The Afterlife : Chapter 19 : Wake Up

My stone caccoon became to unravel, not exactly like a string from a spindle but more of a feeling like as if you are slowly easing into cold water. My legs began to feel the air of the Ever Free forest and were able to move freely, despite how numb my body had succumbed to the venom, as the feeling of the stone peeling away came up to my torso and finally to my head, to see the dark thick of the forest once more, my body immediately lying down, numb from the venom and sore from the position. I didn't know what had freed my prison, but as soon as my eyes refocused the light around me, I soon found out why.

Twilight and her friends were around me, concern and worry wore on their faces, most predominantly Twilight. She looked like as if she hadn't slept for weeks, her hair frazzled and bags on her eyes, her pupils dried and somewhat bloodshot. As I tried to avert my attention away from the pastel colored ponies I noticed that Fluttershy was not in my vicinity. As  I looked from the side of my body as I saw Fluttershy, sweet Fluttershy, staring down at the very same Cockatrice who froze me, here eyes bulging and intimidating, something that I'd never expect from her.

"Matthew! Are you alright?!" Twilight panicked to my ear, her words hastened and heavy. I couldn't speak all that well, but as I tried to move my hand around my gut, she could see what had happened. "Oh no..."

"What is it, Sugarcube? Don't tell me Cockatrice's effect his kind more than us." Applejack regarded, her hat brought to her armside, looking as if she was in mourning.

"I think...I think a Manticore stung him..." Twilight rasped, her hooves guiding along my stomach, her other trying to bring my head above my heart. "Matthew, Matthew? Can you hear me?"

"Y-yes...." I breathed heavily, each word feeling like trying to push a boulder up a hill.

Twilight choked on my response, having difficulty pushing her words out of her adam's apple. She soon cried, tears foaming in her eyes. "I-I'm Sorry! I didn't know what that machine would do to you! I'd thought it'd work the same as with Pinkie P-"

"HEY! I think i'm getting a doozy!" Pinkie interrupted, her body twitching and vibrating erratically around the crowd. Even with me coming to imminent death, she still somehow managed to be overtly enthusiastic.

"Pinkie, NOW is not the time." Twilight barked, her words rasped as she tried to wipe her tears with her free hoof, before bringing it back to my stomach.

"I... I think...you need, to hear her out...." I rasped, croaking heavily, trying to bring back my tone of voice.

Twilight sighed, knowing that this could all well be a waste of time. "What could possibly be more important than Matthew dying?"

"I think that's the doozy, Twilight! Matthew is dying!"

"I KNOW THAT PINKIE! CAN'T YOU SEE WHERE THE MANTICORE STUNG HIM?!" Twilight yelled, sounding the most preturbed and frustrated with Pinkie's antics. It seemed that Pinkie stopped vibrating, getting back on point. I'd never seen Twilight so bothered right now.

"No...Twilight...none of you aren't real...." I breathed, defending pinkie pie.

Twilight and all her friends gasped, bewildered by my statement. "What do you mean, Matthew? We're right here!" Twilight exclaimed, throwing her free hoof around the group.

"You passed out from my AWESOME flying skills!" Rainbow Dash croaked, levitating slightly above me, her hooves stretched to look like guns before everypony elese gave her a dismissive look.

"You helped me diversify my clothing options, darling, which I still highly appreciate, given your dire situation." Rarity remarked, sounding weirdly grateful in this uncomfortable situation.

"And what about all that food you ate? It's not like I can make apple pies out of thin air!" Applejack added, tipping her brim hat slightly to address me.

"You...are all...a dream...and i'm...I'm..." I tried to spit out, but the pain and difficulty made me start to weep and blubber incomprehensible nonsense. Twilight returned to comfort me, tears running in her eyes.

"Is that...that why you ran away, matthew?" Twilight croaked, finding her own difficulty with talking.

It was too hard for me to say yes, so I just nodded, eyes ceasing to remain open. My heart began slowing down, and my body heat started going down. It was going to be all over for me, and I don't think there would be another afterlife or dream to save me anymore.

"no, Matthew, come on...stay with me...." Twilight whispered, her guilt growing stronger as her friends began to comfort her, knowing the kinds of regret that would stain her heart. Even if she was a figment of my imagination, I could feel the guilt beating in her heart as she lay close to me.

"It's time...for me... to....wake up..." I whispered quietly, not even sure if it was audible to Twilight at all, as she began crying on top of my lap, her friends trying desperately to give her as much comfort as possible. But her weeps and her warmth began dying away, my conscious going, and I, waking up, to reality.

If only I had learned the first time.