Chapter 18: Hospital Again?

After over an hour of walking Brax and I turned up at the entrance to the familiar Tenpony tower. I was exhausted, worried, sick and on the verge of tears.

Brax passed over his laser batteries and I my explosives and a canister of shotgun shells that I didn’t even know I had to the guards upon entering the building. Finally we left the stiff cold air and entered the warm building, the warm air hitting my dirty, disgusting coat. It was hardly surprising as we made our way to the elevators that I had ponies staring at me. I would have thought these ponies would have gotten a grip on themselves, especially as travellers whom usually arrived were quite filthy.

When we entered the elevator I saw myself in the cracked mirror for the first time in days. My eyes were sunken and red, my face was dirty and my mane was filthy from dirty snow and dust. When the Elevator arrived on level 5 we trotted over the threshold, my heart beating fast. The hospital was clean as ever, yet I knew that this trip was different than the rest. I walked up to the counter, feeling as if I was sick. A mint coloured unicorn was behind the desk and she looked up.

“How may I hel- Alyshia?” the pony said startled. “What brings you here?”

I didn’t remember the pony behind the desk, it was but seven years ago I finished my training, part of it here at the Tenpony hospital. I nodded then opened my mouth. “Was a white unicorn, 19 years, black mane and female admitted here within the past hour or so?” I asked desperately.

The pony raised her eyebrow. “You know we can’t give out details of our patients Alyshia,”

I huffed my frustration. “The patient was under my care, she arrived with two pegasi as I couldn’t get her here myself. If you want confirmation, then by all means bring Midnight and Scerine here and they will tell you.”

I waited. The pony then picked up the phone. “Doctor, I have Alyshia wanting to know if a young unicorn of nineteen years by the name of…” she looked up to me expectantly.

“Amethyst,” I said quietly.

“Amethyst,” the pony repeated. “Apparently bought in by two pegasi.” The pony frowned then said, “Correct. I shall advise. Thank You.” She put the phone down and sighed. “We received Amethyst about fifty minutes ago; she’s undergoing surgery as we speak.”

“Sh-she’s alive,” I gasped.

“Yeah, see Alyshia,” Brax growled. “She’s tough.”

“Midnight and Scerine are in the waiting room,” the receptionist said, I was told they were waiting your return.”

“Th-Thank you,” I gasped.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Brax and I entered the waiting room, the waiting room had a few ponies inside, some with bandages on their heads, others on their legs and others were in wheelchairs.Others were simply waiting with loved ones.

Midnight and Scerine were found near the back row on a large maroon cushioned bench. Midnight had fallen asleep, her muzzle and cheeks wet from tears. Scerine was awake, laying down a good meter from the other pegasus. “Hi,” I said in a still shaky voice.

“Hey,” Scerine said getting to her hooves. Her voice was clearer now her visor was pulled back. Scerine was younger than I thought, her charcoal face was tired but otherwise she was alert. She couldn’t have been any older than Amethyst was.

“I wanted to thank you, for everything,” I told the younger pegasus. I hugged her. Unsure if this was the right way to thank her, I pulled away.

“It was nothing,” Scerine said waving an armoured hoof. “You as the mother but be absolutely distraught.”

I blushed. “Truth be told, I’m not actually Amethyst’s mother, she’s nineteen not sixteen.” I sighed again and looked towards the surgery room.

“You’re not?” The pegasus said unsure.

I shook my head. “Amethyst was born in a stable. You know those lockups they had back before the war?”

Scerine nodded.

“Her birth mother resides in the stable and Amethyst has left to find a certain item. As I understand it. I’m more her carer.”

Brax coughed. “You mean you’ve taken her under your wing and mothered the living-“

“Yes Brax that’s enough,” I snapped. I could feel the stallions scowl behind his mask. My name’s Alyshia by the way,” I said blushing from the lack of an introduction. “That’s Brax,” I said pointing to the stallion that was now getting himself something from the vending machine. “And that’s Midnight,” I said pointing at the sleeping pegasus.

Scerine glanced at Midnight as Alyshia introduced the sleeping pegasus. I opened my mouth to ask how long she’s been asleep for but Scerine answered my question. “She’s been asleep for about twenty minutes.”

“Oh,” I said. “I hope she hasn’t been too rough on you,” I said sympathetically. “Midnight’s a nice pony really but-“

“She hates the enclave,” Brax said through a mouthful of chips, his visor pulled back. I glared at him.

“Wha’?” he growled. “It’s true.”

Scerine sighed. “I’m sorry for following you, it wasn’t my business. I was supposed to rest at Tenpony tower then head off to Hoofington. I saw your carriage about two hours after you left the mountain and I decided to follow you. I remembered that you had an injured pony and-“

“Scerine it’s fine. Amethyst would probably be dead without you,” I told the young pegasus. “I take it Midnight has already growled at you?”

Scerine didn’t nod or shake her head. That told me enough.

“I’ll talk to Midnight tomorrow,” I sighed. “That is assuming you have time to hang around until Amethyst wakes back up?”

Scerine nodded. “I have a week to fix the relay tower. I can hang around.”

“Great,” Alyshia said smiling. “I’m sure Amethyst would want to thank you.”

Scerine smiled, and then looked away. I assumed she still felt bad for stalking us. I let it slide; we had a long wait before Amethyst was ready to be seen.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

It was now 2 am. Scerine was still awake and Midnight still asleep, Brax was also still awake with the help of a strong coffee.

The surgeon trotted over in his light blue overalls. “Alyshia?”

I looked up to the surgeon praying the news was good. “Yes?”

The surgeon smiled. “Amethyst has come out of surgery and is in a stable condition.”

I felt relief surge through my body. “Thank goodness,” Scerine sighed, her eyes red from tiredness.

“Thank goodness alright,” Brax growled, “I know it’s sad that Lionel is dead but I’m glad Amethyst didn’t die.”

I nodded. “Amethyst is a better pony,” I managed to say. I looked back at the surgeon. “Can we see her?”

He smiled again. “Of course.”

“I’ll go wake Midnight,” Brax said quietly before bustling away.

I nodded. Scerine and I were lead into the recovery room by the surgeon, the faint Beep, Beep sound of the machine filled my ears. “She’s stable but still critical,” he said. “Her heart had a lesion, that’s now fixed and her respiration muscles are now responding.” He gave a slight cough before coming to a halt at the curtain. “Although one must question how she got into such a state? I was under the impression she was hit by a spell from an Alicorn. If that was the case, then why did she suffer two severely broken legs, a high radiation dose, a broken rib and a lesion to the head?”

“She already had those injuries,” I sighed.

“Amethyst also seems to suffer a degree of malnutrition. Is she eating?” he asked.

“I- I’m not actually sure,” I said my heart tearing. Now he put it like that, I took next to no care for the filly in our group. I didn’t even know if she was eating.

“She has cuts all over her forelegs as well,” he said drawing the curtain. They’re all mostly healed but still visible. Do you know how she might have gotten them?”

I shook my head, remembering that I saw these when I was tending to her. The doctor stood aside together, Scerine and myself stepped forward. Amethyst was lying face up; IV tubes connected her to multiple machines that measured her everything. The surgeon pulled the sheets back to expose her upper body. The sight of her almost made me burst into tears, her fur was missing in places and her ribs were showing. Apart from that, she was fixed but my eyes caught her forehooves. Pink lines laced them, visible from beneath her coat. Her left leg had more than her right.

“They look self-inflicted,” Scerine whispered to me.

“How do you know,” I whispered back.

“I-“ Scerine began awkwardly.

“I agree with the pegasus,” the surgeon said. “I believe the marks to be self-inflicted.” He pulled the sheet back over Amethyst to prevent her from getting cold. “I can’t really think how else she got them.”

Brax and Midnight walked in, Midnight rubbed an eye with her hoof. “How’s Am-Amethyst,” she yawned.

The surgeon gave a smile, tilted his head then left us with her. “She’s critical but she’ll be fine,” I said quietly even though I knew Amethyst wasn’t going to wake.

Midnight looked teary, but she held together to walk up to Amethysts bedside. “I’m glad she’s alive,” she managed to say. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost two friends.” Midnight’s eyes watered up.

Scerine skulked away, leaving us to whisper how thankful our friend is still alive. I cleared my throat. “Scerine, you can see her too.”

Scerine shook her head. “I don’t want to intrude, really. I shouldn’t even be here.”

“Nonsense,” Brax growled, “You helped-“

Scerine gave a weak smile but stayed away. I was thankful that Midnight had stopped berating Scerine but I felt I owed the young mare for helping get Amethyst here. “At least stay till Amethyst wakes up. I’m sure she wants to meet you.”

Scerine nodded, glancing at Amethyst then she looked back at me. “I’m going to get find a room, I’m quite tired. I’ll be back to see Amethyst tomorrow.”

Scerine turned, flicking her armoured scorpion tail that was part of her enclave armour as she went. “If she didn’t help Amethyst, I would have killed her,” Midnight growled.

“She’s nice enough,” I told Midnight. “That’s really quite harsh you know.”

“Yeah, so is what they did…” she snapped. “I won’t ever forget.”

I knew she was referring to her parents. “Enough Midnight, let’s just get some rest okay?”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

The following day Brax and I went to visit Amethyst. Midnight didn’t attend as she wouldn’t get out of bed. The difference was that today I was clean and fresh. When the nurse took us to her, Scerine was already there.

“You’re early,” I said shocked that the pegasus would turn up so soon.

“I was lonely,” Scerine said with a grin. “I don’t normally get sent on solo missions, the enclave deem it a requirement.” I nodded, understanding this “enclave” had an odd way about things.

“How is she?” I asked.

“She’s sleeping,” Scerine said, “She’s been quite but sometimes she’d mutter something, I guess she’s just dreaming.”

I walked over to Amethyst on the right side of the bed and pulled her left forehoof from under the sheet. It felt good to feel Amethyst’s warm hoof against my own, knowing that she was still alive. I glanced down and beneath her coat were her marks. The marks the doctor believed were from self-harm. “Brax, do you think Amethyst is happy?”

Brax cocked his head. “I dunno, that’s something you should ask her when she wakes up.”

I held onto her, wishing my question could be answered. I knew that Amethyst was troubled. I knew she had a crush on Midnight, I knew that she had trouble at home. I put Amethyst’s hoof back on the sheet, my eyes catching her Saddlebags on her bedside. Perhaps my question could be answered. I levitated Amethyst’s saddlebags over and opened them magically.

“What’re you doing?” Brax whispered. “Are you going through her stuff?”

“I need to know,” I replied.

Brax gave me a dirty look. “This isn’t how you go about it,” he growled.

“I know how to go about it,” I replied. I started pulling things out of her bag at random. First thing I pulled out what looked like a dismantled robot and four pairs of solar panels. I placed them to the side and continued. Books, a towel, a small bag of caps, a tin of canned fruit, her water bottle, a small first aid kit, a large quantity of bandages, a rusty old knife… “I hope she didn’t use this,” I moaned. “It’s all rusty.”

“Stop making assumptions,” he hissed. “If you falsely accuse her-“

“I won’t be,” I growled so Scerine wouldn’t hear. “It’s pretty obvious, look at the cuts Brax.”

I continued to search her bags. I found a small glass spun orb, a few syringes of painkillers and about four healing potions, one of which had a faded number on it. I frowned. I’ve seen this healing potion before. I pulled it out of a drawer in the Stable in the Everfree forest. “She’s been stealing my things,” I gasped a flutter of anger pitting my stomach. “She’s been taking my healing potions. That’s why I ran out on the mountain.”

“You sure,” Brax whispered.

“I pulled this one out of that stable in the forest near Ponyville,” I levitated the potion to his muzzle. “I’ll be having a firm chat with her at any rate.”

“Excuse me Alyshia, I don’t mean to be butting in but. Should you really be going through her things like that?” Scerine said with a frown on her face. “I seriously doubt that-“

“When she’s been cutting her forelegs and hiding it behind her socks while guzzling my healing potions it becomes my business,” I said dangerously. “Especially when I am running dangerously low on them.”

“And you’re not concerned in the slightest about her mental health?” Scerine put in with a frown, her green eyes firmly on my own. “You’re worrying about her taking your healing potions when she’s been slicing her forelegs up?” Scerine extended her wings looking a little angry.

“Of course I’m worried about her,” I snapped a little hurt. “She should have told me what was troubling her.”

“Ponies just don’t tell others they’re having thoughts of hurting themselves,” Scerine snapped. “I don’t need to know Amethyst to know that she wouldn’t want you to see those cuts on her legs.”

I felt a pang in my heart. I was angry at Amethyst for taking my things, for her putting undue stress on me when healing her at the mountain without potions. But I also felt bad for her as well, what was causing her to self-harm?”

“I’m going for a walk,” I muttered walking out of the ward. “For now at least, I needed to clear my head.”

*                                 **                        *Two Days Later*                      **                         *

Point of View Change

Amethyst

I felt comfortably and unusually warm; a soft beeping filled my ears. I didn’t want to wake up, I felt too exhausted and my mind felt at ease for the first time in a long time. I just wanted to sleep for a little more, not able to keep my eyes closed I opened them. I was staring at a cracked white ceiling and I felt groggy and lethargic, I raised my forehooves and I was connected to more IV drips than ever before, I even felt one in my nose. I raised my head, my left curtain was open and on the seat reading a magazine was a dark Pegasus with a snowy mane, her wings tipped white. The only thing familiar about her were the white tipped wings.

“Who’re you?” I said my voice slurring as I tried to keep my vision focused.

“Amethyst?” the pony jumped to her hooves. “How d’you know my name,” I said staring at the pony. “Where’s Alyshia and…” I tried to focus but instead slurred, “Everypony else.”

“They’re eating dinner,” she said. “Do you need the nurse?”

“Nurse?” I said confused. I squinted. “Are you a nurse?”

“No,” she said cocking her head. “I’m going to get the nurse for you.”

“Who are-“ I began but she left. I slumped against the pillow with nothing to occupy me other than the sound of my beating heart. My head was cloudy, it throbbed as if I had concussion and my limbs felt like lead. My memory before I blacked out was vague. All I remember is the crash, a beam of yellow then nothing.

A nurse pony entered the ward followed by the dark pegasus. The nurse looked surprised, “You weren’t expected to wake today,” she said. “How’re you feeling?”

I lifted my forehoof to my head. “Sore,” I muttered. I felt a hoof push my chest onto the bed. “What’re these for,” I said stupidly as I tugged the IV tubes.

“Your sustenance,” the nurse said simply. She tapped my forehoof, “Don’t play with them.”

“Sorry,” I muttered. I glanced at my forehooves, the fading marks still visible. I glanced at the rather pretty pegasus. “Do I know you?” I asked.

“Not really,” she said with an awkward grin. “I met with your friends in the fight and brought you here for treatment with Midnight.”

“Midnight’s here?” I asked my mind straying. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Scerine,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m from the pegasus enclave-“

“The enclave,” I gasped as the nurse wiped my forehead with a towel. “I take it Midnight doesn’t like you?”

“Well, I sometimes get that feeling,” she muttered. “I understand she’s a ground pegasus, I mean she isn’t a dashite. She has her cutie mark.”

“I’m going to get the doctor,” the nurse said. “He’ll be with you in a moment.”

I nodded then turned what little attention I could muster to Scerine. “Midnight’s always lived down here,” I said to her.

Scerine nodded. “I gathered that much.”

A stallion doctor came into the ward and strode over to my bed. “I’m sorry for breaking the conversation ladies but I need to run some tests.” He turned to me. “I’m Doctor Cascade. To be truthful we weren’t expecting you to wake today.”

“The nurse said something like that,” I muttered.

“Quite,” he muttered as he pulled out his stethoscope. “Now you’ve suffered a degree of trauma Amethyst and I expect you to be here for about a week or so.”

“A week,” I coughed.

I shivered as the cold metal made contact with the shaved fur on my chest. You heart is better,” he muttered. “And yes a week, you’re still in a delicate condition.”

“What was wrong with it?” I moaned.

“You suffered cardiac arrest and stopped breathing” the doctor said raising an eyebrow. “Do you not remember how you got here?”

“I was injured,” I said remembering my condition. “But I don’t remember how I got here.”

“That knock to the head was quite bad,” the doctor said taking comments. “We’ll need to get you in for scans on the brain but I think that much this is coming from the morphine used to suppress the pain and the fact that you’ve only just woken up.” The doctor took notes from the measurement on the machine before looking back at me.

“I’m going to get the others,” Scerine said quietly.

I nodded and turned back to the doctor. “I’ll need to ask a few questions however,” he smiled, “I think that can wait until you’re feeling a little better.”

I nodded, not really understanding by what he meant by “Questions.”

“For now though,” he added. “I’ll leave you to see your friends and some rest.”

“Thanks,” I muttered slumping against the pillows.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“Amethyst, you’re awake!” Alyshia shouted delightfully when everypony finally visited me. She bustled over and gave me a hug, avoiding all my IV lines.

“Alyshia,” I mumbled through her rib breaking hug.

She pulled away, a smile on her muzzle. “How’re you feeling?”

“Sore,” I garbled. “But alive.”

I saw Midnight, looking happy to see me but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Something wrong?” I asked as audibly as I could.

Midnight nodded. “I’m fine, glad you’re awake,” she said.

I lifted a hoof and waved at Brax. Scerine was standing in the background as everyone greeted me. Everyone except… “Where’s Lionel?” I asked glancing around the ward. “Actually… I don’t care where he is,” I added. “As long as he isn’t-“

“Amethyst he’s dead,” Alyshia said her voice high pitched and full of concern. “Don’t you remember him getting hit?”

I blinked and shook my head, “No,” I said flatly. Personally I didn’t know if I should feel happy or sad that he was gone. It was horrible of me to think like that but in the back of my mind I was pleased. “I don’t remember anything after crashing.” I sighed, “How did he die?”

“He was hit, like you were but in the throat,” Brax growled. “It’s a mystery you’re still alive.”

“Midnight are you okay?” I asked noticing that the beautiful pale pegasus looked saddened.

Midnight rearranged her facial expression and gave a fake smile. “I’m alright,” Midnight said, “It could be worse. Anyway you’re alive and I’m glad.”

After a quick catch up the group dispersed for bed, all but Scerine left the ward. “Aren’t you going to bed?” I asked her in a soft voice.

Scerine shook her head, “I’m not that tired yet. I can stay for a little longer; anyway I don’t really know you yet.”

“So uhh,” I mumbled trying to break the ice. “How much longer are you sticking around?”

“I’ve actually got to go tomorrow,” Scerine said her face falling. “I need to fix a relay tower in Hoofington, it’s not giving off a signal and the enclave needs it to transfer signals and the like.”

“I’m quite good with stuff like that,” I said sickly. “I love playing with technology; it was my job back in the stable.” I remembered my dismantled dragonfly that I still had to put together and made a mental note to fix it when I was better.

“I learnt to deal with technology in the Enclave,” Scerine said. “I grew up with my father; he was in the enclave too. Father always wanted a colt but mother left him when I was born, she left me with him and he’s been pushing me into the enclave since I was a little filly, he was quite pushy and he would often make excuses why it’d be better if I was born a colt.”

“I grew up with my mum.” I coughed then continued. “She’s been pushing me to live the life she ought to have lived. She’s tried to tame me but in the end she didn’t really care. It’s more about her than me.”

“What of your father?”

“He’s dead,” I said simply.

“Oh, I’m so sorry-“ Scerine began.

“Don’t be,” I said with a smile. “I never knew him anyway; he died when I was only very small.”

“Do you know much magic?” Scerine asked steering the conversation away from family.

“No,” I admitted. “I only know two spells.”

We chatted about our daily lives when we were younger, shared our interests and enjoyed each other’s company for another hour or so before Scerine rubbed her eyes then said as if it had just come to mind, “Alyshia said you were out here looking for something? What is it?”

“A water talisman,” I sighed. “I can’t seem to find one.”

“It’s no wonder,” Scerine sighed. “They’re rare and the few that do exist are held by the steel rangers.”

“Steel Rangers?”

“Protectors of technology,” Scerine said surprised that I didn’t know.  “We’ll, I really must get some sleep. I have an early morning tomorrow.” Scerine gave me a hug, her flowery yet slightly musky scent wafting into my nose. “It’s been nice meeting you Amethyst, if I come across a Talisman I will let you know.”

“How?” I asked as she pulled away, “We aren’t staying here.

“Uhh,” Scerine thought for a moment. “What’s your tracking ID on your pipbuck?”

I raised my left forehoof and found the ID on the dented casing. “13975b,” I said. Scerine wrote the number down. “I’ll be able to track you with it, if I come across anything I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks,” I said as Scerine leaned into a second hug. “I will hopefully see you again.”

“Seeya,” I said a little deflated that she couldn’t stay. I watched her leave the ward and with a flick of her white tail she was gone.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

The following day started horribly. It was wake up at seven in the morning for breakfast. “What is this?” I sneered at the meal that resembled mashed mud delivered to me by the nurse. “That’s your meal,” the nurse said offended. “If you want that tube out of your nose then it would be a good idea to eat it.” That stung, she had a point. Whatever the food was it was horrible, not only that but I had to eat it with fork in hoof as my magic wasn’t working again. It tasted like sour bread turned into liquid, the only thing that made it edible was the salt in it. I didn’t get far into the meal before I pushed it away feeling queasy. I took a drink of water but it didn’t wash the foul taste away. What was it with the ponies in the wasteland eating food from tins, meat and horrible food that tasted as if it has been sitting for two hundred years?

“You didn’t get through your food?” the doctor said as he came to my bed side.

I shook my head. “It’s hard to stomach,” I murmured.

Before I knew it I was carted off for a brain scan. I had to sit stock still for a full thirty minutes as they filled my head with radiation to take images of my brain. After this I was taken for further tests of the heart where they hooked me up to a machine to ensure my heart was pumping in rhythm properly. After this I was weighed

“Before today, when did you last eat a decent meal?” the doctor asked of me as he read my reading.

I racked my brains. “A week or so,” I guessed. Every time I’ve been offered food it was always in a rusty tin or it was meat. My last good meal would have been in New Saddle Tower and that was well over a week ago, or a fortnight? How long have I been out for again? I shook my head confused.

“Are you okay Amethyst?” The doctor asked.

“I’m fine,” I said bluntly hitting my head with a hoof in confusion.

“Do you need to lie down?”he asked.

My head began to spin. I nodded, wanting to get away from these tests. I was later escorted back to my bed, changed into a fresh grown and was placed into bed.

“Now if there’s anything you need, just call the nurse.”

I nodded again, preferring to just be left alone to sleep…