//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Home // by Northguard //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash walked through the snowy desert that stretched on for miles. She pulled her scarf in front of her face as a small gust blew past her. Letting out a small groan as snow blew into her face. "Ugh...How did they get me into this?" She asked herself as she spread her wings and flew into the sky to get a better view. She spotted a village not far away from her location and set course for it immediately after as she needed to take a break from the harsh environment. The town wasn't that much to talk about, it was about ten buildings there and it seemed like seven of them were private homes. She entered the town's bar, which was close to the centre of town, and the only one present in the bar was the bartender. "Good evening." the mulberry mare greeted. "Likewise," Rainbow answered and sat down by the counter. "A glass of whiskey, please," she said while taking off her warm clothes. The bartender pulled out a bottle of whiskey and glass, which she poured the drink into before giving it to the rainbow-maned pegasus. Rainbow Dash downed the drink in one gulp and gave the glass back without a word being spoken. "What brings you here? We don't get visitors around here." the bartender said with a questioning look. "The name is Rainbow Dash. I was sent here because of the multiple dropped charges against Filthy Rich. Rumours say he's taking children away from their families and using them as slaves. He has denied it and says that he has normal workers who are paid and taken good care of. Thus, I was sent to investigate." Rainbow Dash explained. "Interesting. I've never really liked that guy, he's just another greedy business that this world wouldn't miss." the bartender said before stretching out a hoof to the rainbow mare. "My name is Berry Punch, by the way," she said with a small smile. Rainbow leaned forward and returned the hoofshake before leaning back in her seat again. Berry Punch sat down behind the counter and pulled out a bottle of champagne that she drank directly without a glass in huge gulps. Rainbow stared bewildered and confused at the mare chugging the bottle of alcohol. "Isn't the bartender supposed to be sober?" Rainbow asked as her confusion continued to rise. Berry Punch put the bottle down as she held up her hoof in a 'hold on' gesture before she let out a loud belch. "Excuse me," she said as she looked up at Rainbow Dash. "I'm born with some form of defect, if that's what you want to call it, that makes me immune to the effects of ethanol. I can drink alcohol as much as I want without damaging my organs," she explained. They both shared a small laugh as they began talking about other things. They talked about childhood friends, family, what their cutie marks were how they got them, etc, etc. It went on for hours, but the fun was cut short when the door was pushed open with a little more force than necessary. Both looked towards the door to see a mare that looked terrible and had no clothes to keep her warm. She was thin as a stick as her ribs were visible under the turquoise fur, she was riddled with what looked to be whipping scars, burn marks and frostbites, her amber and gold mane and tail were hanging down in a tangled mess and her gamboge eyes were bloodshot. Not even a second after walking in the mare fell onto the floor and instantly began to show symptoms of fever at a high rate. A mouse climbed out of her mane and looked to be trying to get her to wake up but to no avail. Berry Punch ran out from the counter and put a hoof to the mare's forehead before storming out the door, shouting for a medic. Rainbow went over to the mare and sat down by her as she tried to put the mare in a more comfortable position. The mare looked at her weakly with her tired and bloodshot eyes as a small smile began to form on her face before she blacked out and fell unconscious. Rainbow picked her up and carried her across the room before putting her down by the fireplace in an attempt to warm her up. She couldn't explain it, but it felt like something inside her changed when she made eye contact with the mare. It was like she could see all the suffering the mare had gone through in those few seconds of eye contact. Not only that, but it was also the relief she saw in those pained eyes. She didn't know... She didn't know why tears were coming from her eyes. She wiped a tear away as she continued to look at the mare and without thinking put her hoof on the mare's shoulder and spoke two sentences. "You're safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you again." After some time, a medic came storming in and sat down by the unconscious mare as he began checking her. Her heart was still beating, and she was breathing, so there was still hope, although when it came to temperature it wasn't the same story. "41°C!!!" the doctor said out loud as panic began gripping his voice. "We have to move her to the hospital! Now!" the doctor said as he looked at the frostbite on the mare's body. "Are you mad?!" Berry Punch shouted as she came in the door. "Not in that condition! I doubt her body can take more of the cold," she said, still in panic. "Get some carpets and towels. We'll have to tuck her in before we can as much as think about taking her out in the cold." Rainbow Dash said as she stroked the mare's brow and cheek. After a few minutes, they had tucked the mare in carpets and towels as best as they could when Rainbow Dash picked her up and flew full speed out of the bar and towards the hospital, after getting the directions from the doctor, of course. Due to her speed, she was at the hospital in only a few seconds and thankfully the staff were waiting by the doors. The doctors escorted Rainbow to a room where a bathtub of warm water was standing. Rainbow understood and took the mare out of the carpets and towels as the doctors picked her up and slowly lowered her into the bathtub. After a few seconds, the mare's eyelids began to twitch and she let out a groan as her eyes began to slowly flutter open. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes as she looked around. "W-where am I?" she weakly asked. "You're in Snow Hill Hospital at the moment. You are suffering from a dangerously high fever and some minor frostbites and thus have been put under immediate medical attention." one of the doctors explained. "For your fever, you'll be regularly put into a lukewarm bath to regulate your temperature and you will receive plenty of water to keep you hydrated. Your frostbites will be treated as quickly as possible as well." The mare didn't answer as she looked around the room, she spotted a light blue mare with a rainbow mane. "You. You sat by me when I blacked out," she said as Rainbow Dash walked up to her. "Yeah, I flew you here when you were out. The name is Rainbow Dash," she answered and reached out a hoof to the mare. The mare smiled as she lifted a soaked hoof and returned the gesture. "Thank you. I'm Lightning Dust."