//------------------------------// // Chapter Thirteen:Fluttering Airlines // Story: Distorted World // by FluttershyLover55 //------------------------------// Distorted World Chapter 13-Fluttering Airlines After checking on Applejack, who told them where Discord's base was, they returned to town, where they could see the castle on the mountain in the distance. Another riddle appeared in the book. 'You may have found my secret base, but catching me, will be quite the chase.' They pondered how to get to the capital city of Canterlot, since it was impossible to walk to. "Couldn't you teleport us there, using the pendant, Spike?" Fluttershy questioned. "We could, but I'm not sure how much magic is in it, and I don't want to use it up. It would be nice to have some left over, in case, we need it." Spike explained, secretly afraid that he would get it wrong, and teleport them off of a cliff, or something. Fluttershy thought up another solution, involving the things at her sides. "Well, um, I'm not the best flyer, but I could maybe, get us over there." She offered, flapping her wings for emphasis. "Fluttershy, that would be great! If it's not too much trouble for you." Spike accepted. "Oh, I don't mind. I'm just happy to help." Fluttershy used a wing to scoop him up onto her back. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX All went well, as they neared the city walls, until disaster struck. The statues on the walls fired beams of energy at Fluttershy and Spike. She did her best to avoid them, but one of them struck her left wing and broke it. She yelped in pain and tried to slow their descent, but it didn't stop their fall. The ground rushed up to meet them and Fluttershy couldn't bear to look at their impending doom, so she shut her eyes. Spike had vowed only to use the pendant in emergencies, and as far as he was concerned, this counted as one. He thought about protection, and braced for impact. A blue force field bubble surrounded them, and it bounced along the ground a few times, before dissipating. Fluttershy and Spike rolled across the ground, and ended up right in front of the castle gates. Spike leapt to his feet, and checked on Fluttershy. She whimpered in pain, as he touched her wing. The feathers were scorched and it was broken, which was about what he had expected. Fluttershy couldn't even move it, without being in intense pain. "Hold on, Fluttershy! I'll fix it, just give me a second." Spike tried to use the pendant's power, but it just sparked and fizzled out. "Uh-oh, uh, plan B? Hmmm, let's see what I have in here." He rummaged through his pack, in search of medical supplies. He found some bandages, and a splint. "Brace yourself, Fluttershy, this is gonna hurt." Spike warned her, and then got to work. He straightened her wing, and applied the splint, then wrapped it up in white bandages, to keep it in place. Fluttershy stood up, and asked how he knew how to do that. "Twilight taught me how to repair injuries, and other things about survival." Spike explained. "This isn't the first time, it's come in handy, either." "I see. Well, thank you, Spike!" The pegasus pulled Spike into a hug, and he returned it. "Well, I guess, that's the end of 'Fluttering Airlines'." Spike joked, glancing at her wing. They both chuckled at his joke. He thought that her laughter was like music to his ears, and her voice was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. Not that he would be admitting that any time soon, since it was too embarrassing to say out loud. The castle loomed above them, spires stretching into the clouds. As they gazed up at it, it seemed to hold a sense of foreboding. They had a feeling, that their journey would end soon, whether they survived or not.