Chapter 15- Dreams of a Dying Pegasus
“Rainbow?”
Rainbow was roused by somepony calling her name. She blinked her eyes in the bright sunlight. Lifting her head, she sought out the one who had called to her. A smile spread across her face when she saw Shadow racing towards her.
“Are you okay?” he asked her breathlessly.
“I think so,” Rainbow replied trying to stand. She stumbled a bit, but managed to right herself. Tentatively, she tested her legs. Satisfied that they were in proper working condition, she turned to face Shadow Flare.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” she confirmed.
Shadow looked her over, concern evident in his gaze. “You’re all bruised up, and there are bloodstains on your pelt. What happened?”
“I ran into Dash. She attacked me before I reached Scootaloo’s house. It was awful. She actually tried to kill me!” No sooner had the words left her mouth, than she realized that she hadn’t tried to embellish the story by saying she had fought back or some such. What had happened to her pride? She had changed since she had come here. What did that mean?
Shadow didn’t seem to notice. He was still fussing over her wounds. “I think you should go to the hospital. Some of these injuries look severe.”
“I’ll go later; I still need to get my stuff from Scoots.” Rainbow began to walk slowly down the path. As she walked, a fiery pain lanced through her chest. She staggered to the ground and coughed heavily and thin stream of blood seeped from between her lips.
“Rainbow! You shouldn’t be moving! I’ll get a taxi or something! Just stay there,” he exclaimed. Shadow ran off in the direction of town.
The cyan pegasus lie there in the middle of the path helplessly. The sun warmed her flank and a cool breeze whispered through her mane, lulling her to sleep. When she awoke, many ponies were hauling her on a stretcher through wide, white halls. Was she already in the hospital? She didn’t even notice them carrying her here. They brought her into a one-pony room filled with a bunch of medical instruments she couldn’t even be bothered to identify.
The ponies set her down on the bed in the center of the room. They all left hastily, leaving her alone. At least, Rainbow thought she was alone until Shadow spoke.
“You are in worse condition than I thought,” he said. “Apparently, Dash broke your ribs and it punctured one of your lungs. They say you were lucky to survive through the night. I’m worried about you.”
Rainbow had to smile at his sentiment. “I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I’ve been through too much to leave now. Besides, there’s the whole rest of my life waiting for me back in my time.”
Shadow gazed into her eyes. “I pray to Celestia that you’re right.”
Just then, a couple of nurses bustled into the room and shooed Shadow away. The nurses began running tests and such, but Rainbow hardly noticed. It wasn’t long before sleep claimed her once more.
Rainbow jerked awake to see the room dark around her. Tubes ran into her forelegs and nostrils. The only light in the room emanated from the screen of the heart monitor beside her. She rested her head against the pillow and gazed at the dark ceiling. Then the door creaked open, letting light spill into the room.
“How are you, Rainbow?” said the pony, stepping in.
“I feel okay as long as I don’t breathe too deeply,” she replied.
“You’re gonna survive, Rainbow. You have a greater destiny than you would ever imagine.”
Rainbow glanced at the silhouette of the pony. “What?”
“Just remember, the key to the future often lies hidden in the past,” the pony turned to open the door.
“Wait! Who are you?” Rainbow asked.
The pony turned her head just slightly enough so that her features were visible in the hallway light. The dark blue of her pelt was unmistakable. It was Princess Luna.
Rainbow was shocked. Hadn’t Twilight told her that the princesses disappeared mysteriously a year ago? “How are you here? I thought you and Celestia had disappeared,” Rainbow asked.
Luna laughed, “This is but a dream, dear child. My sister and I are in realm beyond the boundaries of time. We were banished by a dark force and await the day we can return. That all depends on you.”
With that, Princess Luna shimmered and faded before Rainbow’s eyes. She woke from her dream, pre-dawn light filtering through the window. Princess Luna had visited her dreams! But what was she supposed to do? There was no way she could bring the princesses back. She couldn’t even figure out how to get herself back to her time. Now, even more problems rested on her shoulders. All Rainbow wanted was to escape this place and realize it was all a bad dream. But no matter how much she willed it, she couldn’t wake up. This was not a dream. This was as real as reality gets.