Crimson Mare

by Sphinx_Herald


Choices

“Nurse Redheart, what happened to you?” Twilight asks trotting up to the mare. The bruise under her eye hasn’t started swelling yet, but still looks pretty bad.
“I was checking on your friend when she woke up. She started going hysterical and punched me with her fractured hoof. Since then we’ve had to restrain her to stop her from hurting herself or anyone else.” Twilight and Fluttershy wince at the thought “I think it’s would be best if you two come back and talk to her. No one else can get much of anything from her,” Redheart says.
“Sorry, I should have expected her to do something rash when she woke up,” Twilight says quickly charging a teleportation spell. With a flash and a pop the three of them disappear and reappear a second later in the waiting room of the hospital. The secretary behind desk yelp and falls out of her chair at their sudden arrival. “Oh, sorry to startle you,” Twilight says giving her an apologetic smile.
She frowns at them and gets up heading down one of the halls lined with doors. She goes into one of the rooms and a moment later she comes back out followed by Doctor Stable. “Twilight, good to see you,” he says as he walks up to them. “Your friend, she, uh…”
“I know, and I’m so sorry for anything she did.”
“Don’t worry too much about it, she didn’t cause too much damage asides from almost breaking her arm, and hitting Redheart,” he says gesturing over to the nurse’s station where Redheart is getting a pack of ice.
“Still, I’m very sorry, she’s not usually…” Twilight’s sentence trails off as her mind goes back to when Nova had pinned her against the cave wall. Actually, she might be just that aggressive.
“As I said, don’t worry about it. However, since the incident, we’ve been having trouble talking with her.”
Of course she doesn’t want to talk to anyone. “Let me try, asides from Lore I’m the only one in Ponyville that knows her.”
Doctor Stable gives a nod. “Alright, good luck. The nurse’s station is just down the hall from her room, so just yell if you need help. She’s in room three by the way.”
“Thank you. Fluttershy, could you wait out here for a moment?”
Fluttershy takes a few steps back. “Uh, o-okay, if that’s what you want.”
Twilight gives her a thankful smile and start down the hall. It doesn’t take long to get to the room, it being the second door on the left. She quietly opens the door and peeks inside. Quickly she spots the crimson mare lying on a bed.
Nova has her eyes closed and with her head facing the ceiling. Her forehooves and restrained to the bed, with her right foreleg covered in a cast. Another cast covers her wing. Bandages dot her body, covering the many cuts she has. A wire runs from her good foreleg to a heart-rate monitor next to her, which is beeping a bit quicker than a regular heart rate.
Twilight walks in closing the door behind her as quietly as she had opened it. “Nova?” Her golden eyes shoot open and quickly focus on Twilight, the machine starts beeping faster. Nova closes her eyes again and starts taking deep breaths. “You have to calm down.”
“You knocked me out?!”
“I had to, you wouldn’t come any other way. I couldn’t just leave you out there! It’s getting colder out there, you don’t have a house, and you’re hurt. If I left you, you could have died! Hate me if you want, but I wasn’t about to leave you.”
Nova takes a deep breath. “Listen, I don’t care right now. I couldn’t care less about what you did and why. Just get me out of here!” she shouts focusing her eyes on her again.
Twilight stares back at her, one of her eyes twitching ever-so-slightly. “Didn’t you just listen to me? I can’t get you out of here because you have nowhere to go!” As she shouts she can hear Nova’s heart rate increase but she continues anyways. “You’re still hurt, more now than before probably, since you hit Redheart! Even if I have to knock you out--”
“Shut up!” Nova shouts cutting her off. “You don’t understand!”
“Oh, I don’t, do I? How about we see if I do understand. You don’t want to be here because you don’t want anyone’s help--”
“I can’t control my powers!” Twilight stops yelling and just stares at Nova. “I-I can’t control them… not fully at least. The reason I live out in a cave is so that I don’t burn down anything, but… Twilight, I’ve done some horrible things, things that haunt my dreams, things that I live with everyday. I don’t want to add ‘burning a hospital down’ onto that list.”
Twilight falls back onto her haunches as she comes to understand what Nova is saying. “You have no control over it?” she asks quietly.
“Of course I don’t!” Nova shouts back. She winces and lies back down trying to remain calm. “Well, not much at least. I’m a pegasus, I have no way to control magic.”
They sit in relative silence, save for a few sounds coming from behind the door, no doubt the shouting match between the two of them attracted the attention of most of the employees. “If I do get you out of here, then what?”
“I don’t know, I just know that it’s better than the alternative.”
Sighing, Twilight looks over at the door. “I’ll… I’ll see what I can work out, just try to stay calm.” She quickly goes back out into the hall. Nurse Redheart and another nurse are by the door when she comes out.
“We heard some shouting, what happened?” Nurse Redheart asks looking at her expectantly.
“We’re fine. But, I need to talk to Doctor Stable. Could you make sure she doesn’t do anything rash?” Twilight heads down the hall. Why didn’t I think of that? Damn it, I knew she wasn’t… stable, but I brought her here anyways. She spots Fluttershy sitting on one of the chairs in the waiting room. Fluttershy gets up and walks over to her.
“Are you okay? There was shouting and I… I thought she might be angry with you for bring her here.”
“I’m fine, but there’s something I have to do,” Twilight says quickly. Then she heads down the hall the secretary had went down earlier. What am I going to tell him? If I tell him the truth I’d be destroying what little trust Nova has left in me. But, should I really lie to him? He wants what’s best for her… She finds a door marked with ‘Dr. Stable’.
Twilight knocks twice on the already open door to get his attention. “Ah, Twilight, come in,” he says looking up from some papers. “I take it that you had about as much luck as us? I heard you two arguing from here, not sure what it was about, but it was loud.”
“Well actually, that’s something I need to talk to you about. I think bringing her here was a mistake.”
From behind her Fluttershy gasps. The doctor leans back into his chair studying her a little closer. “Why do you say that?”
“She, uh… she’s afraid of hospitals. Her mother died in one when she was young and she has been afraid of them ever since,” she says deciding on the lie.
Stable leans forward and sighs. “Well, that certainly ain’t good. Is there any way to make her more comfortable, someone we can call?”
“I don’t think so,” Twilight says avoiding his eyes.
“Hm… having her in constant state of stress wouldn’t be good for her health. Do you know of anywhere she can stay?”
“Uh, she could stay at my place,” Twilight says hesitating for a moment.
“Do you have any medical experience?”
“No… no I don’t.”
Stable shakes his head. “I think it would be better for her to stay with someone who has some medical experience. There would have to be somepony that could help her in case something happens.”
“I-I could look after her,” Fluttershy says quietly from behind, Twilight whips around to look at her. “I have some medical experience, because of all the times I help my animal friends.”
“I suppose that could work, if we have no other choice. I’ll send over a nurse for regular check-ups.”
Twilight looks between the two. No, Fluttershy, don’t. She’s dangerous, just having her at your place is a risk. But, you’re her one hope, if you don’t she’ll be stuck here… There’s no good ending in this situation! “Is everything alright, Twilight?” Fluttershy asks.
“Uh, y-yeah, just a little tired.”
Fluttershy and Stable eye her, but don’t question her. “Alright then, we’ll get her ready, and give you a few supplies she’ll need,” Stable says.


Fluttershy tries her best at a friendly smile as the nurses help Nova into the wheelchair. “I can still walk,” Nova complains, earning an eyeroll from both nurses. She grumbles some more as she sits down, when she eventually focuses on Fluttershy she quiets down and looks away.
“Are you comfortable enough?” one of the nurses ask.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Nova replies. The nurses nod to Fluttershy, she walks over to the wheelchair and starts pushing it down the hall. Once they get to the waiting room they find Doctor Stable standing by the reception desk with a small paper bag. He smiles and walks over to them.
“Here are some painkillers and anti-inflammatories, she’ll need those,” he says giving the bag to Fluttershy. She puts the bag into a small bag built into the wheelchair. “If anything goes wrong just come and tell us.” He looks down at Nova. “And how are you holding up?”
“I’m fine.”
“Alright, I hope you feel better at her place. Well, have a nice day Fluttershy.” She nods starts pushing the wheelchair toward the door.
As the doors slide a cool wind sends a shiver down Nova spine. She tries pushing further back into the chair to get some shelter from the cold. Fluttershy notices and takes off her scarf and gives it to Nova. Outside they find Twilight pacing just off to the side, mumbling under her breath. “Are you okay, Twilight?” Fluttershy asks.
“Huh, oh I’m fine just…” She looks at Nova, debating inside whether to tell Fluttershy about Nova’s power or not. “I’m just a little tired,” she says looking up at the sky for a moment. The reds and oranges in the clouds from the setting sun fills her with unease. “I… I’ll see you tomorrow, sorry I we couldn’t do much for the squirrels today.”
“It’s fine, Twilight, I’m glad we could just hang out for a while,” Fluttershy says with a smile. “Well, I guess I should get going and get Nova settled in.” She looks down at the pegasus who doesn’t say anything in reply.
“Alright, Fluttershy. I’ll come down to your place tomorrow to see how well you two are doing.”
“Okay, bye Twilight,” she says as she starts down the path toward her cottage. For a moment Twilight goes to follow, but she hesitates then heads home.
Fluttershy choses to take a slightly longer route that passes through some more wooded areas. Nova sighs as she’s pushed past the trees, no more leaves hanging from the branches. She looks down at the ground and the array of colorful leaves that cover it. Soon enough the hospital disappears behind them and they’re walking through a path in the middle of the woods.
Nova looks back at Fluttershy walking in silence, she glances down at Nova but quickly looks away when she finds Nova’s eyes trained on her. “Fluttershy, I’m sorry,” Nova says looking back at the ground.
“Oh, it’s not your fault. Anyways, I don’t mind looking after you.”
“Not that, I’m sorry for yelling at you that day in town. I had no right to yell out you, you only wanted to help me. I’m sorry for hurting your feelings.”
Fluttershy stops and fixes her gaze on the pegasus. She works her mouth as she tries to say something. “I had almost forgotten about that… But, thank you,” she says giving her a smile. “I understand why you didn’t want to go before.” She starts pushing the chair forward again.
“You do?”
“Yeah, Twilight told us about it, I’m so sorry for what happened.”
What did she tell her? Nova thinks. “How much did she tell you, exactly?”
“She told me that your mother had died in a hospital. I’m so sorry for whatever happened, but there’s nothing to be afraid of. The doctors only want what’s best for you.” Nova stomps one of her back hooves into the ground. The chair is forced to a stop as Nova’s hoof digs into the ground. “Is something the matter?”
“No, not really.” With a groan she tries to lift herself onto her hooves.
Fluttershy runs around to face her. “W-what are you doing?”
“Going home, you shouldn’t have to take care of me, especially after the way I treated you,” she says.
“I told Twilight I’ll take care of you. And I’m not letting you go out there on your own while you’re still recovering.”
“Sorry, but I won’t--” she is cut off when her snout bumps into something. She looks back up to find Fluttershy only a few centimeters away, staring at her with intense ferocity. “Uh…”
“I can’t let you go. I can’t just stand around while I know somepony’s hurt.” Nova sits back down, quickly complying to her. Wait… why am I listening to her? Fluttershy smiles and nods. She starts pushing the chair again, but Nova’s hoof just digs into the ground. “Nova…” Fluttershy sighs.
“Why, why go through the trouble of helping me? Until now, all I’ve done is yell at you.”
“Because, I don’t like seeing anyone in pain. Even though you may have yelled at me, you had a reason to. But, you still apologised, you’re not as bad as what most ponies think.” Yeah, I’m far worse than what most think, Nova thinks. With a groan gets onto her hooves before Fluttershy can stop her. “Nova, please sit down, you’re hu--”
“Fluttershy, wait, I have something to tell you,” Nova says already channeling some energy through her good wing. “I have to tell you if you plan on taking care of me, because it’s not fair that you don’t know. Twilight lied about why I couldn’t stay there.”
Fluttershy takes a step back. “Why would she do that?”
“To protect me. Listen, it’s a long, complicated story, one that I’d rather not tell, but the short of it is that I… I have the ability to create fire.” To this Fluttershy raises an eyebrow and concern quickly takes her features. Nova sighs and flaps her good wing, while unleashing channeling some of the energy through it. A wave of fire follows the trail of her wing and sweeps across the ground before dissipating, leaving the ground scorched.
Fluttershy’s eye go wide as she looks between the burnt ground and Nova. After a few repetitions she finally settles on Nova and starts working her mouth to say something. Slowly her eyes roll back into her head and she falls to the ground. Nova walks over to her.
I think you might have killed her. Oh, wait, she’s breathing.
“Okay, I could have done that better, or closer to her place.” She looks down the path, but doesn’t see the cottage then back down at Fluttershy. “Shit.”


Slowly, Fluttershy begins to return to consciousness. As she lays in darkness she can hear an odd rumbling to her right somewhere. Through the sound she can hear the pitter-patter of small feet and claws on a hardwood floor. She takes a deep breath filling her lungs with familiar air, which smells like vaguely like the Everfree, with a bit hay, the smells of her home. She takes another deep breath as she really starts to come to.
Opening her eyes a small bit of panic catches in her throat as all she sees is darkness. She calms down and eventually her eyes adjust to the darkness. She finds herself on the couch in her house. Outside, the evening sun is gone, instead night has fallen and Luna’s star are out once again. As she continues looking around she can barely make out the shape of the wheelchair next to the couch. After a minute she spots the crimson pegasus snoring soundly in the middle of the floor. “Nova?”
The crimson mare snorts and rolls over. Fluttershy looks from the couch back down to her. Carefully and quietly she gets up and walks over to the pegasus. “Nova?” she asks again poking her lightly.
Nova tries swatting her away with her fractured leg. Fluttershy jumps back causing her to completely miss and her hoof slams into the ground. A pair of golden eyes cut through the darkness as pain shoots through Nova's entire right arm. “Sweet bucking mother of Celestia!” she screams as she springs up into a sitting position. he brings her foreleg up and cradles it against her chest.
“Are you okay?” Fluttershy asks. She quickly reaches into the bag on the wheelchair and pulls out a bottle of painkillers. “Here, take these,” she says.
“What did I hit?!” she screams and quickly glares at the floor. She huffs out a breath of smoke, causing Fluttershy to scream and jump back.
“I-it wasn’t a dream?” Fluttershy asks keeping a fair distance between them.
Taking some deep breaths, each one coming with a small puff of smoke, Nova calms down. “Sorry, but no. That thing I did back there was real.”
Fluttershy tries recalling the past few minutes of her memory. Nova trying to leave, telling her Twilight lied, a small wave of fire, and then her fainting. “How did I get here?”
Nova points at the wheelchair. “I pushed you.”
“Oh my, but you’re hurt. Come, lie down you shouldn’t be sleeping on the floor.”
“Nah, I’m gonna go home,” Nova says. With some effort she manages to her hooves.
“No, wait--”
“Fluttershy, you saw what I can do, but that’s what I can do when I try. I can’t control it, if I’m here you’re at risk of… being killed by me… That’s why I couldn’t stay at the hospital, and that’s why I have to go home.”
Nova starts making her way to the door, but Fluttershy quickly cuts her off. “And if I let you you’re at risk of dying out there.”
“Do you understand what kind of danger you’re in while I’m here?”
“Y-yes… kind of, I don’t care. I’m not letting you go. I’m not just going to stand around while I can help. You said you couldn’t stay at the hospital because you thought you might hurt everypony over there. At least you can’t cause as much damage here.”
“But, I don’t want to kill you, I don’t want to kill anyone!”
“You’re not going to.”
“And how can you be so sure?” Nova asks slamming her hoof into the floor.
“Because, I trust that you wouldn’t.”
They both glare at each other, both trying to break the other’s resolve. Nova breaths out a couple clouds of smoke, but Fluttershy stands her ground. Ultimately, Nova takes a step back and look away. “Fine, where’s my room?”