Penny POV
Beep....Beep...Beep....
Drip....Drip....Drip....
Beep....Beep....Beep....
Drip....Drip....Drip....
The sound of a heart monitor and an IV drip were the only sounds outside of quiet shallow breathing in the IC room. Laying on the bed in a hospital gown, a breathing mask over his mouth and nose, Adam Winger laying unconscious, the previously mentioned monitor and the slow rise and fall of his chest the only signs he was still among the living world.
A small dry sniffle escaped me as I traced Adam’s knuckles with my thumb. My eyes hurt from crying. My nose hurt from crying. My head hurt from panic. But my heart hurt most of all from this idiot I was in love with willingly putting himself in harms way like that.
I sighed again as I layed my head on his arm, refusing to let go of him. I am not sure why. I just....I needed to know he was still here. I needed to know he wouldn’t suddenly disappear on me.
I think I know what Qrow goes through with flashbacks now, as my mind drifted back to what happened after he was stabbed.
*****
“ADAM!!” I screamed as he closed his eyes. I could barely see through my tears, he wasn’t moving! He was barely breathing! He is losing so much blood! He’s gonna-
“PENNY!” I suddenly realize Weiss is in front of me, shaking my shoulders, my own breathing coming out in pant. “Penny look at me, calm down, you’re hyperventilating.” I try to look back to Adam, but the ex-heiress grabbed my face. “No, look at me. Take deep breaths with me. Inhale, and exhale, slowly.”
I slowly follow Weiss’s instructions, my breath coming back to me, my tears beginning to dry out. After I don’t know how long, I calmed down a bit, Weiss letting me go and letting me see that Ruby and Blake were also teary eyes and at Adam’s side with me, but not panicking as I was a moment ago.
“Crap crap crap.” I hear Yang repeatedly muttering nearby as she paced around, messing with her hair in worry.
“We have to get to the castle.” Ruby said abruptly, catching our attention. She wiped her eyes before addressing us. “Shining said he was getting a medical team ready incase any of us were hurt. We need to get him to the palace, now.”
“But we can’t move him with that damn sword in his chest! And we can’t remove it or he’ll just bleed to death!” Blake shouts, I don’t even think she realized she was shouting.
As team RWBY were talking amongst themselves, I was trying to think of a solution. My mind, while still slightly frantic, began scanning the area, looking for some way to help.
‘Yang’s bike? No, he can’t hold on and Yang isn’t exactly a safe driver. Ruby’s Semblance? No, she can’t carry someone of Adam’s size and weight for long or far, plus she could end up jostling the sword. My Lightning travel? I don’t even want to think about how that sword could conduct electricity.’
As I was thinking, my eyes land on Weiss. I looked to her in silence for a moment, my mind going a mile a minute, before something sparked in my mind.
“Lancer.”
The girls turn to me as I muttered that aloud. “What was that Penny?” Ruby questions. I don’t really respond before all but pouncing of Weiss, causing her to yelp.
“Weiss! Summon a Lancer! It can airlift him to the castle!”
That caused the others to perk up as they realized what I wanted.
“She’s right! Weiss, hurry up and summon one of those things!” Ruby yells, the former heiress nodding as I got off of her and she walked a little bit away. I noticed her hands were shaking a bit as she gripped her weapon, so I guess she is also a little panicked as well. She soon took a breath and twirled her rapier before stabbing it into the ground.
Behind her, a large white glyph appeared and soon an animate ice sculpture in the shape of a Queen Lancer appeared, clicking its mandibles as it looked around. Weiss pulled out her sword from the ground and points to Adam, the large Grimm-like ice sculpture focusing on him and buzzing its wings. Once it was in the air, it positioned itself over Adam, carefully placing its legs under him to lift him into the air without moving his positioning.
Weiss summoned a glyph under herself and launched herself up and onto the summons back, sitting down as it got a little higher.
“I’m going on ahead! Try and catch up as fast as you can!” She yells. I burst into electricity, shocking the others as I hover over to her.
“Follow me, I’ll guide you to the castle, and keep them from attacking.”
With that, the two of us flew off towards the castle. I could see Yang and Blake running to Yangs bike while Ruby jumped to the roof of a warehouse to follow. I just ignored them and focused on keeping myself in the air and not having another panic attack. I do not like those.
It felt like an eternity, but it took next to no time at all to reach the castle. Unfortunatly, a giant white Lancer caused a bit of commotion as it flew overhead, but this was good for the most part. Once I saw several ponies with bows, I immediately dived and slammed into the ground, stunning them.
I looked around frantically, before my eyes find Shining, Twilight and Cadence, the trio looking to the Lancer, clearly getting ready to fight. I ran over them as Weiss and her summon slowly began to lower themselves to the ground.
“Shining, Cadence!” I all but scream, the duo turning their attention to me. “Shining, where is the medical team?! Adam’s hurt!”
That got their attention as they turned back to the Lancer and just now noticed Adam’s limp form in its clutches. Shining’ immediately called off the guards who were about to attack while Twilight teleported to get the medical team. It barely took fifteen seconds before her to come back with a large group of ponies with a stretcher.
I directed Weiss as she controlled her summon to gently lay Adam down on the stretcher before he was rushed away to the medical ward. I was about to follow before I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked over, and saw Qrow.
“Hold up a second there kiddo. We need to wait for the others.” He states, but I can see the hesitation in his eyes as well. We both knew he was right, and we both hated it. I began to cry again before I realized it. I don’t like this feeling.
I saw Weiss looking around in shock, completely at a loss for words both at the environment around her, and the residence looking back at her with either curiousity or wariness. Must be from her sword.
“So, who’s this?” I turn to Twilight, who has an awkward smile on her face as she tries to defuse the situation.
It doesn’t work.
I look around as I hear hoof and footsteps and saw the rest of my friends minus Pyrrha coming up the road from the stadium. Oscar/Ozpin perked up when they saw the former heiress next to the crystal heart, but then they seemed to notice both my expression, and the blood on me and the ground.
“What happened?” Was Ozpin question, his voice earning Weiss’s attention.
“Professor, I could really use an explanation right now about where we are and what is going on.” Weiss said walking over.
“Join the club Ice Queen.” Rainbow said. At that, I couldn’t help but snort as I saw Weiss eye twitch before she groaned and buried her face in her hands.
“Seriously!? Even in another world with beings I have never met before, everyone keeps calling me that!”
The natives looked confused while Qrow was trying to contain his laughter. Oz just chuckled. We all went silent as we hear the unmistakable sound of an engine getting closer. Though the ponies didn’t know what it was and tensed up. I look down the road and see Ruby using her Semblance to clear a path while Yang and Blake drive after her.
The trio stopped just outside the palace, and while Yang and Blake were gawking at the architecture, Ruby ran over, and suddenly gave me a hug. I am not sure why she did this before noticing I was still crying. I hadn’t even noticed. I hug her back hard and buried my head into her cloak.
“It’s going to be okay Penny. Remember this place has magic. They can help him.” Ruby whispered, her words gave me some comfort as I clung to my friend.
“What the hell?” I hear Yang and see her and Blake now gawking at Twilight and her friends.
“Ok, before anything else, quick introductions.” Shining all but demands, looking weirded out by the looks WBY were giving him and the others. I sniffle and wipe my eyes again as Ruby lets go and runs to her team.
“Ok, these are my teammates Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and my sister Yang Xiao Long.” Ruby said quickly before clapping and turning to her team. “This is Twilight Sparkle, Rarity Belle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Princess Cadence, and Prince Shining Armor.” Ruby nearly fell as she said all that in one breath, trying to catch her breath before quickly looking around. “Wait, where Pyrrha and Neo?”
“Pyrrha!?/Neo?!” We chose to ignore the trio as Twilight took out her prototype scroll. I am still surprised that they were able to make some of those just from taking Pyrrha’s apart and putting it back together once. Granted the range is terrible, but it works.
“Pyrrha said she was running back to her room to grab her gear just incase when we got here to the castle. Neo is back at the stadium keeping an eye on things. I’ll send them a message to meet us in the medical wing.”
I nod before looking to Shining with a pleading expression. He nodded and began to walk towards the castle. I admit that I needed Qrow’s hand on my shoulder to stop myself from just running there myself. I didn’t look back, but I heard the others following quickly as all of us rushed towards the medical wing.
I was shaking. For almost three hours, I just sat in a chair closest to the entrance to the ICU Recovery Ward while the others were scattered about. I barely paid them any mind as the trio were being introduced to the locals, or their freaking out at Pyrrha walking in. I paid her no mind, even as she walked over and gave me a hug, one I barely reciprocated. I did appreciate that she brought me some clean clothes. I couldn’t get out of my bloody ones fast enough after I realized how bad they were.
I did have to intervene when Neo walked in and Yang tried to attack her. Though I admit I may have gone a little overboard when I short circuited her arm father made for her, but right now I didn’t care. Everyone got quiet after that, and it stayed that way for the last hour before a crystal pony wearing surgical garbs walked out.
Everyone immediately stood up, though Neo did have to catch me as I nearly fell from staying seated for so long. The doctor looked over us all before his eyes landed on me.
“You are Captain Taurus girlfriend are you not?” I just nod. He sighed and lowered his surgical mask. “I suppose you are close enough to next of kin right now. Physically, he is very lucky.” He looked down at a clipboard he had with him. “That sword would have gone clean through his heart had it been less than two inches to the left. He may have some residual nerve damage, but we won’t know for sure until he awakes. What I am more concerned about is his magic and mind.”
He rubbed and shook his head. “That man. How reckless. His mana pool was below what should have been possible for most unicorns to live, let alone whatever he is. He was suffering from severe internal magic burnout, and since his entire body is the conduit as opposed to a unicorns horn, I don’t know what kind of damage he had done to his magical pathways.
From what Prince Armor told me, you all have this ‘aura’ thing to help repair physical damage, and so far that is the only reason he made it through surgery at all.” He sighed again and put the clipboard down. “If this were a pony I would say he should wake up in a couple days as we put him into a magically forced coma so he can heal, but considering what and who he is, it’s my professional statement, that I don’t know how long he is going to be under. We will keep him here for a week before transferring him to Canterlot General, or until he wakes up, whichever comes first.”
Everyone was silent after that, or at least that’s how I heard it. I couldn’t really hear much besides the doctor as I began to cry again. Neo and Pyrrha were rubbing my back to help me calm down as I barely noticed the others look sadly and worriedly to one another. But it was Yang who pointed something out.
“Wait. You just told us how he is physically and, I can’t believe I am saying this, magically. But what was that about worrying about his head?”
That caused everyone to tense up and look to the crystal pony doctor as he sighed and leaned against the wall.
“That is something I am indeed worried about. After we got him through the surgery, pulling out that blade and stitching him up, it was a quick magic scan of his brain that confused me. From the brain activity we got, it appears he is going through some kind of Unconscious Somatic Flashbacks.”
“Um...what?” Ruby questions.
“He is living through some of his own memories while he is asleep.” Weiss explained. Ruby made a noise of understanding, but I ignored her and walked up nervously.
“C-can I s-see him?” I stutter. I was very worried. What if they wouldn’t let me-
“Of course. Like I said, you are the closest to his next of kin as his romantic partner, so you can see him first after he is moved out of the ICU and into one of the recovery wards.” He placed a calming hand on my shoulder. “Just wait a little bit longer and you can see Adam again. Ok?”
*******
Three and a half weeks.
It had been three and a half weeks, and aside from some occasional movement from his eyes and twitches, there hasn’t been any sign of him waking up. It hurt. It hurt so much!
His body had healed up as best it can with a combination of his aura and the doctors healing magic, but he just won’t wake up. His mind was still going through those somatic flashbacks, and the doctors theorize until his flashbacks reach what he went through in the fight, he won’t wake up.
....I’m scared.
I....I can’t lose him. Even now as I lay my head on his arm, I am scared. I am scared that I’ll fall asleep, only to wake up and fine he never will.
How is it that in just a few months I could be so attached to another living being?
As the doctor said Adam was transferred to Canterlot a couple weeks ago, and this gave Ruby the excuse to introduce her team to everyone here. Qrow had decided to pick up the slack in training the White Fang for Adam, and considering I saw a couple of our recruits here for checkups, he isn’t pulling any punches. Pyrrha and Oscar kept themselves busy with teaching both the soldiers, and the school back in Ponyville about the Grimm and how to defend ones self from them. Neo for her part just did her own thing for the most part. There were times no one would see her for days before she suddenly popped back up again.
I refused to leave his side through the whole time. I knew its wasn’t healthy. I had read and memorized several books on human psychology and how to deal with stress, loss, worry etcetera. But actually feeling them was another hurtle in and of themselves.
I hate this. I hate seeing someone so strong look so weak.
More than once I was tempted to try and summon another Displaced to ask for help, but I am not sure what anyone could do. His sisters would probably try to go into Adam’s head, but if Luna couldn’t get in, I don’t have much confidence in the others. Plus I don’t even want to imagine how they and Edward would react.
I sighed again, looking out the nearby window. Adam would be getting fed soon, and I had to get back to the castle, no matter how much I didn’t want to.
I turned my head slightly as I hear the door silently squeak open, before a familiar head with black hair and cat ears popped in. Blake and Yang, of course, had been the more reluctant visitors, the latter more than the former, but Blake was always silent. She didn’t say a word as she walked over and took a seat at Adam’s other side, looking over his still form before looking to me.
She didn’t say anything for a while. Not that I blamed her. After what happened, she probably blamed herself again.
“Anything?” She questions. I shake my head. Grabbing a bottle of water nearby and taking a sip. My throat felt dry. Blake nodded sadly and turned her gaze back to Adam, his eyes slowly moving under his eyelids.
“Why are you here Blake?” I bluntly ask. I internal wince at Blake’s wince. I guess I was a little harsh sounding.
“I-we, my team and I, are worried about you.” I look to her blankly. “Penny you barely leave his side and I get that your worried about him. But this isn’t healthy. Princess Luna said you get maybe two hours worth of sleep a day, you barely eat anything and quite bluntly, its starting to show.”
I knew she was right. My eyes felt like lead with dark bags under them. My hair felt gross and too long, it was starting to cover my eyes. My stomach hurt, even through I had trouble keeping most food down. But..but I-
“I get that you love him.” Blake continued. “Or, at least you think it’s love, but would Adam like seeing you like this?”
I didn’t even notice when tears started falling from my eyes again, or when the faunus stood from her chair and hugged me.
“I’m scared.” I mutter pathetically. “I don’t wanna leave him. I don’t want to come back, only to find he won’t. I-I-”
“Shhhh. It’s okay Penny. We’re here.” Blake whispered, rubbing my head. I just continue to cry into her shoulder. ‘Gods, why did she have to be so emotionally stunted when it came to connections. I guess Ruby was her only real friend back home, but this is nuts.’
I am not sure how long we were like that for, but eventually we broke apart. Blake smiled down at me, and I could see the concern in her eyes. I weakly smile back before walking to the washroom sink, splashing water in my face a few times.
“Better?” Blake question, leaning on the doorframe.
“Better.” I respond, slowly drying my face before frowning. “Blake I’m sorry for worrying you and the others. I just-”
“You don’t have to apologize Penny.” I look out the door and see Yang and Weiss standing there, the latter being the one who talked. “I know you’re rather sheltered and a little underdeveloped when it comes to some of these emotions, so it’s only natural for you to act like this. But try and remember you have friends to lean on. Right Yang?”
The blond bombshell nodded silently with a smile I remember Ruby calling her ‘Big Sis Smile’. I smiled back before grabbing my coat from the back of the chair.
“Hey, how about you come with us to grab some dinner Penny? Ruby is setting up a reservation for us at Saffron’s, and I don’t think she would mind having you eat with us.” Weiss offers. I look to the trio for a moment, before smiling softly.
“Sure. I’d like that a lot.” I said, the trio smiling back before I turn to Adam. “I‘ll see you soon, Adam.” I whisper before kissing his forehead. With a deep breath, the four of us leave his room and head out the hospital.
Had I stayed a minute longer, I would have seen the smile appear on his face.