Haahh! I woke up with a huge breath and felt my ribs snap back into place, for the time being. Silent tears were leaving my eyes. Where was I? My side was pressed into the dirt, making my bruised ribs sore. I shakily tried to stand, fell, then finally pushed myself to my feet. I gazed around. There was Celestia in the distance, speeding over the mountains with ambulances. Rarity was drowsy and on the ground from blood loss, sitting next to a hyperventilating Fluttershy and a jacked-up AppleJack. Pinkie was no where to be seen. Then my eyes laid upon the cold, unmoving corpse of the Fury, with blood staining the claws on his hand. Reality came rushing back.
“Rainbow!” I called, hobbling around, trying to remember where she went down. I must have not been out for long, maybe thirty seconds a the most. I scrabbled over to where some branches some bushes had been crushed or torn off. I pushed through the vines franticly until I came upon a small clearing, cramped with a very small looking blue pony and a pool of spreading blood.
She was laying awkwardly on her side, her legs splayed out before her. There were two gashes where the claws had caught her- one stretching from under her right forearm down her stomach, and the other tracing down her neck to the top of her hind leg. They were both extremely wide and deep, and they were pumping pints of blood by the minute.
There were no words for what I felt. “Rainbow,” I whispered, “Why?” I stalked over to her head, and bowed mine, letting my eyes slide closed. A tear rolled down my face, landing in front of the doomed pony. She was breathing, so she was still alive, but I knew there was no saving her. That’s when I heard a feeble, raspy voice say, “What’s up, Twilight?”
My eyes flew open. She was awake! Now at least I could try and save her. I must of looked shocked, because her lips twitched into smile, and she half-coughed half-laughed. Even that small action left her winded, struggling to stay conscious.
I sat down and picked up her head, then the rest of her upper body, and placed them in my arms. Normally this would have been too sappy and gross for Rainbow, but she didn’t have the energy to resist.
“Rainbow, just....just stay with me,” I wanted to keep her awake, afraid that the next time she slipped into slumber would leave her there, in the darkness of death.
“Twilight, did....did we....do it?” Her words came in between deep, heaving breaths. Her eyes were trained on me, but were just slightly unfocused. She didn’t have long.
“Yes, we defeated him, and you helped a lot, but I need you to sty awake,” I locked my eyes with her, willing her to fight the urge to give in. “Celestia is here, and she’ll heal you up real quick, okay? But you just have to promise me to stay awake,” I grimaced at the thought of her dying, and what her life would be if she survived. Both were bad ideas.
She chuckled again, sending a little more blood trickling out. “No....I don’t think...that’s gonna happen....Twi..Twilight,” She was panting hard now, and her breaths had become short and shallow. She started sweating again, and the signs just kept getting worse.
“I...knew I...should’ve....stayed home..today..” She couldn’t manage the laugh this time, but I giggled in tears at how even so close from leaving us behind, she was still herself. I wish I could be that try to herself.
“Rainbow, you are the best friend anyone could ask for,” I cried, “And you have been so great, and....I just wish I could save you now like you saved me.” The last part choked out, and I’m surprised she could even hear it, since it was almost inaudible to me.
“Twilight...don’t.......it’s..all....right....thanks..for...every....everythi....” Her words grew quiet and trailed off completely. Her eyes started to glaze over and unfocused, and rolled back into her head. Her sticky blood pooled everywhere, mixing in with my fur.
“Rainbow, don’t leave! Please! We need you..” I was wailing at the top of my lungs now, and I heard some ponies in the valley start looking for me. I lowered my voice to a whisper, and repeated what she had tried to say.
“Thanks for everything, Rainbow,” I sniffled, then moved up my hand and slid her eyes closed. Then I sat there, cradling her oh so fragile body, made to look tiny by death’s unforgiving ways.
There was a rustling, and Pinkie appeared, a cast on her leg. She must have gotten it in Canterlot and come back to the valley. I gave her one, sorrowful look, and she knew. She flung herself at me, crying “Dashie! Dashie!” Rarity then managed to push herself into the bushes, and joined Pinkie in crying. Then all three of us lifted her body out of the bushes and into the clearing.
Silence. First from shock, then from ponies giving their respects. AppleJack and Fluttershy made their way over, and began to cry with the rest of us. Then I slowly got up, turned, and walked to the dead hulking body of the Fury. And I couldn’t help feeling, that right now, I would have let him destroy all of Equestria if I could just have my tough, spunky, and loyal Rainbow Dash back.