Letter 1
Dear James
I really, really, really, really wish I could've talked to you any way other than this. I didn't know you were so scared of me. Did I really look like a monster to you? Did my friends and I scare you so bad that you needed to burn yourself. I'm (tear stain) sorry. I (tear stain) didn't mean to scare you like that. Maybe I can (tear stain) throw you a party after you wake up. You can tell me what you want (tear stain) it to be about! I pinkie promise (tear stain) that you can do whatever you want! Just....please get well soon.
Sincerely, Pinkie Pie
Letter 2
Dear James
(Tear stains) I....I'm so sorry. I'm sorry Twilight brought you here(tear stains). (tear stains) I'm sorry that I scared (tear stains) you. I'm sorry (tear stains) Rainbow hit you. (tear stains) I'm sorry that you felt you had to live in (tear stains) so much fear.Please get well soon. I want to help you. Everypony does. Please.
(tear stains)
Sincerely, Fluttershy
Letter 3
Dear James
I'm sorry that I hit you. I didn't know the whole story at the time and when I heard you hit Fluttershy, I just snapped! I was stupid and that was really not cool of me. I didn't know you were so...fragile. Ponies are tougher than humans, I guess. Not that I'm saying you're a wimp or anything! I just...I'm not very good at this, so here's what I'm going to do. When you wake up, I want you to hit me. No holding back. So, hurry up and get well so we can even this whole thing out,
Rainbow Dash
Letter4
Dear James
I'm so sorry for everything you've gone through. If I knew what you were going through, I would've done more for ya. Once you're ready for it, I'll give ya the full Apple Family experience. You'll get a soft bed, good food, and everything else you will ever need. I'm sure Granny knows a few ways to fix your burns. I'll give ya a home until we can figure out a way to get you back to your world. I promise. I swear on my heart that I'll do everything I can to help ya get through this. Just (tear stains) please get well soon.
Applejack
Letter5
Dear James
There is no other way to say it. I have been a complete monster to you. When you were searching though my garbage, I thought some raccoons had been the culprit. When I saw you, I thought you were a diamond dog and I panicked. I had some bad experiences with them and thought you were going to take me back to them. That is no excuse for my horrid actions. You were not a monster skulking in the shadows, looking for some helpless pony to harm. You were a poor soul that needed help and I shooed you off like some uncaring demon. Know this, when you awaken, I will do everything in my power to make up for my crimes against you. I will even custom make you any kind of outfit you want, absolutely free of charge. So please, dear James, awaken from this. I swear that the world you are in is not as bleak as you think it is. Just, (black tear stains) let us have the chance to prove it.
Sincerely, Rarity
Letter6
Dear James
Hey, um, I'm sorry I blew fire at you. I never saw a human before and Twilight didn't give me a good description of what you looked like. it was really dark, so when I saw you, I thought it was some new monster from the Everfree at first and I freaked out. When the fire passed and I got a better look at you, I knew I messed up bad. Then I found out that...you aren't fire-proof. Twi let it slip that the doctors found out that you don't even have fire resistance or any magic or anything like that. I...I could've killed you that night. I know that saying sorry isn't enough to make up for that, but I don't know what else I can do. Just, please get better so we can figure some thing out. I want to make this right. We all do.
Sincerely, Spike.
Letter7
Dear James
Words can not (tear stains) describe (tear stains) how sorry (tear stains) I am (tear stains). 'I'm sorry' isn't (tear stains) enough. It (tear stains) will never be enough. From this (tear stains) day (tear stains) forward, I refuse to use (tear stains) my magic outside (tear stain) of helping you. (tear stains) I will dedicate all of my time (tear stains) and energy (tear stains) to helping you get home. I (tear stains) can fix this. I (tear stains) will fix (tear stains) this. Please rest (tear stains) and get well soon. You deserve to rest. (tear stains) You deserve to be happy. I (tear stains) don't. I don't deserve anything. I am (tear stains) a monster. I should be the (tear stains) one in that bed. I (tear stains) deserve worse. Please, get well soon so I can fix this. (tear stains) I can still fix this.
Sincerely, (tear stains) Twilight Sparkle
***
A heart monitor beeped softly in the hospital room, the faint buzzing of the lights above the only other break in the stiff peace. James laid in his bed, his upper body propped up by several large pillows to sit up. HIs eyes lazily scanned over the letters in his hands. He had already read through the other six several times, his tired mind and the painkillers in his system dulling his reading skills a bit. In spite of that, the letter in his hand held his attention in a titanium grip. it would've been easy for him to write the whole thing off as a trick, but the stains on the paper called that into doubt. That, combined with the pain in the words were too raw to fake. As he read the letter, his suspicion slowly turned into concern. A concern that gradually grew when he saw how withered the get-well bouquet on his bedside table was.
A nurse pony entered the room, humming a happy tune to herself. When she saw him, she froze, shock and fear spread clear across her face. Before she could bolt, James, with a voice as dry as desert sand forced out a single desperate question.
"How long have I been out?"
