Artex never actually lost consciousness, but everything was way too hazy for him to remember any of it clearly. At some point much later on he came back to his senses. He blinked in confusion as he looked around, "Oh joy," he grumbled, "A hospital room." He tried to bring his hands up to rub his eyes but a metallic clang held his arms in place. He blinked again as he saw the padded steel manacles restraining his arms and legs. He tried to sit up but fiery pain across his stomach and a choking sensation around his neck stopped him. He laid back. "Are you 'fucking' KIDDING ME!"

He turned his head, hearing the clinking of chains as he did so, "I can't believe this!" His anger, which had been simmering since he had been turned away from The Incandescent Silver Star, boiled over in a way he had not felt in many years, "That... is... IT!"

He opened his screfula, pulling as much Thamaturgic Energy into his hands as he could. He flexed his fingers and tore the steel of manacles apart by force with a wrenching squeal. After his hands were free, he reached up and grabbed the steel collar around his neck. Charging his magic, he tore apart the collar and sat up, not caring that his stomach burned like the fires of hell as he did so.

With an enraged roar he stood up and clasped his hands to his stomach. He looked down only to find he was naked and had stitches going across the middle of his stomach. The stitches held, thankfully. Artex looked around, but found none of his possessions, "They chained me up, took all of my possessions, and nobody even knows I'm here." He pursed his lips and shook his head in disgust, "Fuck this place." He clenched his teeth and yelled, "FUCK THIS PLACE!" Doing his best not to flex any of the muscles in his stomach, he grabbed the bottom sheet off the hospital bed and tied it around his waist, "Never thought I'd be doing THIS again. Oh wait, this is because all the Ponies in this FUCKING town are all RACIST DICK HEADS!"

With the sheet in place, he made his way to the door and ripped it open as hard as he could. He let it go before it stopped and it slammed into the wall with the handle embedded into the wall behind it. Artex blinked in surprise at seeing an eggshell colored Unicorn mare wearing the armor of the Civil Guard standing next to the floating form of the young Pegasus stallion who had cut him. The mare had not yet reached his door,but she was close. The young stallion was hogtied and floated in the air, courtesy of the mare's magic. Her expression was stern and neutral as she looked Artex up and down, "Glad to see you're recovering, citizen. I need to ask you a few questions about the events which led to your injury." She gestured to his covered stomach.

Artex was not in any mood to deal with such things, "I'm surprised anypony in this bigoted city is willing to find out what happened." He gestured to the bed, "I mean the doctors and nurses chained me to the bed like an animal..." he shook his head and pointed to the young Pegasus stallion, "You got the right guy. The other three only stood with him, he's the one who cut me open. I'm leaving this 'fucking' city. Have a good time with all the hate crimes."

"It was an accident." The young stallion said loudly, "I-I was only trying to scare you away! You said your skin was hard as diamond!"

Artex stopped when he heard the young stallion speak. After he finished, Artex turned his head over his shoulder, "So you were just protecting the city from the monster, huh?" He growled, "Well thanks to you I had to hold in my own INTESTINES! Protecting means stopping an active threat, not bullying an IMAGINARY ONE!" He grunted in pain, "Did you know that Humans are more frail than Kavim? I was injured before and I was saved by an Earth Pony who volunteered to give me a blood transfusion. My insides BECAME a Pony. Unlike other Humans, I can eat grasses, hay, and flowers. I also have the toughness of an Earth Pony. Had I been a normal Human, you would have cut me in half. Thank your lucky stars it was me you cut, otherwise you would be charged with murder, 'asshole'."

The young stallion spoke up quietly. As far away as Artex was, a Kavim would not be able to hear his voice, "Petamine, I..."

The mare in the Guard armor replied in a hiss, "While on duty, I am an officer of the law. You assaulted and nearly murdered this Human and the law applies no matter who you are, so be silent."

He ignored the conversation, stepped past the mare, and the floating young stallion. The mare called out to him, "The doctors have not cleared you to be up and about. You need to return to your room before you injure yourself worse."

Artex stopped and turned around, his temper rising, "My room? My cage, you mean! I'm not some rabid beast to be put in chains and I refuse to be treated that way! I did nothing wrong, but I was chained up like a monster!" He held out his arms, "'Hell', I'm doing what you want! I'm going back to my own kind! At least there I'll be treated like a patient and not a 'fucking' PRISONER! Enjoy spreading the hatred and think about exactly WHO has been acting like the animal!" He turned back around and continued limping in the direction which appeared to lead to a main hallway.

A nurse passed by the hallway and stopped when she saw Artex. She took a step back, looking frightened as he loomed over her, "Would you be so kind as to direct me to where I can find my clothes and belongings?" He asked through clenched teeth.

"T-the Civil Guard confiscated y-your clothes a-as evidence." She said.

Artex clenched his eyes shut and took a deep breath, flexing his fingers, "Where are my shoulder bag and my tool? I have spare clothes in my shoulder bag."

"I-I don't know... m-maybe the security office?" The mare said.

Artex nodded, 'It makes sense. That's where we would take somebody's stuff when I worked at Maryview.' Artex closed his mouth and took a calming breath before he spoke, "Could you direct me to the security office please ma'am?"

"Y-you need to return to your room." The nurse stuttered.

Artex raised his eyebrows, "Would you like me to put the chains back on, too?" He asked bitterly, "No thanks. Next time I wake up, I might be in a cage for a zoo or something. No, you just direct me to the security office and I won't have to contact the Royal Guard." He sighed and grimaced in pain, "Fine," he spat, "Seems like I don't have any choice. I'm the royally sanctioned Human Emissary. You are going to direct me to the security office."

The mare opened her mouth, "Sir..."

Artex' voice took on a sarcastic tone, "Oh, so it's SIR now is it? Only now that I said I'm important do I get a 'sir'." He spat on the floor, "I'm only going to say this one more time: take me to the security office."

"Sir please..." the nurse began.

"NOW YOU 'CUNT'!" He yelled.

The nurse cringed, laying her ears back and lip quivering, "Y-yes sir, follow me please."

* * *

The nurse let Artex to the security office which was situated on the first floor. Walking down the massive stairwells, every step was torture for Artex and did less than nothing to improve his mood. The nurse took her leave of him once he had reached the office. It was not unlike the one he had worked out of during his time at Maryview. The office was set between the main doors of the hospital and the emergency room. The windows were wide and tall and looked to be fairly thick. Artex saw two Ponies inside the office, both looking at him in open surprise. He reached his hand out and pounded loudly on the door. Of the two Ponies in the office, a Pegasus and an Earth Pony, it was the Pegasus who answered the door, "Yes?" he asked, looking Artex up and down.

"My shoulder bag and my hatchet/hammer are here. You're going to give them back to me, now." Artex said simply.

The security officer scrunched up his face in distaste, "You don't have to be rude about it."

Artex did not bother to hid the fist he was clenching, "After the day I've had, I have no reason to be polite to anypony in this stupid city. Just return my stuff and I won't have to get really nasty."

The Earth Pony trotted forward with the items on his back, "Here, take your stuff." He spoke with distaste.

Artex slowly and painfully got dressed right there in the hallway. He did not care what the Ponies saw, nor did he care that six more stern faced security officers had gathered around the spectacle. As he finished buttoning up one of his two spare shirts something occurred to him, 'I'm going to be going very far without a cane and there is no way these damn assholes are going to have anything in my size.' his eyes fell onto the rounded wooden dowel rails which lined every wall and smirked. He fastened on his belt, and slipped his shoulder bag over his head. He pulled out his hatchet/hammer and before any of the surrounding stallions could react, he slammed the hatchet portion of his tool into two places on the rail. He slid the tool back into his belt and hefted his new walking stick while the security officers yelled at him. Artex ignored them and turned toward the far end of the hallway, which ended in a pair of double doors and sunlight outside.

Artex made his way toward the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. The security officers followed behind him uneasily. He was not in a good mood by any stretch of the imagination and the staff was fearful that he might turn violent.

Artex ignored them as he limped his way to the side door. The security officers stayed in the hospital and watched as he limped his way down the street. He did not know where the train station was and he was unwilling to stay in the town, 'I'm going back home where I can get real medical treatment. I'll send the girls a telegram once I get there...' He heard a gasp and stopped. He grumbled and turned around, spotting an Earth Pony mare, "Yeah, yeah, I'm the big bad monster. Just tell me where the train station is and I'll leave."

The mare pointed down the road in the direction he was already heading, "Th-that way, sir. S-seven blocks that way and i-it's the third building on the left."

Artex spat on the street in front of her hooves as he turned back around, "Don't bother with the 'sir' crap, I know what this city's really like."

'That was unnecessary.' His conscience berated him, 'She didn't do anything wrong. She was just surprised. She didn't deserve that and you know it.' Artex grumbled as his mind fussed at him. He had not been so nasty to anybody since he had been bullied in school, 'The Guard did nothing wrong either. In fact, she did better than that. You heard what he called her. She had arrested her own son because he broke the law. She never said anything bad to you, she was just concerned about you. The nurse didn't do anything to you either. You were just mean to her for no reason. And pulling the rail off the wall in the hospital? That was just excessive. It was destruction of property and theft. If somebody had done the same thing when you worked at Maryview, you would have had them in cuffs in a heartbeat. You're acting like a jerk. Keep this up and you're going to make them right for hating Humans. Tone it down. You're in pain, you can be grumpy, but you do not have the right to be mean for no reason.'

He hobbled on down the road as his mind continued to heap on the guilt. He had to admit that it had a point. Feather Tip had been perfectly hospitable. He blinked in surprise as he noticed that eleven Unicorn stallions had formed up around him. None of them looked at him, they merely walked in a large circle, keeping pace with him. They did not hinder him in any way. Artex took a moment to examine them. They were filthy and disheveled. Their coats were rough and their manes and tails were thickly matted, yet they held themselves with the same surety he had seen on the E.U.P. Guards.

Artex rotated his head, looking at each one. None of them met his eye, they never even flinched, "So what the 'hell' do you guys want? You making sure the monster leaves town?" he asked bitterly. None of the stallions answered, it was like they had not heard him. Artex nudged one of them on the shoulder with his impromptu cane. The stallion did not move, he just kept staring straight ahead. Artex shook his head, "Whatever. Just don't stop me from leaving and we won't have a problem." he continued his walk and the eleven stallions kept pace with him perfectly.

After some time, he came upon the train station. The walk served to greatly soothe his ire. He gingerly limped up the stairs and looked toward the ticket booth. The six Ponies waiting to board the next train all backed away from him and his entourage. He limped his way to the window, "Next train for Canterlot... please." He asked bluntly.

The mare behind the window looked up from her newspaper and her eyes widened slightly. Artex nodded sadly, "Yes I know I'm a Human and yes I know I'm not welcome here, that's why I need the ticket. Just give me the ticket and I'll leave. I'm not going to steal the ticket and I'm not going to go on a rampage." He grunted in pain as he reached into his shoulder bag and dropped his coin purse on the counter, "I'm paying for it."

"W-well... um..." the mare sputtered nervously.

Artex closed his eyes and spoke very softly, "I already know that everypony in this stinking city hates my kind. I kind of got THAT memo when a Pegasus stallion sliced open my stomach. Just tell me when the train is coming and sell me the ticket ma'am, please."

The mare looked genuinely fearful, "T-the n-n-n-next train for C-C-Canterlot i-isn't for f-five m-more hours."

"I don't care." Artex said slowly, "How much?"

"T-ten B-B-Bits." The mare stammered.

Artex placed eleven on the counter, "Thank you for not gouging the price."

The mare looked from the Bits, to Artex, and back, "O-oh... well... thank you. Thank you very much." Her face brightened into a semblance of a smile.

She passed him the ticket and he limped away from the ticket window. He found a bench and turned around to attempt to sit down on it. To his immense surprise, he felt his body cushioned by magic as he was lowered onto the bench as gently as he could have imagined. Once he was seated, he looked around to his eleven escorts, "Uh, I'm not sure which one of you did that but... thanks... I guess." He sat there and closed his eyes, it only felt like early afternoon which made him wonder, 'What the hell? How quickly did they get me stitched up?' He shoved the thought from his mind, 'Who fucking cares. I just need to wait here and soon I'll be back in Canterlot. The Princesses will make sure I'm taken back to New Humansville.' He cracked open his right eye and looked at one of the stallions surrounding his bench, "Could one of you guys wake me when the train comes?" A brief nod was his only reply. Artex closed his eyes and fell into a brief, dreamless nap.

He awoke some time later to the feeling of his stomach protesting the lack of digestible matter for it to busy itself with. Artex had not paid much attention to the building close to the train station earlier. He looked around for any chance of a small café. To his relief, there was a diner just across the street. There looked to be few Ponies inside, which suited him just fine. He was not a happy person right then and he did not feel like having any additional company. His conscience had switched topics and had moved on to how upset his mares would be when they discovered he had left. He grunted as he began to rise from his seat, aided by magic from one of the stallions again, "Thanks guys." he muttered in slight confusion. He slowly made his way to the front doors of the diner. He pulled open the door and walked in, ignoring the conversations which fell silent all around him. He inched his way to the bar and very gently lowered himself to the fairly tall bar stool closest to him while the stallions waited outside like guards.

He leaned his makeshift cane against the edge of the bar and braced his weight on the bar top. An Earth Pony mare trotted up in front of him and hesitantly laid a menu in front of him, "Erm...," she began shakily, "W-we don't serve m-meat here sir... are you sure you want to eat here?"

Artex sighed wearily, "Madam, Humans eat mostly fruit and vegetables. What meat we do eat has to be imported from Gryphonvale, or fish. For the record, we do not eat any creature which is capable of speech. Despite what rumor you might have heard, we are not monsters." He did not even open the menu, "Do you have a grilled cheese sandwich platter?"

The mare nodded vigorously, "We do. It's one of our best sellers. Is that what you would like?"

Artex nodded, "And milk to drink if that is alright. I'm on some significant pain killers right now and I need to have something in my stomach or else I'll become ill." Before the waitress could say anything, Artex dropped his Bit purse onto the bar, "I can pay in advance if you like."

The waitress shook her head, "That won't be necessary sir. We're used to catering to other species, but we don't have the permits to cook or sell any meat products. We serve the Diamond Dog traders who come into town."

Artex merely nodded, staying silent. The waitress ambled off to place his order. No sooner had she gone than a dark red Pegasus mare plopped down on the bar stool next to Artex. She sighed tiredly and laid her chin on the bar top, "I'll have an iced tea please." Artex saw her out of the corner of his eye, but said nothing as the waitress placed a cold glass of milk in front of him and the iced tea in front of the mare. He picked up the glass and took a sip, "What I wouldn't give for something harder." He grumbled.

The mare next to him perked her ears and turned her head toward him as she lowered her glass, "Rough day?" She asked.

Artex ignored her question. The mare huffed, "You know, it's rude not to answer somepony when they talk to you."

Artex sighed in resignation and turned his head to her, "I'm sorry. You're right, it is rude. I... I've had probably the worst day of my life today. I shouldn't take it out on you."

The mare cracked a small smile, "Well, at least you aren't dead."

Artex chuckled bitterly, "I'd be in less pain if I was."

The mare frowned at his answer, "I'll make you a deal. Let's compare days. If yours was worse, I'll pay for your food. If mine was worse, you pay for mine."

Artex grimaced, "Alright. Let's who's day sucked more. Ladies first."

The mare inclined her head, "Quite the gentlestallion. Well my day started off well enough. I had a good breakfast and I spent some time with my husband," she winked playfully, "If you know what I mean."

Artex cracked his own half a smile, "Sounds nice enough so far."

"Just wait." The mare replied, "Well I went to work and found out that one of my employees, sorry, ex-employees turned away a paying customer. I work at The Incandescent Silver Star as a manager. I had been expecting somepony to arrive today. The daughter of one of my sister/wives is bringing her herd to meet the family and she sent me a private telegram that her stallion was going to take a room in the hotel I run because she's worried that her Mother might not like him. She didn't explain why her Mother might not like him, but once I heard about my former employee turning away an unusual customer, I just knew it had to have been him..."

Artex kept his expression neutral but his mind was racing, 'This is one of Razor's Petamines. That is a bad day, but not as bad as mine.'

The mare continued, "Well, that was upsetting enough, but then I find out later that my own son, being a foolhardy youngster, went and got himself arrested for assault on the same stallion that was turned away from my hotel. Now, he's being held for attempted murder and the stallion just walked out of the hospital before he could be discharged, which looks awful on the doctors. Apparently he was under the impression that they tied him down as a prisoner when, in fact they only had him restrained because he was so uncooperative when they first got to him and they didn't want him to exacerbate his injury. Now the entire hospital is in an uproar with some of their nurses and patients walking out because of the commotion over 'chaining up' an injured patient like a criminal. One of my other sister/wives has already had her medical license suspended by the head of the hospital due to the claims of malpractice with the injured stallion she ordered restrained when she surgically closed his wound. Worse yet, the Civil Guard who had to arrest my son was also one of my sister/wives. And now her daughter is at our house crying her eyes out over the whole debacle and the Royal Guard have been sent for because of the severity of the crime my son committed and the claims filed by my sister/wife in the Civil Guard against the hospital because of what happened to the injured stallion." She closed her eyes and banged her head on the bar top. He voice was muffled by the wooden bar, "So... how bad was your day compared to mine?"

Author's Notes:

Let me know if you spot any typos.