//------------------------------// // Chapter Forty-Two // Story: A Journey Unthought Of // by Hustlin Tom //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash groaned. She started to pick herself off of the floor, noting with some small satisfaction that she at least appeared to be in one piece. Two front hooves, two back hooves, wings, ears, tail, mane; each in good working order. She stood up fully, only to feel a sharp jab of pain in her chest. She yelped involuntarily, and tears began to flow. The others had started to get up as well; Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack were piled up together next to the wall on her left. Twilight had ended up near them along with Ditzy Doo as well. “Ooh, my aching head,” Twilight moaned. She looked over to her wall-eyed wall companion, “Do these trips normally have this much turbulence?” Ditzy Doo jostled herself into an upright position from having her rump in the air and head to the floor, “I don’t know, this was only my second trip in the Tardis. The first was getting to Canterlot.” She looked around, “Where’s the Doctor?” “Present,” came a short pained reply from the command chair that sat near the Tardis’ control console. Fluttershy was still gripping the Doctor’s leg with a vengeance. “Though my leg could use a little circulation; could you please get off Fluttershy?” Fluttershy wasn’t responding, As she was still in shock from the trip and the crash. After forcibly removing Fluttershy from his leg, he checked the console. “Well, it’s not the worst landing I’ve been a part of, but it could have definitely used a little more finesse.” “How could you possibly have been in a worse crash then this?” Rarity asked loudly. “Long story made short: I was forced to crash and I died for a sixth time.” “Wait, what?” Twilight asked. “You died? A sixth time?” “It’s okay, I got much better after that.” “How could you die multiple times? That doesn’t make sense.” “It’s a funny story that I might tell you sometime later. Is everyone alright?” “I’ve been better,” Rainbow Dash whispered in pain as she gingerly walked towards her friends. “Rainbow Dash! What’s wrong?” Pinkie Pie asked with concern. The Doctor hurriedly stepped away from the console and made his way to the cyan pegasi, “Move, I can help.” He took a metal cylindrical device from his coat pocket, and pointed the humming electric blue tipped device into Rainbow Dash’s eyes, and then towards her midsection. “Pulse is steady, no internal bleeding, but she’s dislocated one of her ribs.” Fluttershy shook her head, fully recovered from the crash, and quickly made her way over to her injured friend. “Oh no! We need to get her to a hospital soon! This is going to take weeks to heal!” “Weeks?” Rainbow wheezed, “You mean, I can’t fly, again?” “Hold on, this will only take a minute. Be strong, this is going to hurt for a few seconds. Ready?” Rainbow Dash nodded her head, tears were streaming down her face, and it hurt too much to breath or speak. “1..2..3.” He pressed the button once more on the device. There was a discernible popping noise, and Rainbow Dash cried out in pain. Her friends cringed in fear and concern. “Don’t worry, it’s done. You’re ready to fly again.” Rainbow Dash looked down at her side, and flexed her wings. She breathed in deeply and sprang into the air with a little laugh of triumph. After doing a lap around the interior of the Tardis she came back down. “Wow! I feel great! More than great! Thanks Doc!” “You’re welcome,” the Doctor said with a small smile on his face. Applejack looked up at the cylindrical device, ‘That sure is an amazing thing-a-ma-jig you’ve got. Wha' is it?” The Doctor tossed it upward, and it flipped in midair. “Sonic Screwdriver,” he put the device back in his coat pocket, “The ultimate utilitarian aid; you can use it for just about anything. Now then,” he headed towards the double doors of the Tardis, “I think we’ve been putting it off long enough; let’s go say ‘hello’ to the neighbors.” He took the doors by the handles, and opened them towards himself.