Chapters Hypothetically Pink (edited a lot)
I know, this is the usual kind of thing that draws people away from my story, but I believe you'd like to know my appearance, before listening to my tale. The name is Hypothesis Bend, nice meeting you. I am of the race of pegasus. My coat is a deep emerald green color, the same color you would find on moss growing on a rock in the middle of a forgotten forest. I try to keep my mane relatively neat, but the mix of light and dark brown mess tends to rebel against me. If I could choose one thing that outlines me, I wouldn't choose my mark, a silver question mark with some vines entangled around it, and a full moon in the background, but my eyes instead. Why? Well, they are a brilliant sky blue, but as they go closer to the pupil, the shade turns darker, and darker, until it is a lavender color. In the lavender color and the darker blue part, golden flakes show every here and there. Around my neck I wear a glistening silver necklace, with a circular pendant in the middle. The pendant is the same silver metal, outlining the circumference of a strange foggy green gem in the shape of a marble. Although I am relatively young, being twenty-one at the time I am telling you this, I've been told that my eyes make me seem many years older, by the look of fatigue in them. I didn't have that when I was a kid, but I have it now. My job, its something. Anyhow, I suppose you'd like to hear what you came here for, so without further ado.. Here it is.
Now, Pinkie Pie as you knew her was not always this loved. Back when I was in school, I was her only friend, for a little while. Sure, it sounds pretty cliche, but it was true. Maybe it was something about where she grew up that caused ponies to want to avoid her, or maybe it was because at the time, ponies weren't that friendly..
I was around thirteen when the teacher announced that a new filly was joining our 'learning environment' and that she was going to come in the afternoon sometime. To be honest, I was extremely excited. I was always called the new kid at school, even though I had been in said place for about three years. The school period passed quickly, and we ran out to lunch to escape the building and all of its boredom. I chose a quaint old bench to sit at, one of my personal favorites, and ate my lunch quickly, tossing my bread crusts from my sandwich to the birds. I made my way to the school's rusty old swingset, and sat down on one of the four swings. As I swung back and forth, the swings creaked painfully, and the whole structure shook back and forth. I didn't pay any attention to it, it was how the swings normally sounded, and to my ears, how all swings sounded.
Finally, halfway through the recess, she walked in. Or, I should say, bounced in. Her fluffy pink mane jiggling up and down with every tiny hop. She was around twelve years old then, and she wanted to be friends with everypony. But nopony wanted to be friends with her. She ran around the grounds, asking everypony if she could play with them, or if she could join them. They all ignored her, and she quickly grew saddened and walked over to the swing set, sat sown on a swing, and started to cry. Her mane seemed to deflate on itself, turning into a straight sort of depressed look on her. I knew the kids in school could be jerks, but this was absolutely ridiculous. I turned to face her, a concerned expression showing on my features.
"Hey, you ok?" I asked. Her head slowly turned and looked at me. Through tear streaked eyes, she pointed a hoof at herself.
"Me..?"
"Yeah you, what's the matter?" I tilted my head to one side. She burst into tears.
"What isn't the matter..? Nopony likes me.. Nopony..." She got off of the swings and ran away to a corner of the field. Me being who I am, I ran after her. Honestly, I couldn't understand why she ran away. I was being polite, and talking to her, so why she ran away from my welcome, I still haven't really figured out.
"Why.. Why are you following me..?" She sniffed, her head turned away from my gaze.
"Want to be friends?" I smiled warmly at her, and although she couldn't see the smile, I was pretty sure she knew it was there. Her mane started to comically inflate again, so I started talking. "My name is Hypothesis Bend, call me Bend. I wish to be a part of the stealth program in Canterlot. You see, the thing is that I really don't understand why they ignored you. You seem really nice, and I'd like to be friends. I'm sure that everyone else will come around sooner or later," that was a lie. Those kids, they were something else. They stayed in groups, and strictly never talked to anyone outside of said groups unless they were insulting/teasing another kid. "Now, what d'you say.. Friends..?"
"I'd like that.. Yeah," she nodded, and her hair bounced back up to the style it was when she first walked into the grounds. "Oh, and Bend?"
"Pinkie, right?" I knew that didn't sound good, but I needed to know her name. Thankfully, she just nodded in response.
"Yeah, Pinkie."
"What was it you wanted to say..?"
"Oh, um.. Thanks." She smiled with a look of gratefulness so positively adorable, that I had to give her a hug. We played games like tic-tac-toe in in the dirt until recess ended, then once we were all inside, the teacher introduced her to the class, told them that she is a really nice filly, be friendly.. You know, the regular required teacher stuff. Then she told Pinkie to choose somewhere to sit. As you would assume, she sat next to me.
School got better, I don't know if it was because of Pinkie Pie, or something else, but I place my bits on Pinkie. We would go to the swings every day on recess, and talk. We would share about what we wanted to be when we grew up, or ideas on how to make life better, or just goof around.
I remember one day we got in trouble for passing notes back and forth between each other. We had to stay after school and clean the windows, but instead of taking them one at a time, Pinkie got a hose and soaked the whole building. From there, we had to get towels, so I went into the natatorium and took every single towel. Oh boy, we got in so much trouble, it was ridiculous. We ended up having to wash all of the towels, then clean the windows again , but that time under supervision. It was one heck of a day, and one that I will remember for the rest of my life..
So a couple months pass, we do the same routine every day, sit on the creaky swings and talk. Then it was her birthday, she was turning the same age as me. The teacher told her that for her special day, she could take one friend out to the playground and play all day.
Oh boy, once the children heard this, they flipped and each told Pinkie to choose them, even though they still wouldn't talk to her on any other day. But she chose me. We were getting to be very close friends, so why wouldn't she? We walked out onto the playground and sat on the swings again. We swung for a while, until the sun was high in the sky. We figured that the other kids would be coming out in a half hour. Pinkie hopped off her swing and looked at me solemnly. As we all know, Pinkie Pie is not a serious pony, so naturally I was concerned. Then she opened her mouth and spoke two words.
"Follow me."
She started walking to the corner of the playground where we first played, and sat down in the same place as before. She looked at the ground and was interested in the dirt around her more than usual. She had something on her mind, I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.
"Hey Pink, what's up?" I asked in a mildly concerned tone. She looked up at me with the most grateful face ever, positively adorable.
"I just want to thank you, Bend, for absolutely everything," she started. "From talking and playing with me on the first day, to just being there. From sharing your lunch with me that one day, to letting me make you cupcakes."
"Yeah, those cupcakes were really good. You should be a pastry chef in the future."
"That's my plan," she leaned close and gave me a hug. "But thank you. You are my favorite gift." Well, I was shocked. She never had given me a hug before, I had only given one to her that first day.. And then my shock level intensified when she gave me a little peck on the cheek.
"... Whoah.." My eyes went wide, and I stared off into the distance.
"Bend..? You okay?" She waved a hoof in front of my face.
"Yeah.. But... Whoah. I mean, whoah ," I stressed the second 'whoah' so it sounded more along the lines of whooaaah .
"You sure?"
"I.. Whoah. I.. We've only just become teenagers, already a first kiss..?"
"Well.." She looked away, her face imitating one of a tomato. Something else popped into my mind.
"Hey Pinkie.. How long have you liked me?"
"Oh silly, I have always liked you. Why else would I want to be around you?"
"No, like.. like like me," I waved my hoof around vaguely.
"Oh, that.. I think just today," her eyes shifted to the ground.
"Pinkie, I can tell when you are lying. I am trying to be accepted into the Royal Guard Stealth Program, remember? Tell the truth."
"Ever since you asked me if I was ok, ok. For as long as we were friends. And.. And I hope that I didn't ruin the friendship because of that.." Now I was really worried. She was acting too serious. It was scaring me.
"This isn't just some silly crush, is it?" I asked. She shook her head. "I thought not. Well... Good," I smiled then hugged her. "I feel the same way, I just didn't realize that."
Life was getting better. Pinkie was my fillyfriend, while still staying my friend. Our classmates ignored us both now, like some disease, but we didn't care. Young love, as you would say, crazy isn't it?
But then one day it all fell apart... Literally.
We were out for recess again, and Pinkie and I were walking over to the swings, well, I was walking, Pink was bouncing along. She ran up and jumped on the swing, and a horrible screech sounded from inside the poles. This is when everything started to happen in slow motion.
"Pinkie!" I cried and ran forward, forgetting that I had perfectly good wings. The swing set shuddered than started to collapse. Somehow a swing trapped Pinkie to the ground. The top bar dislodged from the side bars and started to fall. I jumped forward in a desperate attempt to save the pink filly. I closed my eyes as the impact echoed throughout the playground.
A steady beep came to my ears, then everything hit me like a wave of pain. My head had a horrible headache and my wings felt almost ripped from my body. I felt like I couldn't move my legs at all. Slowly and painfully, I opened my eyes. I was propped up in what looked like a hospital bed, I could see a horrible green colored wall with a television on it. A door was next to the television. My hospital bed felt uncomfortable, like there was something else in there.
Pinkie? I thought before shaking my head, then gasping in pain from the sudden movement. What are you thinking, Bend? They don't allow more than one pony in a hospital bed. And sure enough, when I looked to the side, it wasn't Pinkie, but a box with a note saying 'Get well soon!' Right beyond the present, however, was the real gift. Pinkie Pie lay in a hospital bed, staring at the wall across from her.
"P-Pinkie..?" I said weakly. I was shocked at how pitiful I sounded. The pink mare swiveled her head towards me.
"Bend! You're awake!" She gave a little sigh of relief. "I was getting worried." She looked around the room. "Pretty boring place, isn't it? I wonder what the adult hospital looks like. It could use some balloons, some streamers," Her eyes lit up. "Oh! And cake! And punch! And awesome music! And.. And.. Other ponies! And, ooh! Presents! And better wallpaper! And working TVs..."
She went on and on for a while, before I spoke up.
"Do you remember what happened after I dove in the way of the bar?" I asked, sounding better, but still weak. Amazing how being in the presence of Pinkie Pie could do for healing.
She looked at me with a tinge of sadness.
"Yeah. You cried out in pain, I heard a couple sickening cracks, but I managed to get away with just a broken hoof because of your bravery, Bendy." She smiled gratefully at me. "Oh, I promise to not leave your side until you are all healed. Ok?"
"Pinkie, you don't have to do that.. Try to make some other friends. You are a charming little filly, I bet you will be able to make at least one, no?" I forced a smile, I really wanted her to stay, but she did need to find some other ponies, as did I.
"But Hypothesis.."
"Pinkie, listen to me. You are not a filly who only should get one friend. You have to try to be friendly to others. You have to make them realize that you are awesome."
"But.."
"For me?" There was a long pause, then..
"Ok.." She hopped out of the bed and out of the room, somehow able to walk with three hooves perfectly. I never would understand that mare..
Around the third day of Pinkie's absence, the nurses brought in a little filly who looked like she was in horrible pain. I could move my limbs with minimal pain, and talk like I didn't have any by then.
The box? It was from my semi-friend Inkwell. A book that he wrote, called 'Journey of a Timberwolf'. It was good, he is a good writer. I bet Pinkie has made friends with him already. I thought with a smile.
The filly let out a tiny gasp of pain from being taken from the wheelchair to the hospital bed. I snapped back to reality and turned my head to look.
"No way.." I muttered. Applejack, the strongest out of all of the fillies and colts in Ponyville, was in the hospital bed next to me, crying. This worried me, Applejack never gets hurt. One time a tree limb fell on her but she just got out from under it and brushed herself off like it had never happened. She didn't go to my school, but was home schooled instead. I only saw her on occasion when I was out shopping with my mom in the market.
The nurses soon left, then her family an hour later. Then it was just me and her in the room. The tension was unbearable, I had to say something.
"Hi." I choked out. Her head snapped towards me and she cried out in pain, did she have what I had? Broken spines can be the worst.
"Oh, I didn't know there was somepony else in the room." She said, sounding like nothing had happened to her.
"Ah, just me." I replied, then sighed. "You have a broken back too?"
"How'd you know?"
"I do too, with some assorted broken limbs." I gave a weak laugh. "Swingsets are painful, don't trust them." She looked at me confusedly than said, "You saved that filly?"
"I saved that.. What! How much do you know about me and Pinkie?"
"Well, other than the fact that you two are the talk of the town.. not much. In case if you didn't notice, I don't go to your school." She sighed, "All I know is that for the last two days, my family has been talking about that brave little colt who saved a filly from death."
"From death..?"
"Eeyup. Apparently if you hadn't dove in the way, she would've been crushed and killed." She nodded then let out a gasp of pain.
"Ooh, you shouldn't do that." I sighed.
"Thanks, that's a real help." Applejack replied through gritted teeth. Then a wave of silence ensued. Finally, the tension was unbearable yet again.
"What.. Happened..?" I asked tentatively, not wanting to get any rage from Applejack to make her not want to talk to me anymore, I have had enough of the silence. Plus, the TV didn't work. Why did they even put one in there in the first place?
"Why should I tell you!?" She declared indignantly, a couple seconds passed with me staring at her, and she sighed in defeat. "I was out in the field when all of the sudden, a cart that I had tied up against a tree got loose and ran me over." I flinched.
"That.. Must've hurt.."
"Probably as much as that metal beam did, sugarcube." Was she... Flirting with me..? Nah. I shook myself out of that thought.She says that to everyone, doesn't she? At least, she always said it to me..
"Applejack, do you call everypony 'sugarcube'?" I asked cautiously. She was silent.
"Applejack, do you... like me..?"
"Of course I like you. You are nice, you talk to me, we play, why wouldn't I like you!?" She immediately shot back, not giving any pause between my question and her answer.
"No, I mean like li-"
"NO." She practically screamed and started to sweat.
Great.. She does.. I thought to myself, I wonder if she knows she is a terrible liar?
"Ok.. I'll just leave it at that.." I said slowly, and turned to fall asleep. "I'm taking a nap, maybe you should too."
"Ok.." She replied. "Good night, I love you." My eyes jerked open, I turned to look at her, ignoring the burning white daggers of pain. Applejack had a hoof to her mouth in awe of what she said
"You WHAT!?"
"Sorry! Force of habit!" She cried. "I didn't mean to.."
"Ah, it's ok. Just get some sleep, all right? I promise you, you will feel better once you wake."
"Ok... Sugarcube.." She said and closed her eyes. I watched her slowly drift into sleep, a slight serene smile donning her face.
Bend, what have you gotten yourself into? Now I have to nurse some feelings too.. Applejack is clearly hurt not only by the cart, but by the fact that me and Pinkie were together, or as much as together that kids can be. Hypothesis Bend, what have you gotten yourself into. Slowly I drifted to sleep, letting Applejack's soft breathing guide me.
Around the third or fourth week of me being hospitalized, my pain subsided, but the doctors wanted to keep me in for another week just to be safe. Pinkie Pie came in with a little book she put together while I was pretending to sleep. She then gave me a little peck on the forehead, which made me smile. After she walked out of the room, I went and opened it up. It had minor spelling errors, but it was interesting nonetheless. It was about her everyday adventures without a Bend.
dedicated to Hypothesis Bend, because, who else would I dedicate it to?
Oh, and you too. I don't know if Bendy let you read this, or you stole this, but thanks for wanting to know!
So, anyway, I'm writing you a little story of what has happened to me while you were hospitalized. You know about the part when I left, so.. Hmm..Oh! I know! Day one!
So the first day out of the hospital, I was really sad. I was at a lack of friends without you. The other ponies couldn't handle me anymore. Like I planned for the swingset to fall on us to get pity. But I trudged on, nonetheless. I went for about three weeks with no friends, until a shy little mare came into the school. Her name? Something along the lines of Fluberlie. Or at least that's what I heard. It was Fluttershy, I later found out though. She sorta came in around the same time I did. It was interesting though. It took her all of the half hour of recess to walk to the picnic table, for she kept apoligizing to the grass. It was like: *step* "Oh, I'm sorry.." *step* "Oh! I'm so so sorry.." *step* I hope that didn't hurt. I'm sorry."
You facehoofed too, didn't you? It was super duper adorable though. Nothing against you Bendy, but she was really cute. It questioned my straightness.
"What'cha reading Bend?"
"Hmm? Oh, just something that Pinkie wrote."
"Oh.. I see.." She rolled over onto her side, away from me.
"Hey, Applejack?" Her head snapped back towards me, and she winced.
"Agh! Yeah, sugarcu- Bend?"
"What really happened that made you hospitalized? I guess the haycart was logical, but you don't just tie faulty knots then sleep right down the hill from where you tied the knot. What honestly happened?" She looked shocked.
"How did you..?"
"Training to be in the Royal Guard Stealth Program. What did you really do?"
Yeah, you are probably thinking, "No Pinkie! Stay with me! (or Hypothesis, if you aren't him. Which you most likely aren't seeing as he will probably share this because it is an a-maz-ing story!)" Don't worry. I never hit on her. But I did say hi to her. Big mistake, I don't know if you know Fluttershy or not, but that filly is more shy than... well, everything! This is pretty much how the first conversation went:
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! What's yours?"
"...Fluttershy..." She squeaked out at a volume so low that if she had a microphone it would make her sound like she was whispering.
"Sorry.. Didn't catch that. Run it by me again please?"
"......Fluttershy...." Now the microphone would make her sound like she was speaking regularly.
"Ok Fluberlie! Nice to meet you!"
"..Um, its Fluttershy.. If you don't mind.." Much better.
"Of course I don't mind! Its your name!"
"Oh, I'm sorry.. You can have it.."
"What?"
"My name."
"....Right... No, you can keep it for now. Wanna play?" Then the bell rang and Flutter rushed inside, I walked in at a leisurely pace, wondering about the new girl. Was she abused or something? Nobody can be that shy, can they?
When I stepped into the schoolhouse, and took my seat, the teacher gave me a don't be late next time look and started. She didn't even introduce the filly. Well, except if I missed that.. Class started as usual, but I was too focused on the new kid to pay any attention to the lecture.
It surprises me how fast time goes while staring at someone. The bell rang and everyone else made a mad dash for the door, including the teacher. Sometimes I worry about this school. It ended up with just me and Fluttershy in the room.
"Um.. Hi?" I ventured.
She squeaked in response.
"What happened to you? Why are you that shy?" Fluttershy looked surprised, then confused.
"Um.. I don't know.. Nopony has asked me that before.. I guess its just who I am.."
"Ah! She speaks!"
"Oh! I'm sorry..."
"No, no! Its a good thing!"
"It.. Is..?" Sheesh, how socially deprived was this girl?
"Yeah! I like it when you talk, you have a nice voice!"
She blushed and something clicked in my head.
"Oh, not like that. I'm straight for a Bend."
Oh. My. Gosh. Bendy, you should've seen the confused look on that poor filly's face. I forgot she hadn't met you.
"Um.. That doesn't really make sense."
"Yeah, it probably shouldn't for you. He was hospitalized before you came here. Can you fly?"
"Well, yes, but I don't like to. Bad experience, and I like the ground better." She peeked out from behind her mane more, and I noticed her crystal blue eyes. Like diamonds, Bendy, but better.
"Oh, I see."
"I'm sorry, I have to go. Its dinnertime for my animal friends."
"Ooh! Can I come?! Can I, can I?"
"Um.. I don't know, I'm really sorry, but they are still kinda scared of other ponies."
"Oh, I see." I gave her a smile to show I would be ok. "Well, I guess I should head back to Sugarcube Corner. My chores won't do themselves!"
Now, the chore statement was technically true, but I had already done them. The Cakes who let me live with them said that I had to at least help out in some way, so I clean dishes and learn how to make cupcakes and other assorted goodies. Nah, I was going home to write.. Well, this!
TO BE CONTINUED
"Applejack, I'm waiting. It can't be that hard to tell me, can it? Unless.."
"Yep, I'm surprised you couldn't figure that out, sugarcube."
Just then, the door burst open, and in the corridor was a certain pink pony and cream pegasus, just as Pinkie had described her.
"Hiya Bend! Hiya Jack!" Pinkie Pie chirped.
"Its Appleja-"
"This here is my friend Fluttershy!" She cut in, ignoring Applejack's statement. "Fluttershy, this is Bendy and Jacky!"
"Applejack."
"Right. Bendy and Applejack."
I put my hoof up in greeting, and donned a light smile. From what I read about this filly, she needed all the kindness she could get.
"Hello Fluttershy. I'm Hypothesis Bend."
"Oh, right.. You're Pinkie's coltfriend?"
Even though I wasn't facing her, I could feel Applejack's eyes on me.
"You're Pinkie's what?"
Well, this just went from bad to horrible.
"Oh, I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have said that.." Fluttershy slowly started backing out of the room, but Pinkie pulled her back in and closed the door.
I sighed. "It's ok. I was bound to tell her sooner or later. I guess its sooner." I turned to Applejack, "Pinkie is my fillyfriend..?"
Why did I say that in a question?
"Why didn't you tell me this? It could've saved me the broken spine." She had tears in her eyes. I didn't know I was this wanted this badly by two ponies. I saw Fluttershy whisper something into Pinkie's ear. The light blush on her face told it all. Three ponies. I've got to move to Canterlot, this will only end badly. But then I will miss all of these girls. Well, Pinkie and Applejack at least. I hadn't really met Fluttershy yet. I quietly cursed the gods that made my life this way, I never asked for my life to be a romance novel. Why do choices have to be so hard to make sometimes?
And then the lights started to flicker. I looked outside and noticed that it was raining, then I looked at Pinkie and Fluttershy. They were soaked, why hadn't I noticed this before? Cursing my stupidity for not doing this earlier, I pressed the button to call a nurse.
"Hold on, sorry that I didn't get you towels earlier, they are coming in now."
Fluttershy gave a grateful nod and a tiny 'thank you', while Pinkie started gushing on about how I was the greatest.
About five minutes later, a nurse walked in with two towels.
"Finally figured it out, eh?" She asked with a smile and gave the towels to the two drenched and shivering fillies. "I was waiting for you to call." And without another word, she left.
"I didn't know a nurse could be that much of a jerk," Fluttershy ventured, before drying herself off. The lights flickered again.
"I didn't know a hospital could lose power," I replied. "I thought they had to keep it on so that the patients with medication and I.Vs wouldn't die or get worse." The lights flickered again, and went out. A click was heard at the door, we were locked in, all four of us. In a hospital. With the power out. Yeesh.
"What sort of hospital is this?!" I groaned. "First of all, they shouldn't have to lock the doors for the rooms, this is a place for the physically ill, not the mentally ill."
"Um, Bend.." Applejack tried to stop me, but to no avail.
"And then the power is out! What the heck?! This is a hospital, the power should never be out, it is against policy and some ponies could most likely be killed because of this."
"..Bend.."
"And its not like it matters that the power is out for us, none of the appliances work."
"BEND!" I stopped my rant and looked at Applejack. The room became so quiet that we could hear someone coughing in the other room.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Why didn't you tell me you could walk?" I wasn't expecting that question.
"I.. I didn't think it was important for you to know." I responded, my hoof tracing the outside of a tile in the floor. "You were sleeping when they told me that they were going to keep me in here just in case.. You looked so peaceful.. I didn't want to wake you up."
"Well you still should'a told me." Applejack huffed.
"I'm cold." Pinkie complained. I pointed to my hospital bed, the green sheets all crumpled.
"Its nice and warm, go get comfortable. I bet we have all night." I looked out the window at the dark and stormy night, then got an idea. "Who wants to hear a scary story?"
"Don't be silly, Bendy," Pinkie chirped, snuggled in my bed. "It isn't even close to Nightmare Night."
"You don't have to tell scary stories only around Nightmare Night, Pinkie." I replied, but before Pinkie could get another word in, a tapping was heard at the window. I turned to look out of it, silently praying that it wouldn't be another mare that would fall in love with me. Outside was a sopping wet filly with a rainbow mane and tail and a cyan blue coat. Her magenta eyes locked onto mine and she mouthed "let me in. "
"Welcome to the party," I said after opening the window, motioning for the filly to come inside.
"I'll say its a party." She said looking around at all the other ponies. She gave a smile and a nod at me. "You lucky duck."
"Nonono.. It isn't like tha-"
"The name is Dash. Rainbow Dash." She said, interrupting me. "D'you happen to have a towel in here that I can dry off with?" I motioned to the towels sitting in the corner of the room.
"Enjoy."
"Wow, I didn't really expect you to have towels in here." She laughed, "Cool." She walked over to the corner and dried off.
"So, what brings you here on this fine night?" I asked. Her posture changed a little and she said a little defiantly: "None of your business."
"Ok. Then let me tell you why you are here." I smiled, Dash was real easy to read. This was going to be fun. "You are from flight camp. I can tell by that necklace you took off right outside. Its probably hanging on that tree out there. You probably got in trouble with someone. Not an adult though, you would look a little more guilty. I'm going to guess.. Bullies?" Her face told me that my assumption had been on the mark thus far. "I bet you fought back, and they chased you. Panicking, you flew down towards the ground and somehow ended up here."
"How did you.."
"He's training to be in the Royal Guard Stealth Program." Applejack and Pinkie Pie said in unison. I nodded to confirm it.
"You trained them." Rainbow Dash said in disbelief.
"Nah, not really." I smiled, trying to surpress a laugh, and failing miserably. "They just know the answer."
Suddenly, Fluttershy piped up. I forgot she was even in the room.
"Rainbow Dash?" The cyan filly's ear flicked and she turned in the direction of the sound.
"Fluttershy! Thank goodness! I thought you died!"
"Oh.. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to worry you.. Its just that once I fell I was too scared to go back.. I thought they told you.."
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Maybe they did, its not like anyone was paying attention." She laughed, "Those so-called counselors are definitely not in charge." Suddenly, a spot in the roof started to leak. Water came through the tiny hole in it, making small plink noises once the drops hit the ground. A cold chill rushed through my bones, and I instinctively shivered, my body trying to maintain homeostasis.
"What's the matter, Bendy? You chilly?" Pinkie chirped from the bed. "Its nice and warm in here, c'mon in!" I was about to accept the offer, but I noticed the earth pony in the other bed, trying to keep warm under the little amount of sheets she had.
"Ah.. Thanks Pink, but it looks like Applejack needs some warmth." I smiled and walked over to Applejack's bed. This was going to be one hell of a sleepover. "Hey, can I come in?" I asked, trying not to send mixed signals, but to no avail. A small blush appeared on the filly's face.
"Um.. Sure, sugarcube." She moved over a little in the bed and I tucked myself in. I realized that she was calling me sugarcube again, and smiled. I nonchalantly put one of my front hooves around her neck and gently pulled her up to my body, keeping in mind the injury she had. Pinkie, obviously jealous about the amount of attention that Applejack was getting, walked over and snuggled up beside me, resting her head on my shoulder.
"Player." I heard Dash mutter. I sat up the best I could, while still keeping the two other girls comfortable and smiled at her.
"You know you want to come in too." Much to my surprise, she nodded and curled up in the bed too, on the other side of Applejack, and then Fluttershy slowly walked over and tucked herself into the bed on Pinkie Pie's side.
I remember thinking to myself: Y'know what, this isn't always going to be like this. I better make the most of my charm while I still can. Sooner or later, the girls fell asleep, and right before I nodded off, a nurse unlocked the door and peeked her head in. She noted me with all the fillies around me and winked at me, before closing the door again. I love my life.
On Her Majesty Celestia's Secret Service
The next day I was released from the hospital, so to speak. The first thing I did was check around our hospital room, to make sure that my theory was correct. The power was still out in the room, at least, until I flipped the light switch outside of it. The leaky part in the ceiling was still there, until I turned off the sink left dripping upstairs. The one thing I couldn't understand was why the doctors and nurses wanted me to bond with those fillies. They did seem like they had some sort of connection, but that couldn't be possible, could it? That was their first time meeting each other, at least, all together. Or was it? One thing was for sure, I had to ask one of them.
As soon as I stepped out from the hospital, the chill of the morning hit me full on, sending shivers down my spine, of which still ached. I was tempted to run back into the hospital room and curl up under the covers of the bed, but I desperately needed exercise. After being in a bed for who knows how long, I had gotten a little weak. I figured the Ponyville park would be perfect for my workout, so I began journeying over there, trying to ignore the squishing sound of my hooves walking in mud. I was about two minutes away from the park when I realized I had wings (on a side note, I still do that sometimes. Stupid forgetful me.). Well, as it turned out, Rainbow Dash was sitting around at the park, still trying to hide from those bullies, or just giving up on the whole concept of flight camp altogether, I never really asked her.
"Hey Dash!" I shouted, watching her head swivel towards the call of her name. In a, you could say dash, she was over at my side.
"What's up?" Her head tilted a bit, knocking a few strands of her messy mane into her eyes. I resisted the urge to brush them behind her ear, knowing that she wasn't one for much mushy-gushy stuff.
"I was just going to do some training, and I was wondering if you wanted to join me," I shrugged, noticing an indifferent look in her eye. Time to set the bait. "Although, it is rather brutal. I doubt you could hold up. Never mind." The look in her eyes changed from indifference to 'challenge accepted'.
"Let's train!" She smirked, this girl was super predictable. I led her to my special training area, hidden within a group of trees. It wasn't really much, my training area. The ground was cleared of any foliage, so it would be easy to do push-ups and the like. The area was completely surrounded by trees, except for the opening that was used to get in and out from, so that it was almost like a building. Some crates sat in the corner, of which I had filled with food and drink, seeing as I was here a lot. Tree limbs poked out every now and then, making it perfect for agility exercises or speed training. But my favorite part was yet to come.
As Dash looked around the five-by-five foot area, I began to plan out the workout, writing down the sets in the dirt.
"Hey Dash, what's your feel on chin-ups?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the plan.
"Easy! I can do those in my sleep ," she bragged, and I could just imagine the look of confidence on her face.
"That's what I like to hear." I motioned her over to where everything was written.
Workout for today
PART ONE, ABS NO. USING. WINGS.
-50 pushups
-Planks 20 min.
-40 jump pushups
-100 crunches
-35 chin-ups
PART TWO, AIRIAL WORK. USE. WINGS.
-agility exercises, more detail later
-cloud kicking, 1hr. (will also exercise hind legs. Two-fer-one!)
-race across the sky
-???
"So what d'you think?" I grinned, looking at Dash, who was trying to hide an uncertain look upon her face.
"Easy peasy."
"Shall we start then?" We got to the crunches before Dash started to tire out. I noticed her speed was giving out, so I tried to motivate her.
"C'mon, you can do it Dash!" I cheered between breaths. My legs were killing me, and my body was telling me to rest, but I ignored it.
"Yeah.. Yeah.. Whatever.." Dash panted.
"How about we finish the abs workout part, then take a break?"
"Sounds.. Good," she gasped out, increasing her speed by a bit. Did I mention that I had to bind her wings together so that she wouldn't use them? Well, we got to the chin-ups, and that was rather difficult to get Dash onto a tree's limb without flying. I ended up having to stack some crates for her to jump up on to a limb, then unstacking them and placing them back in the corner. I flew up beside her, on the same limb as her.
"You ready?" I asked, to which she nodded in reply. "Ok, this isn't a race, mind you. Three.. Two.. One.. Go!" Up and down, and up and down, and up and down we went. Until I was on number thirty-one, then I heard a gasp from Dash, and I turned my head to look just in time to see her slip from the tree limb. Her wings struggled against the rope I had bound her wings together with. In a split second I was diving down to catch her, for I was not going to let another girl get hurt in my company. Her eyes closed in a brace for impact, and mine too, but only because I was slightly scared to see what I was doing. Everything else happened on impulse, as if by some sort of being was guiding me, the swoop under Dash, the turn upside down to catch her, the tuck and roll so that neither one of us would get hurt. I opened my eyes to see her magenta ones staring right back.
"Are you ok?" I asked.
"Yeah, I guess. Can we take a break?" She rolled off me, to lying beside me, tugging at the knot on rope holding her wings together.
"Oh, we're going to be done for today. I'm sorry I pushed you so hard. I should've known that was going to happen.."
"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it, ok?" she tugged at the knot again. "Can you untie this? How do you tie a knot that good?" I chuckled and pulled one of the loops, letting the whole thing loose.
"Practice, of course," I shrugged. We lay there for a couple bits, letting the light making it between the holes of the leaf roof shine on us. If only the ground was comfier..
"So what is this Stealth program you want to get into?" Rainbow asked, her hooves behind her head.
"Its called the Royal Guard Stealth Program. From what I know, they are what is holding together Equestria right now, seeing as Luna is still missing and Celestia is being horribly over-worked," I smiled. Nobody had ever asked me about it before. Suddenly I remember something that my father had told me. "Hey, did you know that Celestia was thinking to enchant the sun and moon so that they would rise and set by themselves?"
"Nah, that couldn't be true," Rainbow Dash dismissed. "That is too weird. Who told you that anyway?"
"Would you believe me if I told you the captain of the guard?" I suggested.
"I really don't know what to believe with you, Bend."
"Aw, thanks," I winked. "Part of my talent is being mysterious and the like."
"Mysterious? Ha!" She laughed. "You? How did you get your cutie mark anyway?"
"How I got my mark. Well.." I glanced up at the 'roof', and noticed that the sunlight was starting to decrease. "I'll tell you later, I need to show you something. Follow me." I began flying up to the top of the trees, going around the limbs with ease, while Dash had a little bit of trouble. Maybe the exercise set her a bit off-balence? Soon we got to the top of trees, to where my balcony was located. It was a thing of beauty, my balcony, although it wasn't really a balcony, more of just a bunch of limbs holding each other up, making a floor and some branches poking out of the the end of them, sorta resembling handrails. Over in a corner sat a small desk, which an envelope rested on. Upon two branches swung a hammock, and pillows and blankets decorated the floor. Aside from the fact that I slept there every night, there were other reasons on why I loved it. For one, the view. It overlooked the Ponyville park's lake, and some of the town. You could see all the way out into the Everfree.
"Do you like it? This is where I live."
"You live here? What about your parents?" Dash asked.
"They live down in Canterlot, I wanted to go to school here though, so they let me stay, with strict guidelines for me to follow. Every now and then my mother comes down to spend some time with me for a day, shop for some groceries, or just play. Other than that, its all just me,"I beamed.
"That's cool. So why did you bring me here?" She tilted her head a bit, again knocking some strands of her mane into her eyes. This time I brushed them behind one ear though.
"The sunset. Dash, the sunset here is amazing." I walked her over to the edge, right before the guard rails, then sat beside her. "And you are just in time. Just watch."
"Ok."
The sun began to sink down behind the trees of the Everfree, and the sky turned into reds, oranges, and yellows, in every possible hue. The edges of the sky began turning into night, changing from the sky blue to a darker one. The reflections of the colors radiated off the pond, reflecting and bouncing the rays of light everywhere, so that it let off a beautiful glow. I felt Rainbow Dash's head rest on my shoulder as the sun sank ever so lower, and I may or may not have placed my wing around her, pulling her close to me, protecting her from whatever danger might appear.
"Hey Bend?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
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The Question Mark (Hypothesis Bend's cutie mark side story)
Okay, I moved this chapter to a different story that I am not publishing, but you can easily view it.
Here is the link.
And the password is: bend