"Good moooorning Equestria! It's a lively morning here in Fillydelphia and hooo boy, have I got some tunes for you today! First up is Coloratura's new single 'The Batpony Who Loved Me', then we've got some new tracks from the up and coming band; the Pony Tones!"
"Mr. Resolution?"
"Can you hear me?"
"Jade!"
He jolted out of his music-induced stupor to see his nurse and a doctor standing at the door.
"Oh um, sorry," he mumbled, turning off the two radios beside him, flicking the switches with his muzzle. He had carefully positioned them one at each ear, which provided the effect of being live in the studio.
"Your family is here to see you Mr. Resolution," the doctor said stiffly.
"Would it kill you to call me Jade? Or even better, just Rez?"
"I prefer to stick with the formalities thank you," he turned and walked away, allowing Jade's parents and little brother to enter the ward.
"What a joy he is," Nurse Gentle Thread commented sarcastically.
"Yeah..." Jade sighed, already feeling rather lost without music in the background.
"How have you been Rez?" his mother asked.
"I've been...alright I guess. Same old."
"Any new trips come up yet?"
"No."
Nurse Thread's fading hoofsteps sounded like gunshots in the silence that followed. Weekly visits had drained the novelty away quickly, and they were now left with almost no discussion to work with.
Jade looked down, trying to avoid meeting their eyes.
"Have you...drawn anything new?" Jade's father attempted to reignite the conversation.
"Oh, yeah, it's over there," Jade nodded to his bedside table. His father picked up the topmost piece of parchment from the clutter of drawings and placed it on the bed covers for them all to see. It depicted a pegasus mare flying past the hospital window, carrying a package in her hooves. He could draw easily enough with just his mouth to move the quill around, but without wings or a horn he was very limited.
"Wow, this is really good Rez!" his little brother commented.
"Did you do this just from a glance when she was going by?"
"Yeah, but she was kinda going slow."
"But this is amazing! You could be a great artist if you did more like this!"
"Hah, real funny Dad," he replied dryly. "I'm not gonna get anywhere in life lying in hospital."
"No I mean it! Don't you lie there whining about your missing legs when you've got talent like this hidden in your noggin. Ask around! Get it out there!"
"Ask who Dad? How in Celestia am I supposed to 'get it out there' when I can't even get out of this rutting bed, never mind get out a door!" Jade snapped.
Silence once again permeated the room, and they could all hear Nurse Gentle Thread's quickly returning hoofsteps.
"Well...we had better be going. I need to get some groceries. I-it was good seeing you Rez," his mother tried to force a smile as they all began to file out of the room.
"Wait!" he called after a few seconds, and she looked back. "I do appreciate it you know...coming to visit me. It's nice to know that somebody cares enough...to do that at least."
"Oh Jade, you know we'll always love you," she quickly moved back to give him a warm hug, which he made his best efforts to reciprocate.
"I just wish....I could at least be at home."
"We do too sweetheart, we're just too-"
"-busy; I know. That's why it means so much when you guys visit."
"And do try to take your father's advice. He's just trying to help."
"Yeah I'll try..."
"Chin up, you can go back to listening to your radio show now," his mother smirked. "See you next week!".
"Bye."
As soon as they were out the door, he fell into deep thought, completely ignoring the nurse who was humming happily and pretending she hadn't heard the end of that conversation.
How could he take his father's advice if he really couldn't move on his own? Was there someone he could ask to take him out in a wheelchair so that he could enter an art competition of some kind? Maybe he could ask the next time one of those charity trips came along.
And for the next few hours, the radio show didn't even cross his mind.
Later that day, his nurse came back in to feed him lunch. He could easily eat some simple solid foods on his own, like carrots and other vegetables, but today they were serving soup and that meant he had to be spoon-fed like a child. To her credit, the nurse tried to make him feel as comfortable and in control as she could, only taking the spoon up to his mouth and allowing him to blow on it to cool it down before eating.
As he was swallowing another mouthful, a question came to mind.
"How does it feel to eat under your own power?"
"Pardon?" Nurse Thread asked.
"I mean...what's it like to be able to feed yourself? Use cutlery and make your own food?"
"Well it's...rather boring actually," she giggled, holding out another spoonful of soup. "When you do it for years it simply becomes a menial task, unless the meal is particularly good, or you have someone to share it with. Like you for example; I thoroughly enjoy our time together!"
"Huh, really? I thought it was just your job that required you to do that?"
"Oh no, being a nurse is much more than a job. You need to genuinely care about everyone who needs help, it's not just for money and good records. If you see a nurse unhappy in her job, she's probably picked the wrong profession," his nurse stage-whispered, making him laugh. "It's the same with teachers - they all care very much for their students and only want them to succeed."
"Oh. Well thank you...for being a nurse I guess," he replied sincerely, and she simply laughed.
Over the next two days, Jade focused completely on his drawings and began to request more items that would help; the most important of which was a set of watercolour paints and a book on how to use them. He made a sketch of Nurse Gentle Thread - which wasn't difficult since he saw her for most of the day - and one of the city outside, dozens of random ponies flying, walking or commuting back and forward.
The time began to fly by, and whilst he did have his radios on in the background, much of the time he didn't even register the music and voices that were coming out of them. After around a week he had a folder for all his rough drawings, and another for his finished work. Despite having little to look at outside of his room and window, he always found something interesting around. Once, he saw several police ponies running after a brown unicorn - what he had done to deserve their attention he did not know however.
When his family made another visit the next week he had an easel set up at the end of his bed with a large sheet of expensive white paper. He was recreating an extremely detailed picture of what he could see from his bed - a bigger project than anything he'd done before.
Needless to say they were very pleased with his progress, and glad that he had taken the advice given to him.
But that wasn't even the best part of his day, oh no. Something much bigger came in to visit that fateful morning that would change his life forever.
The doctor once again appeared at his door, though looking thoroughly more flustered than before.
"The, ah....P-Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight are here to see you!"
"We can let ourselves in, thank you doctor," a calm voice came from behind him, and Jade almost dropped the paintbrush that was in his mouth. His eyes stretched as wide as they could go as the respective royal ponies stepped into the room, one considerably taller than the other.
"H-h-hi...." he stuttered, putting the his brush down in a glass of water.
"Hello Jade," Princess Celestia said gently. "We've come to talk about your...disability."
It was extremely rare to see a Princess visit a pony if they weren't involved in some royal business already, but to have two princesses visit him? It was safe to say that not many words were coming out of Jade's mouth at this point.
"We became aware of your situation only a few moons ago when you were taken into hospital due to your family's...business accomplishments. I understand they didn't have the time required to care for your needs?"
"Y-y-yeah....they visit though..."
"That's good to hear. But Twilight believes she may have a temporary solution to your problem; a very particular spell that she performed years ago, and yet was the first among unicorns not to have fallen unconscious for several days after casting it. Would you like to explain Twilight?"
"Right. I discovered a spell that could grant wings to a pony for 24 hours. Afterwards, I began researching into different uses and alterations for the spell, but when I became an alicorn I sorta...forgot about it. There was so much to deal with, it didn't even cross my mind. And then Princess Celestia told me about your impairment and I realized all the theories I had come up with could be useful! The reason we're here today is because...I developed a spell that could grant a pony temporary legs."
Jade's full attention was on Princess Twilight now, all nervousness forgotten and the implications of what she was saying were only just beginning to sink in.
"It's not completed yet, I still need to reinforce the matrices so that they don't dissolve when under strong pressure and increase the amount of time they last for but-"
"Thank you," Jade said, his voice breaking up and tears of gratitude running down his cheeks. "Thank you so much! I-I can't even begin to...to..." He dissolved into fresh tears, burying his head in the covers of his bed, not wanting royalty to see him like this. But he looked up in surprise when he felt a soft wing lay itself tenderly over his barrel.
"I can't imagine what this must be like for you, but you're very welcome," Twilight smiled.
"B-b-but...couldn't you do it Princess Celestia? Aren't you the most powerful being in Equestria?" Jade half-blubbered, trying to clear his eyes.
"Well, that depends on the definition of powerful, but I imagine I must be somewhere near the top yes. Don't tell anypony, but I don't actually know very many spells," she whispered conspiratorially. "I might be powerful, but my skill only matches that of a normal unicorn. Twilight could beat me in battle easily if she so wanted to."
"Princess!" Twilight protested. "Don't say things like that!"
She was met with only tittering laughter, and Jade thought it very surreal seeing the rulers of Equestria acting like this.
"Anyway," Twilight sighed, drawing her wing back to her side. "The spell should be finished in maybe a week so long as nothing comes up, and then I'll be able to come back and cast it on you. How does that sound?"
"...amazing," Jade breathed. "Thank you so much..."
"I'm sure you're looking forward to our next meeting just as much as I am, if not a lot more," Twilight giggled. "It was great meeting you Jade, and I'm so glad I'm able to help."
"I hope to see you someday in Canterlot if all goes well," Celestia added.
"It's amazing to think that you both did all this for me...thank you. Again," Jade let out a nervous laugh.
"Farewell Jade."
Author's Note
Alright, so this was a kind of 2 AM idea that came to me when I woke up in the middle of the night. There will be a second chapter, and then that'll probably be it finished. Comments and criticism is very much appreciated, so tell me what you think! I found I had real trouble ending conversations, and making the Princesses sound like Princesses, so if they're awful then tell me :P
2. Taking Strides (And Falls)
The next week passed in intense anxiousness for Jade.
And who could blame him? He was on the verge of being able to live his life as he wanted to, do anything he wanted without help and most importantly, get out there with his artwork and become famous!
He began drawing himself doing various things with his soon-to-be hooves; walking, running, eating, jumping, writing; all things that would be normal to any other pony, but to him they would be a new experience.
"Jade?" Nurse Thread walked in from her office one day. "You've been offered a trip down to a place called...'Our Town', I assume you'd like to take it?"
"Nope!"
"...what? You've never been there, and I've never seen you turn down one of them before."
"I can go there myself once I get my new legs," Jade hummed happily to himself, going back to his sketch.
"You know, they're only going to be temporary. You aren't going to have them forever, and you'll have to ask Princess Twilight to cast it over and over again."
"Yeah, but she said she could modify the spell right? I don't know much about magic, but I think she can make the spell so it lasts for weeks at a time, and then I'll barely have to worry about it."
"Just...don't get your hopes up alright? In case something does go wrong."
And then finally, the fateful day arrived.
"P-p-princess Twilight is here to see you...again."
Jade was practically bouncing off his bed when the member of royalty walked in.
"Hi Princess!"
"Hello Jade," Twilight giggled at his expression. "You'll be glad to hear that I was able to change the spell so it can last for three days, and I've performed rigorous testing so that we know it will work as it should."
At this, Jade hesitated.
"...Testing? Haven't you done this spell before?"
"Not this variation of the spell, no. But that was why I had Spike test it for me!"
Meanwhile, in Ponyville
"Hey Spike? Why have you got six legs?"
"Twilight was testing a spell," he replied nonchalantly. "Are you taking this book or what?"
Applejack continued to stare.
"Who's Spike?"
"My assistant; he's looking after the library whilst I'm gone."
"So it works? No side effects or anything?"
"Yep! Would you like me to cast it now?"
"Yes!" Jade almost shouted, shuffling back from his painting slightly and readying himself.
He was slowly lifted into the air as the Princess' magical aura surrounded him in tingling light, a bright blue ribbon of energy extending from her horn and wrapping loosely around his body. He instinctively closed his eyes to block out the brilliant glow but could feel the spell beginning to work around his belly, a warmth spreading downwards and creating phantom shapes below him. Slowly, he felt the growth taking place, the abnormal sensation of nerves and muscle simply appearing in his mind's eye. After a few more seconds of this, the tingling withdrew, and for the first time in his life, Jade felt the floor under his hooves.
He didn't react for several moments, even after Twilight's magic dissipated and he opened his eyes.
Just stood there.
In complete shock.
Gradually, inch by inch, he looked down at his new legs. A semi-transparent green, they looked like they were made of crystal, and yet moved like any other limb.
Jade lifted a hoof up to his face to examine it, finding he had to consciously think about every movement. So focused was he on his new appendages, he leaned forward slightly too far and lost his balance, tumbling to the floor in a heap.
"Oh goodness!" Nurse Thread made to rush over and help him up, but Twilight held her back with a hoof.
"Watch," the Princess whispered.
Jade wasn't paying attention to either of them, too busy trying to get back on his feet. He unsteadily rose back to his hooves, and seeing Twilight holding back his nurse, gave her a nod of thanks. He would never get used to these limbs without a few trips and falls.
He carefully placed one hoof in front of the other, finding that even a slow walk wasn't easy. Left foreleg forward, then the back right, back left, right foreleg and repeat. More than once he found himself almost falling to the side again, misjudging the distance between each pair of legs.
"Come on, you can do it..." Nurse Gentle Thread muttered, urging him on.
Slowly but steadily he began to pick up a rhythm, making his way around to the foot of his bed where Twilight and his nurse stood. He stopped in front of them, proud of his progress...and promptly glomp-tackled the Princess.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou-" he squealed, wrapping his new legs tightly around her, very much intent on squeezing Twilight to death.
"Jade!" Nurse Thread admonished, trying to pry him off.
And then he remembered who he was hugging.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Princess!" he scrambled to get up again but only succeeded in falling down again.
"No, it's alright," Twilight lifted Jade back onto his hooves in her magic aura and stood back up. "You're very welcome," she gave the colt a gentle nuzzle in return.
"Oooh, I don't know what to do first!" he pranced in place, glancing around the room.
"Well you asked me about eating not too long ago," Nurse Thread suggested.
"Brilliant plan: to the cafeteria!" Jade threw a heroic pose before making a leap towards the corridor...only to fall flat on his face.
"I'd better go look after him," she told Twilight bemusedly. "Before you go though, when do you think you'll be able to come by and cast the spell again? I think Jade might be expecting to have his legs quite regularly but obviously I don't wish to impose that kind of-"
"Oh nonsense, I'll quite happily come and visit as often as I can. Besides, I've never actually been to Fillydelphia before, and I think my friend Rarity might be thinking about setting up a boutique here soon enough. Even better, I could work on the spell some more to make it last longer, or even enchant it onto an object! Now that I've realized the potential behind these kinds of spells, the possibilities are endless!"
"Well I'm very glad to hear it. Thank you so much Princess; this really has brought new life into him," she watched Jade skittering down the hallway. "Now if you'll excuse me..."
"Of course."
"Um...I just realized...how do I use cutlery?"
Jade and Nurse Gentle Thread were sitting at a table, having made their way down the stairs - startlingly quickly in Jade's case - and ordered some food.
"Just try to copy the way I do it," his nurse replied.
"No I mean...how do you even pick them up?" he asked, confused, tapping a fork with the tip of his hoof.
"Oh goodness, I'm so sorry, I didn't even realize this might be a problem. Erm...do you know about your innate hoof magic?"
"No..."
"Alright, well just try pressing the frog of your hoof to the handle of the fork, and imagine picking it up. Just as all tribes of ponies have different kinds of magic, we all have the ability to manipulate objects with our hooves. I think if we didn't we'd all be rather stuck," she giggled.
He did as instructed, and found to his surprise that it worked. Jade held the fork up to his face and imagined letting it go.
The fork fell back to the table with a clatter.
"That's really weird."
"It's how we've always done things. You'll soon get used to it."
The next challenge was actually getting food on his fork. He tried stabbing the pieces of shredded lettuce to no avail, before trying to scoop them up and only succeeding in flinging veg across the table. After several attempts - and some frustrated growling - he finally got a good mouthful in. A massive smile grew across his muzzle as the taste of crispy and fresh lettuce filled his mouth.
"So, what's it like to eat under your own power?" she echoed his question from over a week ago.
"Delicious," he replied, and his nurse laughed.
Over the next day Jade spent as much time as possible doing anything he could with his newfound abilities. He attempted painting with the brush held against his hoof, he ate every meal with gusto - and a lot of mess - and even started cantering up and down the hallway outside his room, much to the hospital staff's chagrin. It was so frustrating being stuck in one building when he could do so much more!
Eventually nurse Gentle Thread was able to give him a little button that he could press with his muzzle if he was in distress, and would be allowed to go outside so long as he returned before sundown. Jade could barely contain his excitement as he approached the double doors.
This was it. Freedom to do what he wanted, out in the real world.
Almost.
He pushed through the doors.
Immediately, noise hit his ears like a steam locomotive; the rattling of carriage wheels, the talking ponies around him. And the smell! Not the sterile environment of a hospital, but the clean and brisk air of a city. He had been here before dozens of times in a wheelchair, but nothing compared to this.
Ponies gave him strange looks as they passed, noticing his almost-glowing green legs, but he didn't care. Jade began to walk along the street, craning his neck to look at everything he could.
Then a brilliant idea struck.
He could remember the way couldn't he? All he had to do was find the city square and...there! He began to trot in excitement, then canter, and finally gallop. He was leaping around pedestrians, over puddles and even a small construction site where ponies were repairing the pavement. Everything began to blur around him as tears of joy sprang up, distorting his vision, but he didn't stop - not even for a second. He let out a whoop as he crossed a road in seconds, unknowingly almost being hit by a drawn carriage.
After a few minutes he began to slow down, knowing he was nearing his destination. His heart was racing, sweat poured down his face, and he absolutely loved it. Finally, he came to rest in front of an inconspicuous door, just another building in a line of buildings. But knocking on this door would mean the beginning of a new life for Jade, and it would make his family so happy.
There was a moment of hesitation as he wondered if maybe they were all out, there might be nopony home to greet him.
But he cast it aside as he worked up his courage. Now he could get his drawings out there, make some money for himself, and live a proper life. Now he could visit his family whenever he wanted, and do things he never thought possible.
Now he was a new pony.
He knocked.
Author's Note
So this is FINALLY done...it took so long because I had an awful bout of writer's block and was barely able to write a sentence each day...but here we are! I hope you enjoyed my very first story on this site, and I also hope it wasn't crap. Thanks for reading!
~Wolf