Leaves clouded Fluttershy's vision as she plummeted toward the ground, her scream pierced the air.
Whump!
She hit the solid earth, her wing burning with pain. The howling wind and pouring rain filled her ears as she whited out.
" Fluttershy!" Big Mac called out, his hooves beating the soil below. Blood roared in his ears and he ran. "Please let her be okay." He wished silently.
His ears picked up a faint sound just ahead of him, the sound of something or some pony crying. Macintosh sped up, his green eyes locating a pony among a group of trees. He slowed and crouched beside the body, one hoof pushing a lock of pink, matted hair from the pony's face. His heart sank at what he saw.
Tears trailed down the mare's face as she lay unconscious. The stallion carefully nudged the side of the mare, but she didn't stir. Macintosh lay close by Fluttershy, his body blocking hers from the stinging wind and freezing rain.
The mare whimpered and moved closer to him, he lay his head on top of hers gently.
There he stayed during the storm, keeping his love warm and protected.
It was almost two hours before the storm had passed when Macintosh heard Rainbow dash calling his name from above.
" Rainbow!" The stallion called upward.
The blue pegasus stopped and looked below, her eyes falling on the red pony. She hovered above him.
" Are you alright, Mac?"
The apple pony moved his head, revealing Fluttershy laying beside him. Rainbow dash gasped and sped back to the farm, returning with Aj and an ambulance wagon. " Oh, Fluttershy." Applejack spoke quietly and looked down at the mare, an orange hoof wiped away a tear from the yellow cheek.
Two ponies emerged from the wagon, one with an pink flank and red mane. Another with a white flank an pink mane.
The gently enveloped Fluttershy in their magic and rested her on a soft bed of pillows, bringing a sheet up to the mare's chin.
Macintosh broke away from a third doctor that had been looking him over and rushed to Fluttershy's side. He nuzzled the mare's limp hoof and then stepped away as the doctors sent away the wagon. One doctor stayed to speak to the Apples and and the mane six.
" She should be fine. As of now we only know that she's twisted her wing and her head was hit pretty hard. We will know more once we've had her examined at the hospital."
"When can we see her?" Twilight asked, comforting a sobbing Rarity.
" I would advise waiting until tomorrow, she may wake then. Until then prepare yourselves, she's a weak pony."
The doctor turned to follow the ambulance and took down the road.
For a while the ponies stood in silence, each one dealing with grief. Then Aj spoke.
"Standing here won't fix anything." The orange mare trotted into the house. Applebloom and Granny Smith followed.
The mane six slowly dispersed, all going to Sugacube Corner to think about things. Only Big Macintosh remained.
His gaze fixated on the now halved tree that had fallen.
The red pony hung his head, and stared at the ground.