//------------------------------// // Broken // Story: The Great Equestrian War // by Rainbow_Dash_14008 //------------------------------// For the last hour or so I've been playing with the young ponies some more. Suddenly, I hear some commotion in the hall. "Looks like they're back," Cheerilee says softly. "In that case," I reply, "I've got to go." "Awwwwwww," sighs all the fillies and colts. "Don't worry guys," I say, "I'll be sure to come back and play some other time, okay?" I head toward the door. Applebloom and Sweetiebelle follow, since they found out who I was they have never left my side. "Applebloom! Sweetiebelle!" calls Cheerilee, "Where do you two think you're going?" "We want to see if they won," explains Sweetiebelle. "Ya, an' see who they rescued!" adds Applebloom. "You're supposed to stay here," replies Cheerilee, "And I don't think Bluebell here wants you two to follow her around all the time." "I don't really mind actually," I put in, "But if they're supposed to stay here, then they should stay." The two Cutie Mark Crusaders look at the ground, obviously disappointed. "Oh, well," says Cheerilee, "If you don't mind watching them then I guess they can go with you." They look at me with pleading eyes. It would be impossible to say no, "Sure, you guys can come." "YAY!" they shout. "Can we come too?" asks one of the other fillies. "Oh...uh..." I stammer. I don't think i should take all of them. "No my little ponies," cuts in Cheerilee, "We can't have all of you running around out there. Wait until dinnertime and I'm sure that the Commander will tell us everything." The fillies and colts nod their heads and resume chatting and playing amongst themselves. I give a silent thank you to Cheerilee, and walk into the hallway, Applebloom and Sweetiebelle in tow. Sure enough, ponies are in the hall, adorned in battle armor. Some of them are bloodied, and the initial smell almost makes my lunch win a one way trip to the floor. I look at the two fillies, they look disgusted too. "Stay near me you two," I whisper to them, and they nod and move in closer. I look around and then I see a familiar face. "Lyra! Hey!" I call out. "Bluebell! What's up!" Lyra responds, walking up to me, "Oh man you should of been there! We totally kicked Changeling and Shadow Pony butt!" "Shadow Ponies?" I ask. "You know, those grey unicorn things with the black and reddish manes," Lyra explains, "We don't know what they are really called, but we just call them Shadow Ponies." "Oh yeah," I say, remembering my first encounter with one. How I had snapped it's neck, and the feeling of it's blood on my hoof...I try to clear that memory out of my head. "Oh hey who are those two?" asks Lyra, who points at Applebloom and Sweetiebelle. 'Oh, this is Applebloom and Sweetiebelle," I answer, "I, uh, just met them when I was helping out Cheerilee. They seem to have gotten...attached to me or something. They insist on following me. I-I don't mind at all though." "Ok," replies Lyra, "Hello Applebloom and Sweetiebelle! The name's Lyra. Lyra Heartstrings." "Hi!" says Sweetiebelle. "Hello there Lyra!" puts in Applebloom. "Hey did you guys rescue anypony?" asks Sweetiebelle. "Who did ya rescue?" adds in Applebloom before Lyra has a chance to answer. "Are they hurt?" "Are they alright?" "How many ponies did you rescue?" "Did y'all see our sisters?" "Calm down!" Lyra cries out, unable to keep up, "Look, i didn't exactly get to see the rescued. I'm not part of the rescue team. From what i heard, just about all of them are alright. Nothing major. But I heard that there was one pony that was all screwed up. Major injuries, I think. Also heard that she can't remember anything. That poor pony...wish we could of saved her sooner...But anyway, i have to go get cleaned up. The rescued are in the infirmary. You can go visit and see if you can find anypony you know. See you guys later." "Bye," I say quietly, thinking of the pony who Lyra mentioned. "That pony she talked about, wonder who it is..." Sweetiebelle says sadly. "Guess we're gonna find out," replies Applebloom. We head to the infirmary. We enter, and there are eight beds lined against the wall with a small crowd of ponies surrounding them. I take a peek at each one as we walk past. I don't really recognize any of them. Until we reach the last one... Nurse Redheart was speaking to the Commander, who is sitting next to the eighth bed. Liquid is steadily flowing out of the front of her cloak. I realize that they're tears. The Commander is crying, no, sobbing. "I'm sorry, there is nothing we can do," I hear Nurse Redheart say as we get nearer, "Her injuries should heal with time, but her memory, I don't think that that will ever get fixed." The Commander nods, "I-I-I u-und-unders-s-tan-and." "What's wrong?" I ask quietly, and they jump, just realizing we were here. "She-she," begins the Commander, but continues to cry, unable to speak. "Who is it?" asks Sweetiebelle. The Commander just then notices the two fillies by my side. The only answer she gives is harder sobbing. "C-can we see her?" asks Applebloom. Nurse Redheart realizing that she's in the way, replies, "Oh, sorry. Of course." She moves, and we get a full view of the pony in the bed. "NO!" Applelebloom cries. "This-this isn't p-possible..." whispers Sweetiebelle. I just stand there, shocked at the sight of the pony. Most of her legs are in casts. Scars and cuts cover her body. One of her ears is torn off, her mane just about nonexistent. Wings now nothing but a few small feathers. This isn't happening. This can't happening. No way. This can't be real. Not her. Not Scootaloo...