Games We Play

"Hi Rarity!"

"Hi Fluttershy, thank goodness you are here! This is my dear friend John, and he is seriously injured on the head."

"Um. Hello John. I'm Fluttershy. I'm so sorry we have to meet like this, but don't worry, I will take care of you. Well, that's a nasty head injury, let me examine it, I promise I will make you feel better."

This pony. If only doctors were like this on Earth. My mind starts to wander back to the capture and the testing of Dr. Lynn Denlon. She was a competent physician, frankly said, she was the best, just like Dr. Gordon, though they were cold and uncaring to their patients. They didn't treat them like human beings, they just saw them as professional problems which could be solved... or not. Fluttershy was different. Her kindness and care for the ill and injured radiated from her. She didn't as much as examine me, yet my pain started to fade.

"Hello Fluttershy. Thank you for your kindness, it is most appreciated."

"Tell me John, how did you get this nasty hit to the head?"

"I don't really know. All I remember that I was talking to Rarity, then I heard somebody screaming "Watch out!", then I lost consciousness. After I came to my senses, I couldn't get up. Rarity said that a friend of her named Rainbow Dash crash landed on me, whatever it means."

"Um... Rainbow? Could I ask you something, if it is not much trouble?"

"Sure Flutters."

"You told me that John was hit in the head by something. When did you want to tell me that something was YOU?"

"Eh. Heh heh heh. Come on Flutters, I meant to tell you sooner or later. I just didn't want to get you fed up with me again. Twilight already scolded me yesterday because I broke her window again. Rarity scolded me a few minutes ago because of accidentally crash landing on John. I just didn't want to be scolded by you again!"

"Now listen, Rainbow. I know you want to invent new stunts every day, almost all day long. But you have to stop being so dangerous! We have had enough. Ponyville has had enough. Go somewhere else practicing, where you don't endanger anypony, or anybody, or anything. You break windows, injure yourself and others, you even ALMOST KILLED MY ANGEL! And now, there is a new friend to town, and Pinkie is just about the throw him his welcome party, yet he can't attend, because of YOU BEING INCONSIDERATE, AGAIN, AND INJURING HIM LIKE THIS!"

Wow, Fluttershy. I must remember never to get on her wrong side. She can be really intimidating, when standing up for something or someone.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for injuring you, John."

"I've been hurt more severely already. I'll be better. Just remember to act responsibly, and learn from it, miss Dash. One day, you may cause something irreversible."

Meanwhile Fluttershy examined my head injury. She washed the blood and dirt away and put on some anesthetic gel, then she put up a bandage. I didn't expect pony medicine to be so developed.

"Your skull doesn't seem fractured, though I have to get you an ambulance and take you to the hospital. You can have internal brain damage, because I can see clearly from the shape of your injury, that you were hit by one of Rainbow's forehooves. Luckily it wasn't her backhoof, or else you would have fractured your skull."

"As you wish, miss Fluttershy. Though I must try to get up and walk. If I succeed, I will heal without hospital treatment. If I fail, I need to be taken to the hospital."

With this, I got up and cautiously attempted a step. My headache stopped thanks to the anesthetic, but my vision was still tainted with occasional white lights appearing, and I felt a bit groggy, though after three or four steps, I managed to walk at a steady pace.

"Thank you for the treatment miss Fluttershy. Now I must head to Twilight's as I originally wanted."

"You live at hers?"

"No. She summoned me here, introduced me to the princesses and her brother, than suggested me to take a job at Sweet Apple Acres. The Apples hired me, but I accidentally scared them with a machine, so I got fired. I have to find a new job, and I'm sure Twilight can help. Speaking of, I'm in no condition of dragging my machine with me. Can any of you offer a solution?"

"Why of course my dear, I can run forward and call Twilight here, then she can teleport it anywhere."

"You still afraid of physical exertion Rare? Just let me grab those ropes and I can drag your machine. I could use it as a sort of training."

"You sure about that, miss Dash? It is heavier than an average apple cart."

"I can pull apple carts flying. Just let me help you. It's the least I can offer after I injured you."

"Well, if you insist."

"John darling, you needn't go to Twilight's. You can live with me as long as you heal up, and my place is much nearer than Twilight's Friendship Castle."

"Seriously Rarity? Like if he were interested in fashion and all the superficial frou-frou things."

"Well I know him better than you do, and yes, he has manners, he gives a lady all the respect she deserves, which means he must have a good social and fashion sense also. Well, aside the monstrosity he is wearing now, but who knows, alien fashion can be really strange to a pony's eye, after all. You are just being jealous of me having a better first impact on new ponies or in this case people than you."

"Um. I can take care of you and fly you to my cottage, if that's okay with you. After all, I must be sure you recover fully from your injury and be fit and whole again."

"Well, that's really kind of you, though I think I'd rather walk. I don't want you overexert yourself by carrying me. I am at least as heavy as any of you."

"Hi girls, hi John!"

"Hi Twilight!"

"Why did you gather up here?"

"I was on my way visiting you and asking for your help, then we ran into Pinkie Pie, who said she will be hosting a Welcome to Equestria party for me at Sugarcube Corner then she dashed off, then we bumped into Rarity who accompanied me on my way to your Friendship Castle, then Rainbow Dash crash landed on me. After that she flew off and returned with Fluttershy who patched me up."

"Well, that's a lot of happening, though I'm not surprised. So how do you like working with the App... Sweet Celestia, what a fascinating machine! What does it do? Is it some kind of alien vehicle? How fast can it go? What fuels it? How mu"

(Thank you Rarity. My next invention will be an extendable Rarity's hoof stick to silence over-enthusiastic ponies.) "Twilight dear, John is seriously injured. You shouldn't bother him like this now."

"It's a tractor. It is designed to pull carts or agricultural equipment, for example a plow. Though I failed to install proper mufflers, so it is very-very loud. Apple Bloom got scared very badly when I started it, that's why I got fired from Sweet Apple Acres."

"I see. Would you mind if I borrowed it to examine it?"

"I'm sorry miss Twilight, but not now. It is very dangerous to people, or in this case, ponies who don't have an inkling of how it works. What if you accidentally started it, but couldn't turn it off? I should be there helping and supervising, but I still have a head injury to nurse."

"Well in this case, I can teleport you and your tractor to my castle, so you can rest there."

"Um... Twilight? You shouldn't teleport injured ponies or animals without a cause. It can affect their status and chances to recovery badly. I'm really surprised you haven't read about this. It would be better if you helped me bring him to my cottage, so he can heal and rest, if you don't mind."

"Uuuuuh. Fine. I'm not as good as you at medicine anyway. Though I can still teleport the tractor to my castle."

"I'm sorry if I offend you miss Twilight, but again: no. You are over-enthusiastic and in this case unreliable. You couldn't withstand the temptation to mess with it, just the way you couldn't withstand the temptation to summon an alien like me in this world. It is dangerous. I'd rather ask Rainbow Dash to destroy it right now, than leave it by you unattended."

"Yeah, because all I am good for is destroying things, right?"

"Well, you are super-efficient at breaking things, Dashie, don't you deny it. But in some cases it is super funny! You needn't destroy it Johnny! Twilight, you Pinkie promise not to touch it?"

"Yes Pinkie."

"Do the Pinkie Promise!"

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

"There. Don't be afraid Johnny, nopony, absolutely NOPONY breaks a Pinkie promise. Your machine and the citizens of Ponyville are safe now."

I don't know why, but I am convinced. This so-called Pinkie promise must be some serious business. And considering it stems from Pinkie Pie, I wouldn't dare to mess with it either.

"Alright."

"So, um, John, do you have the strength to walk with me, or should we fetch a cart?"

"I can walk, thank you Fluttershy. Goodbye ladies!"

"See you two later!" - they say to Fluttershy and me.

We arrive to Fluttershy's cottage after some three minutes of walk. She has lots of animals, from the smallest to the biggest. There is even a bear standing in the courtyard, who stands up on his rear legs menacingly as he sees me.

"Hello my little animals, I'm home!"

"OoooOOurgh?"

That was the bear. It sounds like as if he asked something.

"Oooo Ourgo oOouorhgh. John, this here is Harry, the bear. I will prepare dinner soon, but poor John got a head injury so he will be spending the night in that bed so I can watch him in case any complication occurred." - Fluttershy says, and the bear eases his stance and offers a foreleg, which I shake.

Well, yes, they have magic. They have weird colors and they can speak English. But apparently Fluttershy can understand, and even speak the language of some animals also. Maybe that is her magic. After showing me the bed, she heads to the kitchen, where she prepares dinner for her animals, and apparently, for me also. All of the animals wait patiently, except two: Harry, the bear, who isn't just simply waiting, he is helping Fluttershy by fetching the pots and slicing the vegetables, and a white rabbit who isn't helping at all, rather he is moving from one leg to another impatiently. Fluttershy and Harry are ready in half an hour. Naturally, the white rabbit gets served first. "Here you are, Angel. Be careful, don't eat it too fast, it's hot."

So this must be "her Angel", as she mentioned it in the afternoon. Well, as I observe, he is not really sympathetic, he acts impatient and greedy, but maybe he's just had a bad day. After the smaller animals are fed, Fluttershy, Harry and I sit at the table. This is the most delicious vegetable soup I have ever had in my life. It is rich with pasta and thickening, so after consuming one big plate I am already full up. Harry takes two and a half, but he is a bear, after all.

Thank you very much for your help and the dinner, Fluttershy. May I help you with the dishes?"

"No thanks, you really should rest so you recover quickly."

"As you wish. Thank you for your hospitality. Have a good night."

"You too, sweet dreams!"

I lay on the bed and prepare for a good night's rest.