Whiplash

Chapters

A Really Bad Day
Hysteria
Unfair
Pain
Chapter 5: Solace [Unedited]
Chapter 6: Confusion [Unedited]

A Really Bad Day

Chapter 1: A Really Bad Day

Featherweight dragged himself around town, head down, pain and tears edging around his eyes as he tried to force them back, too upset to gaze through his camera around at the world that he had once believed to be so full of beauty and vibrance. The event that had just taken place at the school house was what had set him off on his disillusioned trek to Sugarcube Corner, only heading that way in order to wash away the sulfuric cruddy taste in his mouth with a nice, smooth strawberry milkshake.

‘I’m not important enough for the Student Council summer vacation trip? My position isn’t essential enough to warrant me to go? I haven’t done my job enough?!’

Featherweight started to fume and bite back tears as he remembered the comments that came from the parents of the other Student Council members. ‘How many nights have their kids stayed up to work on their re-election poster? How many days did they have to cancel plans with friends to go to a photoshoot? How many times did I come in at the last second of good natural lighting for the photo that they need the next day. How many days I end up going home because it’s late and we can’t do it well enough?’

A slight buzzing noise made his ear flick as he grew angrier and angrier, looking down at the ground to hide his face to those who might look. ‘How much of their parents’ money do they spend for the equipment they need for their position?! None! Zilch! Nothing! It’s always me that gets pushed around and told what to do! It’s always me wh-’

The buzzing got louder, a faint rumbling was heard. He scratched his ear trying to dig the noise from his mind, but kept moving forward ‘-and… and gets yelled at by the others if I miss a small thing! It’s always my fault when THEY don’t show up for the shoot, always my fault when I show up late to meetings that I wasn’t informed about until the last second! I’ve been ok with most of it. I could handle it. I was tough, but to say that I don’t do MY job enough?! No! I don’t even ha-’

Featherweight was ripped from his internal tirade violently as he was pulled by two hooves around his camera strap, away from the road and his destination. He tripped, hitting his head to the ground hard enough for it to bounce off of the rock it landed on. Rumbling vibrated the ground beneath them as he opened his blurry eyes to see a blitzing bovine stampede roaring toward him and- “Pipsqueak? What are you doing? What’s going on.” He asked, still dazed from the hard hit to the head.

“Can’t talk, we’ve gotta go. Come on!” He yelled as he grabbed featherweight and ran for a nearby alley that the cows were curving away from.

Featherweight followed him, dazed and stumbling, but still following him. ‘Mr. Class President himself came to rub it in my face’ He thought in his stupor. He regained a bit of his awareness, leading him to sprint quicker with pip so they could get to a safer area.

Pip Finally stopped in an alley, panting and coughing, while Featherweight stood up, body swaying as his ears rang and his head pounded. He looked around and wiped the tears from his eyes. It was hard for him to hold his concentration on any one thing. The buzzing in his ear returned, but he looked over to Pipsqueak to realize it was him talking

“-you doing in the middle of the street like that? Didn’t you hear me call after you? You could have gotten killed! Look, What’s happening? Are you ok? Is this because of the meeting?” Pip asked, looking at his friend who was worse for wear, shaking and shuddering.

“Huh?” Was all Featherweight could get out.

Pipsqueak sighed and sat down, Featherweight following suit. “W-What is wrong, Feather? Are you okay? You’re worrying me.” Pip said, genuine concern evident in his tone and body language.

“I think I hit my head when you pulled me back. It really hurts. N-nothing is really making sense.” Featherweight said, raising his voice to talk over the ringing. He took a hoof and rubbed it lightly against the area that hurt the most. His fur was wet to the touch. He winced as he pulled his hoof back to see the sickening, crimson liquid taint his beige fur. The ringing subsided, and he began to hear the drip of blood plip and plop onto his back from the open wound on his head. “What, what were you asking, Pip?” He asked again, not fully processing the fact that he was bleeding yet.

“That’s gonna ‘ave to wait. You must of hit your head hard. Do you need to go to the hospital? I can help you walk down, since you don’t look like you’re in the best of shape right now.” Pip asked as he inspected the back of Featherweight’s head to see a light visceral catastrophe.

Featherweight started to nod, but decided against it to not worsen the condition of his headache. “Yes. Please.” He croaked. ‘I don’t know what hurts more; the fact that I might have a concussion, or that one of the ponies I was trying to get away from is helping me get to the hospital.’ He started moving along with Pip again, this time just opting to follow the smaller colt’s tail. His eyes tried to focus on it, but they jerked around too much. He groaned and gave up trying to control his focus walking straight.

The stampede had ended and the dust had cleared by that point, leaving only ruined cart shops, disgruntled former shop owners, and pulverized cannon fodder that had the unfortunate opportunity to be in the path of the frenzied beasts. Featherweight would have taken a few pictures here and there if he were able to walk without the need to focus on the act. The fact that his camera lens was cracked didn’t help the situation either.

Featherweight chuckled a bit, “Today sure is great, isn’t it? Everything seems to be going my way!” He said coldly before chuckling a bit more. It was bitter. Pip could tell that without even needing to look back at the downcast colt. The laughter diminished into choked sobbing, choked sobbing turned into shaky wailing, and shaky wailing turning into silence as Featherweight’s pain only reached the ears of Pipsqueak, being drowned out by the casual talk of ponies around the area about what happened and other trials of the day. Around them, life moved on and society pushed forward to rebuild, blissfully unaware or simply uncaring of the pain that one of their own bore on himself. The splash of tears he shed dropped into the ocean, destined to be drowned out by the clashing waves and perpetual tide that he felt surrounded him.

The walk felt indefinite, but soon enough, their destination was right in front of them: The hospital.

Author's Note

This is the first chapter of a story that I didn't think I would be making last week. I was nervous about writing something like this, well, more of writing anything at all. I have to thank Milo_Chalks for giving me that push that I needed to start something like this. Also thanks a bunch to him for editing this for me as well!

Hysteria

Chapter 2: Hysteria

Few questions were asked. Feather managed to answer the broad details about the situation on the medical documents and Pipsqueak completed the finer bits. Featherweight felt chained by invisible cables, constricted by his inability to concentrate, like a puppet as he followed the vocal commands of the nurses and Pip.

He blinked and they were down the hall, tight and cramped. Pip filled the nurse in on the fine details, something that Feather couldn’t be bothered with at that moment. He blinked again, this time, he was laying down in a gurney, Pip sitting next to him, looking worried and worn out. Featherweight had an IV in him, a cable hooked up to him, and a patient gown wrapped around him. An incessant beep smashed against his ears, adding onto is already agonizing headache. He blinked again, looking up to the heart monitor and wincing each time it gave an update on his cardiovascular health.

‘Why is the sound of me still alive making me want to get run over by a stampe-Oh. Right.’

Featherweight gave a weak laugh before wincing and immediately going to rub the spot where it hurt. A bundle of wrapped cloth prevented him from touching his recent injury, and Featherweight slowly let his hoof drop down to his side. All of this movement caught the attention of Pip and brought a relieved smile to his face. He got up out of his chair and came to the right side of Feather’s bed.

“Featherweight, I’m so, so sorry. I was just tryna get you outta the way of the stampede. You ‘eren’t moving out of the way an I didn’t want you to get hurt. I didn’t mean to make you hit your head. This is just a mess.” Pip was quick to break into tears as he bowed his head, not wanting to look at the state Featherweight was in.

Featherweight groaned and looked over to his friend. ‘He was only moving me to help me. He didn’t mean to give me this concussion. How long have I been out?’ Featherweight thought to himself, reorienting himself to the room around him. The lights were low and the blinds were closed, though he could see enough through them to note that it was late at night. “I’m having a hard time remembering what happened. Could you fill me in?” Feather asked, smiling lightly at Pip.

Pip’s breathing shuddered a moment before he collected himself and looked up at his frail friend. “I-I’m not really sure myself. I was walking back from the school house after the meeting,” Pip began, not noticing the immediate tension that filled Featherweight’s body. “I heard a commotion about something coming. I felt the ground shaking and could hear the sound of a stampede coming along. I got worried and started looking for places to hide or take cover, but then I saw you. You were walking straight toward the stampede. It was still kind of far away so I called out to you, but you kept walking.”

“I called again and again, but you just kept walking towards the stampede. It was getting closer. I ran up to you and grabbed you around your camera to get your attention, but I must have pulled too hard or you were really thinking deep about something, because after I pulled you, you tripped and hit your head against a rock, pretty hard actually. We ran for cover and I kinda figured something was wrong since you were acting really weird. When you had blood on your hoof from your head, I was terrified. I didn’t know what to do except ask if you needed to go to the hospital. Dumb question to ask, but I asked it and now we’re here. You scared the nurses a couple of times.” Pip said, recalling the events that happened thus far and calming down.

“What do you mean? What did I do?” Featherweight asked, concerned about the gaps in his memory.

“You don’t remember?” Pip asked in surprise. “ We were walking down the halls and then all of a sudden, you became really anxious and angry. The nurse said it was normal, but you kept on saying ‘what am I going to do?’ and whenever we would ask you what you meant, you got defensive and didn’t go past that main phrase. While in the examination room, the doctor had me in there with you. I think the doctor said it was to have someone familiar close to you to keep you more calm. He said you had a concussion and that nasty gash had to have staples in it. Look, Featherweight. I am really sorry. I just did what I did on impulse.” Pip finished off, starting to get upset again.

Featherweight was able to recognize that and replied, “Pip, don’t feel like that. If it weren’t for what you did, I would have been squished or badly injured or worse! The reason why I didn’t hear you was because I was angry at what the parents said at the meeting. I was in a really bad place.” Featherweight said, watching as Pip’s expression turned from guilty to very concerned. “Not...Not that bad. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” He tried to rephrase his answer, but gave up. He resumed his story, trying to explain without getting too emotional. It wasn’t working well. “You heard what they said. It was full of excuses and things that just weren’t true. You know me!” Featherweight ignored the headache and started getting intense in his demeanor. “I wanted to go onto that trip. Ever since I heard that it was a vacation where I could hang out with you all the way back in December, I was excited and counting the days to it. When I heard that we were going to Vanhoover, for FREE, it made me absolutely wild! I don’t think I told you, but that is where some of the best photo galleries are as well as it being the home of Henri Bisson. It is a month away now, and they are telling me that I can’t go?!” Featherweight, blinked, his eyes blurring for a multitude of reasons, his breathing starting to quicken and get heavier. “For what? The budget for the trip dropped unexpectedly? No one knows why?”

Pip was leaning away from Featherweight, so not to get in the radius of his boiling rage.

“It’s a load of pony feathers! Do I do a lot of work for the student council?” Featherweight asked, blinking again, tears flowing down his face freely, breathing heavier now and his heart rate showing up a lot quicker paced than it should be on the monitor.

Pipsqueak nodded. “Yeah, you do. A lot more than most of us. I am in full agreement here, but I think you need to calm down, mate. You’re under a lot of stress right now, but you really need to take it easy. You calm down, and we can talk about this when ya’ feeling a bit better,” Pip bargained.

Featherweight crossed his legs, clenching his jaw and stiffening up. Already, he felt worn out. Already, each time he blinked, it was harder to open his eyes than the last time. “It just isn’t fair” Featherweight said as he blinked once last time before drifting off to sleep.

Pipsqueak sighed. ‘He will be out for Celestia knows how long. It is late. I need to go back home. Strange no one else has come to visit.’ Pip thought as he walked out of Featherweight’s room to start the slow trudge home.

Author's Note

Second chapter! Woohoo. Thank you so much for following along with this and I hope I can start updating at a better pace soon!

Unfair

Chapter 3: Unfair

Featherweight’s eyes shot open. He slowly adjusted them to the light, shifting around uncomfortably in his seat. He noticed that he had drooled a bit on the long table he was half lying on, his back stiff from being in an awkward position all night. He quickly wiped it off with his hoof as he looked around to see if anyone had noticed. No one was even there yet. ‘Weird. I must have slept in the school basement again last night.’ He thought to himself as he looked at the clock. ‘8:37. The rest of the student council members must be coming soon. It was 9:00 A.M. that they said the meeting was, right? Should be. That’s what I remember, at least.’ He scooched his chair out and hopped down, twisting and stretching his stiff legs and wings. Cracks in his joints and back sent relief tingling through his lanky body. He fluttered his wings to get some circulation through to them and yawned. “Whelp. I better set things up for the meeting if I am already here,” He said to no one in particular.

Time ticked away as he got the rest of the table set up and tidied up the cramped and cluttered meeting space, which doubled up as his darkroom in the corner; that being the reason it was warm in the basement the majority of the time. Once he was finished, he was happy to see that he had a few minutes left to fiddle around with his camera through, poking the lens in the direction of various bugs and animals he saw from the basement angled window. He spotted a Pekin Robin on an oak tree branch that was closely eying an earthworm below. He quickly snapped a picture of the robin steady on the branch. The next moment, the robin dove down to claim its breakfast. Featherweight changed the shutter speed and aperture with near impossible speed and tracked the robin until it got to the earthworm and ripped it from the earth. Snap after snap processed through the camera as Feather got the shots, looking up from his lens to see where the robin landed. He spotted it and smiled, putting his eye back to the viewfinder to see an eye staring back at him through it. He screamed in surprise as he pulled his camera away to be met by the form of Pipsqueak waving at him from the other side. Featherweight caught his breath after that scare and stuck his tongue out at Pip, who responded similarly. Looking at the clock, he decided to let his camera rest on its strap, turning back to the long table that would hold their meeting.

Pipsqueak pushed open the door and smiled at his friend,”’Ello Feather! You're ‘ere right early, aren't ya!” Pip shut the door with a loud slam, smiling with that endless reservoir of happiness emanating from him. his seat next to the manila colored colt.

“As usual. How are you?” Featherweight asked, look at him and then the door. “Where’s your mom and dad?”

“They had a different meeting to go to. I told them I would fill them in on the details here once I get home,” Pip said, giddy about discussing the contents of this meeting. “Are you ready for this final meeting?”

Featherweight’s face immediately lit up, “you bet I am! It will be good to finally get the planning settled out and cemented before the trip. I just can’t believe it is only two weeks away. It feels like I just heard that we were going yesterday!” Feather exclaimed, happily fluttering a bit in the air in excitement.

Pip chuckled at the excitement of his friend and looked at the clock, “It’s already past 9, where’s everpony else?”

Featherweight moved to set his camera down. “Come to think of it, Yeah. Where ar-”

The door swung open and featherweight jumped slightly, accidentally losing a grip of the camera, causing it to fall. He winced as it clanked against his chest, the strap around it doing its job and keeping his most valued and delicate possession from smashing into gears and film.

An entourage of adults filed in, their sons and daughters following suit. That was Feather and Pip’s queue to take their seats. Along with the sound of children chattering, an odd feeling arose from the room. It felt colder almost, making Featherweight anxious, his fur sticking up as well as a lone shiver that one would get when they feel they are being watched. A quick “stretch” of his back and neck allowed him to see where that feeling was coming from; Spoiled Rich.

He glanced at her for only a brief second, but his mind had already etched her face. He didn't need to look at her very long to picture the exact cold glare she was making. Like the debacle that happened during last elections between Diamond and Pip, where Featherweight was taking less than flattering photos of Spoiled yelling at her daughter, he imagined that same power hungry, insatiable, and vexing clench of her jaw which sat below her naturally upturned nose and make-up washed, half-lidded eyes. He shuddered at the image and decided to look back around at everypony else as an attempt of purging the thought from his mind.

He realized something as he did that. Most everypony was sitting on the opposite side of the table. Namby-Pamby, her mother. Diamond Tiara, her mother. Truffle Shuffle, his parents. All of them were sitting next to each other, as if this were some kind of Business meeting and Pipsqueak was the CEO. What would I be then? Vice CEO? What does CEO even stand for? He thought to himself.

“Right, well now that everypony is here, we can begin!” Pipsqueak exclaimed in excitement, repositioning himself to where he could see everypony well enough.

“What is there to discuss? I was pretty sure, from the notes at least, that we discussed everything last meeting,” Namby-Pamby’s mother said as she hovered her notepad in front of her daughter to confirm.

“Well, we did. This last meeting is mainly for any last minute questions or ideas for the trip. If there are any, then please address them now,” Pip said.

“Actually, there was one thi-” Spoiled started

“Why are we having this ‘last minute meeting’ two weeks before the actual trip? Why leave so much time in between if we are supposed to finally wrap up planning and the trip date?” Diamond asked, the twinge of cruel judgement that all the foals knew too well was still evident in Diamond’s tone. Of course, by now, everypony had come to an understanding of that-that she is trying to lose it, but occasionally slips out in her conversations.

“Oh, well it’s ‘cause we ‘ave some members that won’t be here in those two weeks for us to all meet together, an’ this was the closest date and time that we had where everypony was still around to attend the meeting,” Pip answered matter-of-factly, his front foreleg moving accordingly to each word he was trying to describe and accentuate it to his audience, who were intently listening as a result. Featherweight quietly giggled at the “President’s” confidence and natural aura of leadership that he exuded. It was an interesting quality for somepony so small to have, and Feather admired Pip a lot for it.

Diamond seemed content with that answer and rested in her chair, allowing for Spoiled Rich to ask a question of her own. “There was a problem that I had found, actually. In the budget that Filthy, my husband, is sponsoring,” Spoiled began in her forced high society accent, emphasizing each word that she pertained mentioning herself or anything she was associated with.

Pip nodded at her to move on, and featherweight felt his heart start to beat faster ‘What if we don’t have the funds to go on the trip, or we can’t go see a play like we were planning...’ his mind kept racing with every bad outcome that this statement could mean for the trip that meant the whole of Equestria to him.

“It states that we are underfunded, but only to a degree. We won’t be able to take everypony if we want to do everything that we had planned on in Vanhoover,” murmurs spread throughout the whole of the meeting, leaving only Featherweight staying silent as he feared what Spoiled would say next. “The… Simple plan that I had come up with was to elimina- er, exclude somepony from going on this trip, which.... unfortunately, seems to be the only way,” The murmuring stopped immediately. “Now, I did the math and we only need to exclude one pony. It shouldn’t have to be a parent, since both parents should be there for their child for comfort and legal reasons,”

Almost everypony breathed a bit easier, except the two colts who sat next to each other. Neither of their parents would be able to make it to the trip, leaving them uncanny targets to Spoiled Rich’s brash solution.

“As far as going from there, we have to evaluate who should be chosen from the group that don’t have parents going, which would be,” She hovered her own notepad in front of her, immediately lifting her gaze to the two little colts on the other end of the table, “Featherweight and Pipsqueak!”

All eyes at the meeting turned to the nervous colts, displaying mixed expressions of relief and empathy for them.

Featherweight and Pip exchanged glances, their faces near identical in their emotions of outright fear. They sat helplessly in their seats, unable to stop the merchant of bad news from continuing. Both of them had very good reasons to be picked and just as many reasons to be excluded; Pipsqueak being the one who beat Diamond Tiara in the last election, Featherweight being the one who had documented and printed out Spoiled’s outrage because of the former fact.

“Now I know that picking somepony won’t be easy. I want the input from the parents and council members to narrow down who to exclude,” Spoiled said, a faint smirk donning her face, only noticeable by her daughter, who was starting to look very uncomfortable beside her smiling mother.

The meeting stayed silent, no one really wanting to be the voice of condemnation on either of the two.

“Well, to start off, I would say that Featherweight hasn’t really done much to help the student council,” Namby-Pamby’s mother began. “I mean, what exactly can you say you’ve done to help, Featherweight? Take pictures?”

Featherweight looked over to Mrs. Pampy, mouth agape. He tried to speak, tried to defend himself and say that it wasn’t as simple as just taking pictures, but nothing came out.

The Room hummed and murmured in agreement. “Then should it be a question of who is more active and important to our council,” Spoiled stated. “That makes the picking process a bit easier. Pipsqueak IS president of the student council after all. Who is more involved than that?”

Pipsqueak dug down into his chair, blushing both out of embarrassment and out of shame that his status was leaning toward Featherweight not getting to go on the trip.

“Then I think it is settled. Featherweight. It looks like you won’t be able to go on this trip. I am sorry, but it is what has to be done to ensure an enjoyable time for everypony going,” Spoiled said, not in the least sympathetic to his situation.

Featherweight sat there. Stunned. So fast had everything gone that his head was reeling. He could barely hear everypony else saying their apologies over his heartbeat catching in his throat and pulsating in his ears. His breathing grew even more rapid from what it was before the decision was made. He turned to Pip, who was staring at him with pity.

Giving him the smallest amount of time to cope, Spoiled began, “Well, then. Mr. President, shall we continue with the meeting?”

“Ah,” Pip didn’t want to turn away from his friend. “C-can't we get other people to chip in? Isn't there some way we could raise funds enough to let Featherweight go?”

Spoiled sighed and made an attempt at a compassionate smile. “We have two weeks to raise over 400 bits. It would put too much of a strain on ponies to try to rush something like fundraising” she looked over to the completely mortified Featherweight. “I know this must hurt, but think of what you're absence will do to help the rest of your classmates.” She then looked back at pip. “I'm sorry, but I can't think of any reasonable way to raise that much money so soon,”

Pipsqueak looked solemnly toward the ground in defeat. He raised his head and tried to clear his mind, “Yes, well. Are there any other last minute questions or problems to discuss?” Pip asked, his voice trembling still from the nerves.

A silence fell over the meeting again. A silence that both Pip and Featherweight wished had stayed all the way through the meeting. No one really wanted to say anything at that point. The deed had been done, and there was no need for anything more to be discussed.

“Alright. Then I declare this last meeting adjourned. I’ll see you all in two weeks” Pip tried to sound as enthusiastic as he could, struggling hard not to hint at his sadness for Feather.

Everypony got up, not wanting to be in that tension filled area anymore. They left in a parade-like filing, each one stating their condolences for Featherweight, who was still sitting in his chair in shock.

Featherweight got up. He sighed, his breath still shaky. He grabbed his camera and strapped it onto his body. Giving a quick glance and nod to Pipsqueak, Feather left the school house basement.

Thoughts swimmed and poured in his head as he walked around. He was just beginning to comprehend what just happened. ‘Why me? this is all just… just unfair!’ He screamed into his mind. No Henri Bison, no play, no hanging out with his friend at a hotel, no Vanhoover. He gritted his teeth and felt a rumbling underneath his hooves.He paid no mind to it until the rumbling was practically shaking his entire body. Looking up, he saw a plume of dust cascading towards him. It was close, too close. The stampeding cows were barreling straight for him. Featherweight Screamed and ran in the other direction, briefly forgetting he was a pegasus. He felt the rumbling inch closer and closer to him, his lungs burning and his leg muscles breaking down, weakening and threatening to give. The rumbling loosened up stones, making him have to dodge them as they came in his path. He missed a stone and tripped, tumbling from the momentum behind him and facing him toward the stampede. He started screaming at the top of his lungs. Within a second, they were on him, about to stomp him into the ground until...he woke up.

He jolted up in his hospital bed, screaming still, his head pounding and his heart racing. Nurses came in to restrain him, to calm him down, to make him just stop screaming. Five minutes passed and those goals were finally achieved. Their next goal was to help him stop crying.

Author's Note

Hi again. I hope you are enjoying the story. Leave me some feedback on what you don't like and what you like. Also thanks again to Milo for editing this fic for me :twilightsheepish:

Pain

Chapter 4: Pain

The twilight of morning was greeted by a still tired, and very awake Featherweight, whose eyes were bloodshot, and his bed was damp and reeking from seven hours of cold sweat. There was little sleep to be had after his nightmare. Sleep avoided him like the plague, though not without taunting him during their game of cat and mouse. Ultimately, Featherweight was exhausted and fatigued. He turned his body away from the unusually bright sun and muttered various threats to the light that blinded him whenever he opened his eyes.

Can’t... concentrate on…anything... Sun too bright...

Birds too loud...

Can’t it all go away?

The beauty of the world that he adored and respected only 24 hours before now was completely distorted and tainted by his intoxicating pain and tiredness.

Time had become a foreign concept to him. He couldn’t look over to the clock on the wall now, because it was in the same direction of the sun torrenting through the window. All he could do to confirm that he wasn’t stuck in an everlasting moment of discomfort was look at the shadows shifting in the room. Light began to reflect into his vision every so often which fatigued him more, making him shift in his bed. He looked to what the light was reflecting off of. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped.

The nightstand had become an unceremonious shrine for his camera. The cracked lens reflecting light at odd angles, but still shimmering. T-that. That is just cruel. he thought to himself.

Tears tried to form, but he had depleted his reserves throughout the night. All that remained was a silent rage that made Featherweight shiver and tremble. The camera itself looked intact, but a cracked lens rendered it to becoming just a fancy mechanical box. Featherweight curled up into a ball in an attempt to protect himself from the world that was hammering him down further into the ground like a railway spike.

A loud, near thunderous booming panged Featherweight's ears, distracting him from his broken device. Only, lightning didn’t follow suit, rather a pony walked into his room, carrying a tray of food toward him. “Good morning!” The nursing assistant said cheerfully, her voice making him physically wince and cringe away. “Oh. I’m so sorry,” she hushed her voice . She took a look at the chart that was on his bed and quietly tip-hoofed her way around the room. “Here you are, sweetie. Breakfast,” she whispered even quieter to him since she had gotten closer.

The tray was placed in front of him, and it quickly reminded him that he hadn't had anything to eat in over a day. His stomach growled and his mouth watered just at the smell of the oatmeal and juice that was before him. “T-thank you,” he choked out, his voice wavering and raspy from the screaming last night.

The nursing assistant smiled at him warmly, being the one glimpse of beauty that the world can offer. A glimpse that he was deprived of for far too long. She wasn't a model. Her looks had no factor into her beauty. It was the feeling that he got off of her, like she is there for him, there to help him and care for him, that made up her beauty. “Not a problem. If you don't mind, I am going to need to take your blood pressure. Is it ok for me to do so?” She asked as Featherweight eyed his food, clearly wanting to tear into it as soon as possible. “You are welcome to eat while I take it,” She added.

Featherweight immediately nodded and stuck out the foreleg closest to her so she could wrap a cuff around it while he got to work on eating his oatmeal.

The mare fiddled with the sphygmomanometer and soon managed to get Featherweight's readings, committing them to memory and taking off the cuff. “Alright, Mr. Featherweight. I’m all finished. I’ll be back in about ten,” she whispered, looking over to the colt who was devouring the oatmeal. “Maybe five, to pick up your tray. Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?” She asked, her voice managing to stay caring while being soft and delicate.

“The... the curtains. Can you close them?” Featherweight asked after swallowing. “The light is really annoying me.”

The mare glanced over to the window and her smile faltered for a moment. She recovered and looked to Feather. “I’m sorry, but the blinds are already closed. I could put another cover over them if you’d like?”

“Yes. Please. Thanks, miss…” Featherweight didn't know her name. Of course, he hadn't been in the mood to ask when she first came in, and he felt guilty now.

“Pram” she crooned.

“Pram. Thank you.” He said as a flash of warmth spread throughout his body. It wasn't a new feeling, just a feeling that could be appreciated by him now. The warmth felt nice even if it's benevolent source seared pain into his already pounding head.

Pram nodded to him and silently backed out of the room to let him eat in privacy. Once she exited, the chart came out and she recorded his complaint of light sensitivity.

Five minutes later, the food was cleared and the doctor was in the dark room with Featherweight. “It is good to see you in a better condition than yesterday, little fella” the doctor whispered.

Featherweight blushed, his eyes not paying attention to the white coated pony for too long, jumping between his cracked camera and the stallion. “W-why is the light so bright? That isn't normal,” he began. “It's hard to focus. I j-just can't keep my eyes open to pay attention to one thing for a long time. Why am I hurting so much?”

The flurry of questions was expected by the doctor, who smiled, “It is all a part of the concussion. I know that those are never any fun, since there are few things you can do to treat one except rest and pain medications,” he stated. The doctor observed the colt a bit closer due to the dim light. “Did you sleep well last night?” He asked, eying the bloodshot and droopy eyes that stared back at him.

“I'm-I’m really not sure. I think I got a bit of sleep, but I stayed awake for a decent part of the night. I don’t know how long I've been up.” Featherweight said, a bit panicked.

“Around eight hours so far, doctor,” Pram said, chart in hoof, reading the night reports of Featherweight's outbursts. Her professional blank stare cracked in front of Featherweight as concern became evident on her face for both the doctor and the colt to see.

“I see,” the doctor whispered as only microfractures of empathy leaked from his face’s form. “Well that is not a good sleeping schedule for a growing lad like you! How about we get you something that will help you get some sleep. Does that sound good?”

Featherweight nodded, his worn out body tingling and yearning for the rest that it had been starved of. He started breathing a bit harder due to the excitement of the idea that he would escape the thorns of pain that constantly stabbed his head. A faint smile broke out across his face.

The doctor smiled back, looking briefly back at pram and nodding for her to grab a nurse who could administer the sedative. “Now as I have been told, you will be having a visitor coming around,” he broke his look to take a peek at the clock, “Six or so hours from now. I will just make sure to tell him that you were told to get a lot of rest to recover, so he doesn’t get worried. Does that sound alright to you?”

Featherweight tried once again to focus on the doctor, but failed. He did manage to see, however, that the doctor had a different feeling about him from Pram. A sense that he was there to prove something. Feather had little idea as to what, so he didn’t dwell on it. He knows how to comfort ponies. It feels almost as if he had to learn how, though. Out of a book or something,” He thought. “Yeah. Thank you, doctor,”

The doctor got up and sighed, “Well, if I were to predict, and predict I will, I would say that you should recover in a week or so. But we will keep you here for a day or two more, just so we are safe. I will let the nurse come in and get you all set up for sleep. I hope you have a good rest, Featherweight,” he said as he departed.

After the doctor left, Featherweight went back to looking at his camera, trying to will it with his mind to repair itself. All that did was leave a pit of anxiety and bitterness in his stomach.

Silence.

Featherweight closed his eyes and just listened. The whirring of the machines in his room finally became apparent and distinguishable. Chatter from outside of his room was there, but muffled. Hoofsteps and unrecognizable voices merged and formed into a symphony of business as usual. Pagers on the intercom for doctors and nurses chimed incessantly. The beauty of organized chaos was interrupted by a knock on his room door.

Featherweight opened his eyes to see nurse Redheart smiling from the doorway, “I’m sorry. Did I disturb you?” She asked, walking in with a capped syringe in hoof.

“No. I was just listening. Is that going to help me sleep?” He asked as he pointed to the needle. A warm excitement flowed through him as he anticipated a poke and then relief.

“Yes, indeed it is. Don’t worry, I won’t need to poke you. I can just put this into your IV,” She explained as she tested the syringe for bubbles, “and in a minute or so, you can finally get some rest,” She said, the liquid flowing from the needle into his body. “In the meantime, could you count back from 15 for me?” She asked, ejecting the needle from his IV

Featherweight felt a warmth flow through him, making him giggle. “Sure. Fifteen. Fourteen. Thirteen. Twelve. Eleven…..” Lights out.

Nurse Redheart smiled and closed the privacy curtains, letting Featherweight get some long needed sleep.

……….

‘Running. I’m running now. Why am I running?’ Featherweight asked himself as he looked back for a moment to see the plume of dust barreling towards him. ‘Oh right. That’s why. I forgot. How could I forget?’ He thought, the world moving past him like a blur.

His stomach ached. His lungs burned from overexertion. Sweat dripped from his body, but most disheartening, his head hurt. His pulse pounded perpetually in his temples as a clawing feeling ripped away at his head from the inside. He hadn’t escaped the pain, rather he gave it a new way to torture him. Each pang that sleged against his head weakened his legs, threatening him with tripping or collapsing. I can’t do that. ‘I need to keep running’ Tears welled up in his eyes as he fought off the inviting idea of stopping, of resting.

Through the haze of delirium and the pounding of his heart, he could still hear the thundering blitz of hooves stomping behind him, motivating him to keep going, just for a bit longer. He just needed to keep moving a bit longer and then can he rest.

The tumbling came closer from behind him, crushing his dream of making it out alive. Featherweight didn’t have to, and didn’t want to for that matter, looking back to see the herd. The rumbling and huffing of them was soul crushing enough. To see their frenzied looks and pounding hooves inch closer and closer would make him give up then and there.

Featherweight had little energy or time to think. His body was running on fumes and everything was burning. Muscles tore, bones weaned, and sinew cracked as he continued on this, what felt like a hopeless run for his life. So this is what Miss Cherliee meant when she said fight or flig-...OH I AM AN IDIOT!’ He yelled, stretching his neglected appendages and getting a bit of drag from them, making him inch closer to the stampede. Flapping his wings, Featherweight boosted himself into the air with what little strength he had left in his legs. Furiously, his small wings moved to gain as much vertical space from the stampede as possible.

He reached small cloud level and landed down on a slowly moving statocumulos, choking almost as he sucked in air, looking down at the stampede moving further and further into the distance. Tears streamed down his face as he managed to regain enough breath to start laughing. He laid on his back, staring up at the higher clouds as they shifted in and out of the dark spots in his vision. Pain struck him harder and harder like a jackhammer in his head, making the tears keep flowing as his laughing contorted and twisted in his throat to become a far more visceral weeping.

The pain got worse and worse as the endorphins and adrenaline wore off, his form lying fetal on the cloud as he clutched and clawed at his head to make the pain go away. All alone. The skies were clear and the roads were vacant of travellers, leaving his screams to be pitied by the clouds and the birds.

‘I escaped! I didn’t get trampled by the cows! Why does this feel worse!?’ His thoughts screamed at him, all discombobulated by the invisible nail being scraped inside of his head.

“Make it stop!” He cried continuously on his lone cloud, hoping that somepony would be there and be able to make it all go away; make the pain just stop.

No pony came as the sun set, leaving Featherweight quaking on the cloud, unable to do anything except rock himself to get an inkling of comfort from somepony, even if it was only himself. He was trapped in his mind; his own personal hell.

……….

No pony should ever wake up feeling exhausted. No pony should be soaked clean through their fur in sweat. No pony should ever have to wipe tears from their eyes that they didn’t know they had made. Featherweight’s heart raced as he tried to regain his sense of surrounding, his head pounding and his body shaking. Pain wracked and sawed through him and made him call out for someone to make it go away. Clutching his head, he felt a hoof wrap around his own and around his neck.

A brown and mottled creme colored blur popped into his vision and tried its best to calm him down, to reassure him that the nurses will be there and that things will be ok. Featherweight grabbed onto that blur, he held it tight in a pained embrace, crying deep into its shoulder, pleading to just make the pain end.

Author's Note

Sorry this one took so long to finish. I had a rough time working everything through in my head. It pleases me to know that I have gotten this far with a story. Thank you all who are reading this and, please, leave a comment about it. Feedback is indispensable.

Chapter 5: Solace [Unedited]

Chapter 5: Solace

His fur stood on end, sensitive to even the smallest breeze made by the doors swinging open near him. A yawn escaped his clenched jaw, blurring his vision from the escaped tears. A bloody longshot to think that I would have been able to get any sleep last night. Pip thought as he walked through the clean-lit hallway, meandering past the nurses and doctors that went about their jobs, down to the room the head nurse had told him about.

Judging by what the nurse said, it sounds like Feather didn’t either. The scenario had played over and over in his head as he tossed and turned last night, resulting in his sluggish nature. Pipsqueak almost worried himself sick at this point, the anxiety building up inside him and festering in his stomach.

He shook his head. Now really isn’t the time for that kind of thinking. You gotta stay focused. If you’re scared, then he is terrified. Straighten up and fly right.

Reaching the room, he took a few breaths to calm his nerves. Greeting him when he opened the door was Featherweight, sleeping. Not sure what I expected. Pip exhaled deeply, releasing some tension from his body. He found a chair to sit in and quietly schooched it near Feather’s bed.

As he sat down, he began to take in the surroundings. The window was completely covered up, not letting in even the slightest amount of light from the outside. The bed that featherweight was in looked almost freshly made. Featherweight himself looked like he had seen far better days. A bandage was wrapped tightly around his head, soft red soaking through the gause and sullying the clean white wrap. His gown was somewhat stuck to him due to the amount of sweat he had produced. His body looked frail and gaunt underneath the bed sheets. Nothing new there, Pip chuckled, dear Celestia, I shouldn’t be doing that, he thought, almost ashamed for laughing. Look at ya, Feather. I was only tryna help, Pip set a hoof on one of the guard rails of the bed and sighed. It’s good to see ya gettin some sleep. At least one of us can.

Pip’s eyes turned away from Featherweight and onto the nightstand next to his bed. He gave it only a brief glance before turning to look back at featherweight, but snapped back to the object that caught his eye.

Pip stared at a displaced and cracked reflection of himself through the lens of Feather’s prized camera. That’s probably going to hit him the hardest Pip thought as he looked it over, seeing no other visible breaks on the camera.

He sat up-right in his chair again, helplessness rising through the fog of his tired mind. I want to believe that I just need to be there for you right now. That’s what Mum and Dad said, but I don’t feel like I am doing anything.

Pip let out a small sigh as he rested his head on the guard rail, soon to succumb to the silence of sleep.

……….

Pipsqueak jolted from his sleep, the dream he was having immediately forgotten as he felt a rustling from the bed. He looked up to see Featherweight grimacing, but still asleep. His heart rate was beating quickly, but staying constant. Pipsqueak paid close attention to his friend, lowering one of the guard rails to get to a closer position. What’s wrong, mate? What’s gettin at you? He pondered, concerned, but able to do so little. Tears began to well up in both ponys’ eyes, though Pip managed to wipe his away, while Feather’s ran down his now pained face.

A few minutes passed by with whimpers and whines filling the room, crushing Pipsqueaks spirit even more. However, all at once the whimpering stopped. With silence filling his ears, Pip gave a relieved smile, relieved that Featherwei-

Jolting up in his bed, Featherweight was wide eyed and teary, gasping for air as if he had been starved of it. Visibly shaking, Feather let out another whine as he clutched his head.

Pip crawled up to the bed and tried to comfort his clearly distressed friend by wrapping his hoof around Feather’s neck and stabilizing one of his shaking arms. As he got Featherweight’s attention, he pushed to call light that was sitting near them to alert whoever. “Feather! Calm down, Kay? I called a nurse, so you’re gonna be ok. Alright? You’re gonna be-”

Featherweight lunged to Pip, wrapping his long, comparatively, forelegs around him and bringing him toward his sweat-soaked body. He squeezed tightly, trying to make up for the loneliness he felt in his dream. “Please!” He cried out as he dug into Pip’s shoulder, “Make the pain go away! Make it stop!” Tears fell and dampened the small colt’s coat, leaving him all the more stunned at the sudden intimate connection between the two.

A nurse came in and Pipsqueak blushed at the situation that he was in. “I’m not sure what’s wrong! Please help!” Pip said as he tried to comfort Feather. Hugging him back felt like the right thing to do, But why do I feel so weird about doing it now? He pondered, as the nurse moved in.

“I’m going to need you to stop hugging so I can examine what the problem is with the patient, please,” the nurse began, bags under her eyes weighing down the cold stare that she gleamed at the two.

Pip quickly pried Feather off of him, “I’m sorry, buddy, but the nurse ‘as gotta see what’s wrong with ya” to which Feather almost immediately replied with a whine of protest before letting go and seeing pip get off of his bed.

Why did I do that? I just woke up and...and I just felt so lonely. That...that pit in my chest feels so deep Featherweight tried to rationalize. Everything hurt, like nothing had changed from when he was in the dream. Only now, he had Pip. “I thought I wouldn’t hurt while sleeping,” he sniffled as the pain held steady.

“I’m sorry to hear that you were experiencing pain while asleep. To be frank, we’ve only had a few cases of concussions where the pain from it has been reported to be this bad. I can check with the doctor to give you a heavier dosage of migraine medication, but other than that, there isn’t too much we can do.” The nurse said as she wrote up in a chart for new quantities. “I will be right back. In the meantime, how about you talk with your little friend. I find that it is always nice to have some company,” She gave a professional's smile and went out to talk with the doctor

Pip looked at Feather, fear and guilt still swimming around in his psyche. “Featherweight?” He asked timidly.

Featherweight turned his attention back to his friend, immediately noticing something was off. “Yeah, Pip?” he responded almost as meek.

Pip opened his mouth, trying hard to say what he wanted to, but all of the possible scenarios that he thought of that wouldn’t involve him getting a concussion flashed in his memory. He sighed, “We’re gonna find you a way to get onto that trip, alright? You have my promise to that as both class president,” He said as he stood atop the chair he was on, making a painfully flaunty stance, earning a chuckle from Featherweight, “And as your friend. We’ll figure it out,” Pip rested a forehoof on Featherweight’s.

Featherweight smiled, knowing full well that Pip would stick to his word. “Listen, Pip. I’m sorry about all this happening. I was just...so angry. I’m happy to have a friend like you to be here with me,” He then remembered his dream and shivered, “I must have looked kinda weird waking up, didn’t I?”

Pip’s smiled faltered, “Yeah, what ‘appened? I snuck into your room ‘cause the nurse said you would be sleepin, but you were whimpering. Ya made me kinda scared,”

“I was having a really bad nightmare. My head still hurt while I was sleeping, and I guess it just bled into my dream. No one would come to help.” Featherweight sniffled, but sighed and smiled again at Pip, “But it helped when I woke up and saw you.” he blushed a bit when he remembered what happened. “Thanks for letting me hug you. It really helped,” He looked away to hide his brightening face.

Pip did the same, “It’s fine. It’s not like we haven’t hugged before, right?” They both laughed so not to be left with awkward silence, which then transformed to genuine laughter. “Well, hey. Did the doc ever say when you were gonna be able to get outta here?” He asked.

“Uh,” Featherweight tried to recall if the doctor had said anything about him getting out, “Yeah, in about a day or two. I should be able to head out.”

“Great! In the meantime, I am gonna work on some things for the trip. Don’t worry, buddy. I’m gonna figure this all out,” He said reassuradly. I’ve just gotta.

“I believe you one hundred percent,” Feather said smiling, enjoying the company of a great friend.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. “Hi there, Featherweight. I just came back in to let you know that the doctor was ok with giving you a higher dosage of migraine medicine, so if you’d like to take that now, I am all ready,”

“Migraine?” Featherweight thought for a moment. I haven’t really noticed the pain. Now that I think about it, it is there. Huh, I guess talking with Pip helped. “Yeah, sure. I’d like that. Thank you,”

“Not a problem, I’ve got some water here and these pills here for you. Just take the pills and drink it down with water,” The nurse said cheerfully as she sat all items on the movable table next to Featherweight’s bed.

“Oh. Uh,” Featherweight looked at the pills and gulped, “I haven’t ever really taken pills. I’m kinda afraid I might choke on them,” Feather said with an awry smile at the nurse.

“Oh! Well, then I can go grab you some applesauce and we can put them in there. I’ve found that that is sometimes easier for ponies who are fearful of that. Would you like me to get your friend an applesauce as well?” She asked as she nodded to Pip

“Yes, please!” Pip said, happy to be getting a snack.

“Then I will be just a moment,” She said as she walked out.

“What time is it, anyway?” Featherweight asked as he looked over to the nightstand, only to remember what was sitting on it.

Pip went to look at the time as well, but then immediately winced at the object. “I forgot about that. What are you gonna do with it? There’s gotta be someone in town who can fix it, right?”

“Yeah, I know someone who has the tools to fix it, but the thing is I don’t have that much money in the first place. I’m sure I can figure something out. Who knows, it is a crack right down the middle. I could use it as an effect for my photos.” Featherweight mused

“Always finding the positive out of bad situations. That’s one of my favorite qualities you have. It’s like you can find the...I dunno, greatness? Er, beauty. Yeah, beauty, in everything you are in.” Pip got up onto the still slightly damp mattress and patted Feather on the back.

Featherweight had a light smile on his face, No one’s ever told me that. “Thank you,” He chuckled a bit and smiled wider at him. The bed was big enough to fit both of them, oddly enough.

“Well thank you for bein you, I guess.” Pip smiled.

“Alright, I’ve got two applesauces here, just don’t get them mixed up, alright? One has F on it, so it shouldn’t be easy to do that,” The nurse said as she left them on the table.

“Thank you, nurse.” They said in unison

“No problem. If there is anything else, please just hit the call button and one of us will be with you,”

“Alright. Thanks again,” Featherweight tried to get away without knowing what that nurse’s name was.

The nurse left and the two colts ate their respectful applesauces. The night went on smoothly from there, with Featherweight and Pip talking away about Celestia knows what just happy to be in each other’s company until the time came for Pip to go and Featherweight to attempt to get some sleep.

What If I have another bad dream? What if I can’t wake up like last time? Naturally, Featherweight had some apprehension about the whole idea. I guess things are different now. Right? Yeah! Pip will be there for me. He always is. And with his faith restored in is friend, Featherweight drifted off to sleep, with little anxiousness, and better yet, with little pain, to distract him from having a comfortable sleep.

……….

Across town, Pipsqueak went to bed with a smile on his face. I’m happy that he is starting to feel better. I wish I could have said what I actually wanted to say then. Oh well, plenty of time tomorrow, when he gets out hopefully Pip wriggled around underneath his bed sheets in excitement. I know EXACTLY who we can go to-to try and fix this funding problem.

Much like Featherweight, a calm was brought upon his mind, muffling all the guilt and anxieties he had about what happened, letting him get a good night’s rest.

Chapter 6: Confusion [Unedited]

Chapter 6: Confusion

He woke with a pang in his chest, one that was familiar to him, but none the less annoying and confusing. It built up, like a pressure that threatened to burst from his chest if he couldn’t find a way to get it out. it only began to swell down once he pushed it from his mind. It was a manageable pain.

Lonely. Why do I feel lonely? I’ve got Pip. He’s my best friend, so why do I feel so lonely? Featherweight thought as he opened his eyes to the shadow-casted ceiling. Light burst through the now uncovered window and warmed Feather’s body. I-It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt! Feather shot up out of his bed and looked around the room, free of light fatigue. A wide smile broke out across his face, marking his relief in this new development.

He inhaled, wanting to let out a long content sigh, only to realize how much he smelled. Sweat had almost started caking onto his fur, leaving small salt granules to stick. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, making him squirm in his bed. I’ve gotta take a shower.

He got out of his bed, legs folding underneath him from the brief lack of use the past few days. He broke the rest of his fall with what support he had left in his limbs. Getting up was a shaky endeavour. The quick fall and rise made his sense of balance sway as he tried to get his bearings. His head started to pound then from the immediate bloodrush, but stopped after a minute. It’s good to get back on my hooves. He thought as he carefully stepped toward the bathroom.

Huffing a bit from his small trek, Featherweight made eye-contact with the shower and was filled with instantaneous relief. The water was tuned to the right amount of hot and cold that Feather liked and he stepped it, hitching his breath as the water impacted his body and flooded down to the bottom. Feather sat there, feeling the last dregs of fear he had run down into the drain. All the sweat and pain scrubbed thoroughly from his fur, bringing back out the pleasant and optimistic colt from the buffer. He paid close attention to his head injury, trying not to touch it too much or get it more wet than needed. After washing himself, he stayed in the shower for a bit longer, just to be there and not think at all.

After he took his shower, he did some other necessaries in the bathroom and promptly left it, walking back into his hospital room straight toward where his scarred camera sat. He picked it up, tracing along the crack in the lens, wincing once he got to the end. Peering through the viewfinder made his heart hurt even more, poking the pain in his chest more, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to take good pictures. A small smile crept onto his face, I told Pip that I could make it work, right? I’ll find a way, He thought as he took a look through the viewfinder to see the crack. Out of interest, he turned the camera towards himself again and guess a good lighting angle, taking a picture of himself.

Celestia knows what that will look like, but at least I can attempt to make this all work. Feather sighed. He opted to close his eyes again and just listen. The hustle and bustle around the hospital was less intense than when he last listened, but still sounded like a clockwork mechanism that ticked on endlessly. Once again, his auditory adventure was interrupted by a knock on the door. Feather opened his eyes and smiled. It was Pram.

“Well, it’s nice to see a smile on that face of yours. Feeling better, are we?” She asked in her warm tone.

“A lot. Way better! Thank you so much!” Featherweight beamed, happy for being able to smile without noticeable pain.

Pram nodded, “not a problem at all. Actually, I came in to check and see your condition and whether you were ready to be released. You look to be in stable condition as of now, so let me go grab the doctor real quick and we can get you out of here,” She explained.

Featherweight nodded and shuffled around in his bed, eager to finally be able to get out of this place.

Pram left for a couple minute only to return with the doctor. “Ah, look at you, Mr. Featherweight. You look better than when you first came in here, and I was right, you will be out of here today, like I predicted,” He smiled, almost as if he actually got joy from these predictions he made.

A quick examination later and Featherweight was standing in front of the sliding doors to the hospital with his camera in hoof and a smile on his face. I can’t wait to go see Pip! He thought as he walked outside. Immediately, he filled his lungs with the non-sterile air, revelling in the lack of an alcoholic tinge burning his nose. With his smile growing even wider, he began to walk towards Pipsqueak’s house.

Walking along the road, Featherweight tried to focus on where he was going, turning and turning to reorient himself only to find that he had walked around in a circle. I coulda sworn I was going straight to his house, how did I end up back here? The possible reasons worried him, but he kept trekking along. After a few more failed attempts, he finally managed to stick on the familiar path to his friend’s house.

Oddly enough, the ache in his chest became stronger as he got closer to Pip’s house, and almost made Feather sick once he was at the doorstep, almost like he was anxious about something. He gulped down the pain and knocked on the door.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

A muffled commotion came from within, making Featherweight crane his neck to where the clocktower was, thankfully in line of sight, noting that it was lunch time. He must be with his parents eating lunch. Feather waited for the little scramble to end and backed up from the door, to make room for a possible door swinging open.

Soon enough, the door opened and there stood Pipsqueak. “Yes? How can I he-” His voice hitched as he finally looked up to see who it was, “Feather!” He immediately leaped from the door frame and tackled his friend in a strong hug.

Featherweight giggled and hugged back, “Careful, buddy. Don’t want to give me another concussion, do ya?” He jeered as he rubbed his friends back, the pit shrinking a bit.

Pipsqueak immediately pulled back when he remembered how Feather had gotten the bandage in the first place. “Right, sorry. Aw, well. It’s good to see ya! You’re looking a lot better than before.” Pipsqueak wore a dorky smile, one that he reserved for when he hung out with Feather and they did stupid stuff together.

“I feel a lot better, too. Still a bit hard to think properly, but other than that, I feel great.” Feather recalled as he lightly prodded his bandage. His stomach rumbled lightly and he blushed, chuckling nervously at Pip.

“Sounds like you could use a bite to eat, pal. We were eating lunch when you knocked. I’m sure mum made enough grilled peppers for you to come in and have one, if you want.” Pip said as he walked back toward the door.

“I...I think I’d like that. Thanks,” Feather said as he followed Pip inside, closing the door once he got in.

“Is that the voice of little Featherweight I hear?” A voice asked from the dining room, in its typical, yet more refined Trottingham accent.

“Well, it can’t be! Last I heard, he was in the hospital, that’s what I heard, don’tcha know!” A second voice replied, more rounded and sweet to the ears, easily able to contrast and highlight the prior voice.

“It’s him, mum and dad, he just came to the door.” Pip said, entering the dining room to the sight of his parents sitting at the table.

“Well, what a delight! It’s good to see you in one piece, Feather, old boy. After what young Pip was sayin about the stampede, it was hard to think about. I’m glad to see you made it out alright.” Pip’s father got up and patted Featherweight on the back.

“Oh, yes. It was quite the scare, it was. It’d be hard to say there weren’t a day we were thinkin about you,” Pip’s mom said, looking over and smiling at the bandaged colt, “Especially, sweet pip. The lad nearly drove himself si-”

“Mom!” Pip interrupted, his face blazing red in embarrassment. “I think he gets it,”

“Yeah, but I’m grateful that you guys care for me that much.” Feather said, a warm smile resting on his face to accompany the small tears that were pooling in the side of his eyes.

“Well, we kinda have to, really. You’re here so much, playing around and ditzing with young Pip, you’re practically family.” Pip’s father said, his eyes trying not to gravitate to the wrapped up wound on Feather’s head.

“Oh, you must be famished, dear. What are you doing just standing there, let’s get some food into that tummy ‘f yours. Pull up any seat, hon.” Pip’s mom went into the kitchen to grab a plate.

Featherweight went to the table and pulled up a chair, one that he assumed was next to Pip since it had the telltale green cup, Pip’s favorite color.

Jokes, stories, and life lessons were shared at the table as Feather ate alongside Pip, happy to be outside of the hospital and back in a familiar place, the pit quelled and staved off for a bit longer. This was his first instance of prolonged happiness since the accident, and he never wanted it to end.

“Hey, Feather. I was thinkin. We go out to Mr. Rich’s house after this and ask about how to set up a fundraiser. I know what Mrs. Rich said, but I want to have hope. We just gotta get you to where you can go!” Pip said as he finished the last of his food.

“That sounds like a great idea, there. Look at our son go, takin charge like a class president should!” Pip’s father’s voice was filled with mirth and glee.

“Yeah, I’d be ready to do that. Anything to give me a better chance at going.” Feather said, meekly compared to Pip’s dad.

“Well, I’m finished, if you are. I’m ready to go.” Pip said as he got up with his plates, quickly rushing them to the sink.

Featherweight nodded and did the same, Pip’s mom giggling, “Now you make sure to be very respectful to Mr. Rich. Tone yourselves down when speaking with him,”

“Wasn’t plannin on bein disrespectful, mum. I’ll see you when I get back.” He said, Featherweight in tow as they exited the house quickly, a muffled farwell being heard once the door closed.

Pip’s parents gave each other a look and sighed together as they finished their meals, ready to hear the stories that would come out of this endeavour.

……….

The walk was uneventful, save for Featherweight stopping a few times to look around, before glancing at Pip and following once again.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

The door opened, and a breeze came from within. “Yes? What is it that I can help you with?” A well dressed pony replied, rigid and stone faced.

“Hi there, we were just looking to talk with Mr. Rich. I’m Pipsqueak, and this is Featherweight. I believe you’ve met us before when we came by earlier a month or so ago. I’m the Class president and one of the orga-”

“Quite right, I will fetch Mr. Rich promptly. If you would be so kind as to wait here in the foyer” The pony said, opening the door further to let them in as he walked off to what Featherweight assumed was Mr. Rich’s office.

It was nice and cooled in the foyer, compared to the uncomfortable heat outside. The house looked a bit different since the last time the two were in there, but the general layout was still the same. Two rooms to each side of the big room and a staircase that was to be believed to lead up to the actual bedrooms of the Rich family.

The children’s gazing was interrupted by the well dressed pony coming back, “He is in his office now, if you would like to go in and meet with him,”

“Thank you, very much,” Featherweight said as he gave a small smile and nodded his head to the stallion.

They went in, Pip first, and sat down in the seats that faced Mr. Rich’s desk. “Well, it is a pleasant surprise to see you two in this roundabout, boys. What can I do for ya?” Mr. Rich asked, his charming drawl making the two less nervous about what they were going to ask.

“Well, you see, Mr. Rich. Featherweight and I were needing some advice about raising money.” Pip said, trying to keep a level and unwavered tone with the business tycoon.

“Advice I do have and would be happy to give, but may I ask what you are needing money for so suddenly?” Mr. Rich asked as he brought out a notepad to write down tips.

“Well, when we learned that there wasn’t enough funding for everyone to go on the trip to Vanhoover, we wanted to find a way to make up that gap, you know. So Feather could go with us.” Pip said, kinda confused, “At last Friday’s meeting, Mrs. Rich said something about fundraising and how it would be a long-shot, but we at least have to try.”

“Yeah! I really want to go onto this trip. Really, really, badly. I’ve been waiting for it ever since we started thinking about it. It’s sad that there isn’t enough bits to let me go without problems, but if I earn enough bits with a fundraiser, do you think you could reconsider?” Featherweight asked, looking up at the perplexed Filthy Rich with a hopeful gleam.

“Now, now are you boys sayin this right? There isn’t enough bits? Well, that can’t be! I checked the fund myself a week ago! Moreso, we should have a surplus! Who was it, again, that said you couldn’t go, Featherweight?” Filthy asked as he grabbed a completely different pad and flipped through it.

“Mrs. Rich, sir. She said that we were below budget by a bit, saying that we needed to let go of only one pony to put things back even.” Featherweight said, sharing glances with Pip, who was equally confused, “She said she did the math, and everything,”

“Aha!” Filthy said as he stood up and brought the pad around to show the contents to the colts, “You see here? We have more than enough bits to take everypony, hay, we could take 3 more ponies and still be able to get everypony ice cream,” Filthy said as he scratched his head and put the pad down, “I’m honestly sorry, fellas, for any worry or fear this could have caused you. Especially you, Featherweight! What with that injury and all. I swear, those cattle are gonna squish somepony one of these days.”

Featherweight looked up at Mr. Rich, trying hard to focus on what he just said, “H-how did you know about this?” Feather asked, pointing up to his bandage.

“Oh, Diamond told me. She said she saw you and Pipsqueak almost get trampled, and after the dust cleared, saw you two heading to the hospital. Again, really sorry about this whole mess” filthy said, nervously chuckling, allowing the two to see a rare occasion where Mr. Rich was blundering.

“So wait...You’re saying I can go?” Feather asked, a smile beginning to rise once again.

“Son, do you have some kinda brain inj-” Filthy stopped himself before finishing, “Ah, yes. You can go. As a matter of fact, I think I can arrange some special treat along the trip for you in compensation for all of this worry that my wife has caused you two.”

Featherweight looked over to Pip who was wearing the exact same smile he was and almost burst out loud, happy and relieved at the news, but that would have to wait. Featherweight composed himself a bit longer. “Thank you, very much, Mr. Rich. It’s a big relief to me to know that I can go” He stood and extended a hoof to Mr. Rich.

“Absolutely no problem whatsoever, son. If anything I should be commending you for your resolute and positive nature on all of this. Coming to fundraise and put in a hard and earnest work to get what you want. That’s what I like to see in your generation” Filthy said as he vigorously shook Feather’s hoof, clearly having more practice with the action.

“Well, it wasn’t just me. Pipsqueak, Mr. Class president helped me through a lot of this.” Feather looked over to Pip who gave him a small nod and a smile.

“Well, all the same. Now if you don’t mind me asking. How, exactly, was it decided that you were to be the one to be left out?” Filthy asked, letting go of Feather’s hoof and going back to his seat.

Feather took his seat again as well, “It was boiled down to a category of who is more important out of those whose parents aren’t going with them on the trip. Pip and I were the only two, and Pip is a bit more important than I am, being class president and all, an-”

“Now that just isn’t true, Feather.” Pipsqueak got up, “You said it yourself. You do a bunch of stuff for the student council, a fair bit more than the rest of the ponies who were so quick to say that you did nothing! I’m not saying that they should of been on the fryin pan for not being able to go; no one should ‘ave, but there were ponies there who flagged you to save their own fur!”

There it is, that pain. Why is it throbbing so much now? What’s causing it? Feather thought as he watched Pip defend him.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that you weren’t standing alone, Featherweight. I don’t doubt what Pipsqueak has said, in fact I think the same myself,” Filthy got in close to the two, “but you didn’t hear me say that,” He backed up and reclined in his seat, “Well, it seems that this problem has sorted itself out. There will be things that I need to deal with, but that won’t be either of your concerns. As for now, If there isn’t anything else, then I think we can call this meeting a success!” Filthy said, pounding a hoof to the table.

“I think we are good for now, Mr. Rich. Thank you, once again!” Pip said as the two colts got up.

“Not a problem, boys. Now you two have a good rest of your days now, you hear.” Filthy said as they walked to the exit.

“Will do, Mr. Rich. Have a good day!” Feather said as he passed the fancy dressed pony and opened the door for Pip, who gave a bow at exit and went outside, Feather following suit.

They walked in silence, aimlessly, until they reached a hill that sat above a pond in the park. Both Featherweight and Pip sat down. They turned to each other, an ecstatic expression still holding on their faces, waiting to be released until,

This is loneliness, isn’t it? This pain in my chest. It’s like what Feather talked about, but feels worse now than it ever has. Why am I feeling this now? Pipsqueak thought as he looked up at Featherweight.

Like clockwork, they both opened their forehooves to make room for each other as they grabbed ahold. Feather wrapped his whole body around Pip’s small frame, curling around him as he hugged him. There wasn’t any need for words. What was said was said, and what was done, was done. Feather held that sinking pain within himself, although now, it felt different. It felt like a relief, a weight being lifted off of his shoulders. My heart is racing, my chest hurts, but this feels nice. It feels...right. My breath is quickening, and my body is sweating, but this feels like bliss! My head is pounding, and my hooves are trembling, but I’ve never felt more calm! This is it, isn’t it? This is love? Is that what loneliness is? The want to love, but not being able to give it to anyone or receive it. It’s just laying there, unused, until someone comes along to awaken that want to love, someone that connects your soul to theirs and says, ‘me, pick me! I can take your love!’ It feels like nothing I’ve ever felt before. That feeling from all those months ago when I was talking with Pip about it. That feeling was the same as I feel now. Except now I can let it out, I can love!Feather thought as he wrapped tighter around Pipsqueak, not wanting anypony from the outside world to harm him. All was quiet, save for birds flapping and water bubbling. Peace was once again felt by Featherweight and pip.

…

Wait? I love PIP?!

The End

Author's Note

My first real story, finally come to an end. I am planning on a sequel in the near future, so please stick around for that where we actually go to Vanhoover! :pinkiehappy: