//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Picking Up the Fallen // Story: Soarin to Victory // by TorontoFCBrony //------------------------------// About a third of the crowd, the supporters of the Cloudsdale athletes, celebrated with jubilation as their heroes dominated the podium. Some fans applauded the winners, but the rest of the crowd turned their attention to the mare laying on the ground. Soarin was on top of the world. Not even expected to win a medal in that race, he took home the gold. The sound of celebration from his fans was in the air. He turned to face his marefriend, who surely took home the silver medal behind him. But that isn't how it turned out. The stallion, exhilarated from his accomplishment, beaming with joy, then had confusion as he saw Fleetfoot and Spitfire congratulating each other for their own medal wins. Rainbow was nowhere around him. The joy of being a champion was so short-lived that he instantly forgot about it as he focused on something far more important to him. Rainbow Dash was nowhere in his vicinity. "Well, congratulations," Spitfire said as she approached the stallion. "Yeah, okay, whatever," Soarin responded while still looking around. "Where's Rainbow?" "I... I don't know," Spitfire responded. "She was right near me until the final turn." Soarin looked to the part of the track where it curved. He pinpointed his mare on the ground. Lightly shoving Spitfire to the side, Soarin rushed over to be at his mare's side. He used whatever energy he had left in his wings to get over to Dash as fast as he could, even passing the medical staff, who were pushing a stretcher over to where she was. The crowd in the stands above the Ponyvillian pegasus were standing up, looking with concern, and some taking pictures. "Dashie?" Soarin called out as he got closer. "Dashie, are you okay?" There was no response from the mare, whose face was hidden in her forelegs. "Dashie," he said as he stopped right in front of her. "Ugh," he could hear her grunt. "Dashie, are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine," she responded with a melancholy tone without raising her head. Soarin looked at the mare up and down, making sure she was okay. Her wing was bent, her feather's disheveled, but nothing was broken. "Here, let me help you up," he said while reaching out his hoof. The mare raised her head, staring at his outstretched hoof. With a sigh, she reached up and grabbed him, and he helped her up. She instantly put her face into the stallions neck. He could tell something was wrong. He waved the medical staff off as he moved a few steps away, helping Dash, who had somewhat of a limp, take her first steps after she slammed into the wall. She still hid her face in his fur, not wanting to look up. Standing a few metres away from the crash sight, he asked her, "Are you sure you're okay?" "Yeah yeah, I'm fine," she responded, still not raising her head. "Did... did you win?" "Yes, but that's not important to me right now." He could feel her emotional state as she rested he head on him, not wanting to look at anypony. He could hear a few sniffles coming from the mare and could feel a slight dampness on his fur from where her eyes were hidden. "Soar, I'm... I'm a failure," she struggled to say. "No, you're not. Stuff like this happens all the time." He ran his hoof through her mane to comfort her. "You'll be okay." She didn't respond, though. She just continued to hide her face from public view. "Do you want me to carry you away from here?" he asked. She didn't respond verbally, though. She only nodded her head. "Okay. Hold on." The stallion used his forelegs for strength, and his wing for balance, to pick up Rainbow and put him on her back. The crowd applauded in respect as Soarin carried the mare off the track. Amongst all the noise in the stadium, Soarin heard Spitfire ask, "What about your medal?" "I don't care about that right now," he responded as he spread his wings around the mare on his back, who held on to him. "I've got something more important to attend to." Soarin watched the crowd applaud as he carried the mare off the field and out of the stadium. The outside of the stadium, and the games' village in general, was dead quiet all around, as the stadium was still full for following events, including the ground races, javelin throwing, high jump, and a few other smaller events. Rainbow could feel the gentle breeze as Soarin carried her above the athletes' village houses. To go from performing in front of tens of thousands to flying alone with the stallion she loved in a matter of minutes was quite the change, but it was a pleasant change. The light gusts blew her mane as she lifted up her head to look out at the kingdom-city. Soarin could feel her lift her head up, so he turned his back momentarily to smile at his mare. "I... I can't believe I lost again. And this time it was so embarrassing," Rainbow said while looking out over the sunny town. "Don't sweat it, Dashie. Nopony thinks anything less of you. You had an accident. It happens all the time in the games." "That's easy for you to say. You won this race." "No, I mean it, Dashie. It's true. Are you hurt at all?" Rainbow tried to bend her wing. She winced as she felt a sharp pain, but she was able to move it a little more than before. Her left back leg was also a little sore from slamming into the hall, but it was just pain. Nothing was damaged beyond repair. "Just a little bit. I'll be okay." "That's good. It's not about how we fall, it's about if we get up. The cross-country race is the day after tomorrow. You think you'll be good for that?" Dash tried to move her wing again, stretching it out. "Ow... Yeah, I think I'll be good." "Hey, you're Rainbow Freaking Dash- of course you'll be better!" Rainbow was able to let out a snicker and a smile through all of her disappointment. Soarin began to make his descent, heading slowly and right towards the small cottage in the village that was assigned to the mare. He landed on the ground, letting Dash lightly off on the ground. She took a few steps, but felt a pain once again in her back left hoof. She started to stumble backwards, but Soarin was there to stabilize her. "Are you sure you're okay?" Soarin asked. "Um...no, not really. I think my hoof's injured," she said while sticking out her back hoof. Soarin used his front right hoof to hold up her back leg so that he could get a look. "Hmm... it's definitely swollen," he said while inspecting her hock, or ankle bone. "Well, that's why it hurts, I guess." "Do you need help getting inside?" Soarin asked. Rainbow looked away, a little embarrassed, but she also knew that she really did need help. "Um... yes. I'd appreciate it if you could help me in." "Certainly," he responded. Dash unlocked and opened the door, then raised her left front hoof so that Soarin can help her in. "Hey!" she yelled as Soarin picked her up completely, holding her in his front hooves as he fluttered his way inside. The stallion carried her inside, laying her down softly on her bed. "You could've just helped me walk in." "I could have, but this was more fun!" "For you, maybe," Dash responded with a smile as she got comfortable in her bed. "You need anything else?" "No, not yet, Soarin." "All righty then. I'm going to go find your friends. I'll come back as soon as I can." The stallion caressed the mare's mane and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He then turned around to leave. "Soarin?" Dash called out, halting the stallion in his tracks. "Yep?" he asked genuinely as he turned around. "I just wanted to say thanks," Rainbow said while twiddling her front hooves. "Not a problem! It's my pleasure to help out somepony I love. I'll see you soon." -------------------------------------- There Rainbow fell asleep in her room. A river of drool went down her pillow as she fell asleep soundly, her body recovering from her earlier hit. "Hellooooo, Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she burst through the door, causing Rainbow to jolt awake. "Pinkie Pie," Applejack scolded, "don't just walk in on somepony screaming," "Oh, sorry," Pinkie said as she and the others came up to Dash. "That was a really heavy hit you had, Rainbow," Fluttershy said as she approached the mare in the bed, who quickly wiped off the drool. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Soarin also surrounded the mare's bed. "Are you okay, darling?" Rarity asked. "Yeah, I'm okay. It'll take more than a hit to keep me down," Rainbow responded confidently while moving her pillow up and leaning her back on the head of the head so that she could better see her friends. "That's the Rainbow Dash we know," Twilight responded. "Do you want us to stay with you, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. Fluttershy added, "We can help you with anything you want." "We can play games," Pinkie suggested excitedly. "Thanks guys," Dash responded. "I appreciate it, I really do. But I think right now I just need some time to rest. I have one more race left and I need to be rested for it." "You haven't really been checked out yet, though," Twilight mentioned. "Should I go get a doctor?" "Nah, what's a doctor going to do?" Rainbow responded while waving a hoof in the air. "I'm going to get one anyway," the alicorn responded. "I just want to make sure that you will definitely be all right for the final race. I don't want there to be any permanent damage." "Pfft," was the sound the pegasus made with her lips in protest, but she knew that all of her friends just wanted the best for her. Twilight momentarily left as the other stayed by Dash's side. "So, I'm sure you're feeling pretty crummy right about now, aren't ya?" Applejack asked the hurt mare. "Yep. Honesty, I could care less about the pain. I'm just worried that I'll be labeled as a failure or a choker. I may not get another chance four years from now to compete." "That's why you'll win gold in the next race!" Pinkie shouted in her typical loud, excited voice. "You're Rainbow Dash, the best flyer in Equestria. Nothing and nopony will be able to stop you from winning." "I appreciate the support, Pinkie," Dash responded, "but I won't be able to win if I can't fly." As she said that, Twilight came back into the cottage with a crystal pony stallion dressed in a doctor's uniform. "Sorry to interrupt," the stallion doctor said. "Not a problem, doc. Just give me some good news, please." "We'll see about that, miss Dash," he said as he approached the mare, who took off her blanket to reveal her injured wing and hoof. "There seems to be nothing wrong," the stallion said as he examined the mare's right wing. "That's because it's this one," the mare said as she shoved out her left wing. "Ah," the doctor said as he approached the other side of the bed. "Hmm... there doesn't really seem to be anything wrong with it either, actually. Just a little overworked. It should be fine in a few days." "What about the race?" Dash asked. "It's in two days. Can I compete?" The doctor pondered for a second. "I wouldn't really recommend it, as you could have a flare up of pain again. But if you really want to, it's completely up to you. But you realise that there is still a risk of causing a much more painful and long lasting injury if you press yourself too hard." Rainbow looked up to Soarin, who was standing beside her. He didn't really have much to say at that time, other than offering a consoling smile. The doctor then looked at the mare's left hoof. "I saw you struggling to walk after the hit. In fact, everypony saw it." He leaned down for a closer look. "You definitely have a lightly sprained hock with some swelling. You will be able to walk on it, but again, you have to be very careful not to put too much pressure on it." He wrapped her left hoof in a bandage. "So, is that all?" "Yeah," the mare responded while feeling her hurt wing, which was feeling better and better as the time went on. "Thanks, doc." "Not a problem," the crystal stallion responded. "I can come check on you tomorrow, if you'd like." "That would be nice." "All right. Get some rest, miss Dash. I'll see you tomorrow." The stallion packed up his things and left. "We should probably let you have some rest, too," Applejack suggested. "Good idea," Fluttershy concurred. "Awww," Pinkie said in disappointment, "Get some rest, darling. All the best on your recovery," Rarity said. "Thanks," Dash responded. "Take care, Rainbow," Twilight said. "I will," the mare responded. "I really mean it, though," Twilight added. "I don't want to see you get any worse." Dash sighed. "I'll take care of myself, Twi. Don't worry about it." "Okay," the princess responded. "I'll be taking care of some things with Princess Cadence for the games, but I'll come by to see if you're all right later." "Not a problem," Rainbow responded while saluting her friends goodbye. After her friends left, only Soarin remained. Dash looking up and smiled at him. "You'll be okay, Dashie. Don't worry about it." "It's kind of hard not to worry about it, Soar. You don't even know how badly I want to win." "Trust me, my dear, I do know how badly you want to win." Knock knock knock. "Come in," Dash called out to whoever was knocking. In came Spitfire, who was proudly wearing her silver medal. "Hey, Rainbow Dash. Just wanted to check in and see how you're doing." "Meh. Okay, I guess. Could be better." "That was some hit you had," the golden pegasus responded. "I was sure you were going to beat me, and then bam, you were gone." "Yeah, my wing cramped up and I hit the wall. It's hard not to feel like garbage after I failed that badly." "Don't sweat it, kid," the captain of the Wonderbolts responded. "Stuff like this always happens. You just have to keep trying." Soarin gave a look at Rainbow Dash. It was a cocky smile, almost as if it say, 'I told you so.' As Spitfire trotted over to where Soarin was, she continued, "It was a shame you weren't there to pick up your medal, Soarin. That's the fist time an athlete has never been on the podium to receive their prize in the Equestria Games." "Well," he said while looking down at Dash, "I did have something more important to deal with." "That's admirable, Soarin. Here's your medal," she said while pulling out a shiny gold medal from the pocket of her suit and handing it over to him. "Here you go. You earned it." "Thanks!" he said excitedly as he put the medal around his neck. "Well, I'll be off now. Good luck in the next race." Spitfire left the room, leaving the two alone again. Soarin looked happily at his prize, but his smile quickly turned back to a straight face. "How does it feel to be a winner, Soarin?" Rainbow asked. "Not as great as I thought it would, Dashie. To be honest, I wish you'd won it instead of me. You deserve it more than I do." "I'll get my chance again, Soarin. I'll compete in the next race." "Well then, I'll let you sleep. I probably have to go to have interviews with reporters now, anyway," the stallion responded. "Thanks for caring for me." "No problem at all, Dashie. I'm happy to do it." He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss in the forehead, leaving the mare to rest and get better, for the next race was a little over fourty-eight hours away.