“Hello? Is anypony here?”
Silence only responded to Blazetail as he, Cloak, Cannon Ball, Valkyrie, and Lightning Dust examined the smoldering ruins of the camp site. The once fine structures of this retreat, all burnt to cinders and ash. The five slowly examined everything, looking around at the damage that had been done.
“Hey! Anypony alive?”
He shouted again, and still nothing as they neared where the mess hall was. Cloak was the first to spot an ice blue and dark red pony, lying beaten by the smoldering building.
“Rime!” He shouted as he and the others took off towards her. Cloak slowed to a stop, staring at the broken pony before them. Her right arm lay in a crumpled heap, as did her wings, having received a horrible beating.
“I see Crimson!” Valkyrie shouted, pointing towards near the edge of the building on its far end. She and Lightning Dust ran over, looking over his broken form as Lightning Dust gasped. Valkyrie noticed, faintly, that he was still breathing.
Blazetail noticed the same of Rime as he knelt down, he let out a sigh as he looked her over.
“We can't bring them medical help. And moving them may break them more.” Cloak said sorrowfully.
“It's a risk we should…”
“Talon…” Rime wheezed out, opening a bloodshot eye in Blazetails direction.
“Shh, save your strength.” Blazetail said softly as he leaned down. “You're going to need it if you want to live.”
“Last I,” she coughed, “saw... he was... over there.” She pointed with a wing towards one of the ruined buildings, wheezing for breath. Blazetail merely glanced at Cannon Ball, whom nodded in response and took off towards the building.
“It was… an honour to… fight beside you,” Rime wheezed, her eyes closing as she laid her head down. Blazetail let out a sigh, reaching under her gently and lifting her up.
“What are we going to do, sir?” Valkyrie slowly trotted up, Crimson draped over her as she looked at Blazetail. “We can't go to the hospital, too many questions would arise.”
“The castle, Luna can send word for help. Just a select few doctors to hopefully stabilize them.”
“I found him!” Cannon shouted as he came out of the building, carrying Talon over his shoulders. “He’s just as messed up as these two.”
“To the castle, as gently as we can go.” Blazetail ordered, glancing at Rime on his back.
The world of pain and discomfort slowly seeped back into Talon. All he saw was blackness, and he vaguely heard voices. His body felt numb and heavy. He wheezed out a groan, which went ignored by the voices. He struggled to open an eye, eventually getting to see white, instead of black.
After closing his eye, he opened it slower this time. Getting rewarded with a clearer picture of what looked like a bedroom. He let out a louder groan, the voices all stopping, and getting replaced with the sound of hooves on marble flooring. He looked around, and his eye stopped on a very familiar sight. One that he hadn’t seen in months.
A deep green unicorn mare sat on a chair, her blue and green mane somewhat hiding her closed eyes as she slept on a part of his bed. He could vaguely see the changeling beneath the unicorn, her batlike wings closed and somewhat hiding a ruby carapace. Her hoof clenched tightly around his as his body slowly regained feeling.
“Ember?” He wheezed out. He slowly lifted his head, as another familiar face came into his view.
“You’re awake!” Witch shouted, making Talon wince and lay his head back down. “We thought you wouldn't wake up!”
“Indeed, thou had us worried.” Talon heard behind him. The royal tone familiar as more senses came back to him. Lots of worry in the room, except from what was holding his hoof, but the expression alone confirmed it anyway.
Witch’s shouting made Ember yawn, slowly batting her eyes as she lifted her head up. She glanced at Witch, who gestured to Talon. Ember slowly looked towards Talon, seeing him awake and let out a gasp.
She tried to restrain herself from hugging him, failing and earning a loud yelp of pain in return. She quickly let go and sat back down, having a huge teary grin at him.
“Well, I’d ask what hurts, but I think it's safe to say everything does,” Witch asked, as she glanced to Ember. “Now. Think we can be proper doctors and tend to our patient?”
Ember nodded a squeak, looking back at Talon. Her horn glowing and making a little screen appear above him. “Aside from a few cracked ribs, a torn crest, a heavily burnt hoof, and burns around various places. Your lucky compared to the others.”
Talon wheezed out a sigh, closing his eyes. “I don't feel lucky… I feel… violated,” he said at almost a whisper. Witch and Ember looked at each other, then back to him.
“Care to explain that?” Witch asked softly.
“That… orange stallion… he…”
“Enough, maybe we should wait on that explanation for now.” Ember looked at Witch. “While we make sure his bones set right while he is awake. He has enough painkiller in him to drop a dragon.”
“You mentioned… others?”
“They are being held in Canterlot General. After Princess Luna gave very specific directions to not question them on why they were brought in near death,” Ember sighed. “You, however, are being held here in the castle. One of the guest rooms usually reserved for visiting diplomats.” Ember grinned. “And where you have been for the past four days.”
“But...who…”
“Crimson and Rime.” A new voice sounded, out of Talons view. He recognized it as Blazetail. “We found them when we found you, they are still unconscious at this moment, but we are keeping an eye on them. We are hoping you can tell us what happened.”
Talon shook his head as Witch looked towards Blazetail. “When he can talk without wheezing, perhaps, but right now he needs rest and to recover.” She stated, then looked at Ember. “What's the best way for him to recover? Since you two are related,” she asked with a faint growl.
Ember sighed. “Look, I said I was sorry!” She looked down. “Getting a huge dose of energy would help. He can't exactly get a good source from here.”
“No weddings going on, so no love for him to…” Blazetail trailed off as Ember started to snicker.
“While love is a good source, it's not what he needs. Admiration, excitement, general overall happiness.” Ember looked at Talon. “A huge source of that would be perfect.”
“What about a Wonderbolt show? There is one in Cloudsdale a week or so from now.” Blazetail spoke up.
“He is in no condition to go,” Witch stated, looking at Talon.
“No, but I can.” Ember looked towards Blazetail. “And I can give him what all he needs. I can go as a pegasus, get the energy, and then come back. Simple as that.”
“And you can just… give it to him?” Witch asked, tilting her head.
“I am a harvester…” She trailed off, sighing again, feeling the glare from Witch. “I can just give him the energy. I might be a little drunk, but it's worth it. However, the tickets to it are sold out.”
“Leave that to us.” Luna’s voice sounded.
“Can… can you get two tickets?” Ember asked, blushing slightly.
“We know a better way to get thou into that show.”