//------------------------------// // The Storm // Story: The Storm // by Pazazz //------------------------------// Pazazz Moonbunny, Glimmer Carapace and Night Blaze were hanging out together in the Everfree Forest, exploring; which was one of their favourite pastimes. They were not far from Night’s home, that being the Everfree Castle. The trio had packed a picnic basket, snacks and towels. There was a secluded spring not too far from their destination.  Pazazz raced her two friends to the spring, laughed hard when Night Blaze outran both her and Glimmer with a grin. He knew his way around the area like a pro, since his Father had a map of the designated region. Pazazz gave a happy whinny and pranced about when she saw the spring. “Wow, this is such a peaceful area. Who knew such a thing could exist in this forest?” Night leapt into the spring splashing his two filly friends.  “Come on in, the water's fine!” He said with delight. Glimmer and Night set up the blanket and placed various foods on it. There was fried fish, salads, iced tea and cake that Bunny had made. The trio spent the first day of the Summer Holidays relaxing together, when animals suddenly began scurrying by. There were a few animals at first, then many more began running by, all with fear in their eyes. “My little friends, what is the rush?” Pazazz asked a squirrel who paused only long enough to chatter a response. Night and Glimmer noticed their friend’s eyes turn pin prick.  “We should leave the area at once. There is a storm coming and it’s going to be really bad.” Pazazz said urgently, getting back on her hooves. Glimmer saw the area already getting dark. It was clouding up rapidly and the wind had begun to pick up also.  “Shish, weather in this area wastes no time forming, does it?”   Sure enough, heavy thunder could be heard in the distance. ————————————————— The youths began their trek back to Everfree Castle.  They were hampered down by wind and a heavy downpour soon caused the trio go off the path King Sombra had mapped out. Pazazz shivered a bit, since the storm was making visibility impossible and it was scary. She took off running when a peal of Thunder erupted and startled her. She lost her footing when she skidded on some mud and loose rocks.  Pazazz tumbled down a steep hill, giving a pained whinny as she hit the bottom. The impact knocked the wind out of her. Glimmer and Night rushed down the hill, being careful not to fall like Pazazz had. Night gently nosed Bunny who was on her side.  “Come on Pazazz we should head back to my home. Can you get up?” Because it was foggy, he was unable to see the compound fracture on Pazazz’s left rear leg. She tried to get up, but stumbled over from the pain.  “Night, I’m sure my leg is broken.” Pazazz whimpered. Night’s eyes glowed eerily in the dark. He saw the fracture now and grimaced, since it was bleeding heavily.  “I need to put pressure on the wound, Pazazz. Stay still.” Night said soothingly to his friend, as he pressed one of the towels that was in his saddle bags, onto her fracture. Pazazz groaned, the pain was unbearable! “I can make a temporary bandage using my changeling slime. It will feel strange but it will stop the bleeding.” Glimmer said helpfully, while stroking Pazazz’s mane. The patient nodded once. ————————— “Eww, that feels weird…” Bunny said as the green goop was applied to her wound. “That should prevent infection and will allow us time to take you to safety.” Glimmer said softly as she tied torn towels and sticks together to help splint the leg. “Glimmer, watch Pazazz while I go to get help.” Night said as he prepared to leave the area. He soon stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a howl.  “Great, the day just gets better: we need to get out of here, now! Those Timberwolves didn’t sound very far away.” Glimmer and Night helped Bunny to stand up on the remaining three legs. She could hobble, while they supported her.  —————————————- The walk was tedious, but they moved as fast as they could to get away from the Timberwolves that would most likely find their trail.  The trio cautiously entered an uninhabited cave and hid. But Night wasn’t done.  He galloped out of the cave and easily attracted the Timberwolves attention.  “Looking for me, you lumbering toothpicks?” He taunted. The timberwolves snarled and chased Night Blaze away from the cave. Glimmer sighed with relief, since the danger was now averted.  “Sure hope Night knows what he is doing.” —————————————————— Night knew the forest like the back of his hooves. He ran where mud would be. He managed to avoid danger, but the Timberwolves were less fortunate, sticking themselves right into the mess. The wolves defeated, Night began his long trek through the Everfree Forest back to his friends. It was mid-afternoon when the storm died down and he was worried about Pazazz and Glimmer.  He galloped back to the cave he had left them in. —————————————————— Glimmer was relieved when Night returned.  “Those wolves will not harm others for awhile. They are stuck in the mud.”  He told her. Night had found some fallen tree branches on the way, and an idea had formed.  “I’m going to make a travois. It’s the best thing, since Pazazz is in no condition to be walking home.” He used the picnic blanket to connect the two tree branches together.  Glimmer changed into a bear and gently placed Bunny on the travois. Pazazz whimpered as she was moved, since the pain was getting to her. Glimmer comforted her friend as much as she could while Night attached two ropes to the travois.  “We will take turns pulling it, so we don’t tire out.” He said as he finished. —————————————————- Thus, Glimmer and Night began the long trek back to Everfree Castle.   Glimmer and Night halted their progress, however, when Bunny squealed in severe pain. It was a high pitched sound that ended with her blacking out. Concerned, Glimmer and Night went to check on Bunny, who was oddly silent. Glimmer gently prodded her friend.  “Bunny?” There was no response.  “Bunny… bun bun… Zazz.” Glimmer was beginning to panic, when Bunny did not answer her.  “Night, I think we broke Bunny… she’s not responsive!” “WHAT?!” Night gasped, as he dashed to Bunny’s side. He lowered his head to Pazazz’s chest to listen for a heart beat. He could make out a beat as well as faint breathing.  “She is still alive, the pain has only knocked her out.” Glimmer transformed into a bunny and curled against her friend.  “Good idea, you can keep an eye on Pazazz while I continue pulling the travois. I hope a rescue party meets us halfway at least. We have been out for hours and nightfall is upon us. Dad will most likely have some pony search for us.” Night sighed. — — — — Princess Luna was meditating in the dream realm, when a door appeared, much earlier than usual. She saw the door leading to Pazazz MoonBunny’s dream. The door was wrecked, reflecting the fact that something very bad had happened to her.  She woke up in a flash and galloped out of her room. King Sombra needed to know that the foals were in trouble! ————————- King Sombra was pacing around the throne room when Princess Luna arrived looking worse for wear.  “Sombra, the foals are in trouble-!” “I knew something was up-  since they did not return from their picnic and it’s already nightfall. ShadowFlair! I want you and two guards to help  me search for the foals.” ShadowFlair saluted his King and left the Castle with two other guards. — — — — Night Blaze eventually had to stop pulling the travois, since he was exhausted.  “I’m going to have to leave you and Bunny here, while I scout the area for help.” Off he set, and eventually Night Blaze saw a red light in the distance and relaxed a bit. He would recognize his father’s pony-at-arms’ magic anywhere.  “Night, you are alright! Thank goodness, we had heard the timberwolves and assumed the worst. Where are Glimmer and Bunny?” “ShadowFlair! Boy are you are a sight for sore eyes. Glimmer is with Pazazz, making sure she is comfortable.” Night said with relief. “Did something happen to Pazazz MoonBunny?” ShadowFlair asked while he followed Night Blaze to the travois. “This is a remarkable item you’ve made, Night. Your dad will be proud of you for having such a level head in this situation.” They reached the girls; ShadowFlair and the two guards saw just how injured Pazazz was.  “We need to rush her to the Hospital.” ShadowFlair said as he helped his guards lift Pazazz and her travois, being careful not to injure her. ShadowFlair created a transit portal to send both his two guards and Pazazz through. Glimmer and Night Blaze followed the trio through the portal and arrived at Ponyville General. ———————————— Princess Starlight Glimmer was there to greet the rescue team as it arrived. She watched as the orderlies rushed Pazazz straight to the emergency surgery.  Night saw Princess Starlight and leaned against her. The shock of the afternoon was finally catching up to him. Princess Starlight sent a scroll to Fluttershy’s home to let her know what happened.  ———————————— Big Mac and Fluttershy were about to have a wonderful evening, free to themselves, when a scroll dropped on the table. Fluttershy read the letter and dashed to the door.  “What is it, ‘Shy?” BigMac asked anxiously, already dreading the news. “Pazazz had an accident late in the day, one that required her to be hospitalized. Our filly is at the Hospital!!”  Fluttershy and BigMac immediately rushed to the Hospital. ————————————————— “ShadowFlair, I am taking the Prince and his friend to the Palace.” Princess Starlight said to the guard, while she gently had the two youths follow her. Glimmer and Night Blaze were both exhausted from the whole ordeal. The youths followed with their heads lowered to the ground in exhaustion. Princess Luna and King Sombra were already in Friendship Castle when they got there. Word of what happened to the three youngsters had reached them fast. Princess Luna hugged her son, who was fighting just to remain awake. King Sombra was relieved to see Glimmer and Night were both alright. He grimaced though, when he thought about Pazazz’s injury. He felt responsible for what happened to her as it was his land. “Night, what happened when you got caught in the storm?” He asked. Night looked up at his Dad.  “We were unable to see the path properly when the storm struck. I knew something was wrong when Pazazz fell down a hill. There was no hill on the path to the spring, we had gone off course. Things got even worse when Timberwolves entered the area. Glimmer and I had to move Pazazz to a safety. We made a travois to carry Pazazz, I believe we had travelled a fair distance when ShadowFlair and his two guards showed up.” Night yawned, leaning against his mother. King Sombra gave his son a hug before Princess Luna marched Night and Glimmer to the common room. She levitated a blanket around each and ensured they had some hot chocolate to relax, then waited as they fell asleep. —————————————— Pazazz MoonBunny had surgery to clean the wound and set the break in her leg. Her left wing had been set too since it was broken in the fall. The operation was a success and the youth was placed in recovery. Fluttershy and Big Mac were relieved that the operation went well, with no complications.They had been devastated when they heard their daughter had suffered injuries that required surgery. Fluttershy and BigMac were allowed to see their daughter after visiting hours, thanks to Princess Twilight insisting that they be allowed to see their daughter.  Fluttershy saw MoonBunny’s left leg in traction and that her wing had a cast on it too. Pazazz was so out of it thanks to heavy duty painkillers and antibiotics that it took awhile for her to wake. He parents waited patiently. —————————————— Pazazz heard a beeping sound and woke up. “Where am I…?” the groggy filly asked. Fluttershy was relieved to see her daughter awake, and gave her a gentle hug, being extremely careful not to aggravate her injuries.  “Bunny, you are in the Hospital.” Dr. McGrass entered the private room and smiled upon seeing Pazazz was awake.  “Good morning, Pazazz! You are a very fortunate filly, the break in your leg did not rupture an artery. However, your fall resulted in a compound fracture on your left leg and a broken wing. The rest of your injuries are just some bumps and scrapes. You will be staying here for a few days for observation.” Pazazz sniffled, since she didn’t like the sound of that at all.  “My summer is ruined!” She wailed.  Fluttershy gave her daughter a comforting nuzzle. ————————————— Night and Glimmer woke up early the next morning and went straight to the Hospital to see their friend.  Pazazz was awake when they arrived and waved a hoof at them. They talked while but soon she had to rest again, so Night and Glimmer went for a walk while their friend was asleep.  “I think I found my calling in life, yesterday. It felt right when I helped you and Bunny make it to safety during the storm. It’s like the forest was guiding me.” Night said while smiling, recalling the incident. Glimmer nodded, then blinked when she saw a glow on Night’s hip.  “Night- you just got your cutie mark!” “Really?” Night turned around in circles, trying to see his cutie mark.  “Huh, what does it look like Glim?” He asked excitedly. “Hmm, it’s a hat with a shovel and sword crossed over it. The hat has a badge with a tree on it.” Night finally saw the cutie mark and grinned. “That is a ranger hat! I believe it’s saying I should be a ranger.” “You have your cutie mark now, so when will I get mine?” Glimmer huffed. “Pazazz doesn’t have her cutie mark either.” Night reminded his friend and she nodded then she hugged Night since this was a special occasion. “We need to let Pazazz know of this at once!” ————————————— The friends dashed into the Hospital and ran straight into the private room that had Pazazz in it.  “NO RUNNING!” Nurse RedHeart shouted at the teens as they shot by. Glimmer and Night had the decency to look sheepish about that. ———————————— Pazazz was reading the latest Daring Do book when her two friends ran into the room, very excited.  “What’s got the two of you so excited?”  “I got my cutie mark!” Night said, while displaying it proudly. Pazazz stared at it in amazement.  “You must have got that from saving me the other night. It makes sense, since we were in Everfree.”  Pazazz was slightly choked up, since Night got his cutie mark whilst saving her and Glimmer. Dr. McGrass entered the private ward and saw Pazazz chatting with her two best friends.  “You will be able to return home in about a week. I want to make sure you are stable, before I release you. Oh and congratulations on getting your cutie mark, young Night.” ——————————— Fluttershy brought in her homemade stew on her next visit. It was something she would always use, whenever Pazazz was ill or gloomy. Nurse RedHeart tried to stop Fluttershy from giving it to Pazazz.  “Stop! Bunny needs to be on a special diet!” She said. Fluttershy backed up a moment then advanced again.  “Are you telling me how to look after my own daughter? This stew is a family recipe.” The pegasus huffed a bit. Dr. McGrass stopped Nurse RedHeart, “Fluttershy’s stew is more than adequate to help Pazazz get better. Go ahead and eat it Bunny, I will make a note on the file so no pony stops you from having the stew.”