//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: A Lost Friend // by Sirius Starshine //------------------------------// A Lost Friend Chapter 4                   Rainbow Dash was disappointed when Loveheart told her that Viridian Night was in Canterlot, but her spirits were lifted again when she told her that he should be back later that day.  However, she didn’t take the last bit of news very well.                   “Three days!  I’ve been asleep for three days!?  I need to get back to Ponyville, everypony must be worried sick, and Tank! Gasp!  I hope Fluttershy is taking care of him!  I gotta get back and let them know I’m okay.”  Rainbow Dash exclaimed and she started to raise herself out of bed again.                   “No, no no no no no.”  Loveheart said as she quickly used her magic to keep Rainbow Dash from moving again.  “If you would let me finish,” she said as she forced Rainbow back down into her bed.  “That’s why Viridian Night went to Canterlot.  After he brought you here a couple pegasi from the royal guard came here looking for you, they said royal guards everywhere in Equestria were looking for you, on Celestia’s orders.  They wanted to take you back to Ponyville immediately, but you’re in no condition to move yet so Viridian Night ordered them not to until they’ve reported to the princesses on your condition.  He went with them to help explain the situation.”  The doctor unicorn said as she lifted the magic holding Rainbow Dash down when she saw the pegasus wasn’t resisting any more.                   “The guard-pegasi also said that the reason they were looking for you so diligently was because your friends sent a message to Princess Celestia stating their belief that you may be injured, and also since you are one of the Elements of Harmony, the princess wanted you to be found and returned as soon as possible.” She said as she replaced the blankets back over Rainbow Dash.   “But, I still gotta let my friends know I’m okay.  I don’t want them to worry.” Rainbow Dash said, worry still etched in her features.   “Well, I’m positive the princess will be sure to let your friends know that you’re safe and sound as soon as possible.” Loveheart told her with a reassuring smile, “Is it really true?  Are you really one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?”  Loveheart asked hoping to get Rainbow’s mind off her concern for her friends and calm back down.                   “Uh yeah, your lookin’ at the Element of Loyalty,” Rainbow Dash said proudly, holding a hoof to her chest.  Then suddenly her stomach growled loudly, demanding sustenance.  “eh heh heh heh, and also the Element of Hunger, do you have anything to eat around here Doc?”  Rainbow asked, slightly embarrassed.                   “Absolutely, I’ll be right back.”  Loveheart left the room and came back a couple minutes later holding a bed-tray in her magic.  She placed the tray in front of Rainbow Dash who gave an undignified face when she saw the contents of the trey.                   “This is it?”  She asked in a disbelieving tone.  She was looking down at the tray which had a small dandelion sandwich, a small bowl of applesauce, and a glass of water with a straw.                   “Well yes,” Loveheart said matter-of-factly.  “You’re still recovering from all the injuries you’ve sustained, and if you try to eat something heavy your body won’t be able to handle it and you’ll become sick.”                   “Hey, I’m not a filly you know.  I think I can handle myself.”  Rainbow Dash said indignantly.                   “And when you’re throwing up because your stomach gets shocked from having something in it when it’s been empty for three days; I’m the pony who gets to clean it up.”  Loveheart said with very stern look.  Rainbow Dash meeped at the sudden change in her demeanor.  “Now it’s either that or foal food, your choice.”                   In response Rainbow Dash immediately took the sandwich in her hooves and took a bite out of it and ate.  She was much weaker than she thought because the simple sandwich felt heavy in her fore-legs and her hooves felt unsteady.  She was able to finish the sandwich without too much of a problem, but eating the applesauce proved more of a challenge.  After she dropped her spoon three times, while trying to scoop the mashed fruit into her mouth, she gave up on it.  The doctor was proven right anyway, Rainbow Dash was full after the sandwich and small amount of applesauce.  She was grateful Loveheart placed a straw in the glass of water so she had no trouble drinking at least.                   “Are you finished?” Loveheart asked.  She left the room when Rainbow Dash started eating so that she could go have her own breakfast.                   “Yes, thanks Doc, and you were right that sandwich filled me *Yaaawwwn* right up.”  Rainbow Dash said feeling tired now that she had a full stomach.                    Loveheart used her magic and lifted the tray from the bed and pulled the covers up to Rainbow Dash’s neck to keep her warm.  “You’re welcome dear.  Now try to get some sleep, the more rest you get the faster your wounds will heal.”  She said in a comforting tone.  She then closed the shades over the windows and the room darkened, not a very dark, but enough to offer an easy nap.                   “No problem D-Yawn-oc, napping is one of my specialties,” Rainbow Dash said stifling another yawn.  “Hey, could you do me a favor though?” she asked.                   “Sure, what is it?” Doctor Loveheart replied as she turned her head back.                   “Could you wake me up if Viridian Night gets back before I’m awake?”                   “Well, you really should get your rest,” Loveheart began, but then she saw the hopeful look in Rainbow Dash’s face and she couldn’t bear to tarnish it.                   “But I guess three whole days is a good start.  I’ll be sure to wake you up when he gets here.”  Loveheart said with a reassuring smile.                   With her eyelids weighing a ton, each Rainbow Dash mumbled, “Thanks Doc, I appreciate it.” before she fell fast asleep.  Loveheart tip-hoofed the rest of the way across the room and quietly closed the door behind her so she didn’t disturb the sleeping pegasus.   *****                 Rainbow Dash didn’t sleep for very long. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and she looked at the clock on the wall across from her.  The hands read just a little past twelve ‘o clock, only a few hours after she fell asleep.  She lied there for a bit trying to fall back asleep but she just wasn’t tired at all.  After several minutes of just lying there she eventually became extremely bored, and began calling out for the teal unicorn.                   “Loveheart!  Doctor Loveheart are you here?!” she called out hoping the unicorn wasn’t out doing errands or anything.  She was relieved when she heard the sound of hoof-steps a couple seconds later approaching the door to her room.                   “Are you alright? I thought you were still sleeping.” Loveheart barged through the door, concern plastered to her face.                   “Yeah I’m fine.  I just can’t sleep anymore; is there anything to do around here?” Rainbow Dash asked.                   “Hugh, you really should get your rest; you need to conserve your strength if you’re going to make a fast recovery.”  Loveheart responded.                   “But I can’t sleep anymore.” the cyan pegasus argued.  “I need to do something, anything.”                   Doctor Loveheart sighed again, “you pegasi are all the same, just can’t bear to sit still for more than five minutes,” she said not completely without humor.  “Alright, but you’re not getting out of bed, let me see what I have that we can do.”  Loveheart then went over to a cabinet standing against the wall.  She opened it up and started pulling boxes out.  “Let’s see, I’ve got a couple decks of cards, Griffins and Ponies, Ponyopoly, Battlepony, Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Ponies, checkers…” she listed off the games she had.                   “Oooo, I haven’t played a good game of checkers in a while,” Rainbow said when Loveheart took a breath.                   “Well I gotta warn you, I play a mean game of checkers!” the unicorn said, a smirk forming on her lips.                   “Oh yeah?  Bring it on!”   *****                   It was an intense battle.  Neither pony giving the other an inch.  They’ve both lost a fair amount of pieces, but still had plenty left in play, both even had a few princesses on the battlefield as well.  They kept playing for a few more minutes until Rainbow Dash finally asked the medical unicorn about the pegasus she couldn’t take her mind off of.                   “So, how is Viridian Night?  What has he been up to, what’s he like now?  Is he, um, seeing anypony?”  the pegasus asked, the last question accompanied by a nervous chuckle.   Loveheart paused for a second, contemplating Rainbow’s questions before she replied, “… Well I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have a marefriend, if that’s what you were asking, but honestly, I don’t really know much about him, in fact, nopony here really knows,” Loveheart began.  “He moved here only about two years ago, and, well, he’s not the most social pony I’ve ever met; especially for a pegasus.”                   “How do you mean?” Rainbow Dash asked.                   The teal unicorn took a sip of water she brought for herself and Rainbow before she responded.  “Well, he usually just keeps to himself in his home right outside town, and he only comes into town maybe once a week for groceries and such.  He doesn’t come to any parties or celebrations, however, if he sees anypony who needs help with something he always offers a helping hoof to them, especially fillies, he’s always very kind to them, but as soon as the job is done he continues on his way.  We know he is in the military because he flies to Canterlot once a month in uniform; we’re not sure what he does though.  Some ponies have asked and all he’s told anypony is ‘I study the night sky.’”  Loveheart then had a thoughtful look on her face and said, “Although, I have had to keep him here over night a couple times because he was completely drunk, only times I’ve ever seen him like that.  It was actually around this time of year both times.”                   Rainbow Dash frowned at that.  She knew he was a very helpful and caring pony even back when they were both kids, but back then he was always talking to others and making friends.  She had never seen him act reclusive or cryptic to anypony.  It made her wonder what could have changed him like that.                   “So, you said you knew him back when you were fillies in Cloudsdale right?”  Loveheart asked, “What was he like back then?”                   “Well he was very kind and helpful to others even back then.  He taught me how to stand up to bullies and what a true, loyal, friend was.”  She smiled as she thought of that day so many years ago.  “I don’t think I could’ve become the Element of Loyalty if it wasn’t for him.  He was the most awesome colt I’ve ever known.”                   “But…” the smile on the rainbow-maned mare faded, as a small mixture of confusion and sadness took its place.  “I’ve never known him to be so cloistered, he was always very cheerful and open.  He’d always go around trying to meet new ponies and bringing me along to show me how.  I wish I knew what happened to have changed him.”                 “Well, hey!” Loveheart cheered and smiled trying to lift the depressed pegasus’ spirits, “now that you’ve found him maybe you could help him open up again, since you knew him when he was like that, so he won’t be alone anymore.”                   “That’s an awesome idea!  But if he doesn’t want to be around anypony, how will I be able to do that?” Rainbow replied.                   “hmm… Oh I know!  I could tell him that I can only keep you here for critical care, and since you’ve become stable I have to release you, and because he’s the only one here who knows you, he’s the only one I can release you to until you’re well enough to move on your own.”                   “That plan is awesome!” Rainbow cheered.   *****   Viridian Night was taking his time flying home from Canterlot so that he would have time to mull over the thoughts running through his mind.  He was ecstatic that he was finally getting the upgraded equipment that he requested.  It meant that he would have to move again, but he’s done it so many times that it hasn’t bothered him for a long time.  What bothered him though was Rainbow Dash.  He didn’t mind that he was tasked with monitoring her and escorting her back to Ponyville; the issue that was bothering him was that it would be the first time he would be around anypony with whom he had a personal relationship with in years.   He had spent the last several years avoiding getting close to anypony since that night, and he wasn’t sure how to handle this turn of events.  He felt a twinge of deep pain and sorrow as the memories of that night dredged themselves up from his subconscious, but he viciously pushed them back down.   All those thoughts were still rattling around in his head when he landed in front of his house late that afternoon.  He went inside and removed his armor and swords and placed them neatly back in the closet.  He then went out to the doctor’s house to check with Loveheart on Rainbow Dash’s condition.   When he got to the clinic he gently knocked on the door and waited for somepony to answer it.  He only had to wait a couple seconds before the teal unicorn answered the door.   “Oh Viridian, I was wondering when you were going to be back.  Did you have a good trip?” the medical mare asked.   “Oh yeah, nothing eventful happened.  How’s she doing?” Viridian replied, wanting to get right to the point.   Loveheart stepped back to let the green pegasus in as she said, “she’s doing great!  All of her vitals are completely stable.  She woke up early this morning, and I performed a full checkup on her and she has no brain damage from the concussion and everything is healing as it should.” She said proudly. The military pony breathed a sigh of relief, “that’s excellent news, thank you Doctor.”   “Well there’s just one thing however,” Loveheart said, “since she’s completely stabilized I can’t keep her here anymore since there is so little room; I need to be able to care for as many patients here as possible in case there’s an emergency.”  She told him, remembering the plan Rainbow Dash and her came up with earlier.   “Well if she’s well enough to be released then that means she can travel, right.” Viridian stated more than asked.  “Then she and I can make our way to Ponyville tomorrow, once I get everything squared away with the moving ponies.”   The unicorn was taken aback.  ‘Moving ponies?’ what does he mean by that?   She must have thought out loud because Viridian replied, “Oh, the princesses have given me orders to move to a new location where there is better equipment and conditions for my work.” He put on a lopsided smile, “I’m gonna miss this town though, it was nice and peaceful here.”   Loveheart was dumbstruck for a second by the sudden news but quickly recovered.  “So soon?  But you’ve only just moved here recently.”   “Eh, that’s military life for you, usually aren’t stationed anywhere for more than a few years.” He said with a shrug.   “Well we simply must give you a proper send off.  I think a ‘farewell party’ would be-”   He cut her off, “No, I appreciate the thought, but, I don’t want there to be any ruckus just because I’m leaving.” He said.   Loveheart was about to protest, but when she saw the seriousness in Viridian’s eyes she decided against it.  Instead she said, “A lot of us are going to miss you around here,”   “I’m gonna miss y’all too” he said using a term he picked up when he was a colt and his family was stationed in Hoofstin.  “This is one of the nicer places I’ve lived in.”   They stood there for a moment, neither of them knowing what else to say.  After a couple seconds went by Viridian asked, “so is there anything I need to do to get Rainbow out processed?”   “Oh, yes, uh give me one sec I just need you to sign some paperwork.”  The doctor said and went over to a filing cabinet and pulled out two sheets of paper.  She placed them on the small desk next to the cabinets, pulled out a pen from a cup on her desk, and motioned Viridian to come over.   “Okay you need to sign this one here, stating that you are taking guardianship over her until she has recovered enough to take care of herself again.” She pointed to the paper on the left, “this one actually releases her from my care.” As she moved her hoof over the form on Viridian’s right.   Viridian Night took the pen she offered in his mouth and quickly scrawled his signature across the bottom of both sheets.  He placed the pen back in its cup and slid the forms back to the unicorn.  “So, can she spend the night here, or does she have leave the clinic now?” he asked.   “Well since you signed everything I can’t keep her here any longer, so she needs to leave as soon as possible, but she should move as little as possible so you’ll need to carry her in one of my bed carts,” the teal unicorn responded.   Loveheart saw a look of apprehension flash across the pegasus’ face, but he quickly shook his head and the expression faded from his features.  “Give me a sec. I’ll be right back,” he said and went back out the front door without shutting it.   A couple seconds later something white and fluffy began floating through the doorway.  It took a couple moments for Loveheart to realize it was a cloud.  When Viridian Night passed through the doorway, pushing the cloud, she asked him, “why are you bringing a cloud in here,” completely perplexed.   Viridian Night pushed the cloud towards the door leading to the sick beds and said, “It’ll be easier for me to take her back to my house on this than anything else, and it’ll be a smoother ride for her.” He said matter-of-factly.   He opened the door and pushed the cloud through and set it next to the bed Rainbow Dash was lying in.  All of the wires and tubes have been removed, although she still was heavily bandaged and braced.  Despite all this she was sleeping peacefully, a small grin on her face, and the rhythm of her breathing gentle and regular.  He stood there watching her sleep for a few moments until Loveheart came up next to him.   “You know, she practically begged me to wake her up the instant you got back if she happened to be asleep.” She whispered in order to not wake the cyan pegasus.   “I’d rather that she wasn’t disturbed,” replied Viridian Night.  “Would you be able to move her over to the cloud without waking her?” he asked.   “That shouldn’t be a problem,” Loveheart told him, almost giggling.  “She sleeps like a log.”  She then backed up to the foot of the bed, motioning for Viridian to follow her, and started pouring magic into her horn.  Once it lit up she then projected the energy around the mattress under Rainbow Dash.  She then slowly, gently, lifted it and her up off the frame and over the cloud Viridian brought in.  Once the mattress was positioned was over the cloud she just as slowly and gently lowered the mattress down until it passed though the cloud.  Rainbow Dash being a pegasus of course, was supported by the cloud with the blankets still over her, passing though the cloud at their edges.  Rainbow barley even stirred during the whole process.  “Piece of cake!” Loveheart said.   “Thank you Loveheat, for everything you did for her, and for everything you did for me.” Viridian said.   “Oh thanks aren’t necessary,” she replied blushing a little.  “Taking care of ponies is my special talent after all.”   “Well all the same, thank you anyway.  I wish you the best in your life.” He said and started pushing Rainbow Dash back to the front of the clinic.   “Uh…” Loveheart said, but too quiet for Viridian to hear.  She spoke up a bit louder and asked, “um, will we ever see you again?  Will you come back to visit?”   “Who knows?  Maybe someday,” he said and left the clinic and headed back to his house to settle Rainbow for the night, and to get everything ready for the mover ponies tomorrow morning.