.

I stare at the string floating in front of me, specifically the left end of it. I see it move a little bit and then close my eyes, imagining my hands tying it in a knot. I open them to find it actually tied in a tight, but simple knot.

YES! I mean I had to close my eyes but I will get used to the feeling... Progress!

I use my magic to toss the string in the air towards the door in celebration and watch it get caught in a familiar light blue aura.

"I see that you are being a bit rash with that string I lent you. I'll have you know it's made of a fine material that isn't amazingly easy to find, darling." Rarity says as she comes through the slightly open door.

"Rarity!" I say with a glowing smile. "It's good to see you ma'am! I've been practicing as you can see. I can finally tie it in a knot!"

She smiles gracefully and levitates the string back over to me. "Congratulations, I was wondering when you were going to be able to do it. Now that you can achieve that, then proceed to practice that along with your normal levitation training. How long can you hold the string up now, might I ask?"

Hmm.. Last time I tried that...

"About forty minutes. I can even do it mostly sub-consciously as well. I've been practicing some reading while doing it on the side. I hope that's alright if I don't give it my complete attention." I say with a slight bit of nervousness that I messed up the training.

She looks at me, almost freezing up, and then instantly calms her features.

"Forty minutes you say? That's... Interesting. I want you to write down how long you can do it each day from now on, alright?" Rarity says in a somewhat strange tone.

Huh, is that impressive or something?

"Okay then, I can do that. Anything else I should do?" I ask with progression in mind.

"No no, I believe you have more than enough for now. I didn't make a trip here to teach, though I don't mind in the slightest. I came here to give you this get-well present." she says as she levitates a box over to me.

I catch the box in my own levitation, almost straining at how heavy it is.

Wow, this box must be really heavy if it's messing me up this much...

I release my magic and it drops into my hands. It's not heavy at all, and is in fact not even five pounds.

"Ah, watch out darling. The material my gift is made of is quite... Magic resistant. I suppose it could be used as some sort of magic training device now that I think about it, but it's real purpose will be known when you see it yourself." she says with a sly smile.

I open the box and see a small globe inside. It's completely clear, almost like a stereotypical crystal ball. It has a small metallic stand formed around the bottom of it.

"So what does it do?" I ask with obvious lack of knowledge.

"It's a vision orb, darling. It is used to communicate to other forms or visual communication. Mirrors are sometimes used, as well as other reflective surfaces such as water. A magical connection is made between both sources through the natural ley lines in this world. It actually requires just a small amount of magic, since it is a simple spell and most devices used for this are made of naturally compatible materials. It's somewhat complicated but basically they have a better connection to the ley lines than other materials, which makes magic power usage quite small." Rarity says with an obvious abundance of knowledge.

I stare at her in surprise and awe of her amazing knowledge for magical items that wasn't obvious in the show itself.

"Can you show me how to use it?" I ask while inspecting the orb for some sort of 'on' switch.

"Oh that's very simple actually. You just feed your magic through the metal piece on the bottom and think of whoever you wish to speak with. A magical imprint is always attached to each device, so it will simply direct your magical flow to their device." she says while waving her hoof in the air in a circular motion.

I wonder if these can be 'hacked' then... Probably.

"Well I don't know many people that have such a device but I'm sure it will come in handy sometime. Thank you Rarity." I say with a small smile.

She nods and puffs her hair up with her hoof. "You're quite welcome darling, I hope you make use of it. I have an appointment at the spa soon so I must go, ta ta." she says while leaving the hospital room in a hurry.

Huh, she really likes her spa sessions... Even more than I saw in the show.

I stare at the orb and attempt to lift it again with my magic. I barely hold it in the air for ten seconds and then feel quite a bit of exhaustion. I instantly let go of the magic and sigh.

I still have a long way to go.. I have to try and keep that floating as easily as the string one day. Oh well, back to training my magic.. But first..

I take out the quill Celestia gave me and grab a small napkin near my bed. I write something on it and watch as it flies out the window in a green fire.

Right, back to my training!

Third Day of Healing:

I hear something fly through the window after gently cracking it open slowly. I put on my necklace quickly under the blankets and pretend I am asleep.

The flying being that entered the room begins to speak. "Poor creature... I mean, I guess you can speak but... I just don't know what you are. I hope you're okay.. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you before. I was just so scared of you and perhaps.. A bit shy. I am so sorry... Perhaps if I talked to Applejack after I saw you weren't dangerous, maybe she wouldn't of... of..." says Fluttershy while slowly starting to cry softly.

She's blaming herself? But why?... She didn't do anything and I'm fine but... Maybe she doesn't know that I'm fine!

I look up at her and see her crying at the edge of the bed. I look at her sadness and instantly feel guilt and pity rise in me. I reach forward and pat her head gently. She instantly looks up and me and I open my arms in a hugging position. She looks surprised but instantly flies into my arms and proceeds to cry profusely into my neck and shoulder. I start to rub her back and hold her close.

She's such a cry baby... And why do ponies just leap into open arms. I don't.. Humans are so cruel and assume that people are crazy if they open their arms for others. I.. This is why we love this show.. But she needs my attention. I can't help seeing such a cute thing crying at all.

"Fluttershy right? It's fine and understanding if you were too shy to talk to me. I'm completely fine alright? No need to feel bad about a situation that was confusing. You have a kind heart to come see me and confess your guilt, even if I was supposed to be asleep ya dummy." I say with a short sigh.

She looks up at me as I wipe the tears from her face and smiles shyly.

So very cute..

"Thank you for comforting me uhm.. Devan? Sorry, I didn't get to really talk to you yet.. Uhm uh.. Can you let me go now? If you don't mind that is." she says while starting to blush from embarrassment

"Oh right! Sorry about that." I say in reply while letting her go gently.

I scratch my head and smile at her with an obvious nervousness.

"Well, I came here to wish you an easy and quick recovery from your uhm.. misunderstanding.. with Applejack. I hope we can become friends over time... Once again, I'm sorry for not talking to you earlier. I have uh, issues with talking to anyone else besides my closest friends." she says while clearly looking away every now and then.

"Well thank you Fluttershy. I appreciate your visit, even if it was in the middle of the night. Then again there are less ponies outside now huh?" I say with a grin.

She nods shyly with a small smile. "That's right, plus moonlight flying makes me feel a bit better. Though it makes things a bit.. scary.." she says while looking at the dark corner in the room.

"Well I'm glad you came here to make sure I was okay. I hope you have a wonderful night and a nice flight back to your home." I say with an obvious need for sleep in my voice.

"Good night Devan, it was nice talking to you... Maybe sometime we can share a cup of tea? You seem a lot nicer than what everypony seems to be thinking." Fluttershy says while flying gracefully up to the window and waving before she goes out of it.

No wonder Rarity and Fluttershy are friends. They are both graceful in their own ways... Oh well, maybe now I can get some sleep.

Fifth Day of Healing:

I yawn and look at the piece of paper I recorded my highest levitation times per day on.

'Day 1: Forty minutes
Day 2: Forty-two minutes
Day 3: Forty-four minutes'

And now for today...

'Day 4: Fifty minutes'

Strange, seems like I went by a two minute increase for a few days there but then I suddenly am able to do it another six minutes? I suppose that me resting a couple days helped out. I have been running around a lot and dealing with some stress... It's nice to just sit down and read. Calm my mind..

Such silence and tranquility was ruined by a heavy yet small package flying through the window, breaking it and landing on the floor in front of my bed. After making sure my heart stopped imploding I walk over to the package with a small name tag attached to it. I put on the necklace and proceed to read it.

'From somepony, to Hairless Monkey'

Rainbow Dash huh? Strange, didn't think she'd spend the time to send me something.

I proceed to open the package slowly and find a small blue box. There is a button on the side and I push it. The top of the box immediately opens up and a soft hoof shaped toy pops out and punches me in the face. It doesn't hurt anything besides my pride. I move on and continue to read a book on the history of the elements of harmony.

Seventh Day of Healing:

"SURPRISE!!!" somepony yells out, rudely and quite loudly awakening me in the morning.

I instantly sit up, banging my head against the pink pony's head that was standing over me in anticipation. Luckily her mane is made of the softest substance I've ever touched.

"Jesus! Pinkie Pie! What the fuck!" I yell while I put my hand over my heart.

She looks at me with confusion and I sigh remembering I needed to put on my necklace. I reach for it and can't find it next to me. I look back at Pinkie Pie and notice she is wearing it.

"What does Jesus mean?... And fuck?" she says while rubbing her head in a confused way with her hoof.

"Uh, well.. I'll tell you some other time. So why did you yell 'Surprise' at me?" I say while sitting up.

"Well duh! Look around dummy!" Pinkie says as she jumps around the room in a quick bunny hop.

I look around and see streamers and balloons everywhere. A cake is sitting in the middle of the room on a small table.

How in the world did she do all of this without me getting up?... A quiet visit from Fluttershy got me up but this didn't? I guess it's just Pinkie Pie.

"A party of welcoming variety eh? Well, well, well! Looks pretty amazing Pinkie Pie. Thanks for your party, I really appreciate the work you put into throwing this for me." I say with a gracious smile.

I know she works hard for these... We found that out in Party Pooped. I want her to know that she is appreciated, even if she doesn't care for being thanked that much.

Pinkie Pie looks at me with a blank face and then I watch as her mouth turns into a giant smile. She leaps at me and wraps her front two legs around my body and hugs me tighter than any other being I've ever interacted with has before.

"Oh thank you, thank you! I'm so glad you like it!" she says as she nuzzles into my face with hers.

"Heh, no problem Pinkie. It is a well thought and put together party." I say in response while smiling at her cute antics.

But, I wonder... If this world seems to have some aspects of mine such as... A controlling monarch and negative emotions underneath a facade...

"Pinkie Pie.. Can I ask you something?" I say while moving her away from me gently.

She smiles up at me and nods so quickly it looks like a vibration in the air.

"Do you fake being happy and cheerful for other ponies sake? To make them happy, even if you don't feel so happy inside?" I ask with a serious look in my eyes.

She freezes up and her mane twitches slightly.. Somehow..

"Of course not silly! Why would I do that?" Pinkie says in a slightly different tone of voice.

Pinkie... It's so obvious you do.. But alright, I'll lay off it for now.

"Okay, just making sure. So, what's that cake made out of?" I say with a cheery smile and point at the cake with my free hand.

"Oh! That's chocolate fudge with buttercream icing!" she says proudly, obviously going back to a cheery tone and demeanor.

Last Day of Healing:

Alright, they said this would be the last day I would be in here. I'll be glad to get out and do something. They let me take short runs around the hospital but now I can go to Applejacks farm and make money WHILE exercising. It's going to be gre—

A large amount of noise and commotion is happening out the window of the room I am in. I get up and look out it to see a small stage set up a bit away and magical fireworks being blasted out of it. I then proceed to see Rarity and Rainbow Dash get outplayed by a blue horse with a hat.

Already? I guess I WAS in there for a while. I guess Rainbows prank signified that prank episode with Gilda... So it's only natural that Trixie was next. Looks like my last day here is going to be a very loud one. Wait.. wasn't an Ursa Minor supposed to come later?.... I better get the earplugs Redheart gave me.... I wonder how Obsidian is doing. I only saw her once on the first day I woke up and she only said so little. I hope she's alright. She probably feels guilty too for not being around to protect me or something. I wonder if I could....

"OBSIDIAN!!!!" I yell as loud as I can.

The door opens quickly and she's runs into the room, trips over something that was lying on the floor and face plants into my bed.

Well, that was easy... And amusing as fuck.

"What! Where! Who?" says Obsidian as she gets up quickly and is scanning the room.

Obsidian's eyes are slightly glowing and green. Her stance is a bit tense and serious, while her hair covering her body looks a slight bit darker as well.

Okay, next time I get a chance, I'm definitely going to find out what she is. I wonder if Celestia knows. By her eyes and darker body it seems like she's a changeling but... Who knows, I sure don't.

"Hello Obsidian. How're you doing?" I ask with a calm smile.

She freezes up and looks at me and then looks away slightly.

"I'm doing alright Devan, nothing bad here." she says, obviously lying.

"Ya know, if you feel guilty for not protecting me, you shouldn't. There was nothing you could have done, and even if there was you couldn't of predicted that outcome. It's fine to feel a little bad but I haven't seen you in days... I was worried about you, so please don't feel bad for my sake when everything is okay now. Okay?" I say while moving a bit closer to her.

She instantly looks at me in surprise first and then confusion. She sits down on the bed next me and sighs.

"You have a special talent Devan. Most ponies aren't good at reading others thoughts. I suppose you've seen how gullible and unaware we are huh? But you.. You can see right through us. I suppose it could be a talent from your land. We all have a secret though, I guarantee it. So don't think you know all about us just by looking!" she says while booping my nose at the end of her talking.

Did she just...

I look at her in surprise and notice her body is back to normal colors.

So it only happens when she is stressed out or something? Whatever, that's for next time.. Right now..

"So I have a question.. Where were you all this time?" I ask.

"Oh well, you see I was always around you whatever you may have been doing. In this room? I was outside the door. In the bathroom? I was outside the door. Doing a jog outside? I was following close behind. I made sure to watch you while you healed Devan, that's why I am here after all. I just happened the miss the one time you got hurt." Obsidian says while rubbing the back of her head meekly.

Wow, I can't tell if that's creepy or very protective.

"Well... Thank you?" I say with a confused tone.

She raises her chin proudly and nods.

What a doof.

Nurse Redheart walks through the doorway and looks at Obsidian and then me. She then smiles somewhat mischievously.

"Well, after running the last tests and seeing how lively you are, I can say you are fully healed. Just try not to get bucked into next week again, alright?" Redheart says as she leaves the room again.

What was that smile...

"Well, I guess I'll pack up and we can go see what's going on with that show out front." I say while stretching my arms upwards.

Hopefully I didn't somehow change the outcome of this event...