//------------------------------// // Beginning of the Road // Story: Clipped Wings // by TheLionNerd //------------------------------// Ugh...where am I? And why do I feel...warm? As my eyes started to open, a blinding light drowned and blocked those around me, my vision not even able to return before being hit by it. Covering my face to give my eyes time to adjust, I start to sit up and rub my head, but also feeling pain every time I so much as move my body.  ‘’The patient is waking up.’’ Patient? I shook my head and looked around, seeing stallions in doctor’s uniforms looking at me until one put a careful hoof on my chest. ‘’Lay back down, Miss Rainbow Dash.’’ ‘’Where am I? Why am I here?’’ I asked through a pained voice, my back burning like I had a run-in with another fully grown dragon.  ‘’You are in the Ponyville Hospital.’’ He replied with a frown as he examined a screen. ‘’According to what I read, you had a previous experience here? For an injured wing, I assume?’’ ‘’Well, yeah.’’ Raising an eyebrow, I blinked in confusion. ‘’Why?’’ ‘’It appears that you have been sent here for the exact same reason.’’ The doctor, I guess, narrowed his eyes and used his magic to show me the screen, an x-ray of both of my wings and... oh horseapples, it’s bad. ‘’And here is what we found.’’ I stared at the X-rays and what I saw horrified me. My left wing had been broken in three places, and they weren’t even clean breaks. The edge of each bone segment had fragmented into dozens of tiny pieces, and they were all over the place. A quick glance at the other X-ray showed my right wing didn’t fare too much better. I glanced over at the doctor, doing my best to swallow my fear. “S-so what, you set these back in place and I’m up at full power in a few weeks?” His somber expression said more than any words could. ‘’Unfortunately, the injuries you sustained did untold damage to your nervous system, Miss Dash.’’ “So what? I’ll fly a little twitch-ly? How long will that last?” I finally sputtered out.  The doctor sighed heavily. ‘’I am aware of how much this means to you, but there is nothing we can do. It might not even come close to healing. Nerve damage isn’t a black and white science, Miss Dash. It might restrict your movement, or if the nerves are damaged enough…your wings may be paralyazed.’’ “What? Like, forever?!” I yelled out. No, no this couldn’t be true. I was Rainbow Dash. I was the fastest flier to come out of Cloudsdale! I was the only pony in history to make a Sonic Rainboom! I was a Wonderbolt! I couldn’t be grounded!    A nod from the doctor was enough to confirm this despite his pained expression. ‘’Forever.’’ No. No nononono. This can’t be happening! I had just achieved my lifelong dream and now it’s being snatched from me?! There has to be another way. Somepony had to have a solution. Somepony like… Twilight! If anypony knew some freaky healing spell, it had to be her! That egghead had a solution for everything! “Well Miss Dash, now that you’re awake there are a couple of ponies here to see you. Would you like me to let them in?” The doctor said, trying his best at a sympathetic tone. ‘’U-Uh, sure.’’ I gulped, nervous of what was going to happen next. As the doctor went out to go fetch my friends I shot a look behind me. Both wings were heavily wrapped and stuck in a wing cast. Oh Celestia, this was real. Twilight had to know something! The doctor returned with five ponies in tow. ‘’Rainbow Dash?’’ Twilight asked in concern as she approached me, the others right behind her. ‘’Are you..?’’ “No! I’m not alright!” I yelled, lurching forward and grabbing Twilight.  “You gotta help me out, Twilight, this crazy doctor is telling me I’m gonna be a grounder! You can heal me, right?” Electing to ignore me for the moment, Twilight gazed at the X-rays the doctor had hung up. She bit her lip apprehensively. “Ignoring the broken bones and multiple abrasions all over Rainbow’s back.” The doctor began. “The tissues and nerves in the primary bone have taken untold damage. I fear it may be debilitating neuropathy. The axillaris and radialis nerves were right in the way of the bone fragments, and directly impacted by the accident. The tricipitalis nerve also looks quite damaged, judging by the condition Miss Dash was in when she first came here.” ‘’...Huh?’’ I blinked, confused at what he was saying. All of this egghead stuff was making my head spin. “Uhh…” Twilight began, worrying on how to word her explanation. “So those nerves he mentioned bring signals to your brain to move your muscles. And all the nerves in this area-” Twilight pointed to the first segment of my wing on the X-ray. “Have been damaged. So even when the muscles and bones heal, the signal won’t send and… and…”  ‘’And…?’’ Twilight blinked back tears. “I’m so sorry Rainbow.” She stared at the floor. “So, so sorry.” ‘’Twilight, what are you even talking about?’’ I asked, trying to move my wings, but the muscles didn’t respond. ‘’Why can’t I move my wings?!’’ Twilight couldn’t meet my gaze. I stared wildly at the rest of my friends, hoping for a sane answer. There was no way Twilight was saying the doctor was right. She had to be able to fix this, she was a princess!” “Rainbow Dash” came the dulcet, recognizably southern tones of Applejack. “Now I ain’t much for all this crazy medical jargon, but even I know what they’re getting at.” She walked over to me and sat by my side, holding a hoof out reassuringly. “Your wings are paralyzed. You can’t fly.” ‘’So that means….’’ My heart started to sink at the realization of what that meant. A cold shiver ran down my spine. I shook my head furiously while I started to hyperventilate. I could feel my eyes misting up but made no attempt to fight them back. Not after everything. I couldn’t be flightless after everything I’d done to get where I am. There had to be some mistake. ‘’No, you’re lying!’’ I screamed desperately. This time it was Fluttershy who came up to me, putting one of her hooves on my own.  “We’re here for you the whole time Rainbow. We’ll be there every step of the way.” She said soothingly. “It can't be…”  I choked out with a sniff. I closed my eyes tightly and looked away, feeling the water make its way down my cheek.  A few hours later, I was laying in my bed, still thinking about what was said earlier. Not only could I not fly anymore, but I can’t even move my wings, either. I can’t move the things that allow me to be as awesome as I am!  ...The things I had built my life, identity, and career around. My friends had offered to stay through the night, letting me know they were “there for me” and “understood my pain.” I’d never heard such blatant lies in my life. Twilight and Rarity still had functional horns, Fluttershy could still fly, and Applejack and Pinkie Pie had no health issues bogging them down. How could they understand what I was feeling?  I turned around and punched my pillow. What had I done to deserve this? I was always there for my friends, did my best to help our around town, and even took in an adoring filly and treated her like a sister! But the moment I am in serious danger, they just leave! They leave! The door to my hospital room opened as one of the nurses came in and smiled. ‘’Miss Dash, you have another visitor.’’ ‘’Oh yeah?’’ I huffed, crossing my hooves as I looked at her. ‘’Who could possibly want to see me?’’ A small voice called out from behind her. “R-Rainbow Dash?”