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// Week 3: The Crimson Mare 
// Story: Shattered Notes 
// by Crimson Ink 
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Monday:
He laid down in pain from the fight he was dragged into and just curled as best as his limbs would let him against the hard wall.
"Why did this have to happen?" with that he coughed up blood and the remainder of his wings ached against the remains of his hoodie. 
"How did I end up here? I'm one of the best fliers in my family" -he looked back and bit his lip seeing the still raw injury where his wings were ripped from the bone- "was one of the best..."
His stomach growls in complaint to the lack of food that his body has received in these long weeks of living without any shelter; the only good thing about this night is that it wasn't going to rain like it had since after he was stranded in Manehattan.
"I really need something to eat..." he just looks down the empty alley and sighs "not much to eat here though..."
He takes a slight intake of breath and regrets it; being though his nose he got a good whiff of how he smells without having a bath in what feels like ages "I really need a bath!"
Nopony responds to his plea for something to go right.
He curls closer to his wall feeling a cold wind go by that could freeze him to the bone; it did just that and he cried out in sorrow knowing that he would have no salvation.
He curled tighter still trying to stay warm in the cold air surrounding him.
"Are you alright little one?" a voice stirs the freezing stallion to see the source, a crimson coated unicorn with a parchment for a cuttie mark with crimson ink.
"Who are you?" his voice can barely get as loud as a rasp from dehydration.
"Hopefully someone that can help you" -a slight tinge of sorrow was in her voice as she spoke- "you look like you need a place to sleep." 
In tears he looks up at her bright red eyes "please" all sense of pride was not important in that moment.
A soft tug on his body from her magic helps him to his hooves "lean on me young one" he did just that only a little confused why this mare thought he was young.
"T-thank you" he was so weak she was just barely not carrying him.
"You're welcome" she said no more and minutes later they were walking into a little apartment barely big enough for one pony with little to make it feel like a home.
She lead him to the bath and smiled softly "perhaps you'll feel better with a bath?" he smiled at the promise of a shower.
He took his time; stood under the water letting the heat seep into his damp and aching bones, happily dealt with the mess of hair and tail of his, and lastly dealt with all the grime that had started to cover his body sense the accident.
When he came out she was there with medical supplies surrounded by her magic aura "please sit down" he did as bid for this unicorn with the voice of honey.
Moments later his shattered wings were bandaged for him "that should make you feel better" and with that he smiled not sure if he was dreaming or not.
She lead him to the only bed and pulled the covers over him and spoke softly "now get some sleep little one, you've deserved it" he was asleep before the second word had reached her lips.

Tuesday:
He awoke in the morning to silence and started to walk around testing his rested body "wow I feel so much better" his stomach growled and he remembered just how hungry he has been for the last few weeks.
A note on one of the small tables in the kitchen drew his eye and he read aloud "I had to be somewhere and won't be back for a few days, there's food in the fridge if you're hungry. Sincerely Crimson Verse."
He wasted no time going to the fridge and finding a few things that he could stomach; a few crackers and some water.
He started to test his muscles now that they were healing from his extended time without rest, shortly after his eyes start to close and he drags himself to the bed and is asleep yet again.

Friday
He has been resting well and his body is finally accepting more than just crackers and water, he can walk around like he used to, and has been able to take the bandages off his wings.
He has also spent most of the time depressed staring into a mirror looking at the stubs where his once beautiful white wings were "what I wouldn't do to get these back..."
Creeeek...
He turns to the door opening "are you still here?" -a voice he doesn't remember- "I hope so, I really would like to talk with somepony" she came in using her magic to levitate and put all of her groceries away only leaving one bag out.
Hesitant he sat at the table looking her over now that he wasn't on the verge of death; she had a crimsoned colored coat, a unicorn horn poking out from long flowing hair that was a harsh black compared to her coat and lastly her eyes that were crimson just a few shades brighter than his own.
"How are you feeling?" he looked down not really wanting to look at her "I'm glad that your wings have-" a slight cry escaped his lips causing her to go to his side "I'm sorry... I know how much Pegasi love their wings" -she held his head to look him in the eyes and a slight flash of sorrow was evident in her own- "I want to help you get back in the air" his eyes flashed with hope.
"How? I don't even know where mine ended up after..." he looked down flashes of black smog and cramped wings causing him to fall to the ground "it was so sudden, one second I was flying on my errand for mother... the next I'm falling and something black is rising to meet me... as if an old friend of some kind... then I was limping around Manehattan..." -a soft hoof was on his back- "nopony would take me in, I had nothing to my name beside my old hoodie... where's my hoodie?!" he was alert and looking around in a panic.	
A voice of honey filled his thoughts "shh shh calm down" -he was calm as if the words were his very being- "I fixed it up while I was gone" -she levitated it from the last bag to him- "how does it look?"
He pulled it on and sighed softly the familiar comfort around his body "thank you" the hug was short that he gave to her curiosity starting to kick in "so how are you going to help me get back into the air?"
"I'll have to tell you on monday, I still have things that need to be done..." something distant was pulling at her attention.
"Things? can I help?" she never answered him and was gone, he started to pace his mind running wild with sudden fears.

Nightmare
Running.
I've been running my whole life.
I'm falling now, something is pulling me down like dead weight.
I can't breathe.
Water is filling my lungs.
I kick out trying to break the surface.
I try to scream as a metal claw is gripping my wings.
Water fills my lungs quicker as I thrash against my unseen enemy.
I can feel something ripping and I want to scream in agony.
I feel a sharp pain but the claws are gone.
I finally get up for air.
Gasping.
I pull myself to shore.
I cough up blood; black.
The blood swirls around my hooves.
I limp from the water.
I don't get far.
Everything goes black.

Saturday
He woke in a fit because of a nightmare and bolted out of bed; he sits down in the kitchen staring at the fridge.
"I thought they were over..." talking to himself he searches for something for his nerves "so many times I've dreamt that after losing my wings..." he could barely speak with the images in his mind "dammit!" he kicks out knocking the table over "those dreams mean nothing!" he was shaking with rage; seconds became minutes and minutes became hours before he finally was able to calm down "okay..." he opened a cupboard and smiled slightly seeing a coffee maker and some coffee beans.
He spent some time figuring out how to work the machine before flicking a switch making it sputter and come to life, in a few moments he had a hot cup of coffee in his hoof "at least I have coffee..."
He watches the window sipping at his bitter coffee with nothing else to do "where did she go to?"
His eyes start to fall when she pushes through the door silently with her magic, he tries to keep his eyes open but is asleep shortly.
She levitates him easily to bed and then goes about bandaging her own wounds "I hope that he likes you young one..."

Sunday
He woke in the morning to silence around him being the only pony home; it had started to rain an hour or two ago.
He started to pace in a mood that was between happy and sad, he couldn't explain why he felt so alone but like he was being watched over at the same time.
A banging on the door snaps him from his thoughts "who could that-" knock! "-be?"
He is cautious as he walks towards the door the banging getting faster and more frantic a muffled cry coming from the other side of the door.
He takes deep breaths before pulling the door open; a red pegasus no bigger than him rushes in and then slams the door.
This red pegasus is gasping for air and Swift Note takes this time to examine the surprise guest that came from nowhere; a deep red coat with short and choppy black hair as well, he has a lot a piercings just at a glance two in each ear and at least 5 for each wing.
The red pegasus turned around a bit tense seeing a different pony than he had expected "who the buck are you?"
Swift Note wasn't one for talking and sulked back quiet "me? um I'm Swift Note" he nearly falls over when the red pegasus rushes him.
Instead of falling he strikes forward catching the stallion in the muzzle "don't hurt me!" the stallion hides in the corner in case of a retaliation.
The red pegasus sits in front of him and in a breathy voice not unlike the stallion that had tried to kill Swift Note "why are you in her apartment?" he curled further.
"S-she saved me" Swift fell back suddenly and let out a scream having fallen in such a way to rip open the wounds of where his wings once were.
He was lifted to a couch swiftly by this red pegasus and bandages were placed besides him "this is going to hurt" with that he poured rubbing alcohol on the fresh cuts; Swift couldn't hold back a roar of pain.
Bandages were wrapped around his whole body swiftly, the pain starting to fade only slightly "so you're the one she mentioned the other day?" he wasn't looking for an answer and continued to talk "now I know why she was so hell bent on me making a pair of wings" he continued to ramble Swift not hearing a single word his mind focused on the pain.
A sharp tug on the final bandage and Swift passes out from pain.
The red pegasus spoke softly writing a few things down "hmmm your bones are thinner than most of the pegasi that I've dealt with" -he continues rambling- "he's got dense bones too" with that he writes a note and looks outside cringing "I have to get out of here or I might end up ripping him to shreads.
He left a note before rushing outside; "Hey Verse, I came by while I was running form another idiot thought that a piece of silver would be enough. Anyway I saw this pony you were talking about, I have rough measurements in my head and will be able to make the wings, but I need him to come by my place on Tuesday before I'll consider making them. Sincerely Dark Tone."

Week 3 End