A Wish Come True

"Twilight, can I ask you something?" Joseph asks in a soft voice.

Twilight keeps her gaze forward but perks up her ears. "Of course Joseph." She then looks back and smiles.

Joseph rubs his hands together and sticks them in the front pockets of his jacket. "Looking around, I've seen talking ponies, magic, a dragon, houses made of straw and wood...and...and...a lot really." Joseph fiddles with his own fingers, still inside their pockets. "And to tell you the truth...it's kinda...kinda..."

"Hard?" Twilight finishes.

"That," Joseph says as he nods to her, "but it's also...very...stressful to accept. Do you know what I'm saying?" Twilight nods in a way that says 'go on'. Joseph looks up a bit. "It's so...different from where I came from. I mean, the closest thing to a talking animal in my world was a parrot, or a video game, or...pfft, even a funny sounding dog." Joseph looks around the area, seeing windows going dark. "...And am I the only one, or does it seem that almost every pony here is a chick?"

"What?" Twilight asks.

"Oop, uh, I mean...There are a lot more mares here than stallions.

Twilight bobs her head. "Oh, that's because there are," Twilight says bluntly. "Approximately eighty two percent of the residents here in Ponyville are female."

"Anyway," Joseph continues, "like I said, it's very stressful...Is there any way you know of that could help me relax?" Twilight opens her mouth to say something, but Joseph cuts her off. "But!...before you say anything, lemme get this outta the way." Joseph takes a deep breath and Twilight stops, them having made it back to the library. She opens the door and Joseph continues. "...No needles...okay? No needles, can't stand 'em, no way."

"No needles," Twilight says softly, "got it." She enters the tree house, Joseph following right behind. "I'll get a book or two and look. In the meantime," Twilight says while motioning toward the couch with her hoof, "why don't you have a seat. Spike!"

"Yeah Twilight!" he calls back from the kitchen. "I know! I'll be right there!"

Twilight nods and begins to turn. She scans her field of vision over the many bookcases in the house, and after a few seconds, grabs one with her magic and pulls it forward. It was a small, but thick book, almost like a dictionary. It was blue and the bottom of the spine was curling. The text of the front was gold, faded, but still legible. It read 'Three Hundred and Thirty-Three Ways for Relaxation'. Twilight flips it open and brings it to her face.

Spike comes over to the couch with a platter in his claws. On it were three cups and a teapot, all of them white with pink decals and rims. Spike pours himself a cup, then Twilight, then Joseph. He offers Joseph the cup, to which he gratefully accepts. "Thanks Spike."

"It's nothing." He hops up onto the couch with Joseph and grabs his cup from the tray.

"...No needles..." Twilight keeps saying to herself. "...Hm...Joseph, how are you with...mud treatment?"

"Not a chance Twilight," He says quickly. "I do not like the idea of taking a bath after a mud bath."

"Okay then." She digs her head back into the small book. "...No mud, no needles...Seaweed? No, that's pretty much like mud...Huh..." Twilight flicks her head back to get her mane out of her view. "Oh, here. Number thirty four: aromatherapy. With the help of incense, the user...can..." Twilight sighs. "We're out. I used the rest when I brought you here this morning." She looks over at him. "You were thrashing in your sleep pretty bad."

Joseph smiles slightly and shrugs. He digs in his pocket and brings out his music player, sets it on the coffee table, and sips on his tea. "Yeah, I don't want to smash this then."

"Lemme keep looking." Twilight fiddles with a few pages. "...This should have been the very first. Number fifty: a nice hot shower."

Joseph puts his cup down. "What was number one?"

"Sitting in the sand of the river, letting the water come up to your shoulders."

Joseph nods. "...I'll take hot water over cold almost any day."

"I'll go and run the water," Twilight says. "I'll be back in a minute." She puts the book back in its respectable place and heads upstairs. She disappears with a flick of her tail, and after a few moment, Spike and Joseph both here water begin to run.

"...You know Joseph," Spike says as he puts his cup down, "Twilight's really showing you her heart."

"I know," he replies, "it's almost weird how trusting she is." Joseph looks up at the stairs where Twilight went up. "...She reminds me of my mother when I was young." They both hear the water change tone, and the pitter-patter of water. Joseph puts his hands on his knees and stands up. "I guess that's my cue." Joseph takes a step forward, but stops and puts his right hand to his head. His vision narrows and flashes black.

"You okay?" Spike asks.

"Yeah, just stood up too fast. Dizzy spell, you know? Sometimes it sucks being tall." Joseph takes another step forward, takes his hand down, then heads for the stairs. Climbing them rather slowly, Joseph takes a bit of time to observe the home. Everything seemed so neat and tidy. Reaching the top of the stairs, he sees Twilight's bed all done up to look brand new. Joseph look a bit to the left and sees what looks like a...pet's bed. A basket with a padded bottom and a quilt. He shakes his head and looks around. "Twilight?"

"Yes?" Joseph turns to the left even more and sees Twilight stepping out of a doorway. The left half of her head was dripping wet. Joseph points, but keeps his mouth closed. Twilight shakes her head, making the wet part of her mane frizz and curl. "Yeah, I must have moved the shower head. Anyway, your shower is running. There's a fresh towel on the counter next to the sink, and feel free to use some of my shampoo if you want." She smiles and holds her ground for a moment, then moves aside and heads back towards the stairs.

"...Twilight, thank you."

"It's no trouble at all."

Joseph smiles back, then heads into the bathroom. He closes the door and looks around through the quickly forming steam. The room was...tidy. A sink to his left, a bathtub slash shower to his right, and a four foot wide walkway between them, and a white rug in front of the tub. There was a sliding glass door on top of the tub's wall, giving modest privacy, and a small window was at the very end of the room, allowing ventilation. The floor, walls, and ceiling were wooden planks, and through the blurry glass of the shower, Joseph could see the ceiling and walls in there were white tile. He looks at the sink finding the towel. It was pink...and small.

Joseph shakes his head slowly. "Had to be pink. Just had to be." He reaches to his chest and unzips his hoodie.

*Meanwhile, downstairs*

Spike picks up Joseph's music player like a kid would a snake, not sure if it would bite him or not. "What is this?"

"Spike, put that down, that's not yours," Twilight commands.

"Geez Twilight," Spike exclaims and her returns the plastic to the tabletop. "I didn't know, I was curious."

Twilight nods and rings out the yellow rag her magical grip had retrieved from the kitchen. She then returns it to her head. "Joseph said that was his MP3 player, a music device."

"How does it work?" Spike says carefully. "What's with the wires?"

"You put those in your ears and they emit music." Twilight points at the screen. "Joseph tapped this before, but it was different. It had symbols and letters before...and it was lit up. It wasn't so bleak then."

"Maybe...maybe it's out of power?" Spike suggests.

"I don't know Spike," Twilight replies, "but I'm not content to messing around with others' possessions." Twilight returns the yellow rag back to the kitchen and grabs a brush from upstairs. It floats down and carefully sets itself on top of Twilight's head. "Anyway Spike, don't touch it. I'm not entirely sure if something will happen."

"Okay." Spike closes his eyes and listens to Joseph's shower. The water tone has changed again, meaning he had entered. "...Twilight, Joseph and I talked while you were upstairs, even though it was really, really, really short." He opens his eyes and looks into Twilight's. "Twilight, he said that it was almost weird how trusting you are around him, how easily you let him in to our lives."

"Spike?"

"Twilight...why have you done everything you have for Joseph?"

Twilight looks up at the stairs. "...Maybe...I sensed good in him. Like when I saw you for the first time Spike. When you hatched, I could feel good radiating from you."

"Well," Spike says, trying to cover his blush, "when I hatched, you were the first thing I saw. Every animal has a first imprint..."

"Oh..." Twilight pulls him into a hug. "...I love you Spike."

"I love you too Twilight." The two begin to rock back and forth in their embrace. Spike snuggles closer into Twilight's hug. "...Remember when you used to do this when I had nightmares?"

"Yeah, you were so cute." They continue to rock in their spot for a while longer. "...Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you getting tired?"

"A little. Why?"

Twilight breaks their embrace. "Just wondering, we haven't done this in a very long while, so..."

"...Yeah...I'm gonna hit the hay," Spike says slowly.

"Alright Spike." Twilight leans down and kisses his forehead. "Goodnight." Spike slides down from the couch and heads over to the stairs. Twilight smiles and closes her eyes. She must have nodded off just for a while, but Twilight opens her eyes and looks at her tail, noticing she had turned herself around on the couch.

The water upstairs turns off. Twilight looks toward the stairs.

*Back in the bathroom*

"Awe damn it," Joseph complains to himself. He rubs his head and he backs away and straightens. "Why do I have to crouch when I shower?" Joseph had just banged his head on the shower head, sending him into one of his hissy fits. "No, no, no...calm down..." Joseph takes a deep breath, and slowly lets it out. "...Okay...let's get out."

Joseph reaches for the sliding glass door and pushes it aside. He steps onto the rug below, but it slips out from under him. Joseph falls forward, bringing his right hand down the edge of the metal rim of the glass door, cutting him. He falls forward, bashing his forehead on the counter as well, then falls to the floor. "Son of a bitch!" He reaches up and tries to grab the counter, but all he gets is his towel. He uses it to cover himself and he looks at his hand. Going from the bend of his thumb to the edge of his palm was a deep cut. Blood was already running down his wrist.

The door opens and Twilight pops her head in. "Joseph? Are you okay?"

"Twilight!" Joseph yells back. "Uhp! No, Twilight! Go!"

"Oh, sorry!" She closes the door, leaving Joseph to himself.

"...Awe shit." He looks at his hand again. "...Shit, shit, shit..." He stands up, very carefully this time, and secures his towel to his waist. It barely comes down to his knees. Joseph looks at his hand again. "...Great, just fucking great. So much for a relaxing shower."

Somepony knocks on the door and it creaks open. "Joseph?" It was Twilight again. "Are you okay? I heard a crash and rushed up."

"I slipped on your bathmat and cut myself."

"Oh my. How bad is it?"

Joseph shakes his head. "I can't tell, too much blood." He hears the door creak a bit. "Don't come in!" The door closes with a click.

Joseph could still hear Twilight on the other side. "Joseph, when you come out, I'll have a few things to help."

"Okay." Joseph turns on the water in the sink with his good hand and sticks his hand under the cool liquid. "Ssss...damn." Joseph clenches his teeth as he runs his hand through the stream. He looks down at the pile of his clothes and crouches to them. He grabs his briefs and quickly returns his hand to the water. "...For all that is violent, gory, and awesome about Dead Space, why the fuck does shit fall on my head right after I take off my hat?" Joseph turns off the water, tears the towel from his waist, wraps his hand, throws on his underwear, and opens the door. "Twilight?"

"Right here," she answers. Twilight was laying on her bed with a first aid kit open next to her. "Come, sit down so I can look at your injury." Joseph nods and rushes over to her bedside, his hair still wet and dripping. He sits to Twilight's left so she can easily look at his hand. Twilight uses her power and the towel unwraps itself form Joseph's hand. "...Okay, this isn't too bad."

"Good to know," Joseph says.

"Neither is the cut on your forehead."

Joseph reaches up with his left hand and feels the left side of his forehead. It was swollen, and he could feel the cut, but no blood. "I thought that was just a bump."

"Just...do what you can do to distract yourself. This might hurt a bit." A bottle of sterilizing alcohol rises from the kit, followed by a wad of cotton.

Joseph's eyes widen, then close halfway. 'Of course,' he thinks to himself. He looks away and closes his eyes. "Um...Um... … ...Dream~ Dream, dream, dream. Dream~ Dream, dream, dream, when I want you...in my arms, and I want you...and all your char-Hynnnn...Oooo-whenever I want you, all I have to do...is dream~ Dream, dream, drea-Oh, hoah, oh..." Joseph struggles to keep himself under control while Twilight dabs his wound.

"That's right Joseph, just keep singing."

"...When I feel blue...in the light, and I need you-Ow! Ssss...oh, oh...I need you...to hold me tight. Whenever I want you all I have to do...is dream~ Not-Geez!...Mmhmm...-Tasting lips of wine, anytime: night or day. The only trouble is...G wiz, I'm dreaming my life away~ I need you so...that I can die a-Ouch! Why do they have to make this stuff sting!?"

Twilight pats his back. "Almost over, just keep singing."

Joseph takes a deep breath. "...I need you so...that I can die a lovely soul, and that is why, whenever I want you all I have to do...is dream~ Dream, dream, dream. Dream~ Dream, drea-Ooookay! I can't keep this up..."

"That's alright," Twilight says softly, "because I'm done cleaning the wound." Twilight presses a wad of clean cotton to his hand, and medical gauze begins to fly around his hand. It wraps itself up and seals, making a soft cast. Joseph looks at his hand and wiggles his fingers. "...Ouch."

"You okay now?" Twilight asks.

"...Yeah."

"Good, now hold still as I fix your head." Joseph closes his eyes and Twilight uses her magic to grab a few items. She dabs the alcohol-covered cotton on his forehead, applies a fresh wad, and then wraps the gauze around his head, pushing his hair up and out of the way. "...Oh Joseph, you look like you just came from the hospital."

Joseph opens his eyes and reaches up, touching his bandages. "...Eh, thanks Twilight."

"Joseph, I'm sorry this happened."

"Don't start." His sudden tone of voice grabs Twilight's attention. "It was my fault. I grabbed the wrong place, I took too wide of a step. This was not your fault, it was mine." Joseph stands and straightens the waistband of his briefs. "I think I'm just gonna crash on the couch, you know, try to sleep this off."

Twilight nods and her horn begins to glow. "Alright Joseph. Here." A pale green blanket hovers over to him in a folded square. "This should be big enough." A pillow floats next to it, and Joseph grabs the two items. "Goodnight Joseph."

"Goodnight Twilight." Joseph hefts the two items under his left arm and slowly reaches the stairs. He takes his time going down, not wanting to add to his total of injuries. Reaching the bottom, the house goes dark, but enough moonlight was seeping through the windows to give moderate illumination.

Joseph creeps over to the couch, minding the coffee table, and sits himself down. Placing the pillow on the end closest to the door, Joseph lays himself down and throws the blanket over his near-naked body. He was able to stretch out completely on the sofa, and the blanket was long enough to cover his feet and come up to his neck. Joseph shifts to settle in, then closes his eyes. "...Goodnight...Tanya..."