As he stepped of the hospital, pillow didn't know what to think.
For a while he felt sick for a couple of weeks but thought he would get better. When he got slightly worse, he decided to go and get diagnosed to see what was wrong. They said they needed to take some tests and samples to see what it was. They also to told him that he needed to take some medicine for a while. When he returned, they told him it was a disease that they haven't seen before and could be fatal but wanted to see if they could get rid of it or at least stop it from spreading too quickly. After the procedure they told him to rest, take it easy, stay out of bright areas if he could and wear heavy clothing with layers if he couldn't and come back in a couple of days. He went back when he was told to see what he exactly had.
Today was the day he came back, and he didn't know what to say with what they told him.
One week.
He had one week with a day or two before the disease took over fully. They said he should say his goodbyes to loved ones and to continue staying out the light if he wanted to maximize what time he had left.
So, as he walked on the sidewalk, covered by a heavy winter robe with a bandana and goggles, he didn't know think or even do.
He continued to walk until he reached a restaurant and saw most of his friends chatting with each other, laughing and having a good time while talking about their day. He stood behind the gate surrounding the restaurant while thinking about joining and telling them about what the doctors said but decided against it. He was still thinking of what do or even say before the next day came and hadn't even decided where to start on that and besides that, he said he couldn't go to it at all.
=============
It was beginning rain as he was walking, which he has been doing for a while to help him. He didn't know why or how it help, but he didn't question or even mind. As he looked around, he noticed that some of the buildings he walked past by him were familiar, even if a little. He could see the empty playground and hear its equipment moving by itself due to the wind, he saw the building his parents worked at with its light pushing through the rain like a light tower would during a cloudy day. He also saw the old daycare he used to go to and met his friends at before it was closed and abandoned with the plants and trees around it reclaiming it.
As the rain continued to pour, he closed his eyes and started to reminisce about his life up until now. He wasn't one to complain about what he was delt with in life: an average family, went to school, got decent grades, had friends he known for most of his life, tried finding a lover, had a job and much more he could probably think of. He tried looking deep in his mind if there were anything that he regrated or didn't have good in life, yet his inner searching found nothing but average moments through day-to-day life.
He opened his eyes and decided to return home and think about what to do next there.
=================================
As he walked down the sidewalk that led to his home, he noticed something.
He had forgotten to turn off the lights before going to see the doctor.
He groaned in annoyance before going from walking to speed-walking. He soon entered his house, went to the upper floor and turned off the light. He immediately fell on the bed and looked up at sealing. Maybe a shower could help me calm down and help me thing clearly or something he thought to his self before deciding he should and took off his clothes and heading back downstairs.
When he reached the bathroom, he turned on the tub's faucet, turned on the lights and let it warm up before entering. 'At least I can still use these, even if only because they are fake', Pillow thought to himself as he turned the faucet and entered the tub. He felt the water ebb away at his slightly tense muscles and gently move around him before full submerging himself in it. He once again looked up and continued thinking about his life.
He remembered his first time going to a fair with his parents and sister and how they managed to get many plushies by winning. He remembered how the cold; weird smelling water went inside his eyes before getting goggles when he tried swimming for the first time. How the warm fire caressed his skin when he went camping with his friends and the cold poke at him when they forgot to stoke the fire and nearly lost all the supplies he brought. He especially remembered how the smooth, soft touch of the lips from the girl he dated at the time felt against his as the loud bangs of fireworks went off during new years that made fell like he was in a movie and how they went on dates, buying stuff for her and her doing the same for him. Even after the broke up, the remained good friends; and maybe that was the only thing he could consider ''lucky in his life.
All of that thinking led him to something, a small detail he noticed through-out all those moments and more.
The stuff he got and bought.
HIs eyes popped open wide when the realization hit him. Every time he went somewhere with his friends and family or even by himself, he always did something that he somehow never noticed until now: his tendency to buy or get, small or large, gifts and knick-knacks. So, with the knowledge of what he had do now, he drained the tub and decided to shower before sleeping.
=================
He looked outside and noticed how it started to a bit harder while thunder was heard in the distance. When did it start making lighting? he thought to himself before shrugging, thinking it probably started when he was running the water and jumped into his bed while covering himself with the large, comfy sheets of it. He, once again, looked up towards the sealing and thought about tomorrow, when to give his stuff, to who, where to give, and what to give. But he needed a way to do it, he needed a simple question so it wouldn't seem weird or raise concern, then it hit him. When he turned to face the wall and started to drift to sleep, he knew the perfect question to ask.
What should I do with my stuff?
The moon shined brightly through the curtains, illuminating a dusty room along with the clothes strewn about and the empty, discarded bags and cans. The crickets outside sung gently as Pillow turn in his sleep, trying not to be raised from his slumber. But as the crickets continued chirping, his eyes slowly opened as he sluggishly pushed himself and rubbed his eyes of sleep guck. He laid back down on his bed and thought how he would spend his day before putting his plan in motion.
'So today is the I start giving away my stuff...but should I give away first?' he pondered to himself as the sun continue to rise and the birds singing slowly came to a close. Deciding it would be better to start early, he slowly rose again, got out of bed and headed downstairs, ignoring the chilly air that was picking at his skin even under his fur.
=================
When he reached the bottom, he looked around the living room and noticed large, dusty, torn boxes in one of the corners. Wondering why they were there, he approached the pile and noticed how almost each box seemed as they were about to burst with unknown items. So, gently and slowly, he activated his magic to lift it towards the floor in front of him. He had trouble holding it still due to its weight and nearly dropped it a couple of time before managing to land it on the floor. He approached it, sat down and opened it and what he saw confused him; All he saw where other, smaller, boxes and other packages.
'O... kay, what are these doing in here and why I even have this?' he thought to himself as he pulled out different types of packages that ranged from normal to unexpected to downright weird. He pulled out a few normal shaped ones that either seemed fine or resemble a crumpled bunch of papers and placed each box in their respective piles that were next to him. He also pulled out a perfect looking star which left him very completely confused for how it was not crushed or even dented.
He was finally starting to wonder what the propose of the box holding other boxes was. But as soon he was about to look for any note attached to it; his eye caught something on the bottom of the large box. Quickly pulling some other boxes out of the way, he was met with a rather unique looking package. As he slowly pulled it out, he noticed a small panel jutting out from one its side with what appeared to be piano keys and when he pulled it out half-way, it suddenly extended with a noise similar to a trumpet or some sort of clown horn. Eyes widening, he quickly it pulled out, ignoring any care he had previously had for it, to see what it was.
As held up the expendable cardboard, he closed his eyes and groaned in slight annoyance. He placed the one held in his magic behind him and turned the larger one around to one of its sides. [Cool/interesting boxes] could be seen on a small piece of tape that was slowly peeling away, presumably due to it being there for who knows how long. Of course it's this one, how could I have forgotten about something like this? he pondered as he looked around himself and the now open large box. He looked at the small packages that surrounded him before moving his eyes moved to the other, larger boxes that looked older than they were or should be. He noticed how there was dust surrounding the box piles and that there were even spider webs around a few of them. As he looked at them, he felt his ears pin to the back of his skull slightly and the feeling of annoyance turned into a bittersweet one.
'he...maybe that is the reason I didn't remember this one' he thought to himself as he sat there on the floor, unmoving while watching the many boxes as if there were going to move. He thought how many objects he has gotten in the past that went unused, were not needed or just forgotten. He didn't know how long he sat there, but when he stood on shaky legs, he noticed small bits of sunshine that poked out from the closed curtains. "Just how long was I just...sitting there?" he whispered to himself in pure confusion before looking at the clock hanging from one of the walls to try and find out just how long he sat there.
When he couldn't tell, he went to his kitchen and deiced to plan out he would spend this week while handing out his stuff. 'Ok...I know WHAT I'm going to do, which leads me the questions of what I give away, where to give it, WHEN to give it and most importantly, WHY I'm giving stuff up'.
=================
He looked down at a piece of paper while drinking cold caffeine out a mug, 'Ok...so, I now have an idea of how I'm gonna do this but first...I need to talk to somepony'. Placing down the mug, he practically inhaled the slightly cool sandwich and chugged down the rest of his coffee before entering the living room again and putting away the box he has opened earlier to the best of his, and boxes, ability.
'Still need to figure out how I managed to fit everything in that box' he thought to himself before floating the —now seemingly bursting with items— box back where it was.
He trotted to his front door, put on the heavy winter coat and bandana before dawning his goggles. Making sure that every piece of clothing was tight and secure, he found nothing out of place and began his journey to meet the one who could help him.
=================
Walking a bit deeper into town, he decided to enjoy the walk while taking in the scenery that surrounded with him. Many may not have enjoyed the sound of ambience, but he would wholeheartedly disagree. It brought him a sense of calm as he heard the clapping of hooves against the pavement surround him, the ocean of conversations flowed in and out his ears, the laughter of foals could be heard in the distant playground, the wind howling while the birds chirped. Hell, he even felt the heat of the sun despite being under what was basically 3-layers of thick fur, and it brought him a sense of joy.
Too bad he was too busy enjoying the sounds around to not notice the pony in front of him.
A grunt came from both of them as the pony he walked into fell face first and he flipped onto his back. He felt dizzy but after feeling what felt like the sun on his exposed hind legs, he began flailing around trying to get up.
"Need help?"
He stopped flailing for a moment and looked around him for who said that before suddenly feeling nothing but the air for a brief moment before finding his hooves touching the ground. He finally looked at who had said it, and he felt his panic disappear immediately. It was a unicorn stallion with pointy shades, a dark purple coat, a snow-white mane and a sly smile plastered on his face — or in simple terms, the pony he was looking for.
"Thanks for that", Pillow mumbled through the thick cloth that was his bandana.
"No problem, mate, just watch where you walk next time", the stallion replied before beginning to trot way. Taking a moment to understand what he said, he was about to say something before the pony suddenly stopped and turned around.
"OOH, Pillow that you?", questioned the stallion before trotting up to Pillow, "me and the others were wondering wherever you been man, how's it goin' pal and what happened?" He was surprised that his friend could even hear him properly, let alone know he was! Feeling his friend wrap his hooves around his withers, deciding this was a small blessing, he shook his head before replying.
"Hey... Spark, been doing ...fine and where I've been is an... interesting story," he answered slowly, "I've been looking for you and wondering if we could talk?" He finally said before looking into his friends' eye before his friend laughed a small amount.
"Buddy, you just need to ask if I got time and where, but yeah I don't mind." He replied while letting Pillow go, "if you don't have a place where just follow me, we'll be at my house if you don't mind." He began trotting a bit before turning around and watched his friend stand still. "Well, are you coming along or what?"
=================
When they both entered his home, Pillow began taking his clothes of while thinking of how to say where he has been. He looked around while undressing and took in the environment. A dim light came from the small, rusty lit chandelier hanging from the ceiling, illuminating the old worn-out couch and chairs. The wall was lined with bookshelves which held many books but some of the selves were devoid of anything. A dark oak table was in the middle in-between the chairs that had various papers, quills, books about various topics on it along with sketches of things he didn't understand. He also noticed some paintings of scenery or famous ponies he didn't know of hung of the walls.
"So, want anything?"
He must've been looking to for long because when he turned to his side, he saw his friend holding out a plate with various types of fruits and flowers. He looked at the plate before shaking his head.
"No, I'm good, I would like some tea if you have any though."
Shrugging, Spark turned around and headed towards the kitchen while he motioned him to follow him.
"Alright gotcha', but you got to tell me what you've been doing, alright?"
"Got it"
He sat on a small wooden chair, looking around the kitchen until Spark sat down. He turned and saw him carry another plate along with a pitcher of water. Being asked if he wanted any, he accepted the drink while thinking of how explain where he has been while rubbing his head with his hooves.
"Ugh, where do I begin..."
"Well, why not from the beginning "
He looked at his friend with a flat expression before sighing.
"Alright. So, do you remember how I acted about... a couple of weeks ago?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Hmmm yeah, a bit quieter and reclused like a hermit," he replied before looking at him raising his hooves, "no offence though."
"*sigh* It's fine, it's just the truth is that... well I was–AM sick," Pillow said while looking down at the table with a slight emphasize on the word sick. He watched as his friend scowled in slight confusion while drinking from a glass before putting it down.
"Why did you say it like that? I understand if you weren't feeling to good but why put extra emphasize on si-," he would've continued if his eyes didn't begin to widen in shock before realization quickly washed over him. "Wait a minute, hold on, so you were... but you didn't even... you were just–is that why you began wearing cloths so much mate?"
When Pillow looked up, he saw Spark wearing a slightly worried expression that was directed towards him. He smirked a little before nodding and giving a lowly chuckle, "yeah, and this is why I always told you about stuff like this, you're a bit more clever than you let on."
He downed his entire glass before looking directly into his friends' eyes. Spark turned his head before deciding the floor was the best option to look at now at that moment with his ears slightly tilted back on his skull.
"You should've said something about it" whispered spark with a bit of hurt in his voice but before Pillow could say anything else, the hissing sound of the kettle went off. He looked at Spark before watching him stand up and move to get the kettle off the stove. He waited as he heard the clinging of a teacups and some more plates before he saw a steaming teacup being paced in front of him with a plate of sugar-cubes in the middle of them.
So, they both sat there in silence, only being interrupted by noises that were muddied by the building's thick walls, the faint crackling of the fireplace from the other room or the occasional clinks of the cups being lifted then placed down.
"I'm...sorry that I didn't tell you or anyone else about this when I got checked, I guess I was just...a bit worried about spreading what I have," Pillow finally spoke while swirling the cup in his magic and pinning his ears to the back of his head. He looked at Spark and expected a response but didn't get one immediately as he expected, he saw him with closed eyes while putting sugar-cubes into his drink.
"*sigh* It's fine, it's fine, I understand it's just couldn't you have at least written to someone about this?"
Taking a deep breath, he thought about how to tell him about his plan.
"I would've, I really wanted to but there only one problem to that," at that Spark looked up with a questioning look, "and that's due to the uhm...sickness let's say." He rubbed the back of his neck as he felt something beginning to poke the skin under his fur. He began scratching faster since the feeling was getting slightly worse and not disappearing, but while he was too busy scratching that he didn't notice the look of his friend change from confusion to worry then back to confusion before he looked up.
"Ok hold up for a minute, I understand being sick and all worried about spreading it, but couldn't you have just, y'know used your horn that or at put it in a mailbox or something?" He asked with confusion and small hint of suspicion, but he just took noticed that his friend has been scratching for longer than he should. "Uh...mate you doin' alright there?" He did not get response as Pillow continue scratching. Standing up, he walked behind his friend to see what was wrong and what he saw made him queasy.
The area that was being scratched was almost devoid of fur, only being covered by a thin layer of scabs. He also saw that some of the old skin looked like it was beginning to rot with a small amount of what looked like thick blood or goo trickling out of area. He quietly gagged while walking to the fridge to get an ice pack.
"Could you *grunt* turn of any light please," Pillow suddenly asked while he tried using both of his hooves now, "I think that why this is happening now." Standing near the open fridge door with icepack in aura, Spark nodded before quickly turning off the kitchen light. He placed the icepack on the back of his friends' neck before walking out to the living room.
"There ya go bud; I'm just going to find any glow sticks and make sure the blinds are closed. But when I'm back you're telling me what in the bloody 4 underworlds that thing you call a sickness is, aright'?" Getting a slow nod, Spark left to find any light that would not cause this again. Sitting on complete darkness – thanks to the fireplace and chandelier being blown out – he gridded his teeth in pain whenever he placed the icepack on the spot he's been scratching at.
'Celestia bucking damnit', Pillow lamented in his mind, 'I should've remembered this, so why did I take off my DAMN CLOTHS?!' he screamed at himself mentally before deciding to just deal with the pain that lingered from the light. He closed his eyes to get try and get rid of the tears and when that didn't work, he decided to use icepack as a small pillow to rest on. When he tried placing his head on the icepack, he felt something sticky and smelled awful. Scrunching up his muzzle, he looked it and held the urge to vomit.
He saw his own fur and skin on the ice pack but instead of his white fur and pale skin there was yellowish-black hair that caused the odder and the skin looked moldy with most of is being black with green splotches and the occasional piece of normal skin. Not being able to hold it in, he dropped it to the ground and scrambled towards the trash. He puked hard as he tried to forget about what he just saw. He heard hooves rushing down the stairs and towards him and felt a hove being placed on his back.
"Just let it out mate, just let it out," his friend continued to pat him while he hurled until he felt both cold and warm and his friend spoke again, "you are feeling better now, it's out of your system?" Weakly and slowly, he nodded his head before standing on shaky legs.
"Let's head to the living room, we can talk there and–ugh–you might need to throw that out now," he pointed to the icepack on the ground, "it's time for an explanation now anyway." walking to the living room, Pillow noticed that the light glow of the chandelier and fireplace were gone and were replaced by a multitude of green lights that where surrounding the chairs and table. Sitting down next to his friend on the couch, he slowly took sips from a water filled cup that was given to him. With a shaky breath, he began to tell what happed to him during these past few weeks.
=================
They both sat in silence while the green glows surrounding them slowly flicked away. Spark was on a chair now with both of his hooves on his face while Pillow was looking at a wall taking small sips from his cup every now and then.
"... so, you only got how long left, again?" Spark broke the silence by asking, shifting slightly as he looked down at the floor.
"About a week before my expiration date," he said with a low chuckle escaping him. He chugged the rest of the water from his cup before looking at Spark, "so, willing to me one last time mate?"
The room was quiet after Pillow spoke; he was beginning to feel a bit nervous after not getting a response for a while. He was worried if he had said this too suddenly or too late. What felt like minutes passed by as Pillow waited for an answer, and just when he was about to get up from the chair, he heard a loud sigh come from Spark.
Slowly, Spark rose his head, took a deep breath and looked directly at Pillow.
"I'm going to help but before I help you plan, come over here." Pillow looked at him and squinted his eyes in slight suspicion before doing what his friend asked. He stood up, walked up beside his seated friend and waited for what he was goanna say or do.
What he was not expecting was a jab at his muzzle.
He recoiled as he fell on to the floor and looked up towards Spark. "W-w-what in Tartarus was that for?!" he almost yelled while covering his snout to make sure it wasn't bleeding from that, somewhat, light jab.
Spark took a deep breath before getting up from his chair and helping his friend back up. "That was for not telling me about this earlier."
"But why my punch me?" questioned Pillow while rubbing his snout.
Scratching the back of his neck, Spark said, "Well...with that I saw in the kitchen and saw what was on the icepack, I didn't want to risk hurting you any worse than the disease was already."
"But why even do it in the first place?" questioned Pillow with annoyance clear in his voice.
Looking at the floor and ears tilting back, he answered. "I know, I know, it's just that I feel a bit hurt from not telling anypony or me for that matter, and I've known you since foalhood!" They looked at each other briefly before Pillow was suddenly pulled upwards by Sparks magic.
"So, about that plan you have..."
