Never before had I seen a pony run as fast as I did just minutes ago.

Snooty had made a lightning-speed exit at the conclusion of my magical display. His reaction to my magic made one thing very clear: he was afraid. With the revealing of my magic, I had put a serious dent in his plan to put me away, and he knew it.

This made me feel a bit more comfortable. I now knew that once Surefire collects the data from my alicorn sample and unigram test, the case against me would crumble like the walls of a sandcastle against the waves of the rising tide.

Although, despite my personal victory over Snooty, I hadn’t thought of the potential consequences of my actions. Surefire however, was quick to point this out.

“What were you thinking, Prism!”

I winced and shrank down at the detectives words. “I-I didn’t think—”

“That’s right, you didn’t think!” she quickly interjected before facehoofing with a loud groan. “It’s bad enough that Snooty knows what Twilight and I have been up to the past few days, but now he knows about your magic as well.”

I felt just awful. I let my anger and spite for Snooty get the better of me again. This time it was not only detrimental to my position, but to my friends’ as well. I made a mental note to work on my temper, as it had gotten me into nothing but trouble and only made situations worse lately.

“I’m sorry, Surefire...” I apologized, my ears falling back as looked down to my bed in shame.

Surefire let out a long sigh before turning to face me. “It’s alright, Prism. This just means that we have to be careful now that the cat’s out of the bag.” She scratched the back of her neck. “And I’m sorry for yelling at you like that.”

I shook my head dismissively. “It’s fine. I really messed this one up.”

“Regardless, I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that,” Surefire admitted, returning to the green chair in the corner of the room and taking a seat. “Anyways, Ruby should be ready soon.”

As if to punctuate her message, a click of metal sounded as the room’s door opened, a red pegasus entering, happily humming to herself. Ruby pushed in front of her a strange metal contraption. It looked to be some kind of a chair on wheels. Further examining the device, I could have sworn it seemed awfully familiar, like I had seen one before, but I couldn’t quite place a name on what it was.

The doctor beamed the two of us a smile. “Everything is prepped and ready for you, Prism.” she announced, walking up to my bedside. “Shall we go then?”

I nodded. “I’m ready, but...” I tilted my head curiously at her. “How exactly am I supposed to get there?”

Ruby looked back to the metal device she brought with her. “Well...”

* * * * * * * * * *

I couldn’t think of a moment in my life where I felt as helpless as I did right then. Requiring both Ruby and Surefire to lift and position me in a device meant for pushing me around was beyond humiliating. The doctor had called it a “Wheelchair” when she and the detective helped me into it a few minutes ago.

I folded my ears back in irritation as Ruby pushed me down the long hallways of Manehattan General.

As the three of us traversed the halls, I couldn’t help but notice that the many hallways of the hospital grounds all looked very much the same. The walls varied different shades of white, holding up a number of corkboards, charts and miscellaneous other pieces information regarding the patients in the rooms we passed. It wasn’t difficult to see how a pony could easily get lost in this building if they were not familiar with it. If not for the many marked signs, it would be downright impossible to navigate the maze.

Surefire bumped my left shoulder with a forehoof. “Oh come on Prism, cheer up! It’s not that bad,” she enthused, sounding quite chipper as she walked along side me.

“Yes it is that bad,” I replied, absolutely no enthusiasm in my voice whatsoever. “It was bad enough I have been glued to that bed for days; now I have to have somepony push me around in this humiliating device for me to go anywhere.”

Ruby let out a small chuckle as she continued to push the chair from behind. “It’s not humiliating. Plenty of ponies have had to use wheelchairs when they had been badly injured,” she informed me as we began to turn down an approaching corner. “Besides, you’re going to be using one until we get you walking again; so you best get used to it now.”

I let out a disgruntled grumble at her words and looked away. “Hooray for me...” I cheered out in utter deadpan.

Our journey through the hospital hallways lasted for several minutes before a sign hanging overhead read, “Magic Ward.”

Passing under it, we came into a rather large and open waiting room. Several unicorns sat waiting, some looked to be in pain or obviously sick; while other miscellaneous tribes of pony sat reading magazines and books. A number of fillies and colts also played with a collection small toys and stationery play devices in the back corner of the room.

Not much has changed since then.

My ears fell back as I sank into my seat with a small sigh.

Surefire sped up ahead, opening a pair of double doors leading out the room and further into the ward.

As we passed her, the young mare caught a good look at my face. “You okay, Prism? You don’t look so good...” she asked, concern weighing heavy in her tone.

I shook my head dismissively. “I’m fine, it’s just... I have a lot of bad memories of this place.”

“You’ve been here before?” she asked, a hint of surprise in her tone as she caught up to walk alongside me again.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Oh wow, what were you here for?” Surefire asked as the three of us stopped in front of a seemingly random doorway.

“A nightmare...”

Surefire tilted her head curiously at my response as Ruby opened the room’s door and wheeled me in. The room was surprisingly small, with just enough room to fit a small hoof-full of ponies. it seemed to only serve one purpose, to house a device that I quickly recognized.

It looked a lot like a machine Twilight had in her basement, only much larger, and less crude looking. Seeing as this was a hospital, it was little surprise they would have top of the line equipment.

Surefire leaned up against a wall in the corner, whilst Ruby walked around me and tapped a series of buttons on a dashboard near the front of the machine. A few moments of silence went by before it made a loud beep. The doctor turned to me and leaned in close, seemingly examining my horn.

She rubbed her chin with a forehoof. “Your horn should still be fine from the Unijel coating earlier, but juusst to be safe...” Ruby reached into a pocket of her white doctor’s coat and retrieved a small bottle. “...I’m going to apply another coating; can never be too careful.” she then opened the bottle with the assistance of her right wing, revealing the bottles lid also doubled as an applicator brush.

It impressed me just how dexterous this pegasus was with her wings. I had seen Fluttershy make use of her extra appendages several times, but not nearly to the extent that Ruby Heart relied on them. The doctor happily hummed to herself as she as she brought the applicator to my horn and brushed a large streak down it.

The sensation I felt as her applicator’s brush touched my horn was... weird. A very unnatural cold feel seemed to seep into my horn with each stroke she applied. A few moments later Ruby stepped back, examining my horn from several different angles before nodding to herself.

“That should do it!” she exclaimed with a small smile. “Now we wait about eight to ten minutes while the gel takes its full effect before we get started.”

Surefire pushed herself off the wall and walked up beside me. “In the meantime, would you mind clarifying what you meant earlier by ‘a nightmare’, Prism?”

Ruby glanced to the young mare with a nod. “I am curious myself. Not too many ponies have bad experiences in the magic ward, what exactly happened?”

My ears fell back at the memories their questions raised. “It’s kind of a long story....”

Ruby somewhat frowned. “Well, can you at least give us the gist of it?”

I let out a long, drawn out sigh. “My first experience here was on my third day of Magic Kindergarten; the first time I visibly used my magic.”

“I imagine that would have caused quite the stir,” Surefire commented.

“You have no idea,” I declared before continuing. “I was struggling in class, everypony had been able to summon their magic willingly within the very first day, everypony but me. The teacher was worried that there might have been something wrong with me.”

Ruby brought a hoof to her chin with a humm, “Hmm, most unicorn foals can willingly summon their magic without instruction, long before their first day of Magic Kindergarten.”

I nodded. “Right, which is why she was so concerned with my inability to summon it. When I told her I never had any surges as a baby, she didn’t believe me; not until Mother clarified it the next day anyways.”

Both mares stared back at me in obvious surprise. “You didn’t have any surges as a young foal?” Ruby asked, hesitation evident in her tone.

I shook my head.

Surefire sat to her haunches, folding her forelegs over her chest. “That’s just... bizarre. My little sister had some wild magic surges as a baby,” She informed us. “I clearly remember her levitating my all toys at once, and turning on all the water faucets in the house a few times as well.” The young mare looked over to me. “You didn’t have anything like that happen?”

I again shook my head. “Mother said I was quiet as a mouse when I was a baby; that I was even easier to handle than her friend’s pegasus foal.”

“Of the three tribes, Pegasi are the easiest to look after during foalhood,” Ruby Heart commented. “They lack the strength of earth pony foals, and cannot use magic, or fly.” She paused for a moment before reiterating, “Well... on rare occasions some can fly from the moment they are born, but this is often a sign that the child will be an extremely gifted flyer when they reach adulthood.”

Ruby paused again before smiling sheepishly and laughing. “But I am rambling again, go on, Prism.”

“Like I mentioned the other day, the first time I used magic was my first day of school, but that was not a visible display of my magic, just a use of it,” I informed the two. “However on my third day of magic kindergarten, I had been following my teacher’s advice and instructions carefully and finally felt my magic gather in my horn.” I shifted uncomfortably in my wheelchair. “I was so happy that I finally did it, I thought the colorfulness of my magic was natural, but when I showed the teacher, she panicked. Thinking there was something wrong with me, she had me rushed to this hospital... and...” I trailed off as long buried memories resurfaced; memories I wanted nothing more than to forget.

I steeled myself as I shook the thoughts from my head. “I... I would rather leave it at that for now...”

Surefire nodded. “You—”

“What happened after you got here?” Ruby asked, pointing a hoof down to the floor.

My mental resolve wavered at her question. “A... a lot of things I would rather...”

My ears fell back as I sank down into my seat; I really did not want to think about the experience, let alone talk about it. However, could I really even say no to Ruby’s request? She had been so hopeful to me and asked nothing in return so far. Was it fair for me to dismiss her inquiry?

I don’t think it is...

I bit my lower lip, reluctantly recalling the experience for the doctor. “They had me do tests... lots of tests. They also gave me painful injections, and—”

Surefire placed her hoof on my shoulder and said something, however I had already become too lost in the entrancement of my horrible foalhood memories to really notice her.

I threw out my left hoof in a sweeping arch. “I didn’t want to do them! They said it was for my own good, so they could find out what was wrong; but I was terrified! I had no idea what was going on—or why they wouldn’t let me go home!” I felt my lower lip tremble as I struggled to force out my words. “I-I, I just wanted Mother, but t-they... they did so much—and I... I—” An eruption of tears and sobs cut me off as I found myself unable to speak anymore on the matter.

Surefire turned to Ruby with a heavy glare. “Are you satisfied now, Doctor?” She scrawled at her. “Was it worth making her cry!?”

Ruby’s ears fell back as she winced at the young mare’s sharp words. “I-I’m sorry, It’s just... if we know—.”

“And what is this, we?” The detective narrowed her eyes at the crimson mare, her irritation having clearly spiked in her tone. “Why do you want to be so involved anyways?”

Ruby craned her neck back. “A-are you—are you seriously asking that!?” She sputtered, taken aback at the young mare’s words. “Is it so hard to believe that I care and am worried?” The doctor threw her foreleg back, pointing directly at me. “Look at what’s happened to her—what’s happening to her; It’s unjust and unfair! Do I need more reason to want to help, detective?”

Surefire opened her mouth as if to comment, but hesitated briefly before letting out a sigh. “You’re... You’re right.” The young mare shifted posture, scratching the back of her neck. “I’m sorry for snapping at you, I guess I’ve just really been on edge lately.”

Ruby smiled back to the detective. “It’s fine, but don’t forget; I’m no different than you in this. I’m helping because I want to.”

During this time that the two mares had their exchange, I had managed to calm down and compose myself. “Um, just... just why were you so curious about my experience here, Ruby?” I asked with a small sniffle, rubbing my snout with my free foreleg.

“Well, when you first mentioned you had a bad experience here, I assumed some magic testings were likely involved,” she replied, turning to face me. “If it’s true you had many tests performed on you here, then they should all still be on file here in the archives; the hospital keeps all records of their patients’ treatments and testing indefinitely.”

Surefire turned to Ruby with a brief, absolute dumbfounded expression. “That’s... that’s right!” she suddenly exclaimed with a large smile. “Prism’s previous medical records would have all of her legitimate magic’s data...” The young mares expression suddenly fell to a slightly concerned look. “Assuming Snooty and his goons hadn’t already got to, and tampered with them...”

Ruby shook her head with a small, dismissive hum. “That’s extremely unlikely,” she stated before pointing to me again. “Patient confidentiality is taken very seriously. The only way for anypony besides Prism to retrieve access to them, would be to have Prism herself sign and date a release of information form here in the flesh; This includes all doctors and staff as well; unless in an emergency situation of course.” Ruby looked to me with a smirk. “And I seriously doubt Prism has come here to release her medical information to anyone.”

I returned the doctors smirk with a sheepish laugh. “Yes. You are right, I have never signed a release to anypony; for a number of reasons which I am sure you two could probably guess.”

Surefire nodded to me before turning to the doctor. “So this medical data is safe then?” Ruby nodded back to her. “That’s wonderful!” she excitedly spun to face me. “Between this unigram, alicorn sample and your previous medical records data, we’ll smash Snooty’s false magic evidence on you into tiny pieces; this case is over!” she punctuated her statement with a stomp of a forehoof.

I couldn’t help but manage a smile at the young mares enthusiasm. I never would have guessed in a million years that one of the darkest traumas from my past, would end up being one of my greatest salvations in the future.

It’s funny how fate weaves its web.

Ruby looked to the unigram machine. “Speaking of which, your horn should be ready for us to get started, Prism.”

“Huh?” I looked up to the tip of my horn, noticing I could hardly feel it. “Oh! Right.” I let out a sheepish laugh, having entirely forgotten what we were doing in the first place.

* * * * * * * * * *

The machine seemed to function very much like the one in Twilight’s library, except I could feel a hum vibrating through the metal of the wheelchair I sat in; the larger machine appeared to vibrate the floor as it worked.

The actual test was more or less the same as well, involving me levitating a copper ball with many small brass sensors, and a long cord attached to it. Twilight had made mention that the sensors were what collected the data on the magic, however she neglected to tell me exactly what they recorded back then. Knowing now what a unigram was, I had finally found my answer.

As the test drew to a close, Ruby watched over to the other side of the machine that displayed a number of monitors detailing information that was of meaningless to me. I simply assumed it were results of the testing.

However, the doctor’s reaction was unexpected. Her eyes narrowed as she leaned in close to one of the monitors, before walking around to the other side of the machine and tapping on a number of small gauges a few times each.

“That is just...I, I don’t even know...” She mused aloud to herself.

Surefire’s ears perked up as she pushed herself off the wall she had been leaning up against. “Something wrong, Doctor?”

Ruby gave the detective a perplexed look. “Well, um.. actually I really don’t even know if it is or not.” she turned to me, a look of clear confusion on her face. “I have never seen results like this before.”

I sank down in my seat a bit. “My magic behaves very strangely. Twilight had pointed this out on a number of occasions when she was doing her research on my magic.”

Surefire walked to the opposing side of the machine, and closely studied the display before craning her neck back. “Oh wow. You sure the test was done right?” she asked, looking around the unigram device to Ruby.

The doctor nodded. “Yes, everything was done correctly, these must be the correct figures.”

I glanced back and forth between the two mares, confused as to what they were talking about. “What do they say?”

Surefire brought a hoof to her chin, examining the screen in deep thought. “The frequency result is so... low; it’s ridiculous. The machine barely even seemed to pick it up.”

I tilted my head curiously at the detective. “What does that mean?”

Ruby answered for her, “it means you magic is, um...” the doctor hesitantly fidgeted in place for a moment with a forced smile. “Really, weak.”

I nodded. “Yes, Twilight had made note of this when she first calculated my uniwattage.” I paused for a moment before letting out a small laugh at the memory. “She had thought the machine was broken or something.”

“Well, that would explain the ridiculously low frequency,” Surefire stated, gesturing a hoof to one of the machines monitors. “You magic doesn’t have enough juice to travel any higher.”

“That’s... not entirely true,” I commented. “My magic’s flow is blocked due to my albinism.”

The young mare’s expression quickly perked up. “Oh! That’s right. I recall reading that in Twilight notes the other day.”

Ruby scratched her head, walking around the machine to join the detective at the monitors. “Even so, it sure is bizarre,” she said. “Then there’s the fact your magic’s volatility is practically nonexistent. In other words, you couldn’t harm a fly with it.”

“That’s a good thing though.” Surefire pointed out. “It proves there is no way Prism could have done the damage she supposedly did to the stallions.”

Ruby paused, looking deep in thought for a few moments. “True, that is right; however...” the doctor turned to face me with a worried look. “Prism’s magic functions on two different wavelengths; I just didn’t expect this one to be so... low.”

Surefire shot the doctor a puzzled look. “Huh? ...What do you mean?”

“Twilight Sparkle had mentioned Prism’s magic surges beyond a certain level of forced concentration,” Ruby answered matter-of-factly.

The young mare blinked a few times, staring off into space. “Hmm... I don’t remember her saying anything about that”

Ruby let out a soft chuckle. “That is because this was before you had first come to visit Prism, Detective. Twilight Sparkle had given me a private history lesson on Prism’s magic.”

Well, that would explain why she knows so much about me; Twilight had spoken with her prior.

Ruby cleared her throat. “Anyways, I would like to get a reading of your magic as it surges. The values will be quite different I imagine.”

I bit my lower lip. “I... I don’t think that is such a good idea, Ruby...” I glanced over to the unigram machine. “That machine looks really expensive...”

Ruby looked quite taken aback at my reply before letting out a hearty laugh. “Don’t be silly, you won’t break it.” she declared, tapping the machine with a foreleg. “This machine is designed to withstand some powerful magic.”

She... she has no idea what my magic is capable of, does she? Wouldn’t Twilight have warned her of that?

“Um, Ruby?, Twilight said the same thing about a five hundred pound, magically tempered weight; that I could not destroy it.” I shifted uneasily in the wheelchair. “I ended up melting it and catching her library’s floor on fire...”

Surefire’s eyes went wide in surprise. “Whoa...”

The doctor bit her lip before looking to the unigram machine. “Uh, Twilight failed to mention that little detail... well, on second thought, maybe you are right.” she turned back to me with a nervous laugh. “I’d rather not get fired for destroying expensive hospital equipment.”

Ruby crossed to the other side of the machine, scribbling some notes on her clipboard. “We’ll just leave this bit of detail out, besides.” She glanced to the machine once again. “If nopony could get an official, live reading of your magic at that frequency, it doesn’t matter what your collected residual magic residue says.”

Surefire stomped a forehoof. “That’s right! If they cannot match it, then it’s value as evidence is null,” she stated before looking to Ruby. “It’s a good thing Prism caught this, nopony would have questioned the evidence’s data otherwise; as far as anypony knew, it was classified as official from old records matching that found in her apartment.”

Ruby nodded. “Regardless of what evidence they currently have...” she turned and pressed a button on the unigram machine, causing it to print out a paper covered in graphs and values. “This data here will derail all of it.” She shot me a quick wink.

I let out a long sigh of relief. “That is good to know, I can at least put my mind at ease for now.”

“I’ll hang onto this for now,” Ruby said, collecting the paper from its output tray on the unigram machine and placing it on her clipboard. “Once I have collected Prism archived records, I’ll be sure it all reaches Detectives Surefire hooves.”

Surefire beamed the doctor a small smile. “Thank You Doctor Ruby Heart. I really appreciate your help in all of this.” she sheepishly fidgeted for a moment. “And, um, sorry for doubting you.”

Ruby rolled her eyes with a smile. “Please, just call me Ruby, and again, it’s no problem; it’s the right thing to do.” Ruby spun to face me. “Now, let’s get you back to your room, then I’ll retrieve the forms I’ll need you to sign so Surefire can legally be privileged to view your records, as well as allow myself to retrieve and compile them for you two.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Ruby.”

The mare closed her eyes and beamed me a warm smile, before walking over to the room’s door and opening it. She wasted no time in returning to me and turning my wheelchair and pushing me out the door.

Surefire quickly followed the two of us, closing the room’s door behind her.

* * * * * * * * * *

After a few long minutes of traversing the hospital’s maze-like hallways, we found ourselves back in my room. Once Ruby had me securely back in my bed, she informed us she would return shortly with the release of information forms.

After aiding Ruby in moving me, Surefire had taken a seat in one of the green chairs in the corner of the room. A few moments of silence passed before the young mare let out a small hum, bringing a hoof to her chin.

I ears perked up at the sudden noise. “Something on your mind, Surefire?” I asked, curious as to what the detective was thinking about.

“I was just thinking about Snooty,” she answered, looking to me. “The unigram data and your previous medical records are irrefutable evidence of your innocence in the claims against you. I mean, I’m not one to tempt fate, but just what can he do to you at this point?”

I looked down to my bed, staring off into space for a moment. “I don’t know...” I slowly looked back to the young mare with a worried look. “The only thing I can think of is you.”

The detective raised an eyebrow at me. “What do you mean, Prism?”

“When Snooty warned me earlier, he mentioned how I should tell you to stop what you are doing, that he doesn’t want to clean up another mess if he doesn’t have to.” I nervously rubbed with my right forehoof’s cast. “If he cannot do anything to stop me... his next target is you.”

Surefire scoffed in disregard. “He won’t do anything to me,” she confidently reassured me. “I’m too close to exposing him.”

My expression fell at her words. “Which is exactly why you should be worried, Surefire. Snooty is a very dangerous stallion. If he had ponies follow me all the way to Ponyville just to spy on and have me foalnapped, do you honestly think he’s not going to do something to stop you? a bigger threat to him?”

“Everything will point right at him if he harms me in any way. So don’t worry about me.”

“Just how many other ponies know what you know about Snooty, besides myself and Twilight?” I asked, waiting several seconds for her reply which never came. “Exactly, which is why you should be worried. You hold the power to crush the case against me and begin a paper trail leading right back to him; He knows this.”

Surefire gave an irritated eye roll. “I’ll be fine; I won’t let anything happen to me.” she paused for a moment before giving me a curious look. “Just why are you so worried about me anyways, Prism?”

I blinked a few times, surprised at her question. “Do you really need to ask? You are my friend, Surefire,” I replied. “I’m worried about you. I don’t know what I would do if something bad were to happen to you... ”

My response had seemingly caught the young mare off guard; her posture suddenly shifted as she caught herself from falling out of her chair.

She paused in silence for several seconds as her ears fell back. “It’s... been awhile since somepony has called me a friend.”

I tilted my head curiously, confused by her sudden change in behavior. “What do you mean?”

Surefire hesitantly shifted herself in place. “Well... ever since I first got my cutie mark when I was a filly, I, um... I didn’t really make any time for other ponies,” she admitted with an uneasy, nervous laugh. “I knew what I wanted to be, so I kind of, sort of... engrossed myself in my becoming a detective, and didn’t really slow down to pursue relationships with others.”

“Why not?”

The young mare’s sad expression only sank further. “I would always tell myself that I was too busy, or that I didn’t have time; and when I finally made it... I had come to find that I didn’t have anypony that I could really call a friend anymore...” Surefire trailed off as her lower lip began to tremble. “W-when I realized this, I tried to reconnect with my old friends, but I had hurt them, hurt them so much with all my blatant neglect and blowing them off for my own goals and ambitions; they wanted nothing to do with me!”

At this point the young mare had all but broken down into tears and sniffles as she fought desperately to hold back with all her will. It wasn’t difficult to see that there was a lot of pent up pain she held back by a now crumbling wall of seriousness and forced maturity.

She tried to grow up too fast...

“You have done so much for me and gone so far out of your way with so much to risk and nothing to really gain. If that isn’t at least deserving of my friendship, then I don’t know what is.” I informed her. “You have more than earned my friendship, Surefire. If you ever need somepony, you will always have me.”

To my surprise, Surefire didn’t respond to this. She stood up silently for several long seconds, before slowly, hesitantly walking up to my bedside. She then quickly leaned down and captured me into a sudden, tight hug and quickly exploded into tears and sobs into my mane.

Returning the hug the best I could, I felt a warm smile light up my face as a fleeting thought of irony slipped through my mind. Just weeks ago I had been the one in Surefire’s horseshoes; now here I was, offering my friendship to another pony. It made me feel... warm; happy.

I wonder if this is how Fluttershy felt when she was there for me?

The two of us remained as so for several minutes as the young mare continued to cry. After a time, Surefire finally calmed down enough to speak.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Prism,” she whispered softly into my mane, before squeezing me a little tighter.

I let out a small chuckle. “It’s what friends do, they care about each other.”

And they care a lot...

It was at that moment that I suddenly came to realize how much I had come to learn about friendship since my coming to Ponyville; and just how important making friends was to me. First there was Derpy and now Surefire; I had just made a second friend all on my own, and that was just as important to me.

I’m starting to make more friends.

I smiled to myself at that thought as I stroked Surefire’s mane.

The young mare gave a small nod as she pulled away. “I promise I’ll be careful, thank you for the warning.” she suddenly looked around the room nervously for a moment. “And, um... that, didn’t just happen.”

I tilted my head curiously at her. “What do you mean?”

Surefire again fidgeted uneasily in place as a blush warmed up on her face. “Well, you know... that. What I just said, and did.”

...Is she really embarrassed about that?

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at the young mare’s antics. Despite her being at the age to be considered a mare, and her best attempts to be serious and act like an adult; deep down she was still just a little filly on the inside. What I found cute though was just how hard she tried to hide it.

“Alright. Your secret is safe with me,” I agreed, flashing her a quick wink.

Scratching the back of her neck, Sufire let out another sheepish laugh. “Thank—” she cut off at the sound of the door clicking open, and spun to face the entry.

Ruby happily hummed to herself as she entered the room, carrying a clipboard under her right wing. She stopped as she scanned our faces. Likely having sensed the atmosphere she disturbed, she sheepishly smiled.

“Um, sorry if I’m interrupting...”

Surefire shook her head dismissively with a small sniffle. “No, you’re fine, Ruby.”

Ruby trotted across the room to my bedside, taking the clipboard in her forehoof, she held it out to me. “These are the release forms. I’ll need you to sign on the marked lines.”

A quick glance over the paper showed them to be very official looking, with many fine printed details regarding privileges of use for any information given from the forms signer. The party to be distributed permission on this form was Doctor Ruby Heart.

Taking the pencil from the top of the clipboard in my teeth, I proceeded to sign my signature on the highlighted areas.

“Alright, that covers myself.” she declared, flipping to the next page. “Now for Surefire’s.”

I signed once again along the designated areas before returning the pencil to the clipboard. “So, now what?” I asked curiously.

“Now you wait,” she informed me, tucking the clipboard under her wing again. “I’ll collect all your records and contact Surefire once I am finished; which should be by sometime tomorrow afternoon.” The doctor glanced to the room’s clock. “In the meantime I recommend you two get some rest.”

Surefire and I both looked to the clock; it was already almost midnight.

The detective expression turned an uneasy frown. “It sure has gotten late... hasn’t it?” she fidgeted in place for a moment before looking to Ruby. “Say, Ruby... would it be alright if I were to stay in here? Assuming Prism doesn’t mind that is.” she looked back to me. “Right?”

I shook my head. “I don’t mind.”

The doctor scrunched her muzzle into an unsure look. “Well... technically you’re not even supposed to be in here this late in the first place.” A playful smirk crept across Ruby’s muzzle. “However, I’ll just list you as special visiting privileges.” she shot the detective a quick wink.

Surefire returned with a warm smile. “Thanks again, Ruby.”

“No prob—” The doctor cut off into a loud yawn before visibly shaking it off.

Ruby’s yawn triggered a chain reaction in myself and Surefire, causing us both to yawn as well.

Ruby let out a small laugh. “Well I guess that’s my signal to get going. I still have a bit of work to do before I can head home.” she walked across the room to the door before looking back to us. “Have a good night you two.”

We both wished the doctor goodnight before she made her exit. This left me alone with Surefire, and with a question for the young mare.

“So Surefire, not that I mind, but why did you wish to stay here?” I asked curiously.

She let out an uneasy laugh as she looked about the room. “Um, well... a number of reasons actually.”

“Are you worried about what Snooty may try to do to you if you leave?”

Surefire sat to her haunches, fidgeted her forehooves together. “Well, um, that is one reason... I admit I am a little worried about that.”

“If you are worried, you should find Twilight tomorrow. You would be much safer with her than me—not that I don’t mind your company!” I quick reiterated. “I just want you to feel safe.”

The young mare managed a small smile. “Thank you, Prism.” she paused a moment before looking about the room cautiously, seemingly as if to check if anyone was listening. “And, um... as to why I really wanted to stay, I didn’t want to walk home this late to be completely honest...” she paused again before lighting up with a bright, embarrassed blush. “ You see, I’m, um... kind of, sort of... nyctophobic” The young mare quickly buried her flush face in her forehooves.

I tilted my head curiously at the unfamiliar word. “...nyctophobia?”

 “It means I’m afraid of the dark!” she quickly blurted out, burying her flushed face further into her hooves.

 I stared blankly at the young mare for a few moments before covering a small giggle. “That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Many ponies are afraid of the dark.”

Surefire removed her forehooves, revealing a flustered expression. “Yeah, but my age? It’s embarrassing!” she quickly exclaimed.

“Prior to just a few weeks ago I was terrified of other ponies seeing my coat and mane; I still am uncomfortable around new ponies.” I shot her a wink before gesturing my left forehoof to my chest. “A pony my age afraid of other ponies? Now that is embarrassing.”

She paused for a few moments, looking deep in thought, before managing a small smile. “Well, I guess there are worse things I could be afraid of...” Surefire walked over to my bedside and leaned down, giving me a quick hug. “Thanks for making me feel better, Prism”

“No problem, it’s what friends are for.” I glanced to the clock as she pulled away from the embrace. “We really should get to bed though.”

Surefire nodded with a soft yawn. “Yeah, sleep sounds really good right now.” She turned, making her way back to her green chair in the corner of the room. “I have a lot to do tomorrow.” The young mare hopped onto the chair before circling in place several times, and lying in a rather uncomfortable looking position.

“Um... are you sure you’ll be alright there? That doesn’t look very comfortable...”

She shook her head. “It’s not as bad as it looks; besides there isn’t anywhere else to sleep other than the floor,” she stated, gesturing a foreleg to the ground. “And I never could sleep on floors.”

 Surefire shifted position several times, doing a very poor job of convincing me of her being alright. I brought my left hoof to my chin in thought for a few moments before an idea came to mind.

“You know... you could always sleep up here with me,” I offered, managing to scoot myself over, and patting the free side of the bed. “I won’t bite; and you’re not doing a very good job convincing me your fine over there.”

The young mare’s ears perked up at my offer, before rolling over to face me. “Are... are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to interrupt your sleep; you’re the one still recovering,” she hesitated a moment before continuing. “...Is there even enough room for me?”

I closed my eyes briefly, covering a small laugh. “Yes. Fluttershy was able to lay next to me up here; You are quite a bit smaller, you’ll be just fine.”

Surefire slowly crawled out of the chair. “Well... if you really don’t mind, I guess I’ll take you up on the offer.” she glanced back at the chair she had just got up from. “That chair is uncomfortable as all Tartarus.”

“I thought so,” I laughed, as she made herself around the bedside.

The young mare hesitantly crawled into bed next to me, shifting about a few times before settling in with a yawn. “Um, goodnight, Prism.”

I felt a small smile play across my face as I rolled over to face away. “Goodnight, Surefire.”

With a quick flick of my focus, I turned the lights off with a small sting from my magic. However, at the same time I noticed Surefire suddenly tense, moving a little closer to me.

“She... really is afraid of the dark, isn’t she?”

I silently wondered why it bothered her so much. The young mare had opened up and shown me a whole new side of her today. I could feel a sense of trust from her starting to grow. My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sensation of Surefire laying right up against my back.

“Thank you for being my friend, Prism,” She whispered softly, “It really means a lot to me.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her confirmation of my thoughts. “You’re very welcome, Surefire.”

As silence began to reign, I found myself quickly drifting off to sleep.