//------------------------------// // Chapter Four: Starry River // Story: The Starswirl Memorial 500 // by RazedRainbow //------------------------------// Chapter Four: Starry River Smolder may not have been able to feel anything back there, but as Draw Reins maneuvered her tail, she definitely felt embarrassed. It was just Nurse Redheart and her now-and-future physical therapist in the room with her, but what if that changed. Some of her friends (Silverstream) had a bad habit of not knocking. All it would take was Silverstream to barge in the door and throw back the curtains all excited over showing Smolder the new curtains she had to look forward to when she was discharged back to the dorms and bam! The entire world would see Smolder's butt. Not an uncommon sight in a mostly-clothesless town, but combine it with the tubes running up into her, and yeah: not the most flattering sight. Smolder squeezed Redheart's hoof as Reins pulled her tail up and to the right. While she couldn't feel the limb itself, she could sense the motion in her back. A light pressure. Not painful but not exactly pleasant either. Reins had told her to let him know if she felt any discomfort—this early into the process, he said, they wanted to take things as gently as possible—but was it discomforting? It felt weird on her vertebrae, but not nearly as weird as it felt to have some dude playing with her tail. Professional or not, it felt kinda creepy. "How are you feeling, Smolder?" Reins asked in a gentle voice. He had a soft manner of speaking that Smolder couldn't decide if she liked or not. It didn't grate her ears like a lecture from Headmare Starlight might, but it sloshed around in her gut. Either way, it was lightning on her nerves this evening. "Fine," she said, trying to keep herself from wincing. "What's the point of this exactly? Couldn't you... like, start with my toes or something?" "I promise nobody can see you, Smolder," Redheart said, patting the dragon's claw. Smolder swore that pony had mind-reading powers. That or she'd worked with a lot of creatures in a similar state. Still, Redheart's warm smile and gentle eyes eased the churning in her stomach. "Yes," Reins said, "I know this is... quite a way to introduce these stretches, but there's a reason I'm starting with your tail. You do remember what I told you?" Smolder chuckled and looked away at the pillowcase. He'd come in a few times before, no doubt explaining all the little details of how the stretches would work, what muscles and nerves they would work and try to activate, what ligaments they'd keep loose, and so on and so boring. It was like being in History of Magical Artifacts class all over again. Maybe if there was some fire or blood and guts involved, she'd have been interested. Maybe pre-injury her would have found the little details on how muscles worked interesting if it was Rainbow Dash spouting them, but that Smolder actually had reasons for being interested. That Smolder needed her gastrocnemiuses in prime condition to pull off flips and landings (What? Just because something's boring doesn't mean you don't learn it). But now? They were pancakes. It was dumb, getting all these explanations from some dude who had spent who knows how many years in some egghead college about muscles that were utterly useless to her now. Reins seemed to take her silence as a sign to continue. Egghead. "These stretches will help to keep your muscles active. The looser we keep your ligaments and the more we prevent atrophy, the better chance you'll have at..." "Walking again?" "Being able to regain functionality in your lower extremities." Smolder hated the nerd way they explained it. It was just fancy words to state the truth: keep your expectations in check. Whatever, she'd show them. "The reason we're stretching your tail is because the muscles and nerves connecting to your tail are the closest to your T-9 and T-10." Smolder groaned. Did these doctors have to go through a class where they were taught the exact way to explain something without making sense? Still... somehow she followed. Maybe. It was worth a guess at least. More talking meant less focusing on the fact that this guy's hooves were probably inches away from... She cleared her throat. "So... my tail should work quicker?" "Yes, if you regain any sensation it will likely start there. Same with muscle control. In theory, you'll feel it in your tail first, then once you get the nerves and blood flowing through there, ideally it will move down through your abdomen and so on." There were those words. Ideally. If. Smolder bit her lip. The question had been on the fork of her tongue for weeks. What were the odds? Redheart, Stable, and now Reins. They all talked about the possibilities of regaining the use of her legs, but never gave her percentages. They dropped terms like 'some' but never clarified what 'some' meant. Math was not her thing, but she understood the odds. Part of her wanted to know just what chances she had of recovering and how much. The other part of her was scared to death. Because once that number was out there, it was real. At least Reins seemed to have some bedside manner. She didn’t know how long she’d zoned out, lost in thought, but he had zipped his lips and gotten back to stretching. She could feel the pull against her mid-back. Each time she heard her tail move off the sheets or plop back down, she hoped to have that moment. That spark where she felt just a faint echo of a single thread of fabric, but nothing came. Finally and thankfully, Smolder heard Reins step back. Redheart gave Smolder a gentle pat on the shoulder and rolled her back over onto her back as the therapist moved around to the foot of the bed. “Fine work this evening, Smolder.” Smolder chuckled, crossing her claws over her chest as Redheart got everything down there all situated and secured. “All of you keep saying that, yet you guys seem to be doing all the work.” “And we’ll keep taking no credit until you stop selling yourself short,” Redheart said. “You’ve gone through a lot, and you keep pushing forward.” “Yeah, I guess I’m awesome like that.” Reins, surprisingly, smiled. “Keep that attitude. Don’t lose it.” With that, he pulled the curtains back and headed to the door. Smolder panicked, grabbing for the covers, but Redheart had already swooped in to save the day, placing the sheets against the dragon’s chest. Smolder nodded thanks and waited for the mare to leave. However, she stayed put. In fact, she sat down in a chair beside the bed. Oh great. Time for another lecture. Though Smolder couldn’t remember the last time Redheart delivered one of those while smiling. “So,” she said, leaning back in the seat. “How did you and Gallus’ little jaunt go?” Smolder shrugged. “You were there.” “At the end. There was a whole half-hour there beforehand.” “I mean… we talked. Went to the lobby. I just kinda got lost in thought out there, I guess. And Gallus… well, it always surprises me how patient he can be. I mean, he was still impatient enough to decide to roll around on one of the wheelchairs in the lobby, but he didn’t interrupt me. He let me think. It was nice.” “I’m glad.” Redheart stood up, picking up her clipboard from the side table. “Know that I’m not upset with you or Gallus. I just want you to get better.” It was the same answer everyone gave her, yet coming from her it almost seemed genuine. “Yep,” Smolder replied with a yawn, stretching her arms out. “Nap time?” Redheart asked. “Doesn’t sound like a bad idea.’ “I’ll put up a ‘do not disturb’ sign then.” Smolder nodded. She wanted to say something, wanted to take some time in the shaded room to think, but sleep came too quickly for her to even notice. The best thing about most of Smolder's dreams under the veil of liquefied pain pills and other concoctions that made her head spin like a merry-go-round was that they didn't tend to stick with her. Usually, when she woke up, all she could recall was laying in bed, a little bit of sloshing and swiminess tickling at her head, and then bam! Sunlight and no memories to speak of. Still usually didn't mean always. Sometimes they were feelings or moments she could recall well after she opened her eyes. Then there were ones like tonight. Dreams that, if not for the sudden panting and heat on her face, she would have sworn were reality. She stood there, out on the fields outside the School of Friendship. The lucidity of the dream made it feel so real and... nice. She leaned forward, reached down, and touched her legs. She could feel the gentle scrape of her claws against her scaly thighs. She could wiggle the grass between her toes and she could swish her tail in the gentle breeze. She sniffled and smiled, unable to tear her eyes away from the sight of her legs. Her moving, feeling legs. If that had been all the dream was, it would have been amazing, but as with most good things, it wasn't to last. "What's the hold-up, dork?" Smolder looked up. Gone were the trees and the grass and the gentle breeze, replaced with towering basalt monoliths and an arid stillness. Feldspar crunched beneath her feet as she turned around. Garble stood nearby, a freshly hardened clump of scoria tucked under one claw while the other rested on his hip. He smirked as he marched up to her, his friends following close behind. For some reason, Smolder couldn't make out their faces—no matter how much she blinked they looked like they were covered by a thick plastic bag. "Pfft." Garble stuck his tongue out and raised an eyebrow. "Whatcha being such a big crybaby for, Moldy?" Smolder wiped her face with the back of her arm. She wasn't crying. Dragons didn't cry. Especially not at something as stupid as being able to stand. Only losers cried about that. She forced a lopsided grin as she glared up at her older brother. "Just imagining the other team's funerals when we beat them into gravel." Garble raised a fist for Smolder to bump. She lifted hers and made contact, but it was like her hand passed straight through. What the... "Go deep, Smolder!" She didn't remember the game starting, or breaking into a sprint. Everything whizzed by as she took to the air, dodging shadow after shadow, left and right. The scoria clump plummeted to the ground, between the horns of obsidian that marked the goal line. She pumped her wings harder, yet they slowed, she dipped. Every ounce of energy she pumped into her wings, but it was like she was pushing against quicksand. The ground grew closer, and the ball plummeted farther from her outstretched claws. Dust filled the air as Smolder and the clump hit the ground at the same time. Coughing and sputtering, Smolder tried to get up and brush herself off. She got into a kneeling position before she fell forward, barely catching herself before she ate gravel. "Way to go, Moldy!" Garble shouted, barely a speck on the horizon. "You just lost us the game!" "Maybe if you'd throw it better I would..." The words caught in her throat. Her legs weren't moving. She couldn't feel them. It was like they were asleep. Only, they didn't wake up when she tried to wiggle her toes. No. Lava poured down her synapses as she threw her body upwards, wings flapping. Something caught in her back, and her wings stiffened then fell flat, sending her back to the dust. "Garble!" she screamed, choking on dust as she tried again to rise with no luck. "Garble, help me! Please!" And then Garble laughed, leaning down, his snout within inches of hers. How did he get up to her so quickly? She hadn't even seen him move. "Oh don't go being a big baby again," he said. "Just stand up, Moldy.." "I can't," she said, desperately pushing her torso off the ground, her lower body indistinguishable from the rocks growing around them. "I can't move my legs! I can't move!" "Then grow a new pair," he said as he stepped over her and picked up the rock clump. "Alright, guys. Your ball." "Wait!" Smolder shouted, choking on the wet dust dripping into her mouth from her nose and eyes. "Wait!" "So, in short, you won't be of any use to me." Smolder blinked. Dragon Lord Ember stared down at her, a grimace on her snout. "I'm... what?" "Your legs," Ember said. She nodded toward Smolder's lower half. She sat on a stone bench underneath the throne of the Dragon Kingdom, a lowly lizard without working legs. Or legs at all. Smolder's eyes widened as she looked down at her lower half. Nothing looked back—just the rocks she sat on. "I see no reason to keep you in this pack." "B-but I'm strong!" Smolder said, lifting an arm to show off her muscles. "I can do anything! I could fight a bear! And... and… give me a chance!" She looked to her side. Garble stared at the ground, blinking back tears. "Garble! Garble will vouch for me, won't you?" Garble turned away. "If you can't be of use to us, then you're worth as much as the dirt," Ember said, her voice as cold and unfeeling as a glacier. Smolder stared down at her legs, her heart thumping in her chest. "And if dirt is what you're worth, then dirt you will be." Smolder closed her eyes, squeezing her claws until blood trickled down her palms. No. this couldn't be real. Ember would never do this to her. She just needed to wake up. She just needed to wake up. Searing heat blew against her open wounds. The badlands stretched around, ceaseless seas of lava and crags. Smolder reached down to her sides, her claws finding rickety wheels. The board wheelchair rattled and popped as she rolled across the crags, splinters filling her hands with each pothole. Her arms screamed at her to stop, her fingers crying out with every rotation of her wheels. She reached the edge of a cliff. She didn't know how many she had passed, but this one was different. Halfway across the lava river below, there was grass. Beyond that, she could see her friends. No way. That was too convenient. But, no, she blinked and blinked and still they stayed right there in her view. Sandbar, Silverstream, Ocellus, Yona, and Gallus. Each looked every part different and the same. They stood taller, wiser. Gallus wore a golden helmet atop his head. He looked amazing. "Guys!" she shouted, rolling her wheelchair forward and waving. Whether they heard her, she couldn't tell. Each of them suddenly faced away from her, walking towards the school. Smolder frowned. "Guys! Wait for me!" She wheeled her way up to the edge. Maybe if she was slow, she could— The front wheels slid and broke as they fell over the edge, sending Smolder tumbling with it. The lava drew closer. She pumped her wings, but they were so weak. So, so weak. "Help!" she called out as she landed in the lava, fiery hot melted rock splashing up into her eyes. Through the smoky haze, her friends had shrunk to small bobbing pinpricks on the horizon. With each gasping breath, she sank deeper and deeper into the lava. Her wings were useless against the rising rock. As the boiling magma filled her mouth, she cried out in a deep. The lava solidified around her. Every vertebra in her spine, every bone in her body was aflame as she shouted and tore at the bedsheets, shoulders writhing as bits of fabric flew into the sky and fluttered down on her face. Between her cracking voice, she heard voices. Familiar ones. Shadows crept into her vision. Each breath felt like she was trying to push the Dragon Lord's Diamond off her chest. She coughed, choking on the saliva in her throat as she struggled to get her bearings. Someone reached out and grabbed her. One of the shadows. Oh Scales, it was going to swallow her. "Don't leave me," she whispered. "Don't leave me. Don't leave me." The shadows seemed to listen. They drew in close around her. Something warm flowed through her veins, up her arm, and into her chest. She took a deep breath, letting it fill her. A deep breath. Another deep breath. Another. Another. The beeping of a heart monitor, white walls and tables full of cards. She looked around, placing a claw against her chest as she tried to catch her breath. With every chirp of the EKG, Smolder waited for the other shoe to drop. The chirping slowed as her claw steadied against her chest. A sigh of relief. Just a nightmare. Nothing to worry about. No harm done. She took a deep breath and gagged as the stench of piss hit her like a ton of bricks. She raised an eyebrow as she looked down towards her lower body. The tubes were missing. She reached out and patted her waist. Something damp and thick brushed her claw. You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me Dr. Stable sent Smolder in for scans to check up on her back as soon as he arrived for his shift. The morning had played out as a sea of awkward moments punctuated by near-constant bolts of pain. At some point, Dr. Stable scolded Redheart for not double-checking on her after the near-tumble a few days before. Smolder had jumped as best she could to her favorite nurse's defense, but the pains were just rough enough to still her tongue. At least Nurse Redheart was waiting for her when she exited the radiology lab. Part of her had been worried the mare would get canned or something, but for once the universe was nice to the dragon. Redheart rolled her down the hall, apologizing for the dream and the pain, as though she was the one who caused it. Smolder would have none of it. Between the pain and the dream, she needed to let the fire out before the smoke cooked her from the inside out. "Quit apologizing," she grumbled. "You were right. You told me to be careful, and I was the idiot who didn't listen and decided to race like a dunghead. The only thing you need to apologize for is… why the hell was I in that thing this morning?” the dragon spat out. There had better be a good reason. “Your wings were going fast enough we had to hold you down. We couldn’t risk you having another episode like that and ripping anything out,” Redheart stated as they rolled along. Smolder scowled and crossed her arms. Good enough. Still, the answer didn’t exactly make her happy. Wetting the bed like a two-year-old. Smoke steamed out of her nose as she gritted her fangs to dust. She blinked the steam away, familiar droplets of moisture clinging to her lashes. She growled and slapped them away. Scales, it was lame enough when they decided to show up when she was hurting. As if she wasn't useless enough already. "I can't go back to that room," Smolder grunted as they neared the ward. The sterile walls seemed to stretch higher the closer they got to her room. Cleaning supplies stench mixed with urine, sweat, and blood combined to form a stomach-turning stench that threatened to drown her. Smolder reached down and grabbed the rims, the metal squeaking and grinding along her sharp claws as she squeezed the wheels tight. Redheart stumbled forward, letting out a squeak of surprise and jumping to the side to avoid hitting the dragon in the back. Landing awkwardly on four hooves, the nurse straightened her hat and frowned, trotting up to Smolder to look her in the eye. "Don't do that. If I had fallen on you--" "Well then maybe you should've listened the first time," Smolder growled. "I am not going back to that room. You are not putting me back in that cell to stew away in a soup of my own crap and sweat." She spun around on her chair--or tried to. She got herself turned at an angle to the wall but each attempted turn was like she was in the middle of a ping pong match. Back and forth, between the walls. The chair refused to turn, and she refused to let it win, pushing against the rims harder and harder until her palms started to slip. She pushed back, and her slick hands squeaked off. The wall rushed forward to greet her and give her more pain. A familiar white hoof froze it in place. "Smolder, you're going to be the death of me." Redheart grabbed the handles and turned the chair, facing her back down the hallway they had come up. Smolder crossed her arms, pushing her claws into her armpits as she ran the fork of her tongue over a fang. Gah, she was being a drama queen today. Taking a deep breath, she leaned her head back, ignoring the lightning storm firing off in her skull and back. "I'm sorry," she sighed. "I just... I can't go back in there. I just can't. I don't want to go back to sleep." Redheart leaned down, placing a hoof on Smolder's knee. "Must have been a bad one, huh?" Smolder nodded, closing her eyes and swallowing a lump that had formed in the back of her throat. "It sucked." She sniffled. "It sucked a lot." With a heavy sigh, Redheart reared back on her hind legs and began to push the wheelchair back toward the radiology lab. "You better not be taking me back to those psychos!" Smolder snapped, leaning forward and digging her claws into the armrests. "Smolder, dear, please. Just take a breath. Take a breath and enjoy the ride." They rolled farther and farther from Smolder’s room, past dozens of rooms and windows, but Smolder found it difficult to enjoy the ride. All she could hear were patients moaning in the rooms they passed while alarms beeped away. She looked into the room she had seen the mare with the braces on her hind legs in, but the room was empty, the sheets pulled tight over the mattress. Maybe she’d gone home. For some reason, Smolder was unsure if that was a good thing or not. The lobby was a familiar sight as Nurse Redheart pushed Smolder through it. Luckily, not many of those in the waiting area seemed familiar, but she swore some of them had been there yesterday. The ones with the sunken and baggy eyes and slumped posture. At least none of them were faces she knew, but still... it was those little things. Little reminders that it could be so much worse. Some bore obvious problems--a bloody towel pressed to their face or skin turning green as they leaned over a wastebasket cradled in their laps. Others carried a subtle air about them, like the crying filly with her mom in the corner. "I told you not to put that bead in your nose, young lady," the mom scolded "But I wanted to see if it'd fi-i-ittt!" she squealed, sniffling and rubbing at her nose. Scratch the subtly. Smolder chuckled and shook her head. "Please tell me I wasn't like that." She could barely remember anything between getting placed in the ambulance and... she wasn't sure if her first memory after the fact was Professor Rarity criticizing the color of the hospital sheets or the doctors doing something and asking her if she felt anything. It all blurred. "No. You were out of it most of the time. In shock, mainly. I think you said some choice words to Dr. Stable when he tried to do your first exam." Smolder blinked. "I... oh. Like, uh, what?" "I don't remember exactly. Something about getting his stinky pony breath away from your face, I think?" Redheart smirked. "I've never seen him turn that red before." "Oh. Oops," Smolder said. Her cheeks burned. "But, no, you've been a really brave dragon," Redheart said. "Even when they told you about the extent of your injuries, you took it like a champ. Maybe it was the painkillers still pumping through your system, but trust me when I say every other patient I've seen get... such a diagnosis has shed more than a few tears. Everyone except you." Smolder felt like pumping out her chest in pride, but her abdomen just kind of sagged. The weight of the nightmare still weighed down on her fat head. She glanced through the doors as her wheelchair neared them, expecting to see rivers of lava or rocks again. "I do hope that's not because you're bottling up," Redheart said softly as the doors slid open in front of them. Smolder winced and closed her eyes. At least, before the sun had blinded her, she could see that the ground was familiar grass and concrete. The warmth of the sun washed across her scales. "You've been through a lot," Redheart continued. "It's better to let it out some instead of letting it build up. Even dragon scales can crack." Smolder opened her eyes, staring up at the clouds and street lamps with cobwebs swinging in the gentle fall breeze. "Well, I'm definitely out now," she chuckled. Redheart gave a small laugh. Maybe a cough. Smolder couldn't be too sure, and as she wheeled her towards the side of the building, the thought of talking drifted out of her gaped mouth. "Wow," Smolder breathed. She'd heard murmurs of the butterfly garden around the hospital a few times when one of her guests had forgotten to close the door all the way, and the words she'd picked up on sounded good on paper. 'It's just gorgeous' 'I could sit out there all day.' All well and good, but she figured that was just ponies exaggerating things like ponies often did. Well, she could add that to the list of assumptions that had made an ass out of her. The garden was tucked away in an old courtyard area, wedged between and surrounded on three sides by the hospital walls. What it lacked in space, it made up for in beauty. Every inch from wall to wall was covered in bright-colored flowers. Pinks and purples and blues and yellows sprung up along the small paths that cut through the middle, reaching out as if trying to give passing patients a gentle pat on the shoulder. Monarchs and viceroys fluttered about, landing on the petals of lilies and marigolds. One landed on Smolder's nose, and she snorted, scaring it off. "Wow," she said again. Every direction she turned, more and more flowers and greenery danced in a gentle breeze. Even the small fence connecting the garden to the world outside had vines and honeysuckles wrapped around its wire frame. Around her, the walls and windows peered down on the garden. Smolder wasn't sure how to make window frames look warm and welcoming, but somehow they felt that way. "Who do I have to bribe to get a room with a view of this?" she asked, chuckling. Nurse Redheart gave a laugh and patted her on the shoulder. "I’m afraid you’re stuck where you are. Most of these windows are in hallways unfortunately" She pointed to the far wall. "And those rooms over there? Well, I think you're a bit too old for those. Unless you're a fan of teddy bear murals." Smolder cocked an eyebrow and squinted at the windows Redheart had pointed to. Through the tinted pane, she noticed a young pony staring out at her. Filly or colt, she couldn't tell. There was no mane to clue her in. She frowned. Poor little guy or gal. The small pony lifted a frail hoof and waved. Smolder waved back, smiling. "How come I've never seen this place?" "We usually don't let patients roam around by themselves. At least not ones who are as... stubborn as you," Redheart said with a chuckle. "No, but in truth we try to keep this place a quiet space for the patients. Peaceful. We don't want too many in here at one time, so usually, it's just a patient and a doctor or nurse. Just a space to sit back and relax and just live a little. Fresh air feels nice, hmm?" Smolder took a big whiff of the air. Not a trace of rubbing alcohol or soap. Or vomit or any other disgusting bodily fluid. Blegh. She shook the thought away. Out here, she needed to keep her thoughts on the up high. "I'll say. You mind if I chill here for a bit? Like, a really long bit?" "Not at all." Redheart walked behind her and grabbed the wheelchair. "I have to go check on some patients back in the ward, but I can trust you to not roll away again, right?" "My gems are in the room, so nah," Smolder grinned. "Well, if you need anything Nurse Gold Cross is out here as well." Redheart waved to a pegasus stallion standing next to a tiny wheelchair with a small white filly sitting on it. The golden yellow stallion waved a wing back. "I'll be back in a little bit. Feel free to sit as long as you'd like." "I mean, sitting's all I can do, right?" Smolder winced. Her joke fell flat, and Redheart sighed. "Smolder. This is for relaxation." "Sorry," Smolder said. "Though it's kinda hard to relax when it's an order." She smirked. "And you know how good I am at following those." "Then I order you to not relax," Redheart said with a roll of her eyes. "Better?" Smolder sighed and leaned back as best she could, stretching out what she could and laying the back of her head against her claws. "Much. Now get out of here. You're clouding my zen." She didn't fully know what that meant, but Professor Rarity tended to drop it when she wanted students to leave when they went over her office hours. The sound of hooves on mulch gently faded beneath the rustling of leaves and chirping birds. If not for the sudden beeping and unlatching of a nearby door, Smolder could almost imagine she was back on campus, lying back on a bench with her friends nearby. She could hear Silverstream and Yona chatting away, Silverstream's voice growing and fading as she zipped about recalling her tale. Ocellus laughed gently nearby, the pages of the book in her hooves rattling in the gentle winds. Sandbar and Gallus completed their frisbee game nearby. Talons and paws swished across the grass. She could almost feel Gallus' feathers as he plopped down on the bench next to her. A smile crossed her lips, breaking her fake sleep act as he laid his talon over her claws. The wheelchair shook and rolled back a few feet as Smolder's eyes shot open, her claws fumbling to the wheels to stop the skid. Of course, she'd forgotten about the brakes. Redheart'd kill her if she found out. The nurse would probably never let her back in the garden again if someone squealed. She glared around, looking for that Gold Cross dude. If she could silence him, she'd be safe. All she saw, though, was a small unicorn filly sitting in a tiny wheelchair, barely noticeable as she cowered in the shadow of the water fountain. "I'm sorry," she whimpered, rubbing one foreleg with the other. Smolder noticed the right one was encased in a purple plaster cast. "I didn't mean to scare you! I just wanted to say hi." Smolder sighed. "I-it's cool," she mumbled as she rolled closer. "You just caught me resting. We dragons can get a bit jumpy when someone surprises us." Smolder chuckled. "You're lucky. Usually, we barbecue our scarers." The filly tilted her head. "What's a barbecue?" "Nothing you need to worry about, so long as you steer clear of the flames," Smolder said with a wave of her claw, flicking a thin flame skyward with her tongue. The filly giggled. As the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, she noticed the shimmer of the filly's eyes. Teal, large, and curious. Her gut had said she knew this pony from somewhere, and the ray of light cleared the picture. "Hey, I know you! Well, kinda. I saw you in the lobby the other day." "Uh huh!" the filly nodded. She shook, eyes glazing over as she seemed to be caught back in a moment. "It was really scary. But you waved at me, and that made me not as scared. So… thank you!” "No problem, little dude," Smolder said with a grin, though she wasn't sure how a dragon like her could make someone not scared. Maybe she needed to work on her snarls when she got back to the room. Chuckling to herself, she leaned forward in her chair, getting as close to the filly's eye level as she could without her spine screaming out. "I'm Smolder. What's your name?" The filly blinked. "I like that name!" She beamed. "I'm Starry River." Smolder crossed her arms on her numb knees. "Back at ya. Cool name, kid." The filly blushed and rubbed her cast. "So, what you in for? Don't they usually send kids home the same day with a broken foreleg?" Starry shook her head. "No. They said I gotta stay here a few days. Something about nerds? "You mean nerves?" Smolder asked, swallowing a chuckle. "Yeah. That. My hoof is kinda tingly and dangly. They want to make sure I don't need sugary. If it doesn't stop tingling..." Smolder smiled softly. "I’m sure you'll be good, dude." Starry gave a nod and sighed. "I hope so. My mom and dad said I can pick out a big stuffed animal when I leave if I'm a good girl." Starry fiddled with her hooves. "I hope I’m being good. I dunno. This place is scary." "Eh, being scared doesn't mean you're not good. Just means you're a pony." Smolder rubbed the back of her neck. "Uh, no offense. That sounded a bit mean." The filly shrugged. She looked over Smolder, starting from her arms, then down to her legs. "Did you break a bone too?" "Oh. Um. Yeah." "Where's your cast?" Starry asked. She pointed to her hoof. "I got a purple one. I think I'm gonna get a purple toy to match it." Smolder's scales felt clammy. Her mouth dried up. "I don't... really need a cast. See… I broke my back." Starry's eyes widened. "You can break that?! I didn't know that." "Believe me, it wasn't easy," Smolder chuckled. "Does it hurt? My leg hurt a lot when I broke it." Smolder bit her lip, glancing down at her legs. "Oh, yeah. It hurt. Still does." Starry blinked and frowned. "I'm sorry." And just like that, a grin popped onto the little filly's face. "Maybe your mommy and daddy will buy you a stuffed animal too! That always makes me feel better!" Smolder flinched. Her claws gripped her knees tight, scratching along her scales. Yeah. Garble’d buy one, then proceed to turn it to ash in front of her face. That’d be funny. She smirked. "Maybe." "Starry?" a male voice called out, a Trottingham accent clear in the A's. "Where did you get off to?" Starry turned around. "I'm over here, Mr. Nurse Gold Cross. I was talking to a new friend." The stallion sighed as he rounded a hydrangea bush, his golden coat glinting in the sunlight. He had a red cross on his flank and wore a nurse's scrub over his torso. "Starry, I told you not to wander off." "Sorry," Starry said with a pout. "I just wanted to talk to my new friend." She pointed to Smolder, who waved weakly. Gold Cross stared at the clouds, frowning deeply. "You can't go running off like that. What if you get lost?" "But I didn't get lost! I’m with Smolder." Smolder raised a claw. "Hold up." She leaned forward, placing a claw on the armrest of Starry's chair. "Girl, you're saying you rolled all the way over her on your own?" "Yup!" Starry smiled wide, but the smile turned to a frown in the blink of an eye. "Why? Was that bad?" "No, that's awesome." Smolder shook her head. "Don't tell me you were able to escape the fuzz with one foreleg." "Fuzz?” “Well, did you? Did you get all the way over her using just one leg?” “I did!" Starry piped proudly before shrugging her left shoulder. "I tried to use both, but this cast makes it hard to move the wheels. Hard to move anyway." Smolder sat back, grinning. "Wow. You're a freakin' natural. I think I need you to teach me some tricks." Starry blushed and giggled. "Thanks." She shook her head. "But I don't know. You were pretty fast on your chair the other day." Smolder rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah. You saw that, huh? Hopefully, you didn't see the finish." "Did you lose to that griffon?" Starry asked. Smolder shook her head. "No way. I kicked his butt straight back to Griffonstone. But I did kinda fall at the finish, which is pretty lame." "Are you okay?" "Do you ever run out of questions?" Smolder laughed. When Starry didn't return the chortle, she cleared her throat. "I'm good. Just a little sore." Smolder patted the filly's chair. "Maybe we should give each other some pointers on how to spin these bad boys. Where's your room?" Starry bit her lower lip and looked back at Gold Cross. "What's my room?" She pointed to a window next to where Smolder had seen the pony wave earlier. "114," Gold Cross said. He smiled over at Smolder. "I'll see if I can arrange for you two to hang out more. I'm sure Starry would love the company. It's funny." He bent down, patting the filly on the shoulder. "She's so quiet around the other fillies and colts, but with you, she's just a chatterbug." Starry's cheeks turned bright pink, and she crossed her left foreleg in an attempted pout. "I'm not a bug, I'm a pony." "I know, I know," Gold Cross laughed." "Okay." Starry smiled at Smolder. "See you later today?" Smolder gave a thumbs up. "If they let me." "We'll see." Gold Cross smiled. "Thank you, Smolder." Smolder nodded and waved as he rolled Starry away, the little filly turning back frequently to wave. As the door back into the hospital latched shut, Smolder sat back, staring up at the fountain. A warm feeling had replaced the numbness in her legs. She looked back up at the window of Room 114. Inside, she saw Gold Cross' head appear. He shook it, laughing, glancing back at the window, waving at Smolder, and laughing some more. She waved back. Her gaze drifted to the right. The bald kid smiled as they leaned against the windowsill. She made a note to pay them a visit when and if she got to head over to Starry's room. She chuckled to herself, a smile was still plastered on her face. The more she thought about it, the harder she snorted. Here she was, in a hospital, in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down. And she was smiling. Really and truly smiling. "So, should I bring the other pillow over? Did I bring the wrong one? They were kinda side by side so I wasn't sure which one you liked to sleep on. I thought I saw your head on the purple one with the skiers on it one time but it was dark. Then there was the time you threw the orange one at me when I was all-nighting my solo for Hinny of the Hills, so I thought maybe that was your favorite, but I..." Smolder nodded and smiled away. Spend four years as Silverstream's roommate and you learn the art of listening while zoning out. Trying to hang on to every word was just asking for headaches, and Smolder's spinal fluid was doing its best to ensure she had enough of those already. "Purple one's good," Smolder said when the bouncing hippogriff paused to take a breath. She fluffed the pillow in her claws. Chances were that it, just like the couch cushion Silverstream had randomly brought over a few days earlier, would go to the corner of her backrest. There, they could be displayed like she was using them without actually using them. She could add pillows to the list of bring-me-nots-please-I'm-begging-you right underneath the cards and balloons. Smolder rubbed the back of her neck. The muscles were still stiff. That's what she got for taking a nap in her chair. What could she say? The sun and breeze were perfect and she'd barely gotten any sleep the night before anyway. Luckily, her nap was completely dreamless. Maybe she could ring up Nurse Redheart after Silverstream zoomed off and get a stronger bag for her IV. A dragon needs her beauty sleep, right? Silverstream placed the pillow on the couch next to Smolder. "There we go. Do you need anything else? Another blanket? I can fly on back—" Smolder lifted a claw. "You're fine, Silver. The pillow is perfect." She yawned. "I think I'm gonna hit the hay soon anyway. The sun's down, and it's been a busy day." Silverstream's brow furrowed. "Oh, so Gallus came by? I thought he said he had to cram for a test." Huh? Smolder shook her head. "No. He didn't come by today. What? Uh... why'd you even ask that? " Silverstream shrugged. "You said it's been a busy day. I figured he'd come by and wheeled you around the block a few times." The hippogriff just had to add the eyebrow wiggle at the end. Smolder groaned and shook her head. "No. I can assure you I wheeled myself today, thank you very much. What’s that look for?"  Silverstream giggled, hiding her face behind a wing. “Nothing,” she sang.  Smolder rolled her eyes, shrugging. The less she pushed it, the better for her sanity. "Just had a few scans done, then spent most of the day in the garden relaxing. " "That doesn't sound busy." "It is when you have to talk up a storm. There was this little filly there, named Starry, and we got to talking. To be fair, she was pretty cool. Just doesn’t know how to shut up." Silverstream cupped her talons. "Awww, that's adorable." She clapped and bounced in place. "You made a new friend! That's so sweet." Smolder's snout scrunched. "I guess. I mean, she was a bit nervous about the whole hospital thing. I calmed her down. No biggie." "Uh-huh. Sure." Silverstream nudged the dragon’s chest, a wide smile on her beak. "Clearly Smolder's not just a lovable little softy." "Being nice isn't being soft!" Smolder huffed with a blush. "True, true." Silverstream fluttered up and then landed immediately, wings twitching. The hyper hippogriff was not made for a space with walls. "I'm glad you made her feel better." "Eh, I don't know if I did. Just talked." Smolder rubbed the back of her neck. "Kid's got a bum leg. She was a bit down on herself, but she's tough. And really smart." Smolder scoffed and leaned back. "Really good in a chair too." Silverstream nodded. "That's great." She hopped up and down, wings whooshing. "Do you think I could meet her? Maybe tomorrow?" "So you can steal my friend?" Smolder laughed. "I think it's fair. You stole my—" Silverstream's beak practically zipped shut. "Never mind." Smolder glanced up. "What? " "Nothing." Silverstream looked away, tapping her talons on the floor. "Silver," Smolder growled. She sat up, placing her claws on her knees. "Spill." Silverstream sighed. "Okay, fine. But first, you have to promise not to get mad at me. It was just going to be a joke, I promise." Smolder nodded. "I could always use a laugh, obviously," she said, patting her thigh. "Okay, okay." Silverstream winced. "You stole my... boyfriend which I know you didn't it was just an easy joke and I wanted to make you laugh is all. I'm serious, Smolder, don't be mad at me." Smolder groaned and sat back. "We're not together. You know that." "But you should be. At least give it a shot!" Silverstream smiled and held up a talon. "We broke up. It's been a year. Girl code says it's a go, and you have my blessing. I promise to not steal any of your eyeshadow in revenge." She leaned in. "Trust me. You deserve to be happy. What with this?" She patted Smolder's leg. Smolder grunted, pushing the hippogriff’s talon away—maybe a bit too roughly. "Look, could we just reverse the subject back to your next audition or something? Maybe I could use an extra blanket. Let's just... not go there." Silverstream frowned but nodded. "Okay." She walked over to the closet and opened it. "You want the brown one?" "Sure. Why not." Smolder crossed her arms as Silverstream dragged a fuzzy blanket over and threw it onto the dragon's lap. The hippogriff winced. "That wasn't too hard was it?" Smolder smirked. "I can't tell, remember?" She grabbed the blanket and started to spread it out. "Doubt you broke anything though." Silverstream nodded. "Good." She tapped her talons together. "Uh, so I was thinking..." "That's a first." Smolder glanced up. "But, I'm already tired." Silverstream glared but quickly returned to a smile. "Haha, very funny. I was thinking... my dad, he hosts these games for hippogriffs. Battle of Land and Sea, y'know? Hold it every year. They have competitions in the water and up on Mount Aris. To make it interesting, we can't transform between events." Smolder blinked, sitting up a little. "Meaning?" "Meaning hippogriffs from the land can't turn their legs to fins for the swimming contests, and the hippogriffs from the sea can't turn their fins to legs for the land-based races." Silverstream rocked back and forth. "They use these really sleek, specially designed chairs. They go super fast. Faster than you could probably get in this thing." Silverstream rolled the bulky wheelchair beside Smolder's bed back and forth. "I'm just thinking that maybe I could talk to him about if he has any friends who can make something like that dragon-sized." She grinned. "You'd have serious speed!" Smolder frowned, eyes locked on the lumps where her legs lay under the blanket. "Sounds like settling, doesn't it? That's gotta take a lot of time, cost a lot of money." "I'm sure Dad could get you a Friend of the Hippogriffs discount!" Silverstream grinned. "Yeah, but... still. Those are only bits you shell out if you know... know you're gonna be in one of those things for good." Silverstream nodded, her smile dropping. "I know." She shrugged. "I just figured. You've said... Oh, I don't know." The hippogriff looked to the tiles, wings drooping. "It's probably stupid." Smolder shook her head. "No, no. I appreciate it, Silver." She chuckled and leaned forward. "I wasn't kidding when I said I was tired. You of all creatures should know how grumpy I get then." She smirked. "Let's... uh, let's just keep that in mind. Gotta say, going fast in one of those babies?" She pointed to the chair. "Kinda fun." Silverstream smiled. "Right? Gallus told me about yesterday. Sounded like it was a blast!" She turned back to the closet. "Hey, do you want an extra extra pillow? You're gonna need it for that big head of yours." "Silver!" "Hey, don’t be mad at the truth! You have a big head. Just be happy I love you." "I'm not." Smolder grinned. "I'm really not." "Yeah huh. Whatever you sayyyyy," she sang the last word as she fluttered out of the room. "Goodnight, Smolder. Love you!" "Love you too, Fishgirl." And then it was just her and the night again. Nurse Redheart had ended her shift as she always did, dimming the lights in Smolder's room to a faint amber glow. It was a bit annoying if Smolder was being honest. The lights were dim enough for her to get some sleep without the nurses and doctors having to worry about tripping over wires and old bedpans when they came in, but they were bright enough that a glance out the window did not fill her world with stars and a bright full moon. No, when she glanced at the window, she only saw the glare of her reflection spread across the tinted frame. Wow, what a lovely sight: an orange dragon in a dull blue gown staring at the window with a frown on her face. Absolutely majestic. Smolder sighed and straightened her head. Even in her room, she couldn't escape the view; she stared back at herself in the bathroom mirror. She waved at herself. Man, she was pathetic. A gentle knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. “Yeah?” she answered, eyes darting to the clock on her wall. Huh. Visiting hours had to be over by now. She glanced over to the door, finding herself locking eyes with Gold Cross.  He smiled. "I didn't wake you, did I?" "Nope. Silverstream just left a minute ago. Surprised she didn’t bowl you over." Smolder shrugged. "What's up? What are you doing on this side of the world?" She smiled, but the expression faltered when she noted his downward gaze. “Everything okay? Don’t tell me I’m getting thrown in the teddy bear room.” “No. You’re safe there.” Gold Cross walked over. His smile faded. “And… no. Everything’s not okay at the moment.” He seemed to take in all the cards and balloons and flowers that grew more and more every day. "Starry's asking to see you. Refuses to go to sleep until she sees you." “Jeez, this kid,” Smolder laughed, looking back at the clock and shrugging. "It's almost eight. Kids like her gotta pass out around this time anyway, right?" Gold Cross mirrored the motion, but his chuckle was humorless. "Usually. But..." He leaned forward. "She had a bad nightmare. And she needs her rest, but she's stubborn." Smolder laughed. "No kidding. Just met the kid today, and she's acting like I'm her sister." Gold Cross said nothing, nor did he smile. There was a story behind his eyes. A story he had to bite back lest he break the hospital codes. Smolder chewed the inside of her cheek. "Can you bring her down here? It'd probably be easier than getting me over there." The nurse nodded. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll tell Nurse Redheart to let you sleep in tomorrow for this." Smolder grinned. "Good. They had Reins coming in tomorrow for some morning therapy junk. Always down for a little more Zs and a little less prodding." "I'll be right back" He smiled. "Thank you, Smolder." "Yeah, no problem." It seemed silly, to agree to this. But if it kept her awake, she could stomach a little whining Gold Cross wheeled Starry in five minutes later. The filly was still in her pajamas, a yellow nightgown with little pictures of lollipops and hearts all over it. Lucky kid—they gave her options other than the green or greener gown to sleep in. Smolder smirked. "Nice jammies." "Thanks," mumbled the filly, her voice hoarse. Her mane was messy, her eyes drooping and red. She looked the exact opposite of the energetic bundle Smolder had met earlier. Gold Cross patted Starry's shoulder. "Now, I'm going to give you a few minutes, but remember that you still need your rest. Okay, sweetie?" Starry nodded, rubbing her hoof along her cast. Gold Cross looked to Smolder. "I'll be out in the hall if you need me. I’ve been trying everything but she just… Hopefully, this will…” He shook his head. “Thank you, Smolder. Truly." Smolder smiled and waved as Gold Cross left the room, her stomach bobbing like an unsteady sea. The door latched shut. It was just her now. She breathed a shaky inhale and looked down at Starry. The filly was so little, all hunched over in her chair, yet she felt like a shadow was looming over her. The nurse couldn’t calm this girl down; there was no way that she could, right? "So, what's up?” Smolder finally asked the gloomy unicorn. “Bad dream?" Starry nodded. Smolder adjusted herself on the pillows. Gah, what she wouldn’t give to go back in time and make herself pay attention during Professor Fluttershy’s lessons. There had to have been a lecture on times like these. "Wanna tell me what it was about?" Starry nodded again, but only silence followed. The girl refused to make eye contact, choosing instead to scratch at her cast. Smolder sighed. "Are you gonna tell me what it's about?" Starry shook her head. “Why not?” Starry finally looked up, her eyes wide as she stared a hole straight into Smolder’s chest. "I-it was scary." "You know I don't scare easily." Smolder held up her claws and flexed them, making sure the light hit the sharp points just right. "See these? These are made for fighting. Whatever you dreamed about, it's got nothing on me. Lemme know what it was, and I’ll slice it to pieces for you." Starry didn't smile. She stared straight at Smolder, eyes quivering. She sniffled, then finally spoke. "Can you walk?" Smolder blinked. "What?" "Can you walk?" Starry's lip trembled. "I dreamed... dreamed I couldn't walk. Couldn’t walk anymore." The filly pursed her lips and scratched harder at the cast, as though the words hid deep below the plaster. “If you know what it’s like… you’re strong and kind and brave… I…” She shook her head, sniffling through stuffed nostrils. Smolder laughed but swallowed at a dry and scratchy throat. "Hey, kid. That's nothing you need to worry about. You're gonna get that cast off, and then you're gonna be out running laps around me." "They're going to cut it off." Silence. "The doctors might have to cut my leg off." Smolder swallowed again, feeling as if the world was growing smaller as if the walls were closing in. "They ... They what?" Tears started to fall down Starry's cheeks. "I don't know. T-they told me... they said I might not b-be able to walk on it anymore. Something about... those nerves not working right. That I… I’ll need a… b-brace or if it gets worse they might… might have to… Smolder sighed. No way this was happening. No way. But… the words escaped her. There were no monsters to slash away here, and her dead lower body prevented her from walking over and hugging the poor girl. All she had was her words, and she’d always sucked at those. “That’s tough.” She drummed on her thighs, chewing away at her lips. The words didn’t lay under there either. “Still, ya need to breathe, girl. I’m sure you’ll be just fine. Doctors like to… go a bit negative about stuff. Talk about the worst possibilities, but… that’s all they are. Possibilities. You’ll power through. You’ll be fine.” “B-but what if I’m not,” Starry whimpered, heaving the words out. “What if they do have to cut off my leg?!” Smolder rolled her eyes. This kid’s head was as thick as one of Pinkie’s pound cakes. “I’m sure it won’t come to--” “But what if it does?!” Snot poured down the filly’s nose. Smolder sighed. Scales, she did not sign up for this. Weren't dreams like this Twilight's job? Or did Luna still take care of those despite passing on her moon duties? Either way, at least she had a box of tissues nearby. She grabbed the box, sticking it out to the filly. Luckily, Starry was a unicorn. No need for awkward wheelchair rolling or reaching to the point of nearly falling out of bed. A simple flash of lime green magic and the filly was blowing away. As Starry dumped her emotions into the tissue, Smolder stared down at her sheets. She wanted nothing more than to get out of bed and hug the filly, but then again there were a lot of things she wanted to do that she just… couldn’t. Not right now. Maybe not ever again.  Garble walked up to her and sat on her bed. It was just a nightmare, he said, resting a claw on her shoulder. Nothing to worry about. Mommy wasn’t going to eat her for shattering her prized emerald. She probably tasted terrible anyway. Smolder had laughed. A smile twitched at the corner of Smolder’s lips. "To answer your question, Starry," Smolder said. "No. No, I can't walk." Starry sniffled. "Are they going to cut off your legs too?" Smolder chuckled. "No. They're not." She tapped her head. "See, they only do that for the tough ones, kid. The ones who can power through." She grinned. "I'm a tough dragon, but not as tough as you it seems. If it does come to that… well, it means you’re made of frickin’ tungsten or something" Starry blinked and stuck her tongue out. “Yuck. I don’t want to be made of tongues. They’re slimy and gross.” "Tungsten.” Smolder closed her eyes, smiling. To be that age again. “One of the strongest metals there is. See, I’ll bet you a dozen emeralds right here and now that they’re not gonna cut that leg off, but if they do…. Well, if they do, they're gonna give you this new one. It'll be strong and cool and perfect for you." Smolder smirked. "A leg fit only for the toughest and strongest creature in the world." Starry giggled, rubbing her eyes. "Really?" "Well, duh." Smolder shrugged. "You'd think I'd be in line, but I guess I'm just not tough enough. You should be proud, kid. It’s hard to out-tough a dragon, yet here you go showing out." Starry smiled, but the gesture quickly transitioned to a frown as she eyed the sheets Smolder lay under. "But... that's not fair. You're a nice dragon. You're strong, you're kind, you're pretty and you're funny. I like you. You should be able to get new legs too." Smolder smiled sadly, patting her thighs. "Yeah, but then they'd have to take my stomach, and I am not letting them take away my chance to enjoy some good topaz." Smolder licked her lips and patted her belly. Starry giggled. "You’re funny. Can I... stay here tonight?" Smolder chuckled. "Nah. As you can tell I don't really have much room." She motioned to the cards and balloons now overflowing onto the one comfortable-looking chair in the entire room. "And I have a habit of breathing fire in my sleep." Smolder winked, grinning as Starry's eyes somehow grew even wider. "Look, I'll… I dunno, talk to Nurse Redheart or one of my friends about clearing this place out tomorrow. Getting a bit cramped in here. Think you'll be good tonight?" The filly yawned and nodded. Eighty-thirty. If Smolder tried to go to bed at this hour, she’d be wide awake at one in the morning.  "Good. 'Cause I'm gonna need my beauty sleep to make sure I look my best tomorrow when I show ya how to bust some good moves." Smolder winked, patting the handles of her own wheelchair. “You still up for that, right?” Starry nodded vigorously. "Yeah. Okay. Of course. No way I’d leave you hanging." She rolled her little chair up and reached out to try and hug Smolder. The dragon lowered her arm so the filly could wrap her functioning foreleg around it. "Thank you, Smolder." Smolder smiled and tousled the filly's mane with her free claw. "Sleep well, Starry. And if it'll help, go ahead and grab one of those plushies. I have more than enough." “Are you sure?” “Yeah. You’ve been a brave girl.” Smolder leaned in as close as she could. “I’d recommend the whale,” she whispered.  Starry nodded and tried to turn her wheelchair around but the late hour weighed on her small body. Gold Cross walked into the room seemingly on instinct, gently taking hold of the handles. She motioned for Gold Cross to lean closer and whispered in his ear. He smiled and nodded before wheeling her over to the wardrobe in the corner of the room. With a flap of his wings, he reached up and grabbed the whale, placing it in the filly’s lap. The dragon watched as the two left the room, the filly hugging the whale close and waving as best she could, the young stallion looking at her and giving a hearty nod. She swore she could see his eyes watering as he said, "Thank you, Smolder. Goodnight." Once they were out of the room, Smolder glanced out her window. She squinted and craned her neck, but she could not make out any stars. Only a couple of quivering blue orbs staring back through the dark. Starry would be okay. She’d be fine. She had to be fine. She had to be. Garble pulled her close as she sniffled. Her cries echoed off the empty walls of their cave. They’d left. How could they leave just like that? Didn’t they love them anymore? What had she done wrong? “We’ll be fine,” Garble said. “Because we’re tough. The toughest dragons of them all.” The second the hoof steps in the hall echoed into silence, Smolder buried her face in her palms and cried.