Pony Addiction

I didn't feel so good.

One foot in front of the other I followed my homing instinct.

The city looked different at night. The street lights shone with a gentle blue light instead of a dingy yellow.

It's relaxing and pleasant. Maybe I should lay down for a little and rest?

“You! Human!”

It hurt to turn around. A bright light shone into my eyes blinding me, but I knew better then to turn away.

“Good evening, officer.”

“Do you know what time it is, human!” There was the sound of an unseen assemblage of wood and metal moving it's self into readyness.

“Indeed! I got a little side tracked while I was out and am just now heading back home. Could you overlook my minor transgression?”

There was a pause. A deliberation.

“It won't be happening again,” I assured him.

“See that it doesn't.” He sounded almost disappointed as he put away his man catcher.

I left before he had a chance to change his mind.

I pressed my sticky fingers against my face as I struggled to calm myself.

Sticky? There was some kind of sticky congealing tar on my fingers. It was thin is some places and thick in others. It looked black in the soft blue light.

Whatever, I had to get back to the Zoo. A trip to the bathroom to wash up was a minor addition.

***

After fast apologies to the guards at the gate, I made it into the well lit entry hall of the Zoo.

There was a terrified squeak from the empty front desk. I was in a hurry but I swung close by the front desk.

It was just the regular receptionist in her gimp suit and gas mask hiding out of sight. Something had spooked her but she didn't seem to be in any trouble.

I had to go to the bathroom. It was important.

I really didn't feel well.

I tried to wash my hands. Whatever was on my hands was staining the sink.

I tried to look in the mirror, but it didn't make any sense.

Something was wrong.

More of that sticky stuff was under my shirt.

I dropped my heavy coat onto the floor in my haste. Like it didn't matter.

I tried to take off my shirt and... It hurt. It hurt a lot.

With just the left arm, I pulled the shirt over my head and down the right arm.

I touched... it. Under the... stuff my fingernails touched... metal.

I looked into the mirror again. I saw someone I did not know. Someone pathetic and broken.

My stomach heaved and bile leaked past my lips and into the basin.

I touched it again. It hurt. It hurt so much.

Fingers reached around it on their own plunging, it hurts, it hurts, I shouldn't be doing this.

Fingers seeking out the edges and gripping, this is a terrible idea.

Fingers taught the arm pulls, ripping. What is this? What am I doing? Why is it in me?

Fingers twisting, wrenching, get it out, get it out, get it out!

The metal horseshoe hit the basin with a muffled clunk.

I was crying. Of course I was crying. This was the time to cry.

She really did a number on you didn't she?

She... Who... Oh, yeah... Her.

“Here just for you, so you don't forget again.” Feather Step, the stealthy pink unicorn pressed the heated horseshoe into my chest. There was the sound of sizzling meat, the smell of searing pork. It burned in, it stuck. Like a steak on an unoiled pan.

The cascade was absolute. I loved her even still, and I knew that she felt the same.

I let her. I let her do that. She knew I would let her. Of course she knew. How could she not know?

I was using my shirt to staunch the blood. My arm was getting tired.

I needed... Something. What was that something I needed? I looked at the stranger in the mirror.

Oh right.

I draped the coat over my shoulders and holding the makeshift bandage in place I made my way back to the receptionist.

I needed help. I should go ask for some.

A door opened.

“Hey jackass! Some of us are trying to sleep around here! Shut up already!”

“I'm on it!” I gave the fellow a friendly wave and reassurance as I passed by.

There was a sound of confused sputtering and finally the closing of the door.

The receptionist was fending off the the pointy questions of a pair of guards, standing off by the front door was a pair of ponies in hazmat suits. The paramedics I would have to assume.

I approached the front desk

“If I might interrupt...”

“Go away human, this is a matter for the guard.”

“Okay then...”

I turned around and approached the paramedics.

“Pardon, I seem to be in a bit of trouble...”

“Listen we're just here doing our jobs, can you go bother somepony else?”

Not unexpected. Standard fare to be sure. The receptionist saw some some guy covered in blood and called for some help.

They had arrived while I was indisposed and now it fell entirely on my shoulders to ensure the emergency personnel recognize me as the person they are here to see.

I doubled down with the paramedics.

“Sirs, I am in need of some medical attention.”

“Listen, we aren't a pharmacy and we don't hand out band-aids. Take your paper cut somewhere else, we're here to find somepony who is really hurt.”

I didn't have the strength to legitimately try to strangle them.

“What if I said I was the person you are here to pick-up?”

“Listen, you look like a nice guy and all, but if you don't leave we're going to call those guards right over there and make you leave.”

I could just go back to my room and go to sleep. I probably, like 60-80% chance, wouldn't even bleed to death in the night.

No I could give it one more try. I turned back to the guards.

I sat down for a minute on the way across the room to catch my breath.

“Hey guys.”

“We're busy doing actual work here.”

“I couldn't help wondering what it might be that your pestering our sweet little receptionist about.”

“If you must know, she called us here on a false alarm of some sort.”

“What if it's not a false alarm and there is someone here that is hurt?”

“Then you'd better disclose this information as to were this person is hiding.”

“Here. Me.”

As the guard's pony turned to face me the end of his man-catcher hooked my knee.

I fell.