//------------------------------// // Prologue: The Spark of Life // Story: Changing Flows // by ChaoticHarmony //------------------------------// Prologue: The Spark of Life The speed at which the stallions drew the carriage made Needle Wings squint his eyes as he looked anxiously ahead of the carriage and at how far away the hospital was. They drew the carriage as quickly as possible, but to him it wasn't fast enough. Worried thoughts flashed through his mind only to be overlapped with another scenario. What if we don't make it in time? What if we can't get him out? What if she di- shock and pain ripped across his mind as he thought that, and he crushed that particular scenario out of his head. Cherish is strong, she will NOT die!. The thought didn't reassure him much as he glanced back at his wife. Her face was a mask of deep pain, and her eyes searched wildly about as she groaned. Every few seconds she would release another groan or ear-piercing scream. Needle moved back over to her slowly, keeping in mind the vehicle's unstable motions. Each scream that went into his ears felt as if they were ripping away small parts of his heart and leaving bleeding holes behind. Tears began to drop down to the carriage floor as he felt an overwhelming feeling of helplessness grip at his mind. He reached for her, wanting to take all of her pain away but after finding himself unable to do anything, he held one of her hooves in his own. The carriage stopped abruptly but gently, rocking a little as it lost its momentum. A pair of nurses who were on duty outside the emergency entrance turned and rushed into the building. Almost immidiately, a doctor rushed out of the wide double doors and held them open with magic. With another spell, he levitated Cherish gently onto litter that two stallions bore on their backs. Needle watched as they turned away and walked inside, and he was gripped with the urge to follow them. The doctor turned back to face him, his mouth open to say something, but when he took in Needle's appearance he choked off whatever he had been about to say. Needle was all to used to this reaction, and he waited for the doctor to recover from the initial shock. "Eerm, sir your...." "Wife, Doctor. She is my wife," Needle Wings supplied smoothly though with a hint of weariness creeping into his tone. He had been used to the unusual looks he got from all the ponies around him and Cherish, but he just let the looks slide off like water. Let them think what they want, Needle thought with a small hint of bitterness. The doctor pushed his glasses back onto his nose for they had falled down a small amount. "Well sir, your....erm....wife is quite far along in the birthing process, as far as I could tell. Just stay outside the room please, this is a delicate process and we can afford no distractions.". When Needle nodded to him, he galloped back into the hospital, to see to Cherish no doubt. With a small sigh, he walked over to the two stallions who pulled the carriage. They were rubbing at the spots where the harness had bounced and chaffed against their coats. He held out a few bits with his magic, but the older-looking of the two pushed them away with a hoof. "No thanks nescassary partner, it's our job after all." Surprised at the lack of acceptance of the tip, Needle places the bits back into the small niche between his wings. He smiled a little at their expressions, for it had seemed to them that he had shoved the coins into his skin. Remembering where he was, he spun around and galloped into the hospital to find the Birthing Ward. He dashed through the hallways of the hospital and around the many ponies that worked there. He heard the sounds of screaming, female screams. His thoughts in disarray, he followed the sounds of the screams until he found the room where Cherish was. A strong-looking nurse was standing guard outside the door and she shot him a look of warning. Needle huffed and sat down on the bench that was across the hallway from the door. The screams continued for what seemed ages, and Needle felt himself falling more and more into the grasp of desperation. Just when he could take no more, the female screams stopped, and another scream, higher pitched, came from inside the room. Needle made no attempt to supress his smile as the nurse opened the door for him. There on the bed was his beautiful Cherish, panting and covered in sweat. In her arms was a small bundle from which a soft noise was coming from every now and again. She looked up at him with a large smile on her face. He took the small bundle and cradled it in his hooves, minding his jagged hoof edges. He looked into the black-coated foal's bright, silver eyes with a large smile on his face. He muttered but five words to the small foal. "Welcome to Equestria, Phoenix Flight."