Carpe Diem

by Beta Code

Icarus

~Chapter 1~
It was just another day.
The sky was clear, the wind gentle and cool, and the sun bright and warm. It was a good day, perfect for flight. I stretched out my wings and took off in to the sky. It had been a while since I was able to take such a leisurely flight, all the drills always took the fun out of it. I flew for minutes but might as well had been hours in my eyes, it felt so liberating.

My wings paddled through the air when suddenly they froze, clinging to my sides. It didn't take long before I started to spiral to the ground. Faster, and faster I went. I tried with all my might to open them but to no avail.

Faster, and faster I went...

Until-

My eyes suddenly jolted open. "Damn it"
With a heavy sigh I rolled out of bed. It has been a little over two months since my accident and I'm still not sure how it all happened, it was all so fast. I can recall doing a flight drill in my guard squadron, the sun, then hitting something only to wake up in the infirmary. I looked into the mirror, letting out another sigh. "Silver Shield, you look like crap."

I felt my right wing. It looked healed but in reality it wasn't nearly done. During my crash I suffered a stage 3b concussion (my ears still ring from time to time), a few broken ribs, my left hind leg had a complete fracture, and my wing suffered a nasty compound (my mates said it was barely hanging on). I may have a limp but at least I can walk on my leg, while my wing can barely move without pain. The doc said it wasn't healing right, and I’d be lucky to ever fly again.
And with that, I got ready for the rest of my day. I could already tell that it was going to be a long one.

The shop doorbell rang. "You're late Silver."

"Yeah I know, no need to announce it to the entire city." I grumbled, hanging my scarf. Since I've been on leave I've been helping Donut Joe. I don't get much, but it at least helps with the bills. I get pension, but I save it for the medical bills and therapy. "Am I working in the back today?"

"I want you on the register. Strawberry Breese needs more hooves-on time."

"You got it boss." Strawberry was an apprentice that Joe recently hired. The register might be boring but it's a lot easier than kneading donut dough in my opinion. At least it gave me some time to think, especially on slow days like these. Several hours passed and in my boredom I started to sing myself a little song.

"Will you quit singing that?" Strawberry objected, walking out of the kitchen

"What's wrong with All Time Low?"
"Nothing, you're just a terrible singer."

I responded with a rasp. "Hey Joe, it's ten till two. Mind if I leave a little early today? I got an apointment."

"Yeah, sure. Breese, take over for him."

I wrapped my scarf around my neck and headed out. It was starting to get chilly out, and only got colder as the days went by. Winter was coming rather early this year. The cold air is certainly going to be uncomfortable on my leg and wing. I slowly trotted through the streets of Canterlot, enjoying the scenes a bit as I traveled to my therapist’s office. The doctor suggested it, said that it'll help with my depression. I'll admit it's helped some, getting my thoughts off my chest, but I'm still haunted by nightmares; plagued with unhealthy thoughts to say the least.

But some help is certainly better than none. Even if it is expensive. Coming upon the office I let out a sigh and walked in.
"Hello Mr. Shield. The doctor is waiting for you in the back room." The receptionist chimed. She seemed a little too perky at times, but she was nice enough.

"Thanks Morning Glory." I walked down the halls 'till I came up to the office door, giving it a small knock before entering. "Hello Doctor Sofa."

"Hello Silver. If you sit down we shall get started."

I lied down on the adjacent sofa. For the next hour, I just spilled everything I had on my mind. My worries, my nightmares...it nearly brought tears to my eyes thinking about how I could never fly again. I never realized how much stress I was actually under. Luckily, the doc knew.

"You say you've still been having nightmares?"

"Yeah...I had one just last night, actually." I half whispered. "I thought that I was over the crash. Hell, I can barely remember it! Why is it haunting me?"

"Perhaps it's not the crash." Sofa retorted, chewing on his pencil. "You've said that you fear that you may not be able to fly, and these nightmares usually consist of you falling."

"You think it's because of my worries about my wing?"

He nodded. "Maybe what you need is some time to relax. You still have leave time, might I suggest taking a vacation?"
"Would that really help?"

"It could. Clearing your head might just be what you need." The dark brown stallion looked up to the clock. "Well, that's all the time we have for today. Think about my suggestion."

"Thanks, doc."

I lay in my bed looking at the ceiling, not really doing anything but thinking. Was I there minutes? Hours? I'm not really sure, could've been days for I cared. Should I really take a vacation? I mean, would that even work? More importantly, where would I go?

Finally I came up with a decision. I rolled out of bed and walked over to my desk. It had been a long time but I decided I’d send a letter to my parents.

"Done." Rolling up the parchment and brought it to the window sill, placing it next to some bird feed. It didn't take long for a carrier pigeon to come along and pick it up, carrying it off to the post office. I went to work on packing my things.
Tomorrow I'm heading for my hometown, Ponyville.