Oh hello. There ya r'

I wanted to have this posted this morning but RL interevened, but I wanted this up for Halloween. Also because of the holiday I will be posting this one post over on Deviant Art at the same time.

Head Nurse Greenstick levitated a piece of paperwork up to eye level and checked it one more time in my Equestria dreamscape. Happy that everything was in order she looked up and smiled at Prophecy.

"Ok Prophecy. Everything is ship shape and the doctor says you're good to go. Do you have all your personal effects packed?"

The unicorn smiled and looked down at the rather stuffed messenger bag sitting on the bed with her. Up to a few days ago none of this had belonged to her, but when the nurses found out Prophecy was about to be discharged and was going to be moving into a small palace apartment they'd pooled their resources and arranged to put together an effectively a little moving out/in kit. Now the dark bay mare had set of brushes and combs, an assortment hoof files, picks and polish, and a toothbrush and toothpaste. Finishing it off was a bottle of shampoo, a bottle of conditioner, and a bar of soap. Along with her basic toiletries and prescription medication the nurses gave her a couple of bandanas and an inexpensive selection mane and horn ornaments. Also tucked in the bag was a notebook and a fountain pen with an obligatory bottle of ink. There was even some reading material in the form of a couple novels the nurse thought she might like and a basic tour guidebook of the Royal Palace.

Prophecy was embarrassed by their generosity. Up to a month or so ago none of the staff in Palace Infirmary had ever met or known of her. Even though she was a suspect connected to one of the most notorious members of an Association, and terribly things that had happened because of her arrival nopony blamed her for it. Everypony seemed to instinctively understand that she was one that fate had cursed from birth. Link

So even though her future legal status was still undetermined, and the Crown was still grappling with how to deal with her riders Prophecy felt something she'd rarely experienced in her life. Link

Optimism.

Along with nurse Greenstick there was nurse Purple Primrose. The pegasi was giving their soon to be ex-patient one final brushing of her mane. It was a bright summer day and through an open window a breeze carried the scent of honeysuckle blooming outside the room. As Greenstick finished filing the last chart another pony stuck her head in the room.

"Um Purple do you by chance know where I might've left that casserole pan? The one I brought in for the department potluck this week? I can't find it and now my mom asking for it back!" Coming into the room was nurse Spring Bloom. Unlike the other nurses the earth pony wasn't wearing the traditional white nurse uniform. Today was Spring Bloom's day off so she was dressed in a relaxed casual fashion. A light cotton blouse of reddish brown. Framing her face was 2 braids with little red bows in them.

And her perched on the back of her copper red mane was a large bow of bright crimson red.

Prophecy initially paid no attention to Spring Bloom's arrival. The unicorn had her head turned slightly and was watching Purple Primrose brush her mane. However curious of this newcomer Prophecy turned and looked at the newcomer. Spring Bloom noticed Prophecy's stare and looked her in the eyes. With a big beaming smile she spoke.

"Oh hello–"

Suddenly nurse Purple Primrose and Greenstick had vanished leaving just Prophecy and Spring Bloom in the hospital room. However the room had radically transformed. Gone were the clean white walls, gleaming tile floor, and crisp linens. Instead Prophecy found herself lying on a sagging mattress covered with soiled and stained linens. The walls of the room that had been immaculate just seconds ago were now covered with mildew, cracking plaster and peeling paint. Along with what looked like great splatters of old, dried blood and gore. The light coming through the window was dim with a reddish orange hue to it. A moaning wind caused the now soiled and tattered curtains to flap erratically. On the wind there was slow, deep, pulsating growl; as if some titanic being of unimaginable size was stalking the lands.

Spring Bloom was still standing frozen in mid-sentence and looking at Prophecy with the smile on her face. As the unicorn looked on in horror she watched as the other pony's face slowly began to twist, swell, and deform. Accompanying this was the sound of cracking and snapping bone as blood started trickling from the immobile mare's nose, mouth, and eyes.

Suddenly Spring Bloom's head detonated with a wet, sloppy, sickening sound, Fresh gore was sprayed on the walls, ceiling, floor, and the bed that Prophecy was lying on. However in spite of the total destruction of the mare's head the body remained upright and standing. There amongst the still spraying streams of arterial blood was another, smaller bowed head of a filly that the large red bow was now attached to. As the unicorn looked on in horror the gore drenched earth pony raised her head and looked at her. The filly's caramel brown eyes were filled with madness. Then with a voice filled with primal hunger the filly spoke.

"Oooohhh hhheeellloo! There ya r'!"–

Prophecy screamed. She was back in the same room she'd been in all morning. All 3 of the other mares jumped at this sudden and violent change in the mood of the room. The unicorn was staring wide-eyed Spring Bloom and was breathing with rapid, ragged breaths. After the initial shock Greenstick dropped the charts she'd been levitating and instead used her levitation to turn Prophecy's gaze to her. With a firm voice she looked the terrified mare in the eyes.

"Prophecy! It's me! Nurse Greenstick! Listen to me! Focus on my voice! You are here with me in the Palace Infirmary! Purple Primrose is here with you! We're all here with you! Focus on your breathing! You're safe right now! Do you understand me?"

After a second or two Greenstick's words and stare seemed to snap Prophecy's mind to the present. The dark bay mare nodded her head and clenched her eyes closed. With tears streaming from her eyes she began her most basic of breathing exercises. As she did this Greenstick placed a stethoscope and listened for a few seconds. Then she looked Purple Primrose and nodded her head. The pegasus mare turned and quickly trotted out to retrieve the on duty doctor. Greenstick spoke again to Prophecy. Although this time it was with a much more gentle motherly tone.

"Thats the way dear. Breath in. Hold it for a second then let it out. Good. Very good. Now let it out. Nice and slow. Good. That's the way. You got this." As she said this the nurse gently reached and hugged the traumatized pony. Prophecy responded by starting to cry uncontrollably. Greenstick continued to hug the mare. As she did the nurse looked over at her coworker.

"Spring, I know it's your day off, but can you please find the Palace Liaison and alert them of this. The Royal Sisters will want to be notified immediately."

Spring Bloom nodded her head. "Of course. Let me getting them for you." She then turned and trotted out the room. Seconds later the sound galloping hooves could be heard as the on duty doctor came in the room followed by Purple Primrose and another nurse who was pushing a crash cart.

To be continued.