//------------------------------// // Chapter 32 // Story: Rekindled Embers // by applezombi //------------------------------// Chapter 32 Letter, sent from the desk of Grand Master Nickelplate, Knights Mystic Sir Steadfast- Multiple questions have been raised as to your culpability in both the loss of an important heretic prisoner, and your foolish decision to remove an irreplaceable artifact from the vault and bring it with you.  Your failure to locate the object you were sent to find is disheartening.  You are ordered to return to New Canterlot City immediately and report on your lack of progress. Your request to be placed in charge of the investigation into Heretic Emberglow is denied.  You are ordered to turn over all relevant documents, evidence, and testimony to Lady Hollybright, who will be heading the investigation. Yours in the faith, Grand Master Nickelplate 1113 AF, Angel’s Rest              “You all know this is unnecessary,” Emberglow growled with indignation at the stretcher she was laid out on.              “Nonsense, darling.  You’re injured.”              “I can walk.”              “Maybe.”  Rarity’s voice was sing-song.  “But actions have consequences.  You thought you could sacrifice yourself for us, even when I went to all that trouble to save you.  And then you went and got yourself injured, and even…” She drew a harsh, shuddering breath, refusing to say the last word.              “I’m… just glad you knew CPR,” Emberglow said awkwardly, reluctantly lying back in her stretcher.  “You saved my life.”              “And you’re going to pay me back by being a good filly and staying in your stretcher without complaint,” Rarity commanded, causing Emberglow to flinch.              “Yes, ma’am.” Emberglow made her voice small, and Rarity beamed at her.              “There, I knew you could be reasonable.  Just lie tight, we’ll be at the doctor’s office soon.”              Emberglow didn’t want to lie tight.  She wanted to get up, to look around, even fly around, and explore this fascinating new city she’d come to.  Angel’s Rest was an underground city, complete with enchantments to mimic the sun shining out of crystalline structures in the tall, arching ceiling.  There had been secret tunnels and security checks on the way in, and she’d barely seen any of it because she had been stuck on a stretcher. How did a place like this even function, buried with a rock ceiling overhead instead of sky? And those massive stalagmites and stalactites she had seen on the way in — were there ponies living in those? Her curiosity burned, and was almost enough to make her leap off the stretcher and start flitting around with excitement.  Still, she didn’t want to do anything to disappoint Rarity, especially since she was probably right. Emberglow had been technically dead, after all. Rest would probably do her well. So she did the best she could, taking in the sights and sounds of the city from her limited perspective while being hauled about like luggage between Cobalt and Rarity.              It was the ponies, or rather, the creatures, of Angel’s Rest that Emberglow found most curious.  It wasn’t just ponies, but griffons and zebras and minotaurs, even a few smaller dragons flitting about.  Ponies made up the majority, but the mélange of mixed beings seemed so effortless and natural.  She thought she’d feel nervous to be around the other species, but she didn't sense any animosity from them, just curiosity and compassion for her injuries.              “This place is unbelievable,” she whispered, just loud enough that Rarity and Cobalt could hear.  Maybe if she was speaking, she wouldn’t have to think too hard about what was happening to her life.  She couldn’t help, however, reaching up with one hoof to idly touch the new piece of jewelry that encircled her neck.  It still didn’t seem real.              “It’s pretty incredible,” Cobalt agreed.  He glanced around, nodding politely to the ponies and other creatures who were staring at the odd procession.  “Not only do we have all the pony races in harmony here, but creatures like me can find friendship, acceptance, and peace.  It’s why I stayed.”              “The city is why you stayed?” Rarity asked slyly.  “That’s not how I heard the story.”              “Heh, you heard about that?” Cobalt laughed.  “Maybe it’s more accurate to say the city is a part of why I stayed.”              “Tell me, please,” Emberglow said.  “I need something to take my mind off…” She trailed off, waving a hoof vaguely at the bandage covering her eye.              “Of course,” Cobalt said kindly.  “The Knights Discordant have an officer exchange program with the griffons.  I came over about seventeen years ago, and became close friends with Heartwing.  But more importantly, there was a mare. So when my time was up, I requested to stay.  My government was more than happy to comply when they found out I’d be getting married.”              “You’re married to a pony?” Emberglow asked.  It was sweet, now that she knew more about the griffons beyond what the Diarchy preached. Inadvertently, she thought of Bubblegum, and the horror and disgust she’d felt when she caught the Knight Adamant in bed with a griffon lover.  She wanted to hide her face in shame.              “For fifteen blissful years now.  We even have a foal we adopted together, though she’s grown now. My wife, Pastel Paint is a nurse, you’ll probably meet her at the hospital if she’s on shift,” Cobalt’s face was out of view, but Emberglow could hear the smile in his voice.              “So there’s nothing wrong with ponies being with other creatures here?” she asked.  Emberglow had already guessed that, but she wanted to have it confirmed.              “Not in the slightest,” Cobalt said with conviction.  “Love is love, and as long as all the parties are consenting adults nobody cares who you’re with.”  Emberglow nodded.  “One word of warning, though.  Some ponies go straight from the repression and denial taught by the Diarchy to hedonism, with no barriers or boundaries.  If that’s what you choose, that’s your choice.  But I don’t recommend it.  It often leads to regrets.”              “I don’t think I have to worry about that.” Emberglow thought for a moment, then blushed brightly.  “So, um, even mares can be with other mares?”              “Of course,” Cobalt said, glancing back at her with a knowing smile on his beak.  “Everypony is loved and valued, regardless of who they love.  When you’re ready, and if you’re interested in relationships, you’ll find plenty of mares, or even females of other species, who would be very excited to meet you.”              “Oh.”  Emberglow felt her face heating up.  She didn’t know what else to say; the possibility of actually having a romantic relationship with somepony was something she’d never allowed herself to consider. Not even with me?              Gadget’s voice in her head startled her into a pained whimper.  It drew both Rarity and Cobalt’s attention, and they both stopped to look at her with concern.               “Is everything okay?” Rarity asked.  “Did we hurt you, dear?”              “No, no,” Emberglow shook her head frantically, wincing at the headache that began at the sudden motion.  She had to resist reaching up to the bandage that still covered her eye. “Not more than normal.  Just bad memories, is all.” That’s all it is?  Bad memories?  Or maybe you’re just a crazy mare with voices in your head.              “You’re in a safe place, Emberglow,” Cobalt said as they continued on their way towards the hospital.  “You’ve probably got a billion questions, but no matter what, remember that.  You’re in a safe place where you can be yourself.  You don’t have to hide that part of you any longer.”              Emberglow had already assumed as much, from her conversations with Heartwing.  But for some reason, hearing it stated so simply hit her hard in the chest.  She curled up from the strength of her emotions, holding her face in her hooves. Soon, she felt a heaving sob push itself from her lungs, and a growing wetness across her hooves as she wept.  She felt like a dishrag, squeezed and wringed out.  Weeks of tension, followed by days of torture and a harrowing escape, and now suddenly she was safe?  With each sob, it was as if her entire body was reacting violently to the alien idea.              “Emberglow!” Rarity called out in shock, but Emberglow waved a tear-soaked hoof at her.              “I-I’m fine, I’m f-fine,” Emberglow laughed while she sobbed.  “I’m fine, really.”  She didn’t even know what she meant, or if she really was fine.  The words were automatic; Emberglow didn’t even know what she was supposed to be feeling at the moment.  She knew she didn’t want her new friends worrying about her, though.  “Please, we can continue.  Don’t worry about me.”              “What you’re going through is normal,” Cobalt said.  “Terminus will stop by the hospital when he’s done reporting to Heartwing.  He’s the expert on the process of transitioning away from your former faith.  He’s good at it.”              “Okay,” Emberglow said hoarsely through her tears. Then, suddenly self-conscious, she added, “You both probably think I’m silly.”              “Not in the slightest, darling,” Rarity declared firmly.  “You cry your heart out if you need to.  We’re here for you.”  From somewhere in Rarity’s clothing, a handkerchief levitated out and into Emberglow’s hooves.              “Thanks,” she said, and silently wiped at her eye. Inside, her emotions still felt like a raging storm, but she managed to contain herself for now.               “I’ve spent some time speaking with Sir Terminus, Emberglow,” Rarity said after Emberglow wiped her tears dry.  “He’s very insightful, and an utter sweetheart besides.  You’ll listen to his advice, won’t you?”              “Yeah.  We spoke a bit on the way back.”  Emberglow had already been thinking about the few things he’d shared.  “He seems like he knows what he’s talking about.”              “He does,” Cobalt said.  “Ah. Here we are.  Angel’s Rest Hospital.”              Emberglow looked over at the three story brick building they’d stopped in front of.  The only thing setting it apart from the rest of the buildings around it was a symbol over the door; a red cross on a white field.  She could see hospital beds and equipment through the wide, clear windows.              “Hospital?” she asked skeptically.              “I know it’s not big,” Cobalt said.  “Between healing spells and our relatively small population, we don’t tend to need much.  We only have three doctors, after all.”              “Any of them former Radiants?” Emberglow didn't know whether to be hopeful or not.  She wasn’t sure what it would be like, meeting sisters who had been through the same journey she was on.              “No.  Doctor Plasma used to be an Adamant, though.  She was trained in first aid and battlefield medicine.  There’s only two former Radiants active in the Discordant right now, and both of them operate in the field, rather than staying back here in the city.  But you can hear all about that later. For now, let’s get you in and checked out.”              The reception area of the hospital was mostly empty.  It definitely smelled like a hospital, though — the scents of disinfectant and bleach, with tiny hints of something vaguely metallic, brought back memories of her practical classes during med school.  The receptionist was an older earth pony stallion, who surged to his hooves when the three of them entered the room.              “Sir Cobalt!  Wounded?” the pony called out, rushing around the counter to try to help.              “Urgent, but not an emergency.  Can you have Doctor Plasma meet us in the urgent care room?”              “I’ll let her know as soon as she gets back.  She had to head off for a house call; Doctor Honeysuckle needed help setting up her ramp.”              “Oh, right,” Cobalt said.  “I forgot Honeysuckle broke her leg.  Is everything okay?”              “She’s doing fine, Doctor Plasma is just being her usual meddling self.  Needed to make sure Doctor Honeysuckle was following her restrictions and her PT regimen.  You know how doctors can be.” The receptionist laughed.  “Come on to the back, I’ll get you set up in the urgent care room.”              They followed the receptionist back into a smaller room, this one with two hospital beds separated by a curtain, though it was retracted.  There was another figure in the room; a griffon sitting in a chair near the second hospital bed.  He was oddly familiar, though Emberglow couldn’t place from where.              “Need help?” he started to rise from his seat, but Cobalt shook his head.              “She should be able to make it into the bed on her own.  Thanks for offering, though.”              “You mean I’m allowed to move from the stretcher to the bed under my own power?” Emberglow asked sarcastically.  Rarity nodded graciously, ignoring the snark. “As long as you don’t strain yourself, darling.”              “I’ll work on that,” Emberglow laughed.  They set the stretcher next to the bed, and Emberglow stood up, carefully maneuvering stiff and sore limbs to climb into the bed.  Her eye ached, and her chest hurt, but not as much as it had when she woke up in a panic after her fight with the Adamant. Yes, don’t forget that you’re a killer.              She did her best to shake off the voice in her head.              “If one of your helpers will come with me and begin filling out your paperwork, Miss…” the receptionist began.              “Emberglow.”              “Miss Emberglow,” he finished.  “I’ll send a nurse in with some forms for you, too.”  He eyed Cobalt critically.  “You’ll not distract Paint if I send her, will you?”  Cobalt laughed.              “Not in the slightest.  Take this pretty unicorn with you to start your paperwork, I’ll wait here for Paint.”  Rarity giggled and rolled her eyes at the compliment, though Emberglow agreed with the sentiment wholeheartedly.              “Be good for the doctors and nurses,” Rarity admonished as she followed the receptionist out of the room.  Emberglow found herself nodding, for a moment lost in the earnest concern in those sapphire eyes.              “How’s your wife doing?” Cobalt asked the other griffon once Rarity and the receptionist were gone.  The griffon shrugged.              “As well as could be expected.  Doctor Plasma’s worried about pre-term labor, and complications due to the tribe shift procedure.  She’s handling it poorly, too.”              “Where is she at right now?” Cobalt asked, and the griffon pointed at a small closed door opposite the beds.              “Washroom.  Poor girl.  Pregnancy’s been really rough for her.”  They heard the sound of a toilet flushing and a sink running, and the door opened.  A heavily pregnant mare, with very familiar cream fur and a frighteningly familiar black mane with pink streak, dressed in a green hospital gown and wearing a face mask, stepped out.  She glanced around the room, and her surprised eyes lit on Emberglow.  Suddenly Emberglow gasped, her breath caught in her throat.  She remembered where she’d seen the other griffon before.              “Emberglow!” Bubblegum cried out cheerfully.  She bound clumsily over to the bed.  Emberglow had no warning as Bubblegum’s hoof flew towards her face, impacting painfully against her jaw.  For an instant she saw stars, sparkling fuzz at the edges of her vision.  The blow turned her head away from Bubblegum, and for a moment she was utterly disoriented.  There was shouting, and a scream of pain and rage.  Somepony was standing above her, and somepony else was struggling with Bubblegum.  Emberglow blinked a few times to clear her vision, working her jaw painfully for a moment before she turned her head.              Cobalt and the other griffon were on either side of Bubblegum, who was still straining to assault Emberglow.  Each one had their claws wrapped around one of her forehooves, as Bubblegum strained to try and escape their grasp.              “Lemme go!  Lemme go!  That’s the bitch that sold us out, Gallie!  She tried to have us killed!”              “Bubblegum!  Stand down!” Cobalt shouted.              “Rule three!  Rule three!” the other griffon was yelling desperately.              To add to the confusion, another pony rushed into the room when she heard the commotion.  She was a blue unicorn, with pastel pink paint-like splotches on her fur.  She was dressed in a white nurse uniform, and was carrying a clipboard, though she dropped it in shock as soon as she stepped into the room.              “What is going on in here?!” she shrieked.  “Cobalt, what are you doing with my patient?”              “She just tried to assault your other patient!” Cobalt yelled back.  The other griffon cringed.              “Bubblegum!  Get in your bed, right now!” the nurse stomped her hoof loudly on the tile floor of the hospital room.              “Please, love,” the other griffon pleaded, and suddenly Bubblegum slumped in their hold.  Emberglow couldn’t see her whole face, but her eyes looked sulky; it was an expression she was used to seeing on Bubblegum’s face.              “Fine.  But somepony needs to explain to me why she’s…” Bubblegum never got to finish her sentence.  Suddenly her eyes twisted in pain, and with a nauseating sort of liquid sound, vomited enough blood into her mask to stain it red from the other side.  She shriveled into a ball, collapsing onto the floor and twitching violently.  There was a gush of red, bloody liquid from her hindquarters; Emberglow realized with horrified certainty that Bubblegum’s water had just broke, and there was blood.              For a split second, everypony was frozen in shock.  The other griffon (Gallie, apparently, as Bubblegum had called him) stared openmouthed in horror, looking back and forth between Bubblegum and the nurse.  The nurse blinked a few times, then turned decisively to Cobalt.              “Go get Doctor Plasma.  She’s either at Honeysuckle’s, or on her way back by now.  Hurry!”              Cobalt didn’t hesitate for an instant, dashing out the door.  Emberglow flexed her sore limbs and rose from the bed as soon as he was gone.  “What are you…” the nurse demanded, glancing up at Emberglow.              “I’m a doctor. I’m a Radiant.  Do you have a rune gauntlet available?”              “But you’re in no shape…” The nurse’s eyes shot to the bandage that wrapped around Emberglow’s head, covering her wounded eye.              “Please, nurse!” Emberglow slid off the bed onto the floor, next to the prone Bubblegum.  She hurt all over, but it didn’t matter; somepony needed her craft.  Her analytical mind was taking over as adrenaline shoved her pain aside into a dull background ache.  “I need to know about the complications her… griffon mentioned, and I need a rune gauntlet as soon as possible.”              “Sorry, I…” the nurse stammered, surprised, but then shook her head as her own training took over.  “Galileo, there’s a spare in the storeroom.  In the cupboard, top shelf.”              The griffon, Galileo, dashed off without a word.  The nurse turned to Emberglow.              “You’re really a Radiant?”              “I… I was, until a few weeks ago,” Emberglow winced.  That wasn’t important now.  “I graduated medical school as well.  Tell me about the complications.”              “Her entire pregnancy has been problematic,” the nurse said, as Emberglow tried to help Bubblegum onto her side to begin a quick exam.  “Gestational diabetes, a compromised immune system, several instances of false labor…”              “He mentioned something about a…” she paused, trying tot remember what she’d heard.  “...tribe shift procedure?”              “It’s usually safe,” the nurse said, speaking quickly.  Emberglow motioned for the nurse’s stethoscope, and she handed it over.  “We cast a spell during fetal development to increase the odds of a unicorn birth.”              Emberglow decided to set aside, for the moment, the conversation about why anypony would cast such a spell to begin with.              “Bubblegum, can you hear me?” Emberglow asked, putting on the stethoscope.  Bubblegum’s breath was coming out in loud, bubbling rasps.  Emberglow removed her mask and positioned her muzzle and throat so she wouldn’t aspirate her own blood and vomit.  Bubblegum’s eyes were clenched shut.              “It hurts…” she whimpered desperately.              “Where does it hurt?”              “Inside… my foal, save my foal…”              “I’ll do my best, Bubblegum,” Emberglow promised.  She checked Bubblegum’s pulse; it was weak and irregular.  She slid her hooves down to check on Bubblegum’s dilation.  She was definitely in labor, and the foal was coming.  She felt at Bubblegum’s stomach, trying to gauge if the foal had moved into proper birthing position.              “Something is wrong.  The foal isn’t positioned properly in the birth canal,” Emberglow said.  “I can’t tell more without instruments or a gauntlet.”  Suddenly Bubblegum screamed again, a vicious, liquid sort of gargle as more blood fired out of her mouth.  Her hooves flailed about, battering against Emberglow.  “Can you keep her still?”  The nurse went about her business, trying to keep Bubblegum’s hooves still while mopping up blood and other fluids.              Galileo rushed into the room, dragging an archaic-looking rune gauntlet with him.  It looked much like the practice gauntlets Emberglow remembered from the Ivy Seminary: clunky and impractical.  She held out her hoof, and Galileo quickly helped her put the gauntlet on.              “Battery’s in?” Emberglow breathed, and Galileo nodded, his eyes frozen on Bubblegum.  “Did you—”              “It’s full.  What’s wrong with her?”              “We don’t know yet,” Emberglow answered as she quickly cast the familiar diagnosis spell.  Magical information flooded her brain, and her mind reeled while she tried desperately to keep a mask of professionalism on her face.              “What?  What is it!?” Galileo demanded desperately, seizing Emberglow by the shoulders.  The nurse gently took his claws and pushed him away.              “Please, Galileo.  Keep your distance.  We’ll do our best, but let the doctor work, okay?”  Emberglow was already drawing a second set of complicated runes; a spell for restoring lost blood.              “We’re going to need to deliver via cesarean,” Emberglow told the nurse.  “I think it’s prenatal acucornuschlerosis.”              “What is…” the nurse began, then shook her head.  “Cesarean.  Got it.  Galileo, help me get her into the bed.”              “Actually,” Emberglow had a sudden epiphany.  “Can you levitate her?  We need to keep her as steady as possible.  Prenatal acucornuschlerosis is the premature hardening of a unicorn foal’s horn in utero.  Bubblegum is bleeding out internally, probably because the foal’s horn has penetrated the uterine wall.  The foal can’t get out, and is doing more damage to Bubblegum in the process.”              “Celestia protect…” Galileo moaned, flopping limply against the floor.  Emberglow tried to ignore him.              “I can,” the nurse said.  Her horn lit up in a cerulean glow, and slowly slid over Bubblegum’s quivering body.  Ever so gently, Bubblegum was lifted up onto the closest bed, which just happened to be Emberglow’s.  Emberglow winced in discomfort as she stood to get beside the stricken mare.              “Is there a second gauntlet?  Can you cast?” she asked the nurse, who shook her head.  “Okay.  Please get the tools ready for surgery.”  Emberglow’s heart was pounding in her ears, and her stomach was doing flips.  She’d never even been at a live birth before, let alone a cesarean delivery.  The entirety of her experience was theoretical.   This wasn't the time for second-guessing, however. Ruthlessly, she shoved her panic down. Cobalt would be on his way back with the actual doctor soon, and she’d just have to do her best to project confidence and keep Bubblegum and the foal alive until then.              As she stood, a sudden, violent wave of dizziness reminded Emberglow that she was still recovering from injury herself.  She reached out, steadying herself as best she could against the hospital bed.  The nurse rushed over, holding Emberglow by the shoulder.              “Are you okay?” she demanded.  Emberglow shook her head.              “No.  But when Doctor Plasma gets back, she’s going to operate.  I can’t,” Emberglow admitted.  “I’m not… fit.”  Her smile was grim.  “I should be lying down.  I’m pretty sure I died about a day ago.”  She raised her hoof again, casting an anesthesia spell.  Bubblegum was shaking and whimpering.              “Emberglow?” she whispered.  “Emberglow, my foal.  How’s my foal?”              “Your foal is fine, for now,” Emberglow lied.  Her foal had minutes left.  Bubblegum probably had less.              “Emberglow, I can’t feel my legs.  My hind hooves.  I can’t…”              “Shh, please relax, Bubblegum.  I’ve cast a pain relief spell.  We’re going to have to do some surgery, to help get the foal out, okay.  I want you to start counting back from ten.  Can you do that?”              “T-ten,” Bubblegum began.  “Ni-nine.  Ei…” her head slumped limply into the bed.              The nurse had wheeled over a cart full of surgical implements.  Emberglow glanced at the array of tools, and took a deep breath.  Spells to restore blood loss were a stopgap, and wouldn’t help the foal.  If the doctor didn’t walk through the door, Emberglow would have to do her best.  Her heart was pounding, and her eye ached fiercely.  She rested one of her hooves on the tray of instruments, trying to will it to stop trembling.              “Okay.  Have you assisted on cesarean procedures before, nurse?” Emberglow asked.  The nurse nodded.  “My knowledge of the process is more… theoretical.  But if we don’t start now…”              “I’m here!” shouted an unfamiliar voice.  A middle aged pegasus mare with a brilliant fuchsia coat and an almost blindingly neon orange mane burst into the room.  She wore a labcoat, a rune gauntlet, and an ineffable aura of authority.  Emberglow stepped back instinctively.  “Who the buck are you?”              “Emberglow, ma’am.” She nearly saluted.  “I used to be a Radiant.”              “And you started procedures?  In my hospital?” The threat was obvious.              “I cast a diagnosis spell, blood restoration, and most recently anesthesia.  Bubblegum’s foal has prenatal acucornuschlerosis.  She’s bleeding out, and the foal is suffocating.”              The doctor didn’t waste any time.  She glanced about the room with perceptive eyes, taking in the preparations Emberglow and the nurse had already made.              “Lucky you were here then,” the doctor said.  “Ever done a C-section before?”              “No, ma’am.  Studied them in medical school.”              “You can assist.  You’re competent in spellcasting?”  The doctor was casting spells as she spoke, her hoof moving rapidly in the runes of a basic antiseptic spell.  Emberglow cursed silently to herself; it should have been her first cast, but she’d forgotten.  From that the doctor moved into her own diagnosis spell, her eyes trailing over the unconscious patient.  “Your job is to keep the mother alive.  Monitor her vitals, let me know if anything changes.  Nurse Paint, if you please?”  The nurse took up a position slightly behind the doctor, right next to the cart of tools.  “Sir Cobalt, ensure the rubberneckers keep out, will you?”  Emberglow hadn’t even noticed Sir Cobalt, or any others, standing out in the hallway.              “I talk while I work, does that bother you?” the doctor said softly as she retrieved a scalpel from the nurse, leaning over Bubblegum’s swollen belly.  “It’s odd, but it kinda helps me concentrate.”              “S-sure,” Emberglow said nervously.              “So, my newest colleague.  Why do you look more like a patient than a doctor, Miss Emberglow?” She made the first incision as she spoke, deftly cutting a line in the patient.  “You’ve got at least one badly sprained wing, some charred fur, and a fairly new bruise along your jawline.  And that’s all ignoring the soiled bandage wrapped around your eye.”              “You could tell all that from one look?” Emberglow was impressed.  She began casting a more complicated diagnosis spell; a health monitor link that would allow her to keep track of Bubblegum’s heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing as long as she kept contact.  Once the spell was cast, she took hold of Bubblegum’s limp hoof.  It was a disorienting spell to cast; she felt the blood pressure as a physical sensation in her head, and could physically hear both Bubblegum’s heartbeat and her breathing.  “Um, yeah.  I was tortured a little bit for the last few days.  I got shot trying to escape, and my eye got slashed. Also got hit by lightning.  You’ll have to ask the others, but I think my heart stopped for a bit?”              “You’re joking,” the doctor said.  “Oh Celestia.  You’re not joking.  How are you standing?”              “Honestly?” Emberglow laughed, sounding hysterical even to herself.  “The last few days have been some of the worst in my life.  I wish Bubblegum didn’t have to go through this right now, but having at least something to focus on is exactly what I need right now.”              “Fair enough,” the doctor laughed.              The two chatted as they worked.  The doctor introduced herself as Pale Plasma, and she asked all sorts of questions about Emberglow’s medical training.  Meanwhile, she continued the operation.  Emberglow was impressed by the skill of the competent doctor, and her cheerful, effortless professionalism.               “I need another blood restoration spell,” Emberglow announced, shortly after Bubblegum’s blood pressure took a sharp dip.  The doctor nodded, casting as Emberglow’s trained ear continued to listen for any sounds of distress.              “I see the foal,” Doctor Plasma announced.  “Nurse, get me the bassinet.  You were exactly right, Emberglow.  I see the horn; prematurely hardened, and caught in the uterine wall…” she trailed off in concentration, then swore loudly.  “Celestia’s tits!  The horn perforated clear through the uterus and managed to lacerate the lower intestine!”  Emberglow flinched.  If Bubblegum hadn’t already been in a hospital, she’d probably be dead now.  “This is going to take a miracle, and lots of reconstructive spells.  Emberglow, as soon as I extract the foal, you take charge of the little one.  I’ll do what I can for Bubblegum.”              “Yes, ma’am,” Emberglow watched as Doctor Plasma carefully pulled a dripping, bloody form out of Bubblegum.  The unicorn foal was limp an unresponsive, and not breathing.   “Moving over now.”  Nurse Paint’s horn lit up, and gently levitated the baby into the bassinet.  The doctor gave a sharp nod without looking up from her patient's innards.  Plasma’s hoof was already tracing a complicated series of runes to begin repairing the damage.  Emberglow rushed over to the bassinet.              The foal, a colt, was indeed not breathing, but Emberglow could feel a tiny pulse with her hoof.  He was alive.  She did her best to clear his nostrils of the viscera of birth, before covering his mouth with her hoof and leaning over to blow gently into his nostrils.  Nothing.  She repeated the process again, and there was still nothing.  The colt was beginning to turn blue.  She tried a third time and felt something shift inside the colt’s airways.  When she straightened up, he began to cough; tiny, pitiful little noises that filled Emberglow with joy.              “He’s breathing!” she cheered, and though the doctor didn’t look away from her task, she grinned.              “Well done.  Diagnosis spell, please.”              Emberglow nodded, casting the requested spell. “The foal’s about a month premature.  Oxygen levels are low.  We’re going to need an incubator.  Other than that, he’s stable.”              “Cobalt, honey?” the nurse called loudly.  Both her hooves were busy assisting Doctor Plasma, and even her horn was lit, levitating tools about within easy reach of the doctor.  “Do you know what a NICU incubator looks like?  There’s one in the birthing room four doors down.”              “On it!” came a voice from outside the room.              Meanwhile, Emberglow wet a cloth and began gently cleaning the foal’s mouth and nostrils.  His eyes blinked open, though he didn’t cry; instead he just gasped in air, occasionally coughing, with a surprised sort of look on his infant face.              Emberglow had heard her fellow students, back in medical school, talk about something they called the ‘Foal Effect’. Many ponies had joked that the first time a mare doctor held an infant foal in her hooves, she was immediately drawn with a desperate urge to enter into a pediatrics specialty. Emberglow had dismissed the idea as backwards and sexist, but she understood now, a little. Though she didn’t feel a sudden urge to change professions, holding the tiny infant life in her hooves, she could see where the myth had come from.              But she didn’t have time to stop and awe at the foal.  She had work to do.  While she waited for the incubator, she cast two more spells; rare magic she’d never expected to use.  One was an antibiotic spell, designed to bolster a pony’s immune system against infection.  The second increased the oxygen saturation in the room itself.  It would be dangerous if somepony decided to light a match in the room, but otherwise would be good for the foal.              Apparently the foal had had enough with simply coughing and looking surprised.  Suddenly, he took a deep breath, the deepest he’d managed yet, and let out a wail.  It wasn’t as strong or as loud as Emberglow could have hoped, but she laughed with delight anyways.  Crying was a good sign; it meant his lungs were clearing.              Just then, Cobalt pushed a wheeled portable incubator into the room.              “Lift the lid, please,” Emberglow asked.  She gently lifted the wailing foal into the incubator, before carefully attaching an oxygen mask.  The colt clenched his eyes shut in indignation, squirming about as Emberglow turned the machine on that would power the oxygen mask.              With her primary task done, Emberglow suddenly felt superfluous.  A wave of dizzied exhaustion swept over her, and she sank to the floor.              “Doctor, if you don’t need me for anything else, I think I’m going to…”              She never finished her sentence.  Blackness swallowed her vision before her head even hit the floor. *   *   *   *   *              The first sound Emberglow heard was the beeping of a heart monitor.  She felt surprisingly good, like she was floating on a cloud.  Idly, she wondered if somepony had managed to wrangle a cloud bed into the hospital; it seemed impractical, but it might explain the comfort.  Then she tried to wiggle her hooves, and felt a dull pain in one of her front hooves.  She cracked her eyes open, glancing down. Again, her left eye refused to respond, but her right opened just enough to see the IV in one hoof.  Suddenly the comfort made sense; she was probably on some sort of painkiller.  That would also explain the vague, floating sense of euphoria. Opening her eye just a bit wider, she glanced around.  It was the same room, though clearly some time had passed; the blood and fluids were cleaned, and only the faintest scent remained, mostly washed away by the aura of bleach and antiseptic.  A curtain was pulled between her bed and the other, though she could hear the quiet, steady beat of the beeping monitor.  Whoever she was sharing a room with was alive, at least. “Any… anypony there?” “Emberglow!  You’re awake?” came a voice from the other side of the room.  The curtain suddenly swung to the side, revealing Bubblegum’s husband Wind Storm and Galileo the Griffon, both standing over Bubblegum’s prone form.  She was in the hospital bed, eyes closed, with an oxygen tube in her nose and an IV of her own in one hoof.  Both males had nearly identical looks of concern.  Wind Storm rushed over.  “Is there anything you need?  Anything at all?  I can go get the doctor, or the nurse.  Galileo told me…” he swallowed.  “He said you saved our son.  Our son!”  There were tears in his eyes. “Where…” Emberglow managed.  She felt hoarse. “They have an NICU room.  I was just stopping in to check on Bubblegum before I went back to…” He swallowed, shaking his head and dabbing at his eyes.  “We haven’t even named him yet.  We’re waiting for Bubblegum.”              “How are they both?” she asked.              “The foal is stable.  Doctor Plasma had to put in a feeding tube, because he wasn’t taking a bottle on his own, but for now he’s doing well.  Bubblegum is…” he sighed.  “She was in surgery for six hours.  Doctor Plasma went through four more batteries after you passed out.”              “I’ve been out for six hours?”              “About ten, actually,” Galileo added helpfully.  “Doctor Plasma and Doctor Mortar both said to let you sleep as long as possible.”              “What’s the prognosis for Bubblegum?” Emberglow asked.  She tensed to rise, but Wind Storm shook his head sharply.              “Stay down, Emberglow.  Doctor Plasma said you weren’t supposed to exert yourself.  Hang on, I’ll go let her know you’re awake.”  He hustled out of the room, leaving Emberglow alone with Galileo and the comatose Bubblegum.              “He didn’t answer my question.  How is Bubblegum?”              “Why do you care?” Galileo asked.  The question wasn’t an accusation; he sounded genuine and sincere.              “Because… because she was right to hit me,” Emberglow said, as the tears began to flow from her eyes.  “I ruined her life.  I tried to arrest her.  And you.  And Wind Storm.  I…”              “Emberglow, stop,” Galileo said.  “Has Terminus told you about the rules yet?”              “Not all of them,” Emberglow replied, confused.              “Rule three is, everypony gets a fresh start.  Whatever you did, whoever you were before you found out the truth is washed away, and you get to start over.  Bubblegum forgot that when you walked in, for a moment.  I’m sure she’ll be very sorry when she wakes up.”              “She’s sorry?” Emberglow sobbed.  “I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry!  I’m sorry, Galileo. I wish…”              “Please, stop.  Rule three, Emberglow.  You owe me no apology.”              “But… I interrupted…”              Galileo laughed heartily.  “Fine, I’ll accept the apology for accidentally blue-balling me.”  Emberglow turned dark crimson.  “But to get back to your question.  Bubblegum’s prognosis is unclear.  She might wake up in a few hours.  She might wake up in a few months.”  He glanced at Bubblegum, and his heart was in his eyes.  “Whatever happens, though, you tried your best to keep her alive.  And you saved our son.”              “Your son?” Emberglow was confused.              “We are married.  All three of us, one family.  Back in Port Luminescence, we kept it hidden, but here in Angel’s Rest?” His beak spread in a grin.  “I can shout my devotion to both my loves from the rooftops.” He sobered when he glanced back down at one of those two loves, reaching out to stroke Bubblegum’s hoof with one gentle claw.              “I’m so sorry,” Emberglow repeated.  Galileo opened his mouth to protest, but she continued.  “I wish I’d known then.  I wish I could have done something different.”              “Don’t you see?” Galileo gave a small, quiet laugh.  “Chasing us out of the Port led to the best thing that ever happened to us.  Now we don’t have to hide any longer.  I can love them both without regrets or deception.  And now we have one more to love.”  He cleared his throat, and Emberglow saw the flush of embarrassment there.  “Um, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve spoken to Wind Storm already.  We’d like to name you our foal’s goddess-mother.”              “I’d be honored.” Emberglow was choked with emotion.  That made two colts she was goddess-mother for.              “There’s more.  We’re waiting for Bubblegum to wake up, but Windy and I both agree…” he took a deep breath, then spoke in a rush.  “We want to name him Emberspark.  After you.”              “Oh.  Oh!  I…” She was overwhelmed.  She opened and closed her mouth a few times, her brain trying to form words.               “You can tell us no,” Galileo said nervously, misinterpreting her hesitance.  Emberglow shook her head.              “No, it’s an honor,” she said, truly touched.  “When Bubblegum wakes up” — she emphasized the word; it looked like Galileo needed some hope —  “I’m sure she’ll love the idea.”  She wasn’t, really.  Perhaps even after everything that had happened, Bubblegum would still hate her.  “But are you sure?  I was the one who…”              “I don’t want to hear any more about what happened back at Port Luminescence, okay?” Galileo said.  He even gave a shaky little laugh.  “If you really wanna make up for it, I’ll let you pay for a romantic date for Bubblegum and I.  To make up for the… erm… celebration you interrupted.”              Emberglow felt her face heat up, but she tried to ignore it.   “O-okay,” she stammered, trying not to dwell on the mental images that created.  Galileo’s laugh was a little louder.              “I was kidding, Emberglow. You don’t need to be serious.”  He winked.  “But I won’t say no if you want to anyways.  When Bubblegum wakes up.”  He used her same hopeful tone from earlier.              There was a knock on the door, quiet and gentle, but Emberglow still jumped a tiny bit.  Glancing over with a chagrined blush, she saw Doctor Plasma enter with a small smile.              “Well, Emberglow, in the brief time I’ve known you, I can honestly say you’re a competent healer and an abysmally stupid patient,” the doctor said cheerfully.              “Sorry, ma’am,” Emberglow mumbled, and Doctor Plasma chuckled softly.              “Don’t be, I’m teasing you.  You saved two lives yesterday, even though you should probably have been in bed yourself. In fact, stay right there.  I’m here to see how you’re healing.”              “There’s no pain,” Emberglow said helpfully, and the doctor snorted.              “IV painkillers, Miss.  I’d like to ask a bit more about your injuries.  How you got them.  Normally I would have just healed you, but batteries are short at the moment.” She glanced over at Bubblegum.              “Um, most of my injuries were caused by a very angry Mystic swinging a steel pipe,” Emberglow said, shifting uncomfortably.  Doctor Plasma watched her, waiting for her to continue.  “That was before the daring escape led by the beautiful heroine.”  Emberglow blushed; she wasn’t quite sure why she’d put it that way.  “While we were escaping, I fought an Adamant that came after us.  He’s the one that…” she trailed off, gently touching the bandage over her eye with a wince of fresh pain.  Quickly she jerked it away again.  “In the fight, I kicked a stormcloud and electrocuted both of us.  They told me my heart stopped shortly after that.”              “I’d like to talk to the pony who did the CPR,” the doctor noted.  “We always need competent nurses.”              “That’s about it.  Oh, then when I made it to the hospital Bubblegum hit me.”              “You mentioned that.” The doctor’s voice was wry.  “What did you do to set off our resident powder keg?”              “I was the one who drove her out of Port Luminescence, and the Knighthood.” Emberglow’s voice was small.  “I… I didn’t know.”  The doctor looked at her sternly.  “Yes, I know. Galileo here keeps saying rule three.  But…” she trailed off, waving a hoof vaguely.              “Some things are easier said than done.  Guilt is like an unwelcome houseguest; it forces its way in the door of your thoughts, and won’t go even after it’s overstayed too long.  As a healer, you should know all about guilt and regrets.  Have you lost patients before?” It’s like she can read you like a book.              “I have,” Emberglow breathed, shaking her head.  She saw blue fur, and a straw blond mane, and blood, so much blood too much blood….              There was a sudden, urgent beeping noise, and the doctor rushed over to Emberglow’s side.  She was shushing Emberglow, gently patting her mane while checking her monitor with concern.              “Deep breaths, Emberglow.  In through the nose, out through the mouth.  Are you prone to panic attacks?”              “I’ve had them before,” she admitted, after a few said deep breaths.  “Not often, but…”              “You wouldn’t be the first.” Doctor Plasma said gently.  Behind her, Galileo was nodding sympathetically.              “I still have nightmares,” Galileo said.  “Nightmares about getting caught by the Mystics.  Nightmares about what they’d do to Bubblegum and Windy.  Nightmares about…” he cut off suddenly, and swallowed, glancing at Emberglow.              “I’m sorry,” she choked out before he could stop her.              “For me, it’s about the family I left behind,” Doctor Plasma’s voice was low and mournful.  “When I found out we were all being lied to, I tried to bring my husband and my brother.  My husband was the one that called the Mystics on me.  Nopony would listen.  It’s been almost fifteen years, and I still go over my last conversations with them, wondering what I could have said, or done, differently.”              “When does it get better?” she whispered.  “I just feel so empty…”              It came from nowhere; she didn’t even know what she meant, not really.  But the other two were nodding in understanding.              “You lost something.  Something that made up a huge part of your life.”  The doctor held onto her hoof, patting it gently.  “You need to find out what you want to fill that hole.  You focus on that, and it starts to get better.  Not all at once.  Not even quickly, sometimes.  But it does get better.”              “I don’t know…” Emberglow raised a hoof to her neck, feeling for the Element that had been there before she’d passed out.  It was gone.  She tensed in a near panic.  “Where is…”              “That bit of jewelry you had on?” the Doctor interrupted.  “Sir Heartwing and Lady R-rarity came by and took it for safekeeping.”  She stumbled over Rarity’s name, a look of awe in her face.  “That reminds me.  They both wanted to know when you woke up.  Are you ready for visitors?”              “I’d love some.” She paused, and an idea occurred to her.  “I’d really like to see the foal, too.” She smiled shyly at Galileo, whose face suddenly glowed with pride.              “Okay.  That will do you good.  Let me check on your injuries, and I’ll let them know you’re ready.”              “They’re waiting for me?” Emberglow felt her anxiety rise.              “There’s several ponies who care about you, Miss Emberglow.  Including Lady Rarity, and the head of the Knights himself.  They just happened to be in the waiting room when Wind Storm came to get me.  But!” She held up a hoof.  “They can wait until we’re done here.”              With soft, professional hooves Doctor Plasma carefully investigated each of Emberglow’s injuries, even getting a much more detailed description of the rescue.  The doctor listened calmly, though she did grow angry when Emberglow mentioned the potion she took.              “You’re a healer, Emberglow.  You should have known just how dangerous that was.  You probably set your healing back several weeks with your recklessness.”              When the doctor was finally done, she sternly instructed Emberglow to stay in her bed no matter what.  “Visiting time in my hospital is a privilege, not a right,” she warned.  “Follow my orders or I’ll kick out your visitors.”              “Yes, ma’am,” Emberglow said meekly, and the doctor nodded.  She stepped outside the room, and was only replaced moments later by two unicorns.              “Emberglow!” Rarity rushed in first, her voice a harsh, worried whisper.  “I told you that you were to stay in your bed!  And now I hear you worked yourself into unconsciousness!”  She gave Emberglow a quick hug.  For some reason, the heart monitor sped up just a bit.  “What am I going to do with you, darling?”              “If you keep hugging her, you might not have to worry about that,” came Heartwing’s sardonic voice.  “You’ll give the poor girl a heart attack.”  Rarity jerked back with a blush and a confused look, and Emberglow did her best to will her heart back to a normal rate with calm breathing.              “If it helps keep her from trouble,” Galileo said carefully from over by Bubblegum’s bed, “She was able to save two lives.”              “Oh, I’m not upset, really,” Rarity waved a hoof dismissively.  “I was just worried about her.”  She eyed Emberglow critically.  “You’re the kind that likes to work herself to the bone for her friends, aren’t you?”  Emberglow felt herself heating up yet again, but Rarity suddenly smiled, a dazzling brightness that lit up the entire room.              “Um…”              “Oh, don’t be modest.  I’ve been accused of the same, on occasion.  You’re a generous soul, Emberglow.  Almost enough that I’m surprised it’s not my old Element you were drawn to.”              “Do we… should we talk about that?” Emberglow asked.  “What does it mean that the Element of Honesty is…” She couldn’t wrap her head around the idea, let alone put it to voice.  It was just one more overwhelming detail to the pile, and Heartwing’s sharp eyes caught her hesitation immediately.              “Not a priority right now,” he said cheerfully.  “Health and wellbeing comes first, then inscrutable destinies passed down by annoyingly vague trees.”  He reached into his saddlebags and retrieved the familiar gold necklace, passing it over to Emberglow.  “You should probably hang onto it, though.  I took it for safekeeping while you were sleeping off your injuries.”              She took the Element a little reluctantly.  For such a little gem, it felt so big.  She wished she’d asked Applejack more questions.  What was expected of her?  What was coming?  What did it all mean?  Still, she slipped the necklace around her throat, ignoring Galileo’s look of confusion and wonder.  Despite all her confusion, it felt right around her neck, and she gently caressed the gem with a hoof.  It may have been her imagination, but the gem felt warm.  It was the warmth of familiarity and family: a home-cooked meal, the burn in muscles after a satisfying day’s work, the warm glow of family love.  It calmed Emberglow’s anxieties a bit.              “So,” Heartwing said, sliding into a chair next to her bed.  “Good to see you again, Emberglow.”              “You too,” Emberglow replied, surprising even herself to realize it was heartfelt.  Heartwing might be frustrating and silly, but he had answers.  He had truth.  “Um, sorry I was a bit of a jerk.”  She held up a hoof to forestall the protests she knew were coming.  “I know.  Rule three.  But still, I’m sorry.”              “I accept your apology,” he said graciously.  “How are you feeling?”              “Honestly?” Emberglow laughed.  “Overwhelmed.  Confused.  A bit in over my head.”              “That’s normal when dealing with this one.” Rarity rolled her eyes, and Heartwing blew a raspberry her way.              “I meant, physically,” Heartwing scowled.              Emberglow shrugged.  “I’m on painkillers.” She held up her hoof with the IV.  “I’m so stiff I don’t think I could stand if I wanted to.”              “Might actually keep you in bed,” Rarity muttered.              “Doctor Plasma tells me you’re going to be on bed rest for at least three days,” Heartwing said.  “That means your welcome to Angel’s Rest is going to be a little different than normal.  Usually we’d give you a quick tour of the city, find you a place to stay, set you up with some counselling sessions with Terminus, that sort of thing.  Things with you are a bit… complicated.”  His eyes darted to the Element on her neck.  “Still, we’ll do our best to make these first few days of transition as easy as possible for you.”              For a moment, she imagined it.  Living in the peaceful city she’d seen on her way in would be relaxing.  Peaceful, even.  Maybe boring.  It wasn’t the sort of life she’d planned for herself, but what else was there?  “Terminus told me I wouldn’t have to join the Discordant if I didn’t want to.”              “You don’t,” Heartwing said simply, smiling.  “We could sure use you, but I force nopony to do anything they don’t want to.”              “I won’t kill any longer,” Emberglow said firmly.              “I have killers.” Heartwing shrugged.  “I need ponies like you.  Ponies with strength and kindness in equal measure.”  He laughed.  “You probably could have killed me in that cave.  You should have.  It might have been easier.”              “I’ve never been one to go for easy,” Emberglow admitted.              “Good.  If you choose to be one of us, one of the Discordant, it won’t be easy. If you choose to do so without killing anypony, I’ll honor that choice, but it’ll be even harder.”              “’Do not shy away from struggle, and do not shirk your duties.  A task may seem daunting, but the diligent will prevail’,” Emberglow quoted, and the other two stared at her.  She smirked.  “Well, you did mention you’d never read the Book of the Saints all the way through.  That was Saint Rainbow.”              Rarity snorted in amusement.  “While the sentiment may be accurate, I can assure you our Miss Rainbow Dash never said anything that articulate.”              “I know, right?” Heartwing laughed.  “It didn’t use the words ‘awesomeness', 'radicalness', or 'coolness' even once.”              “It also lacked grammatical errors, nonsensical invectives, made up words, or other linguistic disasters,” Rarity continued.  The two shared a laugh, while Emberglow watched in confusion.  She hated feeling on the outside of an inside joke.  “Sorry, dear.  We didn’t mean to leave you out.”  Even Heartwing managed to look sheepish in his amusement.  “We’re here to visit you, after all.  Is there anything we can get you?  To make your stay more comfortable?”              “Not really.  Um, books, maybe?  Is there something I can read to make all of this make more sense?” Emberglow asked.              “That’s a marvelous idea, darling.” Rarity turned to Heartwing.  “Surely you have written something to ease ponies into this transition.”  Heartwing rubbed the back of his mane, awkwardly.  “Nothing?  You’ve had three hundred years, and you’ve never written a book?”              “It didn’t seem the most likely way to gain converts,” Heartwing muttered.  “I do have a copy of the Friendship Journal, though.  You’d at least be able to see the original source that was twisted into the Book of the Saints.”              “I’d like that.  A lot.” Emberglow was suddenly quite curious, even excited.  The original source material!  It would bring some sense to everything she had been taught, and help her piece together what was truth and what were lies.              “It will be my get-well present to you, then.”  Heartwing laughed at her enthusiastic reply.              “What about other than books, Emberglow?” Rarity glanced around the room.  “Something to liven up the décor, perhaps?  I may not be on the pulse of fashion any longer, but I’m sure hospital chic hasn’t ever been in style.”              “What’s wrong with it?” Emberglow asked, genuinely confused.  Rarity’s jaw dropped, and Heartwing rolled his eyes.              “What’s wrong with it?” Rarity repeated.  “Why, I don’t even know where to get started!  The drab, boring, eggshell white walls, the grey linens, the dreadfully practical stainless steel equipment, the tile floor that just screams ‘easy to clean, impossible to match’?  This room is a disaster, darling.”              “As well-intentioned as you may be, I doubt the doctors would allow you to redecorate their rooms,” Heartwing noted, chuckling.              “Um, what about pancakes?” Emberglow blurted, and both of the ponies stared at her suddenly, in confusion.  “Well, you asked what I’d like besides books.  I don’t mind the décor; I barely even notice it.  But it’s been ages since I’ve had pancakes.  Maybe with strawberries and cream?”              Rarity and Heartwing eyed each other, and Heartwing nodded with a smirk.              “You ask for such hard things, Emberglow.” His voice was sarcastic.  “I think, somehow, we might be able to manage, though.  The strawberries may be dried, or preserves."              “I don’t care,” Emberglow said.  “It’s been months.”              “We’ll see to it, darling.  Is there anything else?”              “I’d like to see the baby,” Emberglow said, though she immediately felt guilty for the impulse.  It wasn’t her foal, after all, regardless of the role she’d played in birthing him.  “I-I mean, if that’s okay.”              “The bassinet is portable,” Galileo said helpfully.  “I’ll go find Windy.”              Both of Emberglow’s visitors turned to the griffon.  “I am so sorry, darling.  I didn’t mean to ignore you.” Rarity sounded apologetic.  “That was quite rude of us.  Ahem.  Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Rarity.”              “Rarity?  I’d heard, from Bubblegum, but…” Galileo looked stunned.  He cleared his throat and shook his head.  “Nevermind.  I’m Galileo.  Lovely to meet you.  Now, I have a request to fulfil from a sick friend.”  He smiled softly at Emberglow.              “By all means.” Rarity stepped out of his way, and he slipped out of the room.              “What’s Bubblegum’s prognosis?” Heartwing whispered as soon as Galileo was out of the room.  Emberglow shrugged.              “Galileo says she’s in a coma.  She could wake up this hour, in a few weeks, or never.  Doctor Plasma went through half a dozen batteries putting her insides back together.”              “What happened?” Rarity was horrified.              “A unicorn foal’s horn is supposed to be soft and pliable, until a few weeks after birth.  Bubblegum’s foal had a prematurely hardened horn.  It pierced through her uterus and into the intestines,” Emberglow explained, noticing too late that Rarity’s white face had paled even further.  She toned down the graphic nature of her explanation.  “She was bleeding internally, and many of her organs were damaged.  Hopefully the doctor fixed all that.”              “I hope so too,” Heartwing said earnestly.  “This place will be a lot darker without that silly mare.  I’d say she’s a creature after my own heart.”              “She does seem to have a troublemaking spirit,” Rarity noted.  “At least from the brief time I’ve known her.”              “I’d like a chance to apologize,” Emberglow said softly.  “It was my fault she got chased out of the Knighthood.  I know, rule three.  I still need to tell her myself, though.”              “I understand.” Heartwing’s eyes were sympathetic, and Emberglow thought she could see the shadow of keenly felt guilt in his own gaze.  An awkward silence fell on the room, filled only by the slow beep of the heart monitors.  Finally, Rarity cleared her throat.              “We only stopped by for a quick visit, Emberglow, so we’ll leave you to your rest,” she said.  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to return as soon as possible with some books, and perhaps even some pancakes for you.” She glanced at Heartwing. “I would like to stay long enough to meet the foal, though.”              They didn’t have to wait long.  Galileo and Wind Storm wheeled the NICU incubator into the room, and all eyes were drawn to the tiny foal inside.  Somepony had cleaned all the blood and afterbirth, leaving behind a fuzzy, cream colored pint-sized unicorn, with a shockingly pink mane.  He was asleep, breathing softly into his oxygen mask.              The doctor in Emberglow couldn’t help but check the various gauges and indicators on the incubator, verifying the foal’s vitals before letting herself gaze on the life she’d saved.  The foal’s fathers wheeled the incubator right next to Emberglow’s bed.  There were two ports in the side of the incubator, covered with a flexible film so ponies could reach through to touch the foal, while leaving the environment enclosed.  She reached into the port, gently brushing the pink mane and the delicate fur, aweing at the texture.  He was just so tiny, so profoundly fragile, that Emberglow’s breath caught in her throat for a moment.  She felt a strong, glowing urge of protective instinct for the small life in front of her. For the briefest heartbeat, though, she also a hint of jealousy for Bubblegum as well.  The emotion startled her; she’d never thought about having foals of her own.  She’d never wanted one.  Until now. “I want a foal,” she breathed, surprised at both the revelation and the vehemence of the feeling. “I’d oblige, but as I may have mentioned before, committed monogamy?”  Heartwing teased.  “Ow.”  Emberglow saw Rarity jab him firmly with a hoof. “She didn’t mean you, you cretin,” Rarity scowled.  Emberglow ignored them, caught in the glow of her own epiphany. “I can have a foal now,” she whispered, joy and excitement filling her voice.  “If I want to.  When I want to.  Nopony can say no.”  She blinked her suddenly misty eye. “That’s right, Emberglow,” Heartwing rubbed the spot on his chest where Rarity had just jabbed him.  “There’s plenty of available stallions in town.”  Her thoughts on the idea must have been clear in her expression, for he laughed.  “Or there are other ways.  We have discovered a spell that allows two mares to produce offspring.” “That’s… how is that possible?” Emberglow’s wonder filled her words. “I do remember Princess Cadence funding just such research in my time,” Rarity said.  “It was quite fascinating, though the technique was far beyond my magical understanding.  Something about using the power of love between two mares to quicken one egg from one mare, using genetic material from the second mare’s egg?” “That’s exactly how the spell works,” Heartwing said.  “We’ll have to teach you the rune spell, when you’re ready.” “I’ll have to find a mare, first.” Emberglow blushed, the thrill of possibility beating back the sense of inborn, brainwashed guilt at the idea of taking a lover.  It was an intoxicating, heady sort of thought, one that made her feel both elated and exhausted at the same time.  She slumped back into the hospital bed with a sigh. “Oh!  You’re probably exhausted, darling.  We should leave you to rest.”  Rarity turned to go.  “Heartwing?  Come on.” “A moment, Rarity.  I’d like to speak with Emberglow alone, for a bit.  I’ll be along shortly.” “We’ll take Spark back to the NICU, and give you some space,” Wind Storm said, and Galileo nodded.  Rarity gave them both one last concerned look before following the foal and his fathers out of the room. Heartwing took up a seat next to her bed, his eyes downcast on the hospital floor.  He looked up, his eyes dragging past the bandage tied to her eye, before glancing back at the door everypony had left by. “Did…” he breathed.  “Did the doctors tell you about your eye?” “No.  I just woke up, remember?”  She lifted a hoof to the bandage and steeled herself.  “It’s bad, isn’t it?” “They couldn’t save it, no.” “I see.”  The room fell silent, except for the beeping of the heart monitor.  Emberglow was surprised she was so calm.   Then again, after everything she’d been through, she was lucky to even be alive.  To even be here.  Her heart had stopped.  She’d been tortured.  One lost eye seemed a slim price to pay.  Still, it didn’t stop the tears that began to stream down from her good eye.  What was most surprising, though, was when she glanced over and saw Heartwing crying as well. “...sorry.  I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “Why?” Emberglow was genuinely confused. “Because it’s my fault, that’s why,” he said.  He shook his head.  “I should have sent more to get you.  I should have sent soldiers.  More than just two knights and one… one dress designer.” He hissed out the title at the end. “Hey!” Emberglow protested.  “They got me out!  They did the job!”  Something about hearing Rarity disparaged made her angry.   “Sure.  But did they get all of you out?” he gestured at her bandage without looking up, letting out a humorless laugh.  “Every piece of you?” “What’s your problem?” Emberglow leaned forward, and Heartwing finally met her angry gaze.  “They did their job.  This?” She pointed at her bandage.  “This is my fault.  I got into a fight I couldn’t win.  I shouldn’t have survived.  I don’t want to hear you blaming yourself, and I definitely don’t want to hear you bad-talking Rarity.  Or Cobalt or Terminus, for that matter.” “I don’t blame them, I blame me.  I should have sent more.”  Heartwing repeated.  “You don’t get it.  I was an idiot.  I got ahead of myself.  I thought…”  He growled, and slammed his hoof into the side of her hospital bed, causing it to jump.  “I thought I could be like her.” “Her?” Emberglow asked curiously, before scowling.  “And don’t punch things!  You’ll hurt yourself!” Heartwing laughed.  “You would say it that way, wouldn’t you?  And her… is Princess Celestia.”  Emberglow stayed quiet, and Heartwing glanced at her before sighing.  “She had this way, this understanding of ponies and situations.  She could assess a threat, assess ponies so well that sometimes I wondered if she could see the future.” He went silent for so long that Emberglow wondered if she should say something.  His entire figure seemed somehow diminished, as if slumped shoulders, downcast eyes, and a folded posture somehow made him smaller and less significant than the big scary heretic she’d read about for years. “I was stupid,” he finally whispered into the room, silent except for the beeping of the monitors over Emberglow and Bubblegum’s beds.  “I thought that if I acted like Celestia, maybe I could…” he trailed off.  “See, she would always have a way of throwing the right pony at a problem, and the problem went away.  It always worked with the Elements of Harmony.  Banished sister?  Send the Elements.  Rampaging Chaos God?  Elements.  Army of shapeshifting insects?  You guessed it, Elements.  It was like she had Harmony on her side, or something.  Everything always worked out for Celestia.” Emberglow reached out to him, resting a hoof on his gently.  He didn’t seem to notice. “This was my chance, don’t you see?  Throw the Elements at a problem, make it go away.  Maybe that way I can stop fighting.  Stop killing ponies.  The world gets better, and I can finally…” He glanced down, noticing her hoof for the first time before jerking away.  “Don’t… don’t give me your sympathy.  I don’t deserve it.”  He stood up, backing away from her with stricken eyes.  “I don’t deserve it.” “Heartwing, wait!” Emberglow called, but he had already fled, leaving her alone with a comatose pony and an array of softly chiming medical monitors. *   *   *   *   * So easy to forget…              Emberglow was back on the Hill.  Back in Manehatten.  She was surrounded by smoke and haze. So easy to move on…              She glanced around herself, staring at the still corpses that filled the hill.  Delver.  Sergeant Arrow.  Bitterroot. You get peace.  You get love.  I get a shallow grave in a haunted city…              She kept looking, her eyes dragging from body to body.  Tangerine, the ship’s cook from the Lady Elegant.  The nameless Knight Adamant, his neck twisted. You get foals.  You get admiration, fame, a future.  Nopony will remember my name.              The sailor with the head wound.  Eight pirates with nooses around their broken necks.  Night Star, his lips frozen, forever begging for his mother.  Even July Blaze, the stallion in the pillory slated for execution.  Their bodies formed a path, lining either side of a narrow walkway up to the top of the hill, shrouded in smoke and darkness. “Hello? Is this Miss Emberglow?” How dare you forget?  How dare you move on?  You can’t be happy.  You don’t deserve it.  You never will.              Emberglow knew what she’d find at the end of the path.  She knew what she’d find in the inky blackness at the top of the hill.  There was one left, after all.  One more corpse to haunt her dreams.  The one that always did. “Can you hear me, Emberglow?  What’s… oh!  This is a nightmare!”              “I-I didn’t forget,” Emberglow begged desperately.  “I can’t…” But you get to live, while I rot.  Do you remember our kiss, Lady Emberglow?  Or has it turned to ash and dust on your tongue?              “I’ll never forget that,” she whispered.  “How could I?” “I’m sorry, I’m not good at these yet.  I don’t have enough practice, but this looks pretty bad.  Please, can you hear me?” Easily.  You find a new love, a new life.  You find a new purpose.  All you have to do is pretend I meant nothing.              “You didn’t mean nothing!” Emberglow shrieked, her own hooves dragging her ever closer to the top of the hill.  “You were my friend.  Maybe even more, in time.” “Please, listen!  I can help you!  You don’t need to do this, this is all guilt and self-hatred!  You don’t need to torture yourself like this!” But not anymore, right?  I’m just worm food, now.              “No, you’re…” Emberglow reached the top of the hill.  There was a figure under a blanket.  An army blanket, like the ones that they’d used to cover the casualties back in Manehatten.  She knew what was underneath.  She couldn’t stop her hooves.  They trembled in agony as she reached the edge of the blanket, pulling it back painfully slowly.  Blue fur, matted with blood.  Blonde hair, tangled and ruined.  Perfect, sparkling emerald eyes frozen in horror and pain.  Her ruined throat stretched and shook as her dead lips opened, and her perfect voice echoed. Maybe I’m better off dead, if you were just going to cast me aside and forget about me.              Emberglow shrieked in horror.  Her hooves felt sticky and hot, covered in blood.  She tried to close her eyes, but she couldn’t even blink. “Okay, I’m going to try something.  I don’t know if it will work, but…” “Emberglow!” A sudden voice from behind her startled her out of her sobbing.  It wasn’t just a shout, it was accompanied by the sound of a bell.  Emberglow spun about, and a sudden shaft of moonlight illuminated an unfamiliar figure, standing among the lifeless bodies.  It was a mare; a crystal pony with yellow fur and an orange mane.  She wore nothing more than a necklace just like Emberglow’s Element of Harmony, though it was shaped like a rising sun.  The mare’s voice was kind, cheerful, and sounded like the tinkling of a bell. “My name is Topaz Glitter, and I’m here to save you from your nightmare.”