My eyes snap open and the blinding light hits them immediately. I'm strapped down. That's the first thing I notice. Next, I notice the pain. Pain is searing through my body and I wince. I wonder what happened to cause this much pain. Breathing feels difficult and fire rages through my chest every time I inhale. There's a mask strapped to my face and I guess it's pumping out oxygen.
Then, I realize that I don't remember how I got here. What is this place and why am I here? What happened? I struggle to recall the memories of what went down. I can't seem to remember. I can't seem to remember anything before this moment for that matter.
I can't see anything, but the blinding light above me. I can still hear and the irritating beeping sound from beside me is starting to push me to the brink. Then, I hear the squeak of a door opening and my heart jolted from inside of me. Simultaneously, the beeping sound slightly sped up and got louder. Who’s there?
I hear the sound of hoofsteps gradually getting closer to me. The obnoxious beeping sound remains, even as the hoofsteps grow louder with each step.
I can finally see more than the brilliant light I had slowly grown adjusted to. Two figures are looming over me. I can barely perceive their facial features. One wears glasses and has a horn. The other wears her mane in a bun and has sapphire blue eyes. They both look sad and I’m not sure why.
“Good news,” I hear the voice of a stallion say. “He’s awake.”
“Wonderful,” replies a mare. “Should I alert his wife and his daughter?”
“Yes, that would be great. Thank you. Make sure they know all the details!” the stallion instructs.
I hear hoofsteps growing softer this time. Soon, they disappear. I start to panic slightly. I didn't even know I had a wife or a daughter. I had forgotten so much.
“I-I have a-a wife and d-daughter?” I manage to croak. It sounds muffled and almost incoherent from inside of the mask I’m wearing.
“Oh! Oh no! This isn't good!” the stallion exclaims, his eyes growing wide. “NURSE REDHEART!”
He must've been in a rush because his hoofsteps disappeared swiftly. I wince again. Pain. It's growing increasingly worse with every minute. I guess it's because I’m becoming more alert.
Once again, I hear hoofsteps walking into the room. The figure with glasses looks at me again. He shakes his head and clicks his tongue a few times.
“Bad case of amnesia,” the stallion mutters woefully.
I hear another set of hoofsteps. I wonder when these ponies will let me rest for a bit. My body is on fire.
I want to ask what happened, but I can't manage another word. I am in too much pain. My wings are stinging and aching overall, so I’m guessing it's a flight accident.
“Doctor Stables?” the mare asks. “Should they say their final goodbyes now? How much longer does he have?”
“He’ll probably be fine for tonight,” the stallion surmises. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow morning.”
The mare lets out a small yawn. “Yeah, you're probably right. I’ll be in first thing when I wake up.”
“Thanks for everything you do, nurse,” the stallion says in reply. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” the mare says back.
More hoofsteps. I think the mare will be gone until morning comes. The stallion looks at me gravely. He looks hesitant to leave my side, but he sighs and his hoofsteps grow softer as he leaves.
The blinding light disappears suddenly and it startles me. The only light I can see now is a soft glow from a window on the right side of the room. I hear the sound of a door closing. I'm all alone now.
I still hear the beeping sound in the room. That's one thing in this room that will never change.
I should try to get some rest. It would be nice to spend some time away from this raging pain. I close my eyes. With the aggravating beeping sound and the pain that's whining to me, it's hard to fall asleep. Eventually, I feel myself drifting off into an uneasy slumber.
I am awoken with a start when I hear the mare and the stallion speaking again. The blinding light has returned. I hear the beeping sound again. Just great.
“He looks okay for now,” the stallion announces. “Let's hope he can make a full recovery.”
“It might be tiring for his family with the amnesia though,” the mare tells him. “He can't seem to remember anything.”
“We’ve had other cases of amnesia before,” says the stallion. “I'm sure his family can help him pull through.”
There is a long period of silence. It's starting to irritate me.
Finally, the mare speaks again, “Is there a chance we could lose him? I-I really don't want to. From the way his wife and daughter speak of him, he sounds like an amazing stallion.”
Again, she mentioned a wife and daughter I don't remember having. My train of thought begins to run. I try to recall anything about them, but I can't find anything.
There's another long period of silence until the stallion gives a long, drawn-out sigh. “I don't know, Nurse Redheart. All we can do right now is hope that he recovers. We’ve done all we can.”
The hoofsteps grow softer once more and the sound of a door closing fills the air. For a long time, I ponder in silence staring into the light above me.
I wish desperately I can remember the wife and daughter I had. I try to picture a beautiful wife and an amazing daughter flying right beside me. We're laughing together and making jokes like families do. I wish I could recall those exact memories for myself. If I could, maybe I would be able to smile for once in this predicament.
Then, another realization hits me. I don't remember my name! I actually forgot my entire life and identity. I can't believe it. I feel my eyes begin to get wet. I forgot all I was and all I had before this. Now all I’m going to remember is the brilliant light, the constant beeping noise, the searing pain, the mask attached to my face, and the mare and the stallion that come into the room and constantly talk about my condition.
I turn my head slightly to see the window. All I can see is an enormous tree and a brick wall. I turn my head back to the light.
Pain begins to run through my body worse than ever now. It feels like I’m being burned alive. I cry out in pain, but it's muffled by the mask. Thick blankets of darkness begin to take the blinding light away. The beeping sound is faster than I’ve ever heard. The hoofsteps are pounding through the hallways and I hear the door slam open.
“Call the others!” the stallion shouts. “We’ve gotta keep this stallion alive!”
“Right away!” the mare cries.
I hear new hoofsteps coming into the room and new voices. They're all shouting frantically to one another, so I can't make out what they're saying.
I’m dying. I know that's what's happening now. Everything else is a blur. I can only make out what's happening when the beeping sound has become fearfully slow, when it's become silent, and the blankets of darkness are all I can see.
“He’s… not gonna make it,” the doctor chokes out.
That's okay. It hurts too much to go on anyway.
“I’ll inform his wife and his daughter, so they can say their final goodbyes,” the mare says. It sounds like she has slightly begun to cry.
I feel a flicker of happiness. They're going to send in my wife and daughter. It’ll be like meeting them for the first time.
Suddenly, my heart sinks when I hear the sound of crying. She sounds a bit too mature to be my daughter, so she has to be my wife.
I hear her hoofsteps coming closer to me and her hoof comes into contact with my own. Immediately, I feel unafraid and safe. I may be dying, but I feel unafraid.
I don't remember her name. I don't remember what she looks like, but at least I will always remember her voice.
“I-I-I wish I could've done something,” my wife sobs. “You’ve always been there when I needed you! You’ve supported me and loved me, even when you saw me at my worst.” She sniffs and cries for a short while. She regains her composure and begins to speak again. “I-I-I’m never gonna be able to fall in love again. I-I’ll never find another pony like you! You're the only stallion that I ever could love and that I ever will love. G-g-goodbye. I-I l-love you so much. I’ll never stop thinking of you. Never.”
I feel her soft lips touch my forehead before she pulls away and gallops out of the room wailing. I was wrong. She's even better than I imagined.
“His time is short! You might not even get to tell him in time,” I hear the stallion say.
“I don't care!” I hear a mare weeping. Her voice is raspy and it cracks every time that she speaks. She must be my daughter. Her voice is beautiful. At least, I think so. “This was all my fault! It's all my fault! He was in Ponyville visiting me! I need to speak to him. One last time. Please. Just let me see him.”
“Alright, Rainbow Dash, please make it quick,” the stallion tells her.
Rainbow Dash. That name fills my heart with joy. It's beautiful. She's my daughter. My daughter.
I don't remember what she looks like, but I will always remember her name and I will always, always remember her voice.
She rushes into the room and squeezes my hoof lovingly. She sounds like she is trying to say something, but she can't get the words out.
To my surprise, I feel her lie something light and soft on my chest. My head fills with wonders about what it is.
Finally, she speaks to me, “I-it’s your favorite. It's always been your favorite thing. It's the hoof-stitched plushie of me that Mom made you. Y-you two have always been my biggest fans. No matter who I met after my Wonderbolts performances, no one was as excited to see me as you and Mom were.”
What's a Wonderbolt? That sounds amazing.
I hear her choke back a sob and inhale sharply. I feel her throw herself forward and land on my chest. It hurts a little, but I love to feel her there.
Through hysterical tears, she tells me, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I took you for granted and I’m sorry. You loved me so much and you told me that every time you saw me! All I did was roll my eyes and tell you, 'I know’. Why? Why did I do that, Dad? Now is the time I can tell you? When you're…” She pauses to cry. “When you're d-dying? When you're leaving us? When I’m saying goodbye? I… I’m the worst daughter ever. I never woke up thinking it would come to this. I lived every day with innocence. I was so naive and carefree. I never wrote you or told you anything about what's going on in my life. Heck, you didn't even know I was a Wonderbolt until Scootaloo told you. Dad, I’m going to make a promise to you. I’m going to make a promise to you right now. I promise you that I will never, that I will never make the same mistake with Mom.” She pauses to sniff. “I just hope that you can forgive me. I… I love you.”
She just lays there and cries on my chest and that is how I’m going to die. There's no way that I couldn't forgive her.
Yes, my life is done. I have made my mark. I have played my part. I don't remember what I did, but I just know that I’ve made a difference. My daughter still lies on my chest, still crying just as hard as she was. I don't remember any of my memories with her, but she is the best daughter I could ask for. Before my hearing disappears like my sight, I think, I love you too. I love you too.