You try shutting your eyes tighter as everything grows brighter, but it does little to help. Opening your eyes just a crack, you glance at the morning sun before flinching and holding a hoof up to shield your eyes.

“Uhhh... Too early...” you mumble aloud, shifting in your bed.

Tossing and turning, you quickly notice that there was someone missing from your bed.

“Rarity?” you call out as you sit up, a tinge of worry in your voice.

There’s no answer and you don’t hear anything from the nurse. Getting out of bed, you uneasily get to your hooves and take a step before stopping in your tracks.

What if I’m still dreaming? Or what if I’m hallucinating...

Your eyes shift to the nearby bathroom. Walking over to it slowly, you stare intently at the bathroom mirror and lean against the sink. Bringing a hoof up slowly, you tap against the glass and watch your reflection do the same.

No delay, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing-

“Um, excuse me-”

Your whole body tenses up as you feel a hoof on your shoulder and hear a voice behind you. Whipping around, you come face to face with Nurse Redheart who looks just as terrified as you.

“Oh my gosh! I’m... I’m so sorry, I just heard you moving around and I saw-”

“It’s... It’s fine.” you gasp out, your hoof pushing against your chest as you try to calm down your terrified heart. “Just give me a little warning next time, okay? I’m kinda on pins and needles as it is.”

Nurse Redheart nods quickly and walks over to your room door. “Like I was trying to tell you, Rarity woke up an hour before you and said she’d be back after she took care of your clothes and saw Sweetie Belle off to school.”

“Okay... Now, uh, do you mind giving me a little privacy? I’ve still yet to...” You glance at the toilet, hoping to get the message across.

“Oh! Oh my, I’m sorry. If you need me, just press the call button. I’m right down the hall,” she says with a slight blush before slipping out and closing the door behind her.

You give her a smile just long enough until she’s gone and slump against the bathroom wall before slowly sliding to the floor.

I’m a bundle of nerves. If she hadn’t have said anything, I would have pissed myself like a foal.

Burying your head in your hooves, you let a low groan of frustration and throw your head back and bouncing it off the bathroom wall with a dull thud.

What’s wrong with me? Why is this happening?

The first hit sends a dull pain through your skull, as does the second and the third.

“I gotta stop this,” you say as you pull yourself up, now suffering from quite the nasty headache. “I gotta... I gotta lay down.”

Wandering over to your bed, your crawl into it slowly and pull the covers up before staring up at the ceiling, your thoughts still festering. It doesn’t take long until you’re grinding your teeth in silent rage.

What did I ever do wrong? I’m a good pony. I help other ponies, I pay my taxes, I go out of my way to do the right thing and what the hell do I get for it?

Bringing your hooves up, you slam them down on the bed and let out a deep breath.

I want everything to be normal again. I want my life to be normal. I want to be normal.

The sound of the door opening again pulls you away from your frustrated state and forces you to put on a smile as Nurse Redheart and Nurse Careheart walk into the room.

“You have a visitor,” Nurse Redheart says as she leads Careheart in. “I have some ponies I need to see at the front desk, so just let yourself out when you’re done Nurse.”

“Thanks again Sis,” she says before Nurse Redheart closes the door behind her and trots down the hallway.

Turning to you, Nurse Careheart walks over to your bedside and produces a thermos and sets it down on the night stand. “Good morning doctor. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. I ran into Rarity on the way to the office and she seemed worried."

"What did she say?" you ask, unable to hide just a hint of nervousness in your voice.

"She said something about coming back from the hospital and I knew something was wrong. And then I saw she had your clothes, so I came by and just sort of asked if I could see you. I hope you don't mind, I-"

You hold a hoof up and stop her. “It’s... It’s okay, Miss Careheart. It’s actually nice to have some visitors, but I will be checking out soon. Though, it’s the thought that counts and I thank you for worrying about me.”

Nurse Careheart smiles and grabs the thermos. “I stopped by my house first, though. I figured you’d like this,” she says as she pours the contents of the thermos into one of the many plastic cups on your nightstand. “Homemade fruit punch.”

She stops mid pour and shoots you a glance. “You’re allowed to have drinks, right? I totally forgot to ask,” Careheart says with a bashful laugh. “I don’t even know what you’re in here for and I’m offering you a pretty rich drink...”

“Oh, I’m fine,” you say as you reach out for the cup. “Just a really bad headache, is all. Bones here says I’m pretty much ready to go. I just need to check in with him first and I should be good to go.” Taking a sip, you let out a sigh and lick your lips. “Mmm... You know, I’m glad that this is the first thing I’ve tasted since I got here. That is really good, you have got to give me the recipe.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, really... All you need is some fresh fruits and a blender and you’re good to g-”

The door opens slowly, getting both yours and Careheart’s attention. Shortly after, Rarity walks in, carrying a freshly pressed suit in a plastic bag on her back. Hanging it up on a nearby coat hook, she smiles and turns. “I would have been here sooner darling, but I wanted to press and iron your suit before you-”

She stops and looks over Careheart for a moment before giving you both a small smile. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t expect you to have any other visitors.” Rarity says as she walks over to a nearby chair and sitting down without another word.

"Yeah, she managed to put two and two together and stopped by," you say before taking another sip of fruit punch. "Did you run into Bones on the way in?"

Rarity shakes her head. "No, Nurse Redheart said he was still in his office making some phone calls." She stares at your cup for a second before reaching out for it. "May I have a sip of that dear? I haven't had anything to drink all morning and I'm absolutely parched."

Before you can even open your mouth to say yes, a bluish aura envelops the glass and levitates towards her.

Nurse Careheart reaches out tries to grab it, but misses. "Wait, wait, let me get you your own gla-"

Almost in an instant, Rarity drinks the fruit punch down and puts a hoof on her mouth. "Pardon me..." Rarity says as she places the cup down. "I guess I was a little thirstier than I thought."

"It's... It's alright," Nurse Careheart says as she walks over to the nightstand. "Here, let me get you both a new glass."

Just as Nurse Careheart reaches out for the thermos, Rarity does the same. “No, let me get it, I’ll-Oh shoot!”

They both fumble for the thermos, only to watch it fall to the ground, spilling fruit punch everywhere on the floor.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to,” Rarity says as she backs up and away from forming puddle. “I just-”

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Nurse Careheart says as she gets to her hooves. “I’ll get some paper towels and clean this up.”

You watch her walk over to the bathroom and shut the door before turning to Rarity, who was staring intently at the puddle. “Rarity?” you call out, reaching for her. “What are you thinking about? What’s going on?”

Rarity waves a hoof and laughs out. “It’s silly, I know... But I just really want to get a mop and clean this up.” She lets out a heavy sigh and sits down near the end of the bed. “Old habits die hard, huh?”

You let out a little sigh and crawl towards her. “Yeah, they do. But there’s nothing wrong with that now, is there?” Resting your head on her shoulder, you nuzzle her and get her to giggle.

“Oh, hör auf!” Rarity cries out through a as she tries squirming away from you. “Du weißt, ich bin kitzlig!”
(Translation: Oh stop it! You know I’m ticklish!)

Wrapping your hooves around her waist, you hold her tight and continue to tease her. “Welches ist genau, warum ich das tue.”
(Translation: Which is precisely why I’m doing this.)

Just as you place a kiss on Rarity’s cheek, you hear somepony clear their throat. “Umm, sorry to... interrupt,” Nurse Careheart says with a slight blush. "But I'll just take my leave if you're being discharged." She unceremoniously drops the paper towels on the puddle before looking up to you. "Will I see you at the office or are you taking the day off?"

Taking a deep breath, you get to your hooves and walk over to where Rarity hung up your suit. “I have to go in today regardless of how I feel today... We have an appointment with-”

You stop, realizing Rarity was still in the room and stop yourself. “With... Well, you know. Listen, Meine Liebe? I’ll see you tonight after I’ve seen my last patient, is that alright?”
(Translation: ...My love?)

“But dear, I thought I could well... I don’t know, come with you to work today. You know, just sort of spend the day with you while you work,” she says with a small smile. “Just in case you need me.”

“I’m sorry Rarity,” Nurse Careheart says, coming inbetween you and Rarity. “But I don’t think it would be smart if you came to the office. If you overheard something sensitive, we all could get into serious trouble.”

Rarity bites her lip and shoots you a glance. “What if I stayed in the waiting room while you were with a patient or were on the phone? I mean, there can’t be anything wrong with that now, is there?”

Nurse Careheart opens her mouth to say something, but you cut her short. “Well, if you honestly want to, you can.” Glancing to Nurse Careheart, you lean in close to Rarity and talk above a whisper. “Du sagst nicht mir etwas. Was ist da los?”
(Translation: You’re not telling me something. What’s going on?)

“Ich bin nur... Besorgt. Das ist alles. Ich möchte für dich da sein, wenn etwas anderes passiert.”
(Translation: I’m just... worried. That’s all. I want to be there for you in case anything else happens.)

You let out a little sigh and give Rarity a little kiss on the cheek. “Ich wünschte, es gäbe einen Weg, um Ihnen zu zeigen, wie sehr ich dich schätze...”
(Translation: I wish there was some way to show you how much I appreciate you.)

“Oh, you. I-Huh. Nurse Careheart left,” Rarity says looking towards the door, before glancing down at the half-soggy paper towels. “She could have at least cleaned that up like she said she would...”

“It’s alright,” you say as you throw your undershirt on. “She probably just thought it was more important to get everything set up at the office.”

“Oh! Speaking of which, I need to stop by the house real quick and make a little packed lunch for us to share,” she says with a warm smile.

Pushing your forehooves through your jacket sleeves, you tug at it until it feels right and hold up your bowtie. “Do you mind helping me with this?”

“I don’t see why you just don’t wear a clip-on...” Rarity says as she levitates the tie into the air. “They’re so much easier for earth ponies and can be just as fashionable.”

“I used to,” you say flatly as she starts to slip it around your neck. “But then you came along and it doesn’t feel right unless you tie it on.”

Rarity looks to you, her mouth slightly agape. Slowly, a wide grin grows across her face. Grabbing you by the shoulder, she pulls you in close and presses her lips against yours, kissing you deeply. “That...” she says, slowly backing up. “Was the sweetest thing I’ve heard you say in quite a while.”

You blink a few times in surprise and let out a stupid giggle. “Ohh wow... I gotta turn on the charms like that more often, don’t I?” you ask before wrapping your hooves around Rarity, hugging her tight. For what felt like an eternity, you and Rarity hug and hold each other in complete silence.

“You’ll get better,” she finally says, breaking the silence. “I promise you, I will do whatever I can to make sure you get better.”

“Thank you,” you say, doing your best to stifle a sniffle. “I mean it...”

Clearing your throat, you break the embrace and tug bashfully at your coat. “Well then! I think I’m going to stop by Bones before heading out... I’ll see you at my office, okay?”

Rarity offers you a little bow as she makes her way for the door. “I’ll see you there, my love~”

You follow her out, but part ways as she makes her way into the streets of Ponyville while you stand in front of the oak door to the doctor’s office and knock.

“I’m still kind of busy at the moment, Nurse. Can you come back in five?”

“It’s me, Bones.”

The room goes silent for a moment before it opens a bit. “Come on in, Fritz... We need to talk.”

The white unicorn practically hurries you into the office before closing and locking the door behind you.

“Take a seat, take a seat,” he says as he points to the chair across from his.

As soon as you do, your eyes go wide as you finally notice the state he was in; his eyes were bloodshot and bags hung under them, his mane was a mess, and you could smell strong coffee come off of his breath. “I’ve been up all night,” he says rather easily. “I’ve been running every test I know of and a few I’ve only read about in books. And I... I just can’t understand it.”

“What? What can’t you understand,” you say, inching closer to the edge of your seat. “Did the tests turn up something or-”

“That’s the thing,” he says, slamming a hoof down on the table. “That’s the thing that makes no sense! Every part of me is screaming that there’s something else going on here. No pony slips into a coma like that because of some sort mental condition. But...”

“But?”

“But every test I’ve run has turned up negative. I’ve looked for bacteria, viruses, parasites, genetic diseases, neurological, I’ve run tox-screens, I’ve even talked to my old mentor in Manehattan and even Stable’s at a loss.”

The unicorn lets out a long sigh and slumps against the desk. “I’m so tired, Fritz. I’ve done everything I can think of and...”

You run a hoof through your mane and lean back in your chair. “Well... I honestly can’t say I’m surprised. I mean, I was hoping for something to point at and blame, but I think I’ve already come to turns with the fact that this... well, it’s me. Not some disease.”

The unicorn gets to his hooves and walks over the telephone that hung on the wall. “I honestly can’t accept that. Something isn’t sitting right in my gut and-”

“Bones, please!” you cry out, rushing to his side. “You’re tearing yourself up over this! I’m thankful you’ve gone to all these lengths for me, but now it just hurts to watch. Just... Please. Stop.”

Leaning against the wall, the unicorn lets out a low grown. “I need to do this, I-”

“Listen, if you need to do this, then alright. Do it. But not while you’re exhausted. And not while you have other ponies who need to see you. So get some rest and step away from me for a while. Who knows, maybe the answer will come to you after you’ve cleared your head.”

“I... You’re... You’re right,” he says, defeated. “I’m so tired, I need to get some sleep.”

Picking up the phone, he presses one of the buttons and talks into the receiver. “Nurse, I need to take a little break... Yeah, I’ll be doing rounds in about an hour.”

Walking over to his desk, the unicorn sits down and looks to you with a weak smile. “There... Now... You take care, okay? If anything else comes up, no matter how small, you call me. Okay?”

You give him a nod and make your for the door. “I will. Sleep tight, Bones.”

Your words fall on deaf ears as you hear a light snore come from the unicorn.

Closing the door behind you as quietly as you can, you make your way down the hallway and stop by Nurse Redheart’s desk. “Hey... Why not make it two hours? He’s... Well, he’s out of it.”

She gives you a nod. “I could imagine... Well, all we’ve got are some ponies who need band-aids or some aspirin, so I think I can handle it for a while.”

“You’re a peach Redheart,” you say with a little wave before making your way out the door, a little bit of a kick in your step.

“You’re going to die alone. And I hope unloved!”

You freeze in your tracks and turn around slowly. “What... What was that?” you ask, your heart sinking already.

“I said you’re a flatterer,” Nurse Redheart says, looking up from a stack of papers. “And I hope you have a good day!”

“...Yeah... You too!” you call out weakly, your voice cracking slightly. Taking a deep breath, you do your best to keep a straight face while walking through the streets of Ponyville. Just keep walking. What you heard wasn’t real. Everything is fine. You’re fine.

It feels you’re trying to swallow a rock as you watch your mirror image walk past you with an almost sadistic grin on his face. “You really think that?” he asks as you passed you.

Glancing back, he’s nowhere to be found; as to be expected. Concentrating on your breathing, you steel yourself and try not to break stride, all the while wanting nothing more than to stop and scream out in a mix of fear of frustration.

“I’m fine...” you mumble through grit teeth. “I’m fine.”

Walking up to the door of Open Hooves, you open the door and let out a little sigh. “Good morning,” you say with a forced smile.

Nurse Careheart looks up to you and smiles back. “Good morning to you too, doctor. How are you doing?”

“Ohhh, I’ve been better...” you say as before sitting down on one of the couches. “But I’m doing good, all things considering.”

“Well, maybe a hot cup of coffee will help you get that kick in your step,” she says as she walks over to the counter. Just as she starts to pour you a cup, you shake your head.

“No, no... I honestly don’t need a pick me up right now. I’m just going to get everything straightened around for our first appointment. Has Crystal called in yet?”

“No, she hasn’t,” Nurse Careheart says as she puts the coffee pot back. “But Time Turner has and he said he’d be in around 3.”

“Time Turner... Ah yes, him! The stallion with amnesia. I’ll be in my office if you need me,” you say as you stand in the doorway. “Let me know when Rarity shows up, okay?”

Nurse Careheart gives you a little nod. “I will.”

Walking into your office, you sit down at your desk and lean back. Okay, okay... Just got two appointments today and then I’m done... I can do this, I can do this...

Reaching into your file cabinet, you pull out Time Turner’s file and lay it out in front of you and scan over his patient information. Time Turner. Earth Pony stallion. Cutie mark... Hourglass. Woke up in the middle of a field with no prior knowledge of who he was or how he got there. Letting out a little sigh, you rub at your eyes and lean back in your chair. Last time I saw him, we went over the last thing he remembered... What was it. He was... He was running. He was running away from someone. He got away from them and then he felt a white hot pain. And something about a pocket watch...

Turning the page of the file, you open it to find a little drawing he did during your last session of the pocket watch he remembered. “I should put out some fliers and help him find the fob watch. Maybe if he actually holds it, it might trigger some memories. Maybe then-”

A knock at the door gets your attention. “Yes?”

“Doctor, it’s Crystal. She’s here early and she’s... she’s practically demanding to see you.”

Getting to your hooves, you open the door and poke your head out to see a rather ragged looking mare stand before you. “Crystal... Come in, come in, please...”

Crystal practically barges in and pushes you aside before closing and locking the door. “I’m in trouble...” she says as she presses herself against the door. “I’m in so much trouble...”

“Crystal, please, you’re not making sense... How are you in trouble, what did you do?”

She shakes her head and turns to you, her eyes bloodshot. “I didn’t do anything... They just... They just want me. I don’t know why, but they want me and they’re following me and...”

“Who’re ‘they’? Please, just calm down and-”

“I CAN’T CALM DOWN!” she screams. “They almost... They almost...”

Gingerly, you put a hoof around her and lead Crystal to the chair. “Just calm down and tell me what’s going on.”

Taking a deep breath, she grips the chair and lets out a long, deep sigh. “It... It started after you took me to the hospital. I was brought into a room and... and they... They were different, they weren’t-”

She stops dead and looks at you like an animal that just realized there was something right behind it.

“Crystal, what’s wrong? Crystal, please, you’re scaring me. Just tell me what’s going on and-”

Before you can get another word out, Crystal is to her hooves and barreling out the door. “Crystal, wait!” you yell out. But it’s no use, she’s already gone. “Nurse Careheart, call the police and tell them that Crystal is currently on the run,” you say, holding the phone up to her. Running to the door, you stick your head out and look in every direction, but she’s nowhere to be found. “She was scared. I’d never seen her so scared...” You mumble as you turn back to Nurse Careheart. “She’s afraid. She thinks somepony is after her and she’s terrified of what they’ll do to her. Who it is and what they’ll do, I have no idea... Just make sure they know to approach carefully. And tell them to call me immediately once they find her.”

“I’ll... I’ll do that...” she says as she picks up the phone, her eyes still looking towards the door that swung openly. “Should... Should I tell them anything else?”

You shake your head and walk over to the coffeepot. “Not that I can think of...” you say as you pour yourself a cup. And here I thought it was going to an easy day, today...

“Changed your mind about the coffee?” Nurse Careheart asks mid-dial.

“Yeah... I need something to steady my nerves.” you say before taking a sip. “The whole thing when she was screaming and... how terrified she looked. It was just...”

Kinda like looking in a mirror...

The door opens again. This time, Rarity walks in with a small basket balanced on her back. She looks to you with a smile, but it falters slightly. “Are you okay, dear? You don’t look so good...” her eyes shift to your cup of coffee. “And I hate to be overbearing, but... you really shouldn’t be drinking coffee. You know, with how bad your stomach has been.”

You roll your shoulders and drink down the last of your coffee. “I’m feeling better, I promise. Besides, I wouldn’t be drinking this if I didn’t think I needed it.”

“Well... Okay then. Are you currently with a patient or can I come into your office?” Rarity asks before setting her basket down. “You didn’t have anything for breakfast, so I packed a couple of breakfast sandwiches you like so much.”

“Oooh, what kind?” you say, licking your lips as you trot over to her, peering into the basket.

“One is egg, the other is mushroom and cheese,” she says, levitating them out. “Why don’t we go into your office so you can sit down and enjoy these?”

“Sure, just give me a moment... I need to put away a patient file.” Walking into your office again, you start to gather up Time Turner’s papers when everything starts to spin ever so slightly. “Whoa...” you say with a heavy breath, cradling your head.

You try to shake the feeling off and put the papers away in the filing cabinet before sitting down on your patient’s couch. Cradling your head you let out another moan, just as Rarity peeks her head in.

“Honey, are you alright?” she asks above a whisper.

“I’m... I’m fine,” you say, steadying yourself. “I just got one hell of a headrush for some reason...”

Rarity walks in and closes the door behind. “Listen, you should probably lay down for a moment if you’re feeling dizzy or lightheaded.”

You shake your head and attempt to get your hooves. “No, no... I’m fine, really I’m-”

As soon as you try to stand, everything starts to spin again, forcing you back down on the couch.

“Really now?” she asks as she walks over to you, grabbing your back hooves and placing them on the couch with the rest of you. “Just lay down. You’ll feel better in a moment.”

Bringing your hooves to your face, you hold your head and let out a low sigh and close your eyes. “This is definitely new...” you say under your breath. “I really hope I feel like this because I haven’t eaten...”

Smell hits your nose and sends your stomach grumbling. Opening your eyes, Rarity looks to you with a little smile as she unwraps the rest of the sandwich before giving it to you. “You haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday. Of course you’re hungry. I’m surprised you hadn’t asked for something to eat earlier.”

You take the sandwich from her and barely inspect it before taking a giant bite from it. “Mmmmm... I don’t know why, I guess I just wasn’t hungry when I woke up,” you say through your chewing. You swallow before looking up to Rarity smiling. “Sich bedanken... For everything.”
(Translation: Thank you so much... For everything)

Rarity places a hoof on your head and runs a hoof through your mane, smiling as she looks down at you. “You’d do the same for... Well, you did do the same for me. So, don’t thank me. Just think of it as me returning the favor.”

You can’t help but crack a goofy smile and chuckle under your breath. “Oh please... You’re doing more for me than I’ve ever done for you. You’re starting to spoil me.”

“Just as you’ve spoiled me, my little-”

Away in a madhouse confined to my bed... from visions and nightmares that fill me with dread~

You grip your head and slowly sit up, the sound of someone singing the only thing ringing in your ears.

The doctor has sweetly inserted a probe... to severe completely my pre-frontal lobe...

Looking around, the room you were in looked oddly familiar. Walking around, you look over the plain white walls, black floor, and iron doors before it hits you. “This looks like one of the old psych wards I visited during my fellowship...” you mumble under your breath as you wander over to one of the hallways. “Hello!” you call out down the hallway, the singing growing louder the closer you got.

Electroshock therapy... mind numbing pills... they change my behavior to cure all my ills...

Walking down the hall, you stop mid stride and bring a hoof up to your face and take a deep breath. “No... No, no. I’m dreaming. I’m dreaming and I need to wake up... Wake up. Wake up.” you chant under your breath. “Wa... Why am I moving?” Looking down at your feet, you watch in silent horror as they start to move on their own accord; closer to the voice that was singing. The voice that sounded more than familiar.

I LOVE the ASYLUM! My OWN padded CELL! I’ll stay here FOREVER!

“Wake up, wake, wake up...” you chant louder, hoping in vain that it might actually do something as you’re brought into a room where a familiar pony was strapped to a table.

IVs of all kinds were feeding unknown chemicals into his blood, metal clamps were fastened to the side of his head and crackled with electricity. But that wasn’t the thing that terrified you the most. It was the way that pony who looked like you, gazed in your direction: with empty, glazed over eyes and a perfect hole drilled in the middle of his skull.

“WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP!”

A smile cracks across your doppelganger’s face as he yanks at the IVs and undoes his restraints. “I’ll stay here forever... because outside... It’s hell.”

Your knees shook violently and your heart raced a mile a minute in your chest as your doppelganger moved closer and closer before walking up to you and wrapping his hooves around your throat while you stood there in dumbfounded horror, unable to move a muscle as he started to squeeze.

“This is where you belong...”

You shake your head, tears welling up in your eyes. “No.”

“Come on... You know it’s true. So stop fighting and let it happen.”

“NO!”

Bolting upright, you lean forward and pant aloud, your heart thundering in your chest. You swallow, your mouth unbearably dry and your throat feeling like sandpaper. As you try to steady yourself and get to your hooves, a set of voices reaches your ears.

I can’t sit idly by anymore, I know you’re doing something to him! I mean, look at this coffeepot! What’s this teal stuff at the bottom? That’s not natural!

It’s... It’s the coffee maker, I swear. Rarity, love, this is crazy, I wouldn’t-

It’s the same stuff in your desk I saw yesterday, I know that for a fact!

How... How did... You were in my desk?

While you were chatting me up and acting like lovestruck school filly. Yes, I know. You seriously think I wouldn’t notice you staring? Now get out of my way, I’m calling the police.

For a while, you hear nothing. That is, until a loud smash echoes through the room, followed by a gasp.

Fine! If you want to have it that way..You won’t stop me, I’ll go get them myself!

Groping for something to hold onto along the wall, you moan aloud, your head feeling heavy and your eyes still foggy. Stumbling to the door, you open it and peer out and find Nurse Careheart standing in the middle of the room.

“It’s all your fault...” you hear her mumble as she stands near the coffee pot.

“N... Nurse? Wh-What’s going on?”

She turns slowly, holding the coffeepot in one hoof and a mug in the other. “Oh, it’s nothing... Are you okay? You really don’t look so good.”

You shake your head and lean in the doorway. “No. I’m... I’m not. I thought I heard yelling. And Rarity. And you just... What’s happened, what’s-”

Nurse Careheart gives you an odd look and cocks her head. “Rarity? Rarity isn’t here, she hasn’t shown up yet. I think you’re hearing things doctor...” she says as she walks up to you with the mug. “Here, just drink this and you’ll feel better, I promise.”

Taking the mug in your hooves, the smell of coffee hits your nose and brings you a little calm. “I... I guess I am hearing things...”

Bringing the mug to your lips, you sip it gingerly.

“That’s it... just keep drinking... drink it all down...”

Something burns your throat and you try to stop, but Nurse Careheart places a hoof on the mug and tilts it up into your face. “I SAID DRINK IT!” she cries out, knocking you to the ground as she forces it into your face. The contents of the mug spill down your throat, some going into your lungs and sending you into a coughing fit.

“Careheart!” you sputter out, gagging and choking on hot coffee.

“She would have been mine... She would have been mine... But... But you screwed it all up! You-”

The door opens and Nurse Careheart jumps off of you in an instant, leaving you to gasp and sputter on the floor.

“No, no, no!” you hear Rarity cry out. “Darling, please... I shouldn’t have left you, I just... Please, are you alright?”

“R-Rarity? I’m fine...” you say as you struggle to your hooves. “I’m fine, re-”

Your throat goes numb as you look around at the room of ponies who just stare at you intently.

Rarity looks at you, her eyes full of fear.

Nurse Careheart watches with a small smile.

And the two stallions from the Ponyville Police Department approach you slowly.

“Sir? Sir, are you alright?”

You open your mouth to let him know you were, but just as you do, the stallion’s skin rips apart and a beast crawls it’s way out, snapping and snarling at you, making you do the only thing you can think of to do in that situation.

Scream.

Screaming at the top of your lungs, you back up and press yourself up against the wall, terrified out of your mind as the creature grows closer and closer. “STAY BACK! STAY BACK!” you scream out through the wails, hot tears running down your face.

The other stallion moves and starts to rot before your eyes as he draws closer. “There’s nowhere to run,” he mumbles before turning into a skeleton right before your eyes, holding out a bony hoof that grew closer and closer to grabbing you.

“NOOO! NOOO!”

A pair of hooves grab your face and turn you, until you came face to face with the mutilated face of your beloved Rarity who smiled at you through bloody teeth. “I’m going to rip you to shreds and make a rug out of you.”

You try to let out another scream, but nothing comes out this time other than small whimper as you collapse to the ground, sobbing as you shake, your terrified mind unable to process the world around you as it changed and twisted. Closing your eyes, you curl up into the fetal position and let out a low moan.

“Grab him.”

That’s the last thing you hear before everything fades away.

***********************************************************

“Away... in a madhouse... confined to my bed... From visions and nightmares that fill me with dread... Come on... Sing along!”

You strain against your straight jacket and bury your head into the corner of the room. “Go awaaay...” you mumble out. “Just leave me alone, I-”

A hoof grabs the back of your head and tilts your head up until you’re looking your doppelganger square in the eyes.

“You’re not alone. Not anymore. So get used to it you wertloses Stück Müll.”
(Translation: ... worthless piece of trash)

Out of the corner of your eye, a nightmare version of Rarity licks her lips and drags the back of a knife down her studded leather corset. “Mmmm, darling. I just can’t wait to get a taste of you...”

“This isn’t real, this isn’t real...” you say through grit teeth, your eyes welling up with tears. “This isn’t-”

Gripping your head, your doppelganger slams your face into the side of your window and laughs aloud. “It’s real enough! So get used to it, Müll!” Looking outside, you feel yourself whimper as the words of the side of building mirror in the lake in front of it.

Manehattan Psych Ward

Bringing his own face close to yours, your doppelganger smiles a toothy grin, showing off teeth that looked like needles and whispers so close, you can feel his hot breath on your coat.

“Welcome home~”