//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Memories of a Rainbow // by xxhellokittyxx //------------------------------// Every pony was silent, they could not believe what had happened. Rarity, AJ, and Pinkie Pie all ran to Twilight's balloon, and started descending towards the ground. Twilight released Fluttershy and they both flew towards Rainbow. Once the others tracked down where Dash had landed they all stood above her broken body. Rainbow was drenched in a pool of her own blood her wing snapped in half, and her head was gushing out blood coloring her Rainbow mane red. Applejack and Twilight both sprung into action working to stop the blood gushing from Dashes head while they waited for Rarity and Pinkie to come back with help. Fluttershy stood behind Twilight and stared at Rainbow's mangled body. Tears streaming down her face as she whispered. “Why?..” Twilight paused for a moment and turned towards Fluttershy. “What was that Fluttershy?” Fluttershy glared at Twilight and spoke louder. “Why did you stop me?! I had her in my reach, and you held me back!! WHY?!” Fluttershy moved closer to Twilight her eyes burning as more tears fell. Twilight let Aj take over and turned towards Fluttershy and spoke. “Fluttershy I had to. If I didn't stop you, you would have met the same fate as Dash did!” Fluttershy reared herself up and shoved Twilight to the ground. “THEN I WOULD HAVE DIED TRYING!!" Fluttershy growled. "I COULD HAVE CUSHIONED HER FALL!!” Stunned by Fluttershy's outburst Twilight slowly lifted herself up from the ground. “Fluttershy please calm down I did what I had to. Believe me when I tell you I didn't want to stop you, and let dash fall but I just couldn't risk losing you too... I'm sorry Fluttershy...” Twilight choked back tears. Fluttershy pushed past Twilight and over to Dash, and fell next to her she held Dash close with her wing, and started to cry. “Please be ok Dash I don't want to lose you. You’re my best friend, and I can't go on living if you are gone. You were always there for me… and.. and..” Fluttershy held on to Dash tightly she didn't want to leave her side. Twilight put her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder to comfort her but was smacked away. Twilight felt the guilt well up inside and turned away to give Fluttershy her space when she spotted an ambulance heading towards them with Rarity and Pinkie in tow. “They're here!" Twilight shouted, "The paramedics are coming!” Twilight nodded towards AJ and told Fluttershy she had to let go of Rainbow now. Fluttershy clung on to Dash harder and told everypony to back away. “NO, I WON’T EVER LEAVE HER!!” “Fluttershy please the doctors are here to save Dash, and they need you to get out of the way. Please Fluttershy, it's the only way to save her.” Twilight pleaded. Fluttershy looked down at Dash and nuzzled the side of her face. “Please be ok...” She loosened her grip and stood beside Applejack. The doctors rushed to Dash's side and took over to stop the bleeding and bandaged up her broken wing. She was then carefully put on a stretcher and was airlifted by pegasus ponies. Fluttershy watched as they raised Rainbow in the air and flew in the direction of the hospital. In a calm voice, Fluttershy spoke. “Come on every pony Rainbow needs us.” “She’s right girls Rainbow needs us more than ever,” Twilight said “Twilight can you use your magic to teleport us to the hospital.” Applejack suggested. “Good idea AJ alright everypony make a circle around me.” Twilight closed her eyes and focused on getting every pony to Dash. Her horn glowed a bright purple that surrounded every pony and flashed them to the emergency room. “W-we are here..” Twilight said exhaustively. AJ ran to the front desk and asked for Rainbow Dash. The nurse looked through her files and told AJ that the doctors are going to perform surgery on her as soon as she is transported here. “Do ya’ know when we can see her after she's out?” Aj's voice breaking. “She's in pretty bad shape I'm not so sure she will make it through the surgery. You all should prepare yourselves for when the doctor comes out of surgery." The nurse lowered her eyes. Applejack took a step back and hung her head letting her hat hide her face. She spoke in a soft voice. "Thank you kindly, nurse.” “What did the nurse say Apple Jack” Twilight asked as Aj made her way back to the group. Applejack lifted her head she didn't wanna tell her friends the truth, “The nurse wanted me to say that we should be prepared for the worse." She felt her heartbreak inside and a lump formed in the throat. Twilight's heart skipped a beat. She quickly replied. “She might still have a chance to pull through. Why don't we all go to the gift shop and decorate her room that will surely lift her spirits and help her recover faster.” Twilight looked around at everypony but saw little to no hope on their faces. Aj then stepped up and said. “I'll bake her some of the most delicious Sweet Apple Acre treats, and give her the best Apple Cider she's ever had.” Rarity sniffled and wiped her face. “I'll make her a new outfit, and ill fix up her uniform for her as well.” “I'll bring her some Daring Do books from my library to keep her company while she’s recovering,” Twilight said. Pinkie Pie just stood still eyes staring into nothing while streams of tears rolled down her face her mane and tail had deflated and her bright pink coat had faded. “What about you Fluttershy? What are you going to-... Fluttershy?” Twilight looked around and tried to find the shy pony, but she was nowhere to be seen. “Girls, have you seen Fluttershy anywhere? She was just here.” Every pony started looking around for Fluttershy but no pony could find her anywhere. AJ then recalled seeing Fluttershy covered in blood and maybe went to the bathroom to clean up. She nudged Twilight and told her that she thinks she knows where she might be. "I think I know where she might be." "Where?" Twilight said panic in her tone. "I think she might be in the bathroom don't you recall her being covered in..." Aj stopped. "You're probably right AJ why don't you go get her the rest of us will go home and meet here tomorrow." "Sure thing Twilight see yall later." Applejack trotted over to the bathroom, and almost immediately noticed drops of blood on the floor leading her to the farthest stall. She heard faint cries on the other side and knocked on the door. “Fluttershy you in there sugar cube?” Fluttershy continues to sob and ignore AJ. Aj leans against the stall and tries to console her friend. “I know it's hard for you Fluttershy its hard on every pony, but you can’t just sit and cry all day long we have to be here for Rainbow's sake. She needs you Fluttershy.” “WHY? IT'S BECAUSE OF ME SHE'S HURT!!” “What do you mean? I saw the whole thing you tried your hardest to save her Fluttershy you risked your own life to try to save Rainbow. I know how you feel about watching some pony you love get hurt, or worse. When my parents were sick all I could do was watch, and take advantage of the time we had left together. I felt like I could have done something to have made them live longer, but I had to face the facts I couldn't do anything about it. I had to move on Fluttershy and you need to be there for Rainbow in her time of need.” Aj didn't want to sound insensitive but she was barely holding herself together. Fluttershy stopped crying and as she had a sudden flashback of the incident and saw Rainbow fall towards the earth. She could hear her screaming and the loud crash when Dash hit the ground. Fluttershy's heart raced and she started to breathe faster and faster and started to panic. She felt the walls closing in she felt hopeless, angry, sad but most of all she felt guilty. She jumped up and started kicking the stall door, and ripped a picture off the wall, and threw it down stomping onto the glass shattering it beneath her hooves. Aj stood up and shouted. “FLUTTERSHY!? WHAT IN THE HAY ARE YOU DOING IN THERE STOP!” Fluttershy didn't respond and kept breaking everything in her path, all she felt was rage. Applejack quickly turned her back to the stall door and bucked it open with her strong legs. She saw Fluttershy breaking a glass window with her hind leg, blood trickling down her leg AJ ran towards her and tried to restrain her, but Fluttershy just kept wiggling out of her grip hitting AJ in the face or side. AJ now fed up with being pushed around gathered up all her strength and pinned Fluttershy down to the ground. “Fluttershy what are you trying to do?! Get yourself killed?! Look at your legs you're losing too much blood. What would Dash think about this?!” Applejack looked Fluttershy dead in the eye to find an answer, but all she saw was terror in her eyes. AJ relaxed her grip a bit and spoke in a calmer tone. “I'm sorry Fluttershy, but we need you to be strong for Dash… Please.” Fluttershy slowed down her breathing and tried to calm down from her panic attack. She spoke to AJ in a shaky tone. “I'm so sorry AJ, I didn't mean to hurt any pony.” Tears now forming in her eyes again as she started to shake. “That's alright sugar cube it's ok to let your emotions out but not in a way that could hurt you or any pony else, why don’t you come to stay at my place until you feel better? Then tomorrow afternoon we can come to see how Rainbow's doing? That sound good?” Fluttershy looked up at Applejack and saw a bruise beginning to form on Aj's cheek and her nose start to bleed from her outburst. “I'm sorry Applejack, and I appreciate the offer I could use the company, thank you so much AJ.” AJ let go of Fluttershy and helped her to her hooves. “No problem sugar cube.” AJ held Fluttershy in an embrace and they both started to clean up the mess in the stall. Then they tended to each other wounds and made their way to Sweet Apple Acres. When they got to the entrance of AJ’s farm they were greeted by Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac. Granny Smith was the first one to speak. “Hello there Butterfly you can stay here as long as you like dearie.” Granny Smith said with a small smile. Every pony giggled at Granny Smith's mistake in calling Fluttershy Butterfly. Big Mac then held out his hoof and placed it on her shoulder and nodded. Fluttershy smiled at the stallion and said. “Thank you all so much for letting me stay here. How am I ever going to repay you?” “Don’t worry about that Fluttershy you don’t have to worry a single bit. Applebloom here will show you to your room. Now run along and get some rest.” Aj nudged the yellow pegasus. “Come on Fluttershy!” Applebloom said as she bounced in the air unaware of the tragic incident. Applebloom led Fluttershy to the house and showed her around a little bit before showing Fluttershy her room. “Here is where you will stay Flutter’s it has a bed and nightstand in the corner a closet and a bathroom right over there. It's not much but it's something.” Applebloom smiled. Fluttershy turned to the young filly and forced a light smile back. “It's perfect Applebloom. Thank you very much.” “Oh good I was worried it would be a bit small but I’ll go tell AJ that you are all settled." Applebloom trotted out of the room leaving Fluttershy alone. She walked inside the room and turned on the light. She noticed a small window on the opposite wall and looked outside. She could see the entire apple orchard from there and thought to herself how beautiful it looked. Fluttershy opened the window and felt the cool breeze brush against her face and mane. The wind rustled the bright green leaves shaking the big juicy apples on their branches and watched as a few fell to the ground. Fluttershy felt her stomach growl she hadn't noticed how hungry she had been. As she turned to leave the room Aj turned the corner at the same time startling the pegasus. “AAH!” AJ laughed at the scared pony and smiled. “Whoa, there sugar cube no need to be scared it's just me.” Fluttershy smiled back. “I just didn't hear you coming AJ” “Sorry about that sugar cube I’ll knock before I come in next time. Anyway, Applebloom said you are comfy in this here room right?” Fluttershy nodded. “It's perfect.” “Well, if ya need anything at all my room and Big mac’s room is right across from you so holler if ya need anything.” “Will do AJ.” AJ then smiled and turned around to leave when Fluttershy stopped her. “Um, AJ I hate to bother you but do you have anything to eat?” AJ chuckled. “Sure do come on let's see if we can whip up something right quick.” They both headed down the stairs to the kitchen Fluttershy sat at a table while AJ looked around for something to eat. “Here we are.” AJ grabbed a plate of some leftover sandwiches they had made earlier to snack on. “Will this do?” Fluttershy nodded her head. “Oh yes AJ thank you would you like to join me?” AJ sat on the other side of the table and both started devouring the sandwiches. Within minutes the plate was picked clean and both pony’s laughed at their enlarged bellies. AJ then led Fluttershy back to her room and told her goodnight. “Goodnight Fluttershy I'll see ya’ in the morning.” “Goodnight AJ.” Fluttershy closed the door behind her and got into bed. It wasn't long before her thoughts took over and replayed everything that had happened over and over and over again. Her body shivered with fear as she tried to clear her mind and think positively. Praying that Rainbow would pull through she closed her eyes and tried to rest and escape the painful day, but she couldn't escape the pain not even in her dreams.