Twilight looked around wildly. She tried to count the seconds it took for her to step between the laboratory and the hall leading to the vault, but it just didn’t work. There was no way that she could’ve bypassed the hospital so quickly. She hadn’t teleported, she would’ve noticed if she had, and she didn’t see Dread put anything into his bomb that might’ve made a rip in space.

“Dread!” Twilight called. The world seemed to spin around her. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be possible. What had happened spat in the face of everything Twilight knew about both magic and physics.

When she didn’t get an answer, Twilight’s heart began beating rapidly. Her eyes darted back and forth wildly. Her breath caught in her throat and her legs felt weak. What if what had happened only affected her. What if she was alone?
Already Twilight could hear the sounds of approaching enemies. A parade of psychopaths and monsters marching down the hall to kill her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Twilight tried to run, but she only managed a couple of steps before pain shot through her leg and she fell, slamming her face into the ground.

Twilight curled up and closed her eyes. The metallic sound of approaching hooves echoed in the distance. Twilight’s heart pounded, sending panic into every one of her limbs. Every muscle in her body tensed. They would be on her soon, and all she could do was hope that they killed her before the worst of it.

“Miss Sparkle, are you alright?”

Twilight looked up to see Dread’s head poking through the hole. She looked around and couldn’t find any sign of approaching psychopaths.

“I, uh…” Twilight murmured. She stood up and did her best to look like she wasn’t just panicking in a fetal position, taking care not to put too much pressure on her wounded leg. “I was just, I- When you didn’t come through, and the hallway, it just-” Twilight took a deep breath. “The hall, it’s changed and your bomb made a loud noise and inmates and monsters and-”

“Calm down, Miss Sparkle. Tell me slowly.” Dread stepped through the hole, having to stop and un-snare his satchel from a jagged piece of wood.

“The hospital, it’s gone,” Twilight said, taking great care not to let her emotions get the better of her again.

The android looked around at his surroundings, and took a step back. A loud click echoed from within him. “This does not make sense. The hole should have led us to… This is not possible, even with magic an entire section of the facility could not have simply vanished. I do not understand.”
Twilight did not want to hear that. She would’ve accepted any answer, any explanation, no matter how little it made sense. Even a half hearted guess would’ve been better, for it would’ve at least given Twilight something to work with, some way to make sense of what had happened.
“Do you think it’s related to what caused the door to disappear?” Twilight asked, hoping that she would be able to coax some kind of answer out of Dread.

After emitting a few more clicks, Dread said, “Possibly. No, certainly, but nothing like this has ever happened. We need to regroup with the others.”

Turning toward the hole, Dread said in as loud a voice as his speakers would let him, “Miss Pie, where are you?”

“I’m right here,” Pinkamena’s voice said from the other side of the hole. As she crawled though, carrying the trash bag full of the pony she had butchered, she added, “Sorry, it took me a while to find my bag. It turned out I had dropped it out in the cell hall. Mr. Spider is still there. I would’ve talked to him, but he was all tied up with something.” She came out with a wide grin on her face. “Oh, what happened to the hospital?”

“Well, Miss Pie,” Dread said, “we are not quite sure. It just seems to be gone.”

Pinkamena shrugged. “Alright then.”

Both Twilight and Dread looked at Pinkamena for a moment. Twilight herself wanted to ask her how she could be so calm after finding out something so drastic had happened to a large portion of the building. The only thing stopping her was the near certainty she wouldn’t understand Pinkamena’s answer.

“Let us be on our way,” Dread said.

They hurried down the hallway as quickly as Twilight’s bad leg would allow. None of the force fields had been activated, so they only had to stop whenever the pain in Twilight’s leg became unbearable. As they walked down the hall, it crossed Twilight’s mind that both the smell and charred piles of goo that had plagued the halls before were missing.

Twilight’s mind was a firework display of fears and worries. It seemed to her that what little logic existed in Sleipnir was slowly beginning to come undone. She had faced chaos before and befriended it, but this was different, somehow. Twilight couldn’t put her hoof on it, but whatever was happening to Sleipnir’s architecture didn’t feel like something Discord would pull. Not her version, anyway.

After what felt to Twilight like an hour, they reached the large circular door that guarded the vault. The large circular door was still in the same condition they had left it in, to Twilight’s relief.

Dread unfolded his claws and moved into his two legged position to turn the vault’s valve. The door rolled open slowly, revealing Dr. Layne and Fluttershy playing some kind of card game.

Without looking up from his cards, Dr. Layne asked, “Oh, you’re back. Did you find anything-”

“No, Dr. Layne,” Dread said, stepping into the room, “we were attacked and had to come back. Twilight was injured and needs to rest. After I drop her off, I will be heading out again.”

Dr. Layne laid down his cards and stood up. “It’s not serious is it?”

“No,” Twilight said, “it just hurts to walk. That’s all.”

Dr. Layne nodded his head. “Alright, go lie down on the bed sheets. I’ll be with you shortly, just take it easy for right now.”

Twilight nodded and limped over to what looked like the softest pile of bed sheets. She lay down in a position that didn’t put too much pressure on her leg.

“One more thing before I go, Dr. Layne,” Dread said, “I need to have a word with you on some pressing matters. Alone, if possible.”

Dr. Layne looked at the android and said in a low voice, “This doesn’t concern the Administrator, does it?”

“Perhaps, Dr. Layne, but I am unsure.”

Dr. Layne swore underneath his breath. “That’s just peachy.” Then, turning to Fluttershy, he said with a half hearted smile, “I’m sorry, Fluttershy,
but it seems that we will have to finish our game some other time.”

“That’s alright,” Fluttershy said softly, “but, if you don’t mind, could you please help me move over by Twilight. I’d really like to talk to her.”
Dr. Layne gave Fluttershy a much warmer smile and nodded his head. He bent down and let Fluttershy wrap an arm around his shoulders and then helped her to her feet. Dr. Layne slowly walked with Fluttershy, letting her move one of her legs forward before taking a step. Fluttershy’s legs moved stiffly and slowly. She leaned more and more on Dr. Layne with every step.

When they got to the pile of bed sheets Twilight was lying on, Fluttershy was panting and practically fell onto the sheets.

“Are you alright?” Twilight asked.

Fluttershy panted for a moment then answered, “Yes, I’m just out of breath, and a little sore. No, really sore.”

“I’ve been trying to help her walk again,” Dr. Layne said, turning Fluttershy over into a more comfortable position, “So far she seems to be recovering from being att-”

“Dr. Layne,” Dread said, gesturing toward Pinkamena, who seemed to be contemplating her trash bag in the far corner of the room.

Dr. Layne scowled at Dread, grumbled something Twilight couldn’t make out, then continued, “She seems to be recovering from her accident
remarkably well. Normally it would take weeks of therapy to for a pony in her condition to even manage a couple of steps.”

“That’s good to hear,” Twilight said, smiling.

Dr. Layne sighed. “It is, but we’re a long way from having her fully recovered. In fact, I’m not sure that, well, let’s hope we can get her to a fully equipped hospital. One with ponies who are actually trained for these things.” Dr. Layne looked over at Dread, who was standing by the vault door, waiting. “Anyway, I’d better not keep Dread waiting for much longer. I’ll check up on you two later.” He turned and walked over to Dread, and the two of them left the vault, leaving the door slightly open.

Twilight tried to listen to the incoherent series of sounds that leaked in through the hallway, hoping that she would be able pick out some new information. She gave up after a minute, both because it was rude to eavesdrop, and the fact that she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Besides, they’d probably tell her what they were talking about if she just asked.

Instead, Twilight shifted slightly to face Fluttershy, who seemed to be just about fully recovered from her walk earlier.

“How are you feeling?” Twilight asked, unable to come up with something better to say.

“I’m fine, I think,” Flutttershy said softly, “Dr. Layne has been very nice to me.”

“How have you been… adjusting?”

Fluttershy began running a hoof along one of her scars. “I’m not sure. Okay, I guess. It’s just a lot to get used to. My skin doesn’t feel right. It’s like I’m wearing an outfit that doesn’t fit very well. I keep trying to open my bad eye, and well…”

“Well,” Twilight said, desperately trying to think of a way to make Fluttershy feel better, “I, uh… Did Dr. Layne tell you anything about the facility?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Not really. He mostly just asked how certain parts of my body felt, and about my life in Ponyville. I’m not sure I want to know about this place, especially after what those ponies did and seeing you…” Fluttershy went quiet.

“Fluttershy?”

“Twilight, what was that thing?” Fluttershy asked.

“What thing?”

“That thing, with the tentacles? You and Pinkie said it was a changeling, but that can’t be right? Changelings don’t have tentacles”

Twilight unconsciously scratched at her bandage. “That thing, it was a monster. I don’t know what else to say about it. It was a monster and if I hadn’t done what I did, it would’ve hurt us. I’m sorry, that’s all I know about them.”

“Them? There’s more than one?”

“Yes,” Twilight said. She glanced over at Pinkamena, who was still poking at her bag of pony meat. “You could say that.”

Fluttershy whimpered.

Twilight reached out and touched Fluttershy in what she hoped was a comforting manner. “It’s okay Fluttershy, the monsters won’t hurt you, not so long as your friends are with you.”

Fluttershy reached down and touched Twilight’s hoof. “I want to go home, Twilight. I don’t want to be here in this awful place.”

“Fluttershy…” Twilight wanted to share in Fluttershy’s desire to go home, or to at least escape Sleipnir, but she found that she couldn’t. After leaving her cell, Twilight hadn’t given much thought to escape, even after she had promised Fluttershy. Twilight wasn’t even sure what constituted home for her anymore. If the dreams she had been having had any bearing on reality, then her home might be a very different place than what
she thought of it. Twilight wasn’t sure she wanted to go back to that life.

Of course, that didn’t mean that Twilight didn’t have a duty to her friend. Even if she was unsure of her own escape, Twilight had still made a promise to get Fluttershy out of Sleipnir. And what kind of friend was Twilight if she couldn’t even keep a simple promise?

“I’m working on it,” Twilight said, more to comfort Fluttershy than anything else.

They sat quietly for some time. Twilight eventually pulled her hoof away, and was considering taking a nap when Fluttershy coughed.

“One more thing,” Fluttershy said softly.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“I’ve been noticing that some ponies here, well they, um… I would’ve asked the doctor but-” Fluttershy stumbled over her words for a moment, then asked in a voice that was little more than a whisper, “I want to know why you and Dr. Layne keep walking on all fours?”

“Well, uh; Dread!” Twilight called. She waited a moment, and when the android didn’t answer she swore under her breath.

“I don’t know how to explain this,” Twilight said, “but there are these diseases that have been going around, three of them, and they do things to ponies. Unpleasant things.”

“Oh my, I hope they’re not dangerous,” Fluttershy said.

Twilight shook her head. “No, they’re not dangerous, at least,” Twilight looked over to Pinkamena, “not necessarily. One of these viruses is called Anthropomorphia and it does something to pony genetics. It makes them;” Twilight scratched behind one of her ears. She tried to think of someway of answering without letting Fluttershy in on more than she could handle. “It makes them walk funny, that’s all.”

“Oh, well that doesn’t sound too bad. It isn’t painful, is it?”

Twilight forced a smile. “No, no. Ponies don’t seem to notice. It’s just a mild skeletal restructure. Nothing to worry about.”

“Skeletal restructure?” Fluttershy squeaked, pulling a bed sheet over herself.

Twilight wanted to smack herself. She just had to describe a virus as something that restructures anatomy.

“It’s okay, Fluttershy,” Twilight said, hoping she could undo some of the damage she’d done, “pony doctors have developed a treatment. In fact, when we get back to Ponyville, I’ll be they’ll be able to treat you immediately!”

“Treat me?” Fluttershy asked. As soon as she said it, Twilight realized that she had said something wrong. “I can’t have the virus. I’ve always- I can’t- I-” Fluttershy began breathing faster, and her left arm started quivering rapidly.

“I meant- I mean that-” Twilight fumbled over her words. She tried searching for a way out of her predicament, but none came to mind. Twilight could tell her a lie, but that would leave her telling more and more lies to cover up inconsistencies Fluttershy’s life on her world, and Twilight’s understanding of it. It was a predicament that Twilight had seen far too often, and would rather skip over it.

Taking a deep breath, Twilight said as gently as she could, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s just that, well… ” Twilight tried to get the words out, but they seemed stuck in her throat.

“I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this,” Twilight finally conceded, choosing her words carefully, “but for right now, until Dread comes back, let’s just say that Dr. Layne and I have slightly different anatomies from normal ponies. Alright?”

Fluttershy waited for her breathing to return to normal before speaking. “I don’t understand. Are you the one infected or am I?”

Twilight hesitated for a moment. “I’m the one infected, I mean a pony walking on four legs? No, my anatomy is screwed up, and now I have to wait for the doctors to come up with a treatment.” Twilight gave a nervous laugh.

Fluttershy looked at Twilight disbelievingly. “Twilight, why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”

Twilight gave another nervous laugh. She glanced back at the vault door in the vain hope that it would be opening, and that she wouldn’t have to explain anything. The door was completely still.

Gritting her teeth, Twilight took another deep breath and called, “Pinkie, do you mind helping me with explaining something to Fluttershy?”

From across the room, Pinkamena tore herself away from the bag of meat to look at Twilight. Pinkamena shifted slightly to block more of her bag from Fluttershy’s vision, then turned away.

Twilight muttered under her breath, then turned back to Fluttershy. “Let’s just say that the ponies walking on all fours is a temporary problem that doesn’t cause us discomfort, or get in the way of our daily lives.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy said slowly, “but that doesn’t really explain anything. Twilight, if you don’t want to tell me, just say it. I won’t be mad.”
Twilight sighed with relief. “Thank you, Fluttershy. Just so you know, I want to tell you but,” Twilight hesitated for a moment, “it’s just hard to explain, and I don’t really understand it myself. Dread understands these things better, I’m sure he’ll tell you when he gets a chance.”

“Oh, okay,” Fluttershy said.

“Is there anything else we can talk about?” Twilight asked.

Fluttershy thought for a moment. “Yes actually. I want to know -“

Fluttershy was interrupted by the vault door opening. Dread and Dr. Layne entered. Dr. Layne turned to shut the door, but Dread shook his head, saying, “I will not be here long, there is no reason to close the door.”

Dr. Layne grumbled and scowled, then, realizing that both Twilight and Fluttershy were watching, changed his expression to a forced grin.
“Right, Dread. But are you absolutely sure that you want to go alone?”

Dread emitted a crackling sound from his speakers. “Yes, Dr. Layne, for the tenth time, I am absolutely sure.”
“Well it’s just, you know,” Dr. Layne gestured at Pinkamena.

“I trust, Dr. Layne, that you will be able to handle any situation that may arise. I have faith in you.”

Dr. Layne sighed. “Fine, just please don’t take too long.”

“You need not worry about that, Dr. Layne,” Dread said, “I shall only be here for a moment.”

“That’s not what I… Oh forget it.” Dr. Lanye stomped off to lie on a nearby pile of bed sheets.

“Um, what’s going on?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, nothing much. It’s just that the idiot cyborg has decided that it would be a good idea to go wandering the facility on his own,” Dr. Layne grumbled.

“We need more data, Dr. Layne,” Dread said, “And besides, you still need food.”

Dr. Layne snorted.

Dread took off his satchel and laid it by one of the walls. “Before I go, is there anything any pony needs?”

Fluttershy, who had been trembling quietly, poked her head up and said, “Some tea would be nice, if that’s alright?”

“I will see what I can do,” Dread said, “Miss Sparkle, Miss Pie, do you two have any suggestions?”

Twilight shook her head.

“I think I’m good,” Pinkamena said quietly without looking away from her bag, “I may need some kind of stove, or something.”

“Very well,” Dread said, turning to the door, “I will return shortly. Please be safe.”

After the sound of the vault door turning shut, the four ponies sat in silence. After a few minutes, Dr. Layne coughed and asked, “So, Fluttershy,
would you like to go back to our game?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “No, sorry but that short distance I walked took a lot out of me. Maybe we can play later?”

Dr. Layne sighed, “All right, you get your rest.”

“There is one thing I’d like though. If that’s alright?”

Dr. Layne smiled. “I’m happy to help.”

“Twilight mentioned something called Anfropromophia. Could you please explain to me what that is exactly?”

Dr. Layne’s smile suddenly became strained. “Of course, I’d be happy to.” Then, giving Twilight an angry look, he added, “I just wish that some pony had just told me before she went on blabbering about such disdainful things.”

Realizing that it probably wasn’t a good idea for her to be around while Dr. Layne explained things to Fluttershy, Twilight carefully got up and limped over to where Pinkamena was starring at her bag.

“Hi,” Twilight said.

Pinkamena looked up from her. “Oh, hi Twilight,” she said dully.

“Is something wrong?” Twilight asked, “You’ve been pretty quiet since we got back.”

“Oh, I have?” Pinkamena gave a small smile. “Sorry, I didn’t realize. I’ve just been wondering about things.”

Twilight carefully set herself into a sitting position. “What kind of things?”

Pinkamena shrugged. “Just things. Like,” Pinkamena glanced over at Fluttershy. The patchwork pegasus was still listening to Dr. Layne’s lecture on Anthropomorphia. “I want to tell Fluttershy what happened to Rainbow Dash.”

Twilight shifted back and looked away for a moment. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean,” she glanced at Fluttershy to make sure that she wasn’t listening, “I don’t think she’ll forgive you if you tell her, and you won’t be able to go home.”

“I know that, Twilight,” Pinkamena sighed, “but Rainbow Dash was her friend and she deserves to know what happened. And besides,” Pinkamena gulped, “I don’t want my friends to forgive me, not after what I’ve done. They should know what happened, all of them.”

Twilight took a deep breath. “I’m not sure they’ll be able to forgive you, Pinkie, this isn’t a normal friendship problem.”

“I know,” Pinkamena said, “I don’t expect them to forgive me, but they deserve to know. Even if it breaks their hearts.”

Pinkamena laid back and looked at the ceiling. She said in a soft voice, “Do you think they’ll hang me, or behead me?”

Twilight’s stomach lurched at the question and she blurted out, “Let’s change the subject, shall we?”

She must’ve said it louder than she wanted, because a moment later Dr. Layne called, “Are you two alright?”

“We’re fine,” Twilight answered, “just talking about… things.”

Dr. Layne looked at Twilight, then at Pinkamena. He frowned and said, “Alright, then. Let me know if anything is wrong, alright.”

“Alright then.” Twilight smiled, then turned to Pinkamena, whispering, “Can we have this conversation later? I don’t want to risk Fluttershy over hearing us.”

Pinkamena shrugged and the two of them talked for some time on things that Twilight felt alright with Fluttershy overhearing, such as the importance of balloon coloring and making sure that the flavor of icing complimented the flavor of the cake.

After an hour, Dr. Layne called them over to join Fluttershy and him in their card game. After a brief explanation of the rules, the crippled pegasus dealt four cards to every pony, and they all settled down for what Twilight hoped would be a peaceful game night.

Author's Notes:

Sorry this chapter took so long. My interest in this story has waned a little bit and the fact that this chapter was so tedious didn't help. Also, I need to stop resorting to "Pinkie and Twilight talk about issues" every time I get stuck.