//------------------------------// // But How Could I? // Story: I Should Have Stopped You // by Letsmlpbro //------------------------------// "FIRE!! FIRE!! SOMEPONY HELP US!!" I sprang into action, spreading my wings out as far as I could. I flew to a fire pony who was busy spraying water on the collapsing building. "How can I help? Is anypony stuck in there?" The pony looks at me, blinking is disbelief. "U-Uh, yeah. Up on the third floor. We couldn't get up there because of the boards in the way and almost all the windows are surrounded in fire." "I'll get them out. Tell the other fire ponies that somepony is going in there." I fly off before he can respond. I can do nothing. I can't chase after her. I can't stop her. "Rainbow Dash. . ." I whisper behind my pink hair. "P-Please. . ." Applejack puts a gentle hoof around me and pulls me in close. "She knows what she's doin', Sugarcube. No need to worry yourself any." "I-I need to do something. I. . .I need to stop her! Sh-She might die!" "She won't die Sugar." The farmer looks at me, worry a clear emotion on her face. "She's done things like this plenty of times." R-Right. . . I can only stare as Rainbow Dash dives into one of the many burning buildings. I fly into a window, dodging flames as I did so. The heat hits me like a wall, but I press on. "Anypony in here?" "O-over. . .H-here!" a rusty voice responds. "I'm coming to get you! Keep talking so I can find you!" I jump over a burning log with ease. A cough comes from within the flames. "O-Okay! Um. . .I-I have a daughter, Pearl. She's only in third grade. Sh-She's the light of my world. . ." "She sounds amazing." the voice is getting closer. "Come on, I'm almost there." Another cough and then a sniffle. "P-Please, don't let me die. My foot is stuck underneath a piece of wood. I-I can't m-move!" As I turn into what I guess is a bedroom, I see him. His mane is completely singed off, along with most of his coat. I run to him, placing my front hooves underneath the log. "Alright, I need your cooperation in his. When I say pull, yank your leg out as fast as you can. Ready. . .One, two, three, PULL!" Pushing all of my weight up, I lift the log just enough for the stallion to escape. "Th-Thank you Rainbow Dash." "Don't thank me just yet. Get on my back. Is there anypony else in here?" I ask as I help him up onto my back. "N-No, not here." he takes a deep breath and coughs. "B-But that's all I know." I nod and go back the way I came in. "There she is!" Applejack yells happily along with other gasps of surprise. I look up from my spot on the ground, relief over taking me. Sh-She's alive. . . Standing up, I run to her, watching as she drops to the ground. There's a stallion on her back. He's burned so badly you can't even see his cutie mark. "Dashie!" I cry as I embrace her. The scent of smoke hits me as my nose brushes against her neck. She's wheezing heavily. "Flutters. . ." A rough cough escapes her as she pulls away. "I think I got the last pony, but I can't be for sure. . .I need to go back in there. I need-" "To stay here." I say sternly. "Rainbow, you've done all that you can. You can barely breath as it is! Come on, lets get a doctor to look at you." I nudge her gently toward one of the many ambulances. "Fluttershy, please. I need to. . ." she grunts in frustration as I keep moving her forward. "Alright, alright. . .I'l see a doc-" "MY BABY! SHE"S STILL IN THERE! PEARL!" We both freeze and look to where the sound is coming from. It's the pony Rainbow Dash rescued. "I need to save her." Dash says as she spreads her wings. I look at the rainbow haired mare. I cannot let her go back in there. I just can't! Without a second thought, I took off toward the burning building, leaving Rainbow Dash behind. "Fluttershy! No! COME BACK!!" I try to follow, but my wings give out, forcing me to watch in horror as the love of my life dives into the inferno. F-Fluttershy. . .? I fall on my rump in defeat. Please Celestia. . .don't take her away from me. I need her. More than anything. . . The flames dance in slow motion as I wait for her to emerge with the filly. I am vaguely aware of Applejack's presence next to me. She's talking but I can't make out her words. Then suddenly a loud snapping sound fills the air as the building starts to. . . . . .starts to collapse. No. . .No!. . .NO!! "Applejack!" Is all I can say before my throat clogs up. I look to her for strenth, but her expression is blank and her mouth is hung open wide. A comet shoots out of the top of the breaking structure. A comet of yellow and white. Fire. It destroyed everything I loved. Including you. It took the life out of my lungs. Because I went in the flames to rescue that stallion, my lungs are forever damaged. I will never be able to fly as much as I used too; It hurts too much. It took the life out of my eyes. Every time I pass a mirror I see how dead my eyes truly are. No longer are they the vibrant dark pink everypony knows and loves. They're now grey. Lifeless. Cold. It took the life out of us. Never again will I smell your perfume. Never again will I fell the softness of your pin hair. Never again will you be the first sight I see when I wake up. You will forever be a memory I wish I could relive. I should have stopped you. I should have ran after you and into that inferno with you. I should have held you longer. . .I really should have stopped you. . . But how could I when you were so determined? When you were so kind?Kind enough to save a little filly's life? My Fluttershy, my memory, I will never forget you. I pray to Celestia herself that you will never forget me.