The Relapse

So, something a little more crazy than usual happened and it’s been a while since, but I’ll try my best to remember. After Dew Star’s confession, I packed a bag, headed to the station, and got on the first train to Ponyville. It wasn’t my first choice for a vacation spot, but it was the closest and cheapest, plus I figured no one would look for me here. I remember the long ride being boring and uncomfortable; I remember being woken up from my nap by what I thought was the bouncing train; I remember immense pain for all of five seconds before there was nothing.

The next thing I knew, I was waking up to the sight of a crystal ceiling with a big red cross on it.

“Not again,” I moaned with my dry throat as I closed my eyes again.

“Comet!” a voice exclaimed before I felt something rest on each of my arms. Cracking my eyes open again, I found a relieved Dew Star on my left and a concerned Selene on my right.

“Wha… What happened?” I croaked as I moved a sore arm to my face only to pull it away when it stung, “I feel like shit.”

“I-I’m not entirely sure,” Dew Star answered as she scanned my face, “all Princess Twilight told me-er, us, is that there was a monster attack on the town right as you were showing up.”

“That explains the rumbling I felt,” I muttered as I struggled to sit up, but Selene helped me, “so, how long have I been out?”

“A week,” Dew Star whispers sadly, “a-and I only got here a few days ago.”

“Well, at least you came. Thanks,” I said as I ran a hand through her mane before turning to Selene, “same to you.” As my hand passed through the feathers and fur on her neck, I felt the grip Dew Star had on my arm tighten.

“Ow.”

“Oh, s-sorry.”

“Well, a week isn’t that long to be in a coma for, but why was I in one in the first place? I am still a little sore, but the last time I got seriously hurt, I woke up later that day.”

“I-I’m not sure. The princess said she wouldn’t say anything about it until you woke up.”

“…That doesn’t sound too good,” I moaned and Selene nodded in agreement, “you mind telling her I’m awake now, Dew Star? I want to hear the bad news as soon as possible.”

“A-alright,” she replied before hopping down on all fours and quickly trotting out the room.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” I moaned as I reached for my face again before hissing in pain, “argh, what the hell?” Slightly surprising me, Selene hopped up onto the bed, being careful not to put too much weight on me as she lay down with our faces a few inches apart. Reaching a claw up to my right cheek, I flinched from the initial sting, but quickly relaxed as she caressed the scar on my face. Looking into her sad eyes, I could easily see the question she wanted to ask.

“I didn’t leave because of you,” I explained with a sigh, “I mean, I kind of did, but it’s not entirely your fault.” Her brows furrowed at this.

“No, what I mean is-” but I stopped when her beak pressed against my lips, making that one feeling rush through me. She held the kiss for only a second before pulling away and smiling lightly at me. As she stared into my eyes, she nodded her head lightly as if to say ‘I understand,’ before leaning against me and resting her head on my shoulder. Right as I was about to do… something, Dew Star and Twilight came into the room. Dew Star quickly rushed over with what I thought was a low growl as Selene took her time getting off of me.

“Thank goodness you’re up,” Twilight sighed as she trotted over.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked with a raised brow.

“Well, uh, I wasn’t entirely sure you’d wake up after the operation.”

“Operation?” Dew Star and I repeated before I continued, “What are you talking about?”

“F-first, you have to promise you won’t get mad,” she said as her ears folded down.

“You know I can’t and won’t do that.”

“B-but you have to understand, I didn’t have a choice!” she exclaimed as she reared up to lean on my bed, “How could I let somepony die when I knew I could save them!”

“…I was going to die?”

“Yes! You were in severe need of blood, but nopony in town matched your blood type except me because alicorn blood can change types.”

“It was just a blood transfusion?”

“Yes, but-”

“I’m not going to turn into a pony, am I?” I asked as I lifted the blanket over my legs and saw they hadn’t changed.

“N-not exactly...” she replied as she sat on her haunches and stared at the floor, “you won’t change physically, but…”

“But?”

“…You might live a little longer than you would have originally,” she said as she shrank a little.

“…How much longer?”

“How long do humans normally live?”

“I think it averages out to 70 or 80 years.”

“…”

“Twilight,” I said sternly, making her shrink more.

“…You might live four to five times longer, give of take a few decades,” she finally answers, making the stern face I held slowly change to a blank one.

“…T-that’s over 300 years,” Dew Star calculated out loud.

“Y-yeah,” Twilight mumbled before perking up, “b-but it’s not that bad, really! Your body will be in the best shape the whole time, your mind won’t degrade-”

“Will he be invulnerable?” Dew Star asked.

“N-no,” she answered as her head drooped again, “you will heal faster, but you can still be k-killed.” With Twilight’s explanation finally said, silence took hold of the room. My mind should have been filled with thoughts and worries, my heart should have felt some sort of pain, but instead all I felt was nothing. Just a familiar empty feeling sat in my chest and slowly poured through me, reviving the numb feeling I spent most of my life with. 300 more years to suffer through?

“…met…Comet!” Dew Star called, bringing me out of my head. I didn’t say anything as my eyes focused on some part of her.

“It’s alright Comet,” she said softly as a hoof stroked my arm, “what’s a few hundred more years to live? If the princesses can make it through all those years, so can you.”

“…But at what cost?” I mumbled as my eyes drifted down to my lap, “…Leave.”

“W-what?”

“All of you, out,” I commanded.

“B-but-” Dew Star started but stopped for whatever reason. After listening to the sound of hooves and claws leaving the room, I fell back and stared up at the crystal ceiling.

“…Goddamnit.”