//------------------------------// // Burnt Shadows // Story: To Save the Future... // by Shadow Watcher //------------------------------// She felt her eyes opening slowly, blinking at the bright lights around her. She was lying on a soft bed, her hind left hindleg wrapped in bandages. She tried to move it, and immediately tensed up from the pain. A small part of her wanted to scream and get leap out of the bed, but it was muddled. Far away. The bed was too comfortable. She tried to lift a forehoof and felt a small sting. Looking over, she saw a needle with a tube in it, hooked up to an iv, which was slowly dripping. Was that why the world was muddled? She blinked, the room coming more into focus. The lights she thought so bright before weren't as bright as she had thought. She briefly wondered how long she'd been here. She was unaware of how long she had been lying there, awake, when she became aware of muddled voices outside her room. Two of the voices sounded urgent, while several other voices kept stepping in to cut them off. The voices in the hall briefly grew louder as a the door opened and a mare stepped in. The nurse blinked in surprise and then smiled. "Oh! You're finally awake!" She quickly, yet softly, closed the door behind her and trotted over to the bed. As she checked the filly's medications and monitors, she asked, "How are you feeling? Any dizziness or pain?" Silver slowly shook her head, keeping both eyes on the nurse as she picked up a small clipboard. When Silver didn't verbally respond, the nurse looked up, frowning. "We've all been worried about you. You gave us all quite a scare. Do you remember how you got here, where you are?" Again, the filly shook her head. The nurse smiled reassuringly. "You are at the hospital in Ponyville. You've been...asleep for almost a week, drifting in and out of consciousness. Now, we did do a few things to make sure you weren't sick, but we are pleased to say that aside from a few gaps in your memory, and your leg, you appear to be in outstanding health!" They both turned their heads as the door opened again. Twilight Sparkle stepped in, quickly closing the door behind her. She looked tired, and for a brief moment relieved. She came up on Silver's other side, opposite the nurse. "It's good to see you finally awake." Twilight smiled. The nurse nodded in agreement before turning back to the filly. "Can you tell me your name?" "S...lv...er...Sil...ver..." She started, her voice coming out raspy. Her tongue felt heavy, as if it hadn't been used in a long time. The nurse gently held a glass of water up to her muzzle. She drank deeply, her parched throat rehydrating. "Silver Light. My name is...Silver Light." She said quietly. The nurse resumed with her questions. "Silver Light? What a lovely name! And no wonder! Look at this gorgeous mane of yours!" Silver managed a weak, small smile. "Now, Silver, can you tell me what the last thing you remember before you woke up here?" The filly's smile faded, and her eyes became slightly unfocused. "I...I remember...running." Twilight and the nurse briefly shared a look. The nurse gestured with her head, and Twilight followed her over to the other side of room after giving Silver a reassuring smile. Twilight gave the nurse a concerned look. "Well?" The nurse sighed. "I'm no therapist, but...I'd say she's fine now. The gaps in her memory can probably be attributed to her recent trauma." She looked at the door to the room, the outside having gone silent. "Still, I wouldn't let them question her just yet." She frowned. "Miss Sparkle, I don't mean this in negative way, but...there's something...odd about her. I can't place my hoof on what it is though." Twilight nodded. "Perhaps she knows more than she's saying?" The nurse nodded. "It would be good to have a professional come in and speak with her. Something clearly happened to her." She fidgeted before looking Twilight in the eye. "I believe that something was chasing her. The last thing she remembers is running." Twilight's eyes widened. "You believe the fire in the orphanage was intentional?" The nurse glanced over at the filly before responding. "Like I said, it would be best to have a professional talk to her. And she will still have to be here in the hospital for a while longer. We want to make sure her leg continues to heal properly." As the nurse slipped out of the room, Twilight couldn't help but frown in thought. Something strange was going on, that was for sure. And this small filly was certainly special. The levitation spell she had used on Applejack was far stronger than a filly her age should be able to use. True, Twilight herself had cast spells much stronger than that when she was the same age, but then, she was the Element of Magic. Silver Light most definitely held great potential. She would have to send a letter to the princess about this incident, no doubt about it. She shook herself and approached the filly's bed. "I'm Twilight Sparkle, Silver. I'm one of the ponies that brought you here." The little filly frowned. "I....still don't remember..." Twilight gently held one of her hooves. "It's ok, Silver. You've been through a lot, so it's ok to not remember for a while. I'm sure that it will come back to you soon. Maybe then we can find a way to help you." The purple unicorn assured her. She looked over as the door opened again. Fluttershy slipped quietly into the room, closing the door softly behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw them looking at her. "Oh! I hope I'm not interrupting. It's just...they're still being...loud...out there. Applejack said she could use your help, Twilight. Um...if that's not too much trouble..." Twilight sighed. "They're still arguing? They're certainly persistent." She got up, giving Silver a gentle smile. "Ive got to go, Silver. I'll be back tomorrow to see you again. Just rest." Both she and Fluttershy slipped back out into the hallway. As the door shut, Silver could just make out the sound of raised voices again. She settled back down, letting her eyes drift close. She jolted awake. The sun had long set; night had come once more. As her eyes adjusted, they found the clock just as it became 3am. She realized she was not alone. She shivered as she heard it first. A soft wheezing, not unlike one of the orphans who had asthma. A strange scent hung about the air. A scent that was strangely familiar, but she could not quite place. The smell of something burnt. Slowly, she allowed her eyes to wander the room. Silver soon wished she hadn't. At the far side of the room, just within the shadows that fell right next to the moonlight falling through the window, someone was there. She stared at the unknown pony. Violet eyes stared back. "You....can finally see me?" The pony asked. Silver knew that voice. The one that had always called out to her. She took an unintentional step forward, moonlight falling over her. Her eyes widening, Silver finally realized. The pony wasn't black. She was black and grey with soot. Patches of her fur were missing. A blackened horn rested atop her head. A single wing rested against her side. Silver could only stare, before finding her voice. "What...what happened to you? The one-winged alicorn gave a small, sad smile. "I paid a heavy price. But one well worth the cost." She wheezed. "Sleep, Silver Light. You are safe here." Silver struggled to keep her eyes open. She still had so many questions, but the bed was so soft. As sleep slowly claimed her once more, she smelled it again. The scent of something burnt.