The speed of the three racers sent Fluttershy spinning.
The next thing she knew, wind was rushing past her.
She was falling.
The pegasus started to scream, but she was not heard; Her voice was too quiet, and was drowned out from the air rushing by her. Her legs were flailing, her wings not responding. She had to fly, or glide, or something. The ground she could see out of the corner of her eye was coming closer and closer. She closed her eyes and whimpered. She didn't want to die.
- - -
Ditzy Doo, or “Derpy” as other foals nicknamed her, was resting on a tree branch. She looked at the sky with crossed eyes, humming quietly to herself. She often went to this part of the forest when she wanted to get away from the teasing of the other kids, fond of the silence the place offered. A soft breeze brushed her short blonde mane.
Her eyes shot open when she heard a loud *CRACK*. The noise echoed through her ears, causing them to twitch. Her muzzle scrunched up as she frowned and tilted her head. It sort of sounded like a tree branch broke. Perhaps a pony was resting in a tree branch like she was, and fell?
Ditzy's wings fluttered as she hovered to the ground. If that was the case, they might be hurt. She turned towards where she thought she heard the noise, and she raced off.
- - -
Fluttershy's body hurt. It hurt badly, a more intense pain that she had ever felt before. To be more precise, half of it did. She couldn't feel her hind legs at all.
Her eyes slowly opened, but her sight was blurry from tears. She hadn't even realized that she was crying until then.
“H... Somepony... P... Please help...” She cried out quietly, her voice strained.
Her eyes opened slightly more as she heard a voice, a young female one. Her head tilted slightly towards the voice as her ears strained to listen.
“Are... Are you okay?”
Fluttershy saw the filly. She was younger than herself by about a year or two. Soft gray coat, pretty blonde mane, beautiful cross eyes...
“H... help me...” Fluttershy said, sobbing.
“Uh, um, I'll, get some help!” The filly said, looking worried. “Er, stay put. Sorry.”
The filly took to the air as Fluttershy closed her eyes and passed out.
- - -
Bright Eyes sat on the gray-and-white-checkered picnic tarp, eating her daffodil sandwich. She had a gray coat, white mane with 6 small black stripes running through it, and brilliant golden yellow eyes that she was named for. Her cutie mark was a cloud split in half, with a small sun between the halves. She was a weather mare, though today was a day off.
Bright looked up when she saw her daughter flying towards her, an alarmed look on her face.
“Mom! Come quick!” Ditzy said alarmed.
The mare got to her hooves quickly, her wings spread. “What is it?”
“A filly's hurt real bad!” Ditzy explained. “We have to help her!”
Bright Eyes nodded. “Okay, Ditzy. Show me where she is.” She said calmly.
Ditzy nodded, and her wings buzzed as she flew a few feet into the air and began leading the way. Bright Eyes was running right behind her.
- - -
Fluttershy came to. The pain was still there, causing her to wince. She saw that something was above her, so she focused her eyes.
Flying overhead was a migration of butterflies, of all sorts of different colors and patterns she hadn't seen before. The way the light filtered though their wings was absolutely breathtaking. A smile creased Fluttershy's face, the pain forgotten for the moment.
She began to fade away again as she heard two sets of hoofsteps.
- - -
A filly lying on the ground. Blood seeping into the ground from a gash on her back, and from a badly mangled wing.
Bright Eyes had to keep herself from panicking at the sight. “...D-Ditzy, muffin...”
“Yes, mom?” Ditzy asked, her voice wavering.
“Help me get her onto my back so that I can get her to the hospital.” The mare said. Ditzy nodded and helped her mother with the injured filly, both trying to be gentle as they could.
“Go back to the picnic blanket, and wait there for me. Mommy will return soon.” Bright Eyes said as she got ready to take off.
Ditzy wanted to come with her, but knew that she would only slow her mother down.
Bright Eyes immediately took to the skies, flying as fast as she could to get the filly help.
Ditzy was only vaguely aware of a Sonic Rainboom shockwave hitting the area.
- - -
It was the third time that Fluttershy returned from unconsciousness. Thankfully, this time the pain didn't overwhelm her. There was some dull aching, but nothing severe. A small tube dripped clear liquid into her right foreleg.
She still couldn't feel her hindlegs, nor the back half of her body in general. Her left wing was inside a cast. What was worse was her right wing. Or, more precisely, a lack of one.
“W... What? No!” Fluttershy exclaimed in horror. “No no no! This can't be happening!”
She suddenly felt a hoof on her own. She looked to the left, and saw the derpy pony she vaguely remembered seeing before.
“Everything will be okay.” The filly said, an optimistic smile on her face.
“B... But I will never be able to fly or even walk again!” Fluttershy said, tears welling up and running down her cheeks.
“Shh...” The filly said as she hugged Fluttershy. “I'm here...”
“But I don't even know your name...” Fluttershy said.
“My name is Ditzy Doo, what's your name?” Ditzy whispered.
“M... My name is Fluttershy.” The shy pegasus replied.
“That's a pretty name.” Ditzy said.
Fluttershy found herself smiling a little, catching Ditzy's contagious optimism.
Bright Eyes looked softly on as her daughter comforted the distraught filly.