//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: A Community  
// Story: Stranded 
// by EndyTheDragoon 
//------------------------------//

  	Lightning and I walked aways to their little community on the island. It's a fairly dense forest with lots plant life and a few animals. It's also very humid, like the rainforest. I imagine they must get quite a bit of fresh water here, even with the ocean. 
"So, how long have you guys been here?" I asked.
"I'm not sure, i've lost count of the days. But it's been long enough for ponies to build permeant homes here." He responded. I could see him fully now, he was certainly my height. He was a Pegasus, though he didn't have full wings. They were small little nubs on his sides, they had a few feathers but they looked clipped. I guess that's why he hasn't flown from here. He had a bow with lightning in it as his cutie mark, i'll have to ask him about that.
"Okay... where are you from then?" I asked looking at him.
"The town. Born and raised right there. When I was around 17 I became a weather pegasus, and when I was around 20 I got promoted to head manger," he said with pride, "But then that meant the Mayor told me everything, leading me to be being first to go on 'Vacation'."
"I'm so sorry. But it's only been a a few months since you went missing, so that means you're still 20?" I asked. I started getting my hopes up. He was my age, maybe we could be friends.
"I guess so. What about you? Where are you from?" He asked looking back at me.
"Well, i'm from a town a little ways away from yours. When I was old enough I decided to leave and take my merchandise with me." I said.
"Oh? You ran a stall in the market? What did you sell?" He sounded interested.
"I sold home knitted scarfs. It was a hobby I had as a filly, when I was old enough I started to sell them. But where I lived it was pretty warm so no pony ever needed them, so I moved where it actually got cold." I told him, this was something not very many ponies knew. Even there not very many ponies bought scarfs, most of them had expensive and fancy ones. 
"Interesting. Oh well, here we are," he said pulling back a group of tall grasses to show a cleared out area in the trees. It was setup like a market with houses near one another and a couple of carts at the owners home. There were ponies in a giant group, I saw a few faces that looked concerned. Lightning was still facing me smiling with pride while my face fell. 
"I think something's wrong Lightning.." I said pointing to group of ponies. He turned to look, and he started walking towards them with me close behind him.
"Merry, what's going on?" He said concerned. 
"Sir!," he saluted, "One of the pegasus tried to fly and sprained their wing."
"You can stand down now Merry," he rolled his eyes, "who is it?"
"Rain sir! A-a-again.." Merry responded.  Lightning face hoofed at this and trotted over to the other pony. 
"Rain, what have I told you? Your wings can't hold your weight anymore. Meaning you can't fly," Lightning said quietly and carefully. I smiled, he knew what he was doing. 
"I know sir. Sorry sir, it's just that i'm tired of walking on the ground." the young pegasus said through his teeth.
"I know Rain," He sighed and looked over at me,"Hey Cotton, come meet Rain." I was shocked, he had finally called attention to me in the crowd. Everyone turned to look at me, I walked over to Rain and Lightning with them staring at me.
"Uhm, hello Rain.." I said sheepishly.
"Hello.." He looked as confused as I felt. We both looked at Lightning as he stood up.
"Cotton, this is Rain, my trainee. He was the third to join the island." He said gesturing to Rain.
"Hello.. I'm Cotton." I said, confused as to what i'm supposed to say. But Rain stood up, and he got a good look of me.
"Hi Cotton. I'm Rain. So you're an earth pony?" He asked standing at his full height, he was a little taller than me. 
"Yes I am sir." I said. He had a rain cloud with simple rain falling out for his cutie mark. He locked eyes with me, that was his mistake. He suddenly stopped talking and stared at my eyes; hypnotized. I had to look away for him to walk off.
"Well, Lightning. Is that it?" I asked him. He shook his head and asked Rain to come back.
"Cotton, how much do you know in the medical areas?" he asked looking sideways at me. 
"Well, my dad was a doctor. What I know is from him really." I started to see where this was going.
"Could you examine his wings please?" Lightning gestured at Rain again, who was very shocked and scared.
"Sure?" I said walking over to Rain, "This might hurt a little bit." He nodded and winced when I began to feel his wings. I closed my eyes and continued to feel them, I pieced together a picture of what was wrong with them. They certainly weren't sprained, but they were broken more then just today. Some of the bones felt wrong, like they had fused together. I could fix them, but I would have to ask rain if he wanted me too. It would involve breaking them, again. 
"Well. From what I can tell, from today they are sprained. But from in general they've been broken in multiple places, and because they weren't put in a splint to heal properly they've fused. Meaning, you can't fly. At all." I said to Rain. He looked extremely sad, and I felt so bad. 				"But I can do something to maybe make floating possible." I said smiling. He physically perked up.
"How?" He asked eagerly. 
"Well, because they've fused... I would have to break them again and put them in a splint." I said looking at him with concern, "think about it before you say anything because it will be painful." He nodded and walked off. I looked at Lightning, he was grinning. 
"What are you so happy about?" I asked him. 
"I just guessed correctly what you're cutie mark is! With out looking!" He looked so happy and full of himself, "It's something I pride myself on. Guessing ponies cutie marks. It's fun when you get them right." I started laughing.
"What.. what's so funny Cotton? Your cutie mark is related to medical things right?" He looked very confused. I laughed even harder, I was basically crying now.
"It's not, sorry Lightning. Would you like to see my cutie mark?" I said smiling and wiping away a tear. He looked very confused and was blushing slightly.
"Sure?" He said and looked at where my cutie mark would be, "You. Don't have one?"
"Nope, that's why I find it so funny." I said giggling. He looked very concerned for me. "Oh Lightning, it's fine. I've never had one. My mom said it was because she didn't have one till he was much older. My father said it was just because I had many skills." 
"Alright.." He smiled slightly, "So, until you make your house. Would you like to stay with me and Rain?" 
"Sure! That why if he does decide to fix his wings I can keep an eye on him. Actually..." I said walking towards Lighting. I started to feel his wings too. They felt the same as Rains', wrong. The bones were fused too. What ever had happened to these ponies, it was meant for them so they couldn't leave. I stopped right where I was. I remembered everything. 
"Lightning, could we go to your house? Like right now. I just remembered a few things.." I started to gently nudge him. He quickly understood what I meant and led me to his house.