[Tick. Tick. Tick.]

The blast was the last thing I heard. The last thing I felt was a hot punch that tore through me. Flesh, bone, all of it was... Was destroyed. My ribs broke into splinters and my legs just gave out. I hit the wall. I crumbled. I felt nothing but a coldness and blood flowing out of my body and I could only lay there, gasping for air as my vision faded. The last thing I saw was Rocket Power standing over me, his shotgun aimed at me, and my eyes fell shut.

There is something terrifying about dying. It is all darkness at first, but then you see a light. I didn't know if it was a good light or a bad light. I just saw a light in the darkness and I tried to walk towards it, but it faded and something pulled me back. It felt like talons gripping me and I was pulled too far too fast to think, and next thing I knew I was lying on my back, staring at a ceiling fan and a soft light.

The fan spun gently and the walls were actually clean. They had life. Cleaner than my Stable walls with a soothing yellow paint, pictures of flowers, trees, and photos of a couple in various locations. I couldn't make out the faces since my vision was blurry from I guess waking up. The bed was very comfortable, too. The nice, soft sheets, a comfy pillow and a plush mattress was heaven compared to the cots of Stable 67 and the beds of the Wasteland. I guess I could say it was like laying on a cloud?

A mare suddenly appeared next to me. She was a pretty one, too, with a pale yellow coat, light green eyes and a two toned straight mane that reminded me of berries. I want to say raspberries, but I can't be too certain. I only had those once and that was when I celebrated my promotion as Head of the Scheduling Administration with the rest of the Stable higher-ups.

Anyway...

The mare moved next to the body I was in and placed a hoof on my forehead.

“Time, how are you feeling?” asked the mare worryingly.

“The same as yesterday,” said the stallion. Me, I guess. I really had no idea what was going on.

The mare crawled on the bed and laid next to him- Me. Whatever.

“Well, you have a visitor. He's waiting for you downstairs,” she said.

My host nodded and when I moved I was not in a state of comfort, but of some pain. My spine and bones ached, my muscles felt weak and every step was a struggle. When I went for the mirror to grab a tree pendant I thought I was looking at an older version of myself. I had the same brown fur, the same brown eyes, but I had crows feet and my dark brown mane was graying.

The mare walked next to me and draped her hoof on the crook of my back and smiled in the mirror. Looking at her, she either aged very well or this Time guy liked the younger crowd.

The mare said something I couldn't understand, much less hear, and she pecked me on the cheek and left the room. Shortly after I trailed her with the tree pendant around my neck, but when I exited the room the hallway was dark and a void with only ticking clocks being illuminated by a flickering light overhead. At the far end, the Black Eyed Doctor stood, levitating a syringe. Every flicker brought him closer and every tick brought “Rot”.

Rot. Rot.

Rot. Rot.

Rot. Rot.

“Why are you not taking your medication, Dr. Turner?” said the Black Eyed Doctor.

Rot. Rot.

Rot. Rot.

Rot. Rot.

“Why doesn't he take his medication? I can cure the Rot, can't he see? Why can't he see? Why can't they see? Do they NOT want TO SEE!?” said the Black Eyed Doctor, his voice shifting to rage and panic around me.

I wanted to back up, but my legs moved forward on their own down the dark hall, passing clocks turning at different paces.

“Don't be afraid. It's going to be okay,” said Artisan somewhere.

I wanted to turn my head, call to Artisan, but I couldn't do anything, and just like that, after another step I was in a dining room with a glass patio door that gave an excellent view of the rolling hills outside and the rising sun, bathing everything in a welcoming orange. Birds were even chirping and the light warmed the room. It was straight out of a scene of paradise.

The Black Eyed Doctor was sitting at a polished table, a cup of coffee in front of him and the mare was behind the counter, making a smoothie while a round robot floated in front of a counter, using speed and precision to cut up a line of carrots and celery with its knife hand. Somehow the flame from its exhaust port didn't light the place on fire.

“Dr. Odji, what a surprise,” said Time sourly, his focus going on the Black Eyed Doctor.

The Black Eyed Doctor, Dr. Odji, I guess, levitated his coffee cup and gave the smallest of smiles.

“Good morning, Dr. Turner,” he said. “Roseluck made an excellent pot of coffee. You should help yourself to some.”

“I'm fine. What are you doing here?”

“I was coming to check on you to see if you are feeling better after the accident. It is good to see you walking again.”

Time Turner frowned and hobbled to the counter next to the mare, Roseluck.

“Yes, and I don't need your medication, anymore,” he said.

Dr. Odji stared at me -I mean Time Turner- in a way that was very uncomfortable. His expression was calm, but I noticed his hoof twitching.

“You know Bruce wants you to keep taking the medication,” said Dr. Odji.

“I know what Bruce wants, but I am through with it. I am fine. I can get back to work and you can resume your research.”

“The medication is my research.”

Time Turner sighed and rubbed his forehead, saying: “I mean the research Mane Enterprise is paying you for.”

Roseluck walked next to my host and gently turned his head so that they were eye to eye. The worry was real, the pain was real. I saw it in her eyes and I felt it in my chest, my back, my limbs. It was suffocating.

“Timmy, please take the medication,” begged Roseluck. “You are in pain and I know you want to be strong, but you can't be strong if you keep on like this.” She stroked his cheek. “Please, do it for me.”

Time Turner sighed and hooked his hoof with Roseluck's, and nodded.

“Fine,” he said. “But this is the last one.”

“The last one,” said Dr. Odji, his voice like an echo in my ears. “There is always one more. One more shot, one more sniff, one more click, one more view, one more battle, one more one more one more one more. You will be back for one more. But don't worry, Turner, we can end this, this Rot. You just need one more shot, and I just need more time until you will no longer need one more.”

“It's going to be okay,” said Artisan again.

And just like that I was awake, gasping for air. Or wheezing, more like it. Every breath was like getting stabbed in the lung with a small blade, every heartbeat was a struggle. I couldn't even move. I could only lay on the cot, watching shadows move along an unfamiliar wall. My hoof was limp over the edge and thick drool pooled on my cot.

I wanted to move.

I couldn't.

I gritted my teeth and with a lot of pain and tears, my body turned. I fell off the cot and knocked over a tray of medicine, potions and syringes. Surprisingly hitting the floor didn't really hurt, but I still felt the pressure of the impact, and there was a clamor in the other room followed by the door flying open and Leur rushing in with Aria by his side.

“Oh no, you should not be out of bed!” said Leur.

“I told you to strap him down!” said Aria. She laid next to me and brushed my sweaty mane, asking: “Meris, are you okay?”

I didn't say anything. I just tried to crawl, but only one hoof would respond and it was quickly held down by Aria and she begged me to stop moving while Leur used his magic to clear out the mess I made.

“His spine is broken! He shouldn't even be moving, right now!” said Leur.

I winced and tried standing, but I couldn't even arch my back. I could barely move my hoof with Aria holding me down. Panic rushed in like a mudslide, covering me, suffocating me. I couldn't breathe.

This was not happening! There was no way I was paralyzed! I couldn't be paralyzed! I was just having another nightmare. I had to be in another nightmare. I just had to wake up!

“I need to wake up.” I said as Leur levitated me on the cot. “I need to wake up. One of you two kill me!”

“Meris, you are awake, you're just a little... hurt,” said Aria. She rubbed my sweaty mane and tried to offer a comforting smile, but it just amplified her worry instead. “You will get better, though.”

“I can't... No no no, I can't! I can't be paralyzed! Fuck!” I cried.

I will say it. I cried. Tears were flowing, it was getting harder to breathe with every second and I tried moving again, but Aria laid on top of me to stop me from rocking while Leur used his magic to run straps over me.

“Get off of me! Get those things off me! I'm not paralyzed!” I screamed.

I tried to lash out, but nothing happened. Only twitching and tears.

“Meris, look at me,” said Aria. She got in front of me and cupped my head in her hoofs and looked me in the eyes. She was hazy from the tears and I had trouble focusing on her, but she still spoke. “I promise it's going to be okay. You are hurt, but you will get better.”

“We're going to fix you and before you know it you will be walking again,” said Leur.

“Just potion me up,” I said. “Or put me in the pod.”

“We tried that, but Lilac destroyed it, and we did all that we could with the potions, but you were hurt too badly. But the good news is you're improving!”

“Improving as in awake,” said Leur. He levitated a syringe and made magic fingers to tap the container. He then glanced at me and I growled at him, trying yet again to move. “This will calm you down.”

“Don't you dare stick me-”

Prick.

“Ohhhhhhhhh~Fuck you~”

I couldn't tell you how long I was out, but when I woke up again I saw a tray near my face with a straw from a cup aimed towards my mouth. I looked around the best I could. My neck hurt and my mouth was dry, so when I saw that I was alone I didn't care how stupid I looked trying to grab that straw with my tongue. I was thirsty and by Celestia I would get something to drink!

After I got the straw in my mouth I sucked down the liquid and was instantly greeted with the fantastic tangy taste of orange juice. I gulped it down quick enough to hurt my lungs, but the pain of no air was worth the taste, and soon enough I was scraping the bottom. I sucked on the straw until I was certain there was nothing left, and when I released the straw I stared at the doorway, Beyond the door there was a radio playing rock music that was definitely energetic and surely got ponies moving and banging heads, but I couldn't do any of that since I was immobile.

The music actually reminded me of a time when the Overmare tried a new music policy to allow that heavy music in, but they quickly scrapped it when the Stable ponies turned the Meet-and-Greet area into a mash pit and called for a “halt to the machine”. The one who suggested it to the Overmare was arrested (later exiled), the musicians and rebels were arrested and they blared nothing but calming music over the intercoms for almost two months. At that time I was glad I was away from all that chaos, just me in my little stall working on the clocks.

Looking back, I kinda regret not going up there to join the mash pit and acting like a hooligan. I probably would have had more than just two friends. I probably would not have had a miserable existence. I probably would have lived instead of being a ghost in my own life.

So much memories I could have had beyond the stall...

Beyond my safe corner...

Lots of lost time.

...

Anyway, that music carried on for a about five songs, or roughly twenty minutes, before Bongo started speaking.

“Good evening, ponies of Orange and the Wasteland! Good morning, Restoration; good morning, Sixty One; good morning, Sadists; good morning, Enclave; good morning, ghouls; and good morning, all those who brave the Wasteland in a journey of discovery, redemption and noble deeds! Bongo here to give you the news of the Wastes! First up in our list of things of all things news, the Enclave is doing operations in the area. I don't know what for, but I advice everypony to leave them alone. They willshoot you. Secondly, Sixty One is losing ground in the Macintosh Hills due to our brave stallions and mares, but the Sadists they employ are still problematic, so stay on your guard and spare the caps to hire guards for your caravans. Thirdly, I'm still offering rewards for discovered music tracks. I'd like to thank fellow Orange resident and merc, Mad Mac, for finding the recent tracks, and you too can get some caps and/or other prizes of finding music! Also, I will be having a special guest speaker tonight! A sweet little mare from the mysterious Stable Sixty Seven who has recently joined my crew!”

Then he went on about something, but I didn't hear it since the door opened up and Horse and Leur walked in. I immediately felt compelled to run, but due to my condition I could only stare at them with my best evil look.

“Don't look at us like that. Without us you would be dead,” said Dr. Heartbeat.

“He's just emotional,” said Leur. “How are you feeling?”

I said nothing, even though I wanted to be a sarcastic prick about the situation,

“He's certainly calmed down,” said Leur. “Earlier he was screaming and trying to crawl away.”

“The potions did more than I thought,” said Dr Heartbeat. He looked at me and smiled, his skin peeling and ripping from the stretch. “Here's the deal, I can fix you, but its going to cost you a pretty cap. I already sent Wilhelm, Baton, Stocker and Burst Fire to fetch supplies, but when they return I will fix you up good as new, got it?”

I eyed him suspiciously, and my eyes shifted to Leur, who was looking at me with a smile.

“How much?” I asked.

“Ten thousand caps,” said Dr. Horse.

My heart sunk at that, and I told him: “I don't have that kind of money.”

The doctor nodded. “I know. That's why I'm hoofing the bill and we will set up a payment plan. No problems will come from this.”

I was silent again and Leur stepped forward.

“Do you want to walk again?” he asked.

I nodded. How else was I supposed to save Rose and Artisan?

“Then take the offer. No one else will be this generous,” said Leur.

After a few long seconds I sighed heavily and reluctantly nodded, and Dr. Heartbeat patted me on the shoulder, smiling again.

“Good. We will start when Wilhelm returns with the supplies,” he said.

He then left the room with Leur, giving him orders about getting things set up along the way, and when the door shut the room became darker and colder, and unfortunately for me I had no blanket to hide under. I was paralyzed in the dark, cold world and there was nothing I could do about it.

Eventually I passed out again, and I spent the next three days, ten hours and eighteen minutes listening to music and Bongo talking. Ebony's voice came on every now and then to relieve him so the music and news can continue. Most of it was reruns, but every now and then she would make a shoutout to other exiles that survived Sunshine Gardens, telling them that Orange has a home waiting for them.

When Bongo spoke, he brought in guest speakers every day, with the first being Major Pie talking about successful operations against Sixty One, the next some guy who was trying to peddle a Wasteland Survivor's Guide, and the third was some professor from a University of Baltimare saying something about making cybernetic enhancements safe and affordable.

I called bullshit on that.

We didn't even have all that fancy cybernetic enhancement stuff in the Stable, so there was no way in any realm of possibly that a bombed out nightmare world would have a safe, affordable mecha-pony thing going on. Sure, there was Waltz, but I doubt his procedure was safe and I was sure he chugged medication to keep infections at bay.

But let me get back on track. Sorry, got a little distracted.

Anyway...

Broken back.

Lots of caps.

Wilhelm and the gang coming back with supplies!

I was taking a nap when I was woken up from Aria stroking my mane. I don't even remember what I dreamed about, It was just a dark void, and next thing I knew, Aria's voice was in my ear and her hoof was brushing me awake. It felt good, but not good enough to ease my grouchy mood.

“Meris, I got good news,” she said.

My eyes cracked open and I looked at her.

“You're going to walk again,” said Aria.

She smiled at me and stepped aside to point at a pile of junk. There were braces, crutches, gears, oil canisters, scrap metal, seat cushions, a sewing kit, a circuit board, wires, Kevlar armor and what looked like a whole chest of colorful medication.

I stared at the odd collection, then I looked at her, unsure if I should praise them for their creativity or be concerned about what they brought. Especially with the circuit board and wires. Seriously, what would they need those for?

As I thought about it, Wilhelm entered with Stocker, Burst Fire and Baton in tow with Dr. Heartbeat and Leur remaining behind at the doorway. Still no Lilac.

Wilhelm walked straight towards me, perfectly fine even though he took three slugs to the chest -that dick- and when he was in front of me, he exhaled and looked at my pathetic body with a neutral look.

“Thank you for shielding Aria,” said Wilhelm. It sounded like it hurt him to say that, so I remained quiet. “I appreciate what you did, and for that I will help you get your friends back as repayment.”

I still said nothing, and Wilhelm stared at me for a few more seconds, inspecting my tired, battered face for some secret message, and then he approached Heartbeat and Leur and spoke just loud enough to where I could barely hear him.

“He will walk again. No excuses,” said Wilhelm.

The two doctors nodded, and Wilhelm ordered Aria and Stocker to follow him out. Aria gave me one last look and then hurried after him and Stocker flashed a supportive smile before doing the same, leaving just Baton and Burst Fire to sit in the corner. Though, the donkey left shortly after because he got bored, leaving just Baton.

He stared at me, and it hurt my neck to look at him.

We were quiet, only the medical chatter of the two doctors and the clanking of equipment gave the room any noise.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence between us, Baton spoke with a heavy tone.

“You got a death wish?” he asked.

“No.” I replied.

“You act like it.”

“Was I supposed to just let that guy shoot Aria?”

Baton was silent. He looked down at the dirty floor and scratched his mohawk.

“Lilac wanted to know how you're doing. I told her: 'How the fuck do you think he's doing? He's paralyzed and you broke the only damn thing that could've fixed him easily.' She hasn't said a word to me since. Or anypony else. Been three days,” said Baton, completely dodging the question. I guess he would have preferred Aria getting shot than me being paralyzed.

“Is she still hearing the voices?” I asked.

“How the Hell should I know? She hasn't said anything to me in three days, dumb ass,” said Baton.

Yep, classic Baton. The charm of a nail bomb.

“You know, I....” Baton stopped himself and looked down again, and I kept my eyes on him, now curious as to why he stopped, and he grumbled and stood up, shaking his head. “Never mind.”

And that was the last thing he said to me before leaving the room. After he left, Leur approached me wearing a surgical mask and white coat, and he slipped a breathing muzzle over my face that immediately flooded my nose with cool air that carried the scent of roses and lilacs. My eyes became heavy and it felt like my body was floating off the table. Everything became dim as darkness seeped into the view. When all that was left was a small orb of blurry light, Leur spoke:

“It's going to be okay.”

And then it was blackness from there.