My Little Realities: C19 - Joy and Horror

My Little Realities: C19 - Joy and Horror

>is this real life
>you slowly come to
>the brilliant light fades, leaving you in the darkness
>you're comfortably lying on what feels like soft foliage or thick moss
>was that it?
>did the Elements work?
>your left eye reveals little, the cave tunnel is dark, save for the diffuse light of the entrance
>you hear many things stirring around you
>by all that is fuck, you hope the movement is coming from p0nies
>you hear coughing
"is everyone okay?"
>sounds like Twilight
>her horn shines
>the strong purple light reveals a surreal image
>the whole cave seems to have grown over
>every inch is covered in plant life
>the Roots surrounding you are frozen, like gruesome statues
>each one bearing down on a victim
>all frozen, and practically blooming
>they have also grown over, all manner of floral life is growing on and out of them
>there are quite a few gasps and expletives as everyp0ny recovers and sees the surroundings
"it fucking worked...  You guys did it!" you exclaim
>you bear hug the six fillies all at once
>you have so say you didn't expect to be alive right now
>the Elements of Harmony were understated - this result is awe-inspiring
>they should have all been like "naw man, calm down Anon, we got this" from the start
>you wouldn't have worried as much
>like a wave, the cheering begins
>you know Fluttershy is a quiet p0ny, but she looks like she's going to fall asleep
>her back looks wet
"uuuuh Fluttershy?  You okay?" you ask
>she slumps over
>oh shit
"Shy!"
>Applejack gallops over and tries to pick her up
>Fluttershy is bleeding profusely
"Applejack, where is she bleeding from?" you say as you push Rarity out of the way
>blood is coming from a large wound at the back of her head, caused by a twisted chunk of shrapnel
>it's really stuck in there
>this is bad
>like "I can see my own spine" bad
"MEDIIIIIIIIC"
>the Celestia's Elite are bound to have some first aid trained p0nies
>Applejack is holding Fluttershy in her forelegs, rocking her gently
>Pinkie Pie's mane looks deflated
>Rainbow Dash is being held by two earth p0nies as she yells "LET ME GO, I NEED TO SEE IF SHE'S OKAY, LET ME GO"
>Rarity starts throwing up
>Twilight hangs her head
>the Royal guard unicorn p0nies trot through, taking Fluttershy and setting her down as they start to administer their first aid
"she looked fine...  She looked fine when we were using tha Elements...  She didn't have a scratch on 'er" says Applejack, staring at her bloody forelegs
>you all wait, hearing the unicorns almost panicked conversation as they struggle getting her injury under control
>Twilight is sobbing quietly
>Rainbow's not fighting anymore
>minutes pass
>one of the unicorns raises his head
"the bleeding is slowing down, she might make it, keep up the pressure"
>you walk towards Fluttershy, along with the five friends and crowd around the injured p0ny
>you're all relieved, but both Fluttershy and the rest of you aren't out of the woods yet
>there could still be Roots outside
>you know the entire cavern was hit with the Elements, but you don't know how far it reached outside
>you were all down the large tunnel, with miles of rock blocking the way
"Can we move her?" you ask
>the unicorn replies that they will be able to transport her soon
"Everyp0ny stay alert, but take a break.  Keep up an airtight defense perimeter and rest up" you say, voice failing
>whelp that's your vocal cords' limits
>Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack and Rainbow are all crowding around Shy, quietly wishing her to live through this
>you sit down with them
"I just don't know how...  She looked fine..." says Twilight, mirroring Applejack's questions
>you think hard
"it probably happened a fair bit before the Elements were used...  Head injuries can do that kind of thing..." you say
>that chunk of metal is bothering you
"let's just be glad that she's alive..." says Pinkie Pie, her mane regaining its volume
>the band cheers up a little
>the unicorns work their magic on Fluttershy
>she moves
"hello?  I can't see...  Did it work?  Did we win?" says Fluttershy, weakly
>you look at the unicorn medic
"She shouldn't be awake" he says
"Is anyp0ny there ?  all I remember my head hurting as we went inside the cave...  Why can't I move...  Did the Elements work?"
>she passes out again
>she's alive, but she needs to get to a hospital
>Twilight's eyes are shut, her expression is of forced concentration
"Twi, you oka-
>Twilight, Fluttershy and the medic p0nies vanish in a flash of purple sparks
>every unicorn's jaw drops
"from here?"
“did she just…”
"no way"
"how did she..."
"I do hope they made it safe and sound" says Rarity
"is teleportation that difficult and dangerous?" you ask
"from this distance?  It should be impossible!" she replies
"she must have made it safely, nop0ny is better with magic than Twilight" says Dash
>apart from Fluttershy, there aren't really any wounded, apart from minor curs and bruises
>you all start to make your way towards the cave tunnel's entrance
>it's surprisingly easy going
>the eerie statue-like Roots are all still stuck in place
>you can’t help but look away when you spot half a torso or the back end of a p0ny laying amidst the motionless Roots
>you poke one of the Roots
>you rifle butt it
>it tips over, ripping up plant root shoots and moss
>they really are all just fertilizer now
"FUUUUUUUCK YEEEEEE-ieehh..."
>oh
>you just lost your voice
>still feels good man
>the mood lightens up as you all walk back to P0nyville
>there are no visible and/or moving Roots anywhere
>everyp0ny is marching at a relaxed pace, gleefully expressing their relief
"Wun thing ah don’t get…  Anon, just whut in tarnation did you do back there with Pinkie's cannon?  Whut were those cymbals for?  How's you kill that thaing?" asks Applejack as you all encounter the dead Root Tank
"I'm also wondering where my cymbals went and why blowing up my cannon worked against the giant root mountain thing" inquires Pinkie
"Well girls, I used SCIENCE..." you say hoarsely
>you go on to explain a the principles of that weapon
"...  Back home, we call em explosively formed projectiles or "EFPs" for short." you finish
>Rarity butts in
"As fascinating as that all was...  Do you miss your home, Anon?  We haven't had that much time to get to know one another with this dreadful "Root" business, but you haven't seemed to mention much about your world"
>she was right
>apart from some small talk and the one sleep over you all spent bonding and swapping stories, you didn't know all that much about these p0nyes and they knew a fair bit less about you
"I'm not sure if I miss that much.  I miss the internet and big, sloppy fucking hamburgers but I'm not feeling that homesic-
>what in the fuck
>is that your goddamn probe
>you completely forgot about this thing, holy shit
>MAH NIGGA
>trapped in a ditch, stuck between two trees
"Anon, what is that thing?" calls Rarity
>you run towards it
>you practically hug the probe
"it must be one of Anon's friends, look how happy he is!" postulates Pinkie
>it looks like it's been through a warzone
>scorch marks, dents, scratches
>these buggers are tough though
>it should still have all the data from its survey
>you free it and set it to follow you
"So what's you name?  You're friends with Anon?  You come from his world too?"
>pinkie is bombarding the drone with questions
"uuuh Pinkie" you say, hoarsely
"you don't talk much, do you...  Is that armor like Anon or do you look like that?  You kinda look like a p0ny, are you a p0ny?"
"Pinks!" you squeak out
>you haven't yelled much in your life, apparently.  Now you can’t yell at all
"Yeah?"
"It's a machine with what could barely count as a rudimentary artificial intelligence...  You're pretty much talking to a toaster" you wheeze
>Pinkie's face lights up
"OH MY GOSH IT MAKES TOAST?"
>you all laugh
>Pinkie goes on about how she hopes that your voice recover soon because "it would be like so awful if I lost my voice, could you imagine me not being able to speak"
>she better not tempt you
>you finally see P0nyville as night falls
"Come on, let's go see how Fluttershy an' Twilight are doin'" says Applejack
>they start trotting
>you are seriously failing at keeping up
>Applejack waves you over
"come on shugarstick, ya ever ridden bareback before?"
>you almost die
>she doesn't seem to understand why you're almost KO with mirth
>critical hit
>your sides have left the solar system
>she just circles around and swoops in from behind, ignoring your tears of laughter and sneaking up from under your legs, then lifting her back to push you up
>she starts hauling ass to catch up to the other p0nes
>you finally calm down as you approach the P0nyville hospital
>Applejack is getting tired, but you weigh more than she does, on top of all the shit you’re both carrying
>she did catch up to the other p0nies
>Celestia’s Elite keep up with the lot of you
>they wait right outside while you go into the hospital
>IT’S THAT NURSE POOR NURSE AGAIN
>she just sees you riding Applejack along with three other p0nies, all covered head to toe in soot, dirt and blood
>you’re amazed Rarity has said NOTHING of this
>your amazement is letting way to terror at this fact
>the nurse just gives you a blank face
>you are convinced she was thinking “it doesn’t top that time when you came in with Luna and that tied up bug monster”
“Emergency wing, third door to the left” she says
>she was unimpressed
>damn.  You have to do something radical to get a reaction from her now
>challenge accepted
>you all head down the emergency wing
>Twilight is unconscious next to Fluttershy, doctors busying over the latter
>you all stay close to Twilight, out of the doctors’ way
>she seems to be sleeping, but there is caked blood in her fur under her nose, eyes and ears
>Rarity is cringing
“She really outdid herself…  From what I know of magical over-exertion, she will recover, but it will take a while.  I’ve never seen it be that severe…” she explains
>they are rolling Fluttershy to the operation room
>Twilight is stable and will apparently make a full recovery within a few days
>hours pass
>you all wait outside the emergency operation room
>as much as you’re worried about Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie worry you all the same
>Rarity hasn’t even shown that she has any fucks to give about her appearance right now and Pinkie Pie has not said a word or moved much
>a “Doc. Stable” walks out of the operation room, breathing deeply
>everyp0ny including you practically assault him
“SHESHOULDBEOKAYSHESHOULDBEOKAY” he cries as you all bombard him with questions and nearly move him up the wall
“As long as there are no complications, she should be okay.  She won’t be conscious for quite some time, though...  Thankfully we got to her quickly enough and stopped the bleeding.” he manages to say
>you’re all very relieved, but the atmosphere is quite a bit darker than it was before
>visiting hours are well over, it’s like three in the morning
>you all step outside
>the Elites are standing in perfect formation, still waiting
>oh shit we should have told them to go do whatever, they didn’t need to wait
>they inform you they’ve reported to Celestia and Luna and have been given a few days off
“That means…  That meaaannnsss… It’s PARTY TIME!” says Pinkie, rocketing out
>Pinkie may be in a great mood at the prospect of hosting a party for over a hundred p0nies and her friends, but you’re not in the mood
>when the fuck did Pinkie Pie get clean
>WHY IS SHE SPOTLESS
>this will likely be the last time you question The Pinkie Pie
>most of the Elite end up going back to their barracks or housing next to the temporary operation center, but the remaining lot of you head to the nearest establishment that serves alcohol
>the ones not in the mood for partying want to drink, and the ones that party are going to drink
>you head into this downtrodden entrance
>and you feel the floor vibrating
>the door is rattling
>you are glad your ears aren’t fleshy anymore, because IT IS LOUD IN THERE
>with your voice, you probably won’t even be able to order a goddamn drink
>”Scratch Beat Club” eh?
>oh shit, Vinyl owns this club?
>the wubs are rattling your suit
>it kinda feels good
>you wonder if you’d be able to sign language “I want anything that will get me drunk” to the bartender
>you end up pointing at a bottle and gesturing that it be given to you
>the bartender reaches for a glass
>you shake your head and gesture again
t h e
w h o l e
b o t t l e
>you still can’t read Equestrian or whatever the fuck kinda horse language they speak in
>but you see apples and shit on it
>oh good, you like apples
>half a bottle later, you are sitting on a barstool, rocking to the dirty as fuck dubtrot and taking swigs
>fuck glasses
>you run towards the mares
>you pick Pinkie Pie up and start dancing with her as if she’s a plush toy
>both laughing all the way
"hey RD? Look over there, Anon’s really drunk” yells Applejack over the music
>they see you on all fours, Rarity on your back
"we should do this more often" replies Dash
"EEEYUP" hollers Applejack between the gales of laughter
>you call it a night when you are too drunk to see three feet in front of you
>you wake up
>you're upside down, hanging by your belt from one of the beams in a barn house
>you're covered in whipped cream and there is a perfect five story house of cards directly under you
>it could have been worse, last time you woke up, you had blacked out and you discovered that you played Senjou no Mao for like two hours
>you didn't even remember that shit, it was horrible
>you had to play it again all over
>you are trying to think about how you're going to get down from here without knocking down the house of cards
>your head hurts and you're feeling queasy
>you begin rocking back and forth
>when you have sufficient speed, you unclasp your belt
>SUCCESS!
>the house of cards is undisturbed
"AHAHAHA I WIN I WIN"
>it kinda sounds like Pinkie
>you stagger around, looking for her
>where the fuck is that pink ball of cocaine
>you see the hay move around
>she's in there?
>what the fuck did she win?
>you start shoveling some hay and you uncover Pinkie, Rainbow and Applejack in a hay nest
>Pinkie is trying to wake the other two p0nies up, yelling that she won the bet
"I knew you wouldn't knock the cards down!" she says, slurring
>Fucking Pinkie, she's still shitfaced
>you're not completely sober either
>temple_rubbing.exe
"where's Rarity?" you ask
"Oh, she kinda broke down at one point, saying how "utterly stained" her coat was going to be and stuff.  She's probably still in the bath or something"
>you nod understandingly
"How about we go get breakfast" you suggest as Jack and Dash wake up
>you see Pinkie Pie go all debt shark
"GIMME MY CUPCAKE MONEY"
"Whuut?  He didn't knock them cards over?  Whell ah'll be a p0ny's uncle"
"Awww man, no way"
>they both pay up
>mental note, do not make bets with Pinkie
>you stop by the library, taking a good shower and changing into your regular clothes
>for a second, you think about leaving your pistol behind
>just for a second
>you join up with your pones outside of a diner
>you don't even care about its name when you enter
>OH SWEET CRACKER PISS.  EGGS, TOAST AND HASH BROWNS
>MOAR PANCAKES
>they use real maple syrup
>hello Mr. hangover?
>yeah not any more
>you almost have an eating contest with Applejack
>you're just content to ingest everything you can
>a half hour later, you're sipping some coffee, talking to Rainbow Dash about things that go fast
"So like sixty years ago, the Old America made this plane that had a cruise speed of 3.2 times the speed of sound, they called it the Blackbird.  It could fly higher and faster than anything else at the time, outrunning anti-aircraft weapons and fighter planes..."
>Dash almost has a "challenge accepted face"
"Three times the speed of sound?  I'll have to step up my game from my Sonic Rainboom..."
"What's that?" you ask
"It's just my signature move.  I break the sound barrier and make a rainbow explosion at the same time"
>you expected something like this from Pinkie
>but wat
"Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out why the Wonderbolts haven't hired me yet..." she continues
>FUCK THE WONDERBOLTS
>HOW IN THE BLAZES DO YOUR WINGS GET YOU SUPERSONIC
"Show me" you say
"Right now?  I'm so full right now, why not la-
"Right now.  Outside."
>you all step out
"Okay everyp0ny, here's one for the books!"
>Rainbow Dash takes off
>something catches your eye
>dust cloud in the distance
>you zoom in with your left eye
>those shapes
>they can't be
>the Sonic Rainboom thunders up above, laying an ever-expanding mirage of rainbow colors
>you missed it, because you pretty much forgot all about it
>you missed it, because in the distance, you see Roots
>thousands and thousands of Roots