Emerald Heart

"Mmnnnggg..." Rarity groaned as her ear began to take notice of sounds and her eyes fluttered open slightly. She shot her eyes close immediately as the sudden exposure to light made her head pound with pain. It didn't last long and she tried again with a more cautious approach. It took her half a minute for her eyes to adapt enough to start distinguishing shapes and forms, it was at this time when she recognized she was in some sort of room. "W-where am I?" She whispered, her voice croaky and her throat a bit raspy but not painful.

"Hey, Rarity's awake! Call nurse Redheart!" A familiar sounding voice called followed by a hurried trot and the sound of a door being opened.

"Flitter, is that you?" Rarity said as her vision adjusted and tried to locate the pegasus.

"Yeah, it's me alright," Flitter replied. "How are you feeling?"

"Lightheaded and... and ever so confused. Where are we?" Rarity asked turning her head to the direction of Flitter's voice.

"We're in the hospital," Flitter said with a less chirpy tone.

Rarity stopped for a moment to process what Flitter had said. Blinking a few times she was able to see with a modest amount of clarity and saw Flitter laying on a bed next to her and saw that most of her mid and lower body was covered in bandages, but the light of the sun obscured her upper body. Having seen enough, she immediately shifted her gaze to her own limbs and body and saw that she, too, was covered in bandages, but fewer than Flitter.

She closed her eyes and groaned in pain as her head began to pound again. Images of the Lunar Festival came to her mind, followed by darkness and the distant shout of somepony. The next set of images were that of her waking up on a dimly illuminated cave of sorts while strapped to a stone bed, she tried to scream but she had been gagged and her magic was being nullified by a suppressor ring. She looked around to see several fellow ponies in similar conditions, including Flitter and her sister Cloudchaser. A metallic sound made her turn to see her captor: a horrid (with an absolutely filthy coat and stench to match) looking centaur holding a bonesaw and several syringes with a dubious looking content pointed towards her.

A distant roar followed by angry shouts made her captor turn its attention elsewhere moments before a small blur of purple and green tackled it to the ground. She felt everything around her tremble and then, darkness.

"..." Rarity was at loss for words as she tried to process the jumble of information that had so suddenly returned to the front of her mind.

"Whoa whoa, take it easy there, Rarity," the distinct voice of Thunderlane forced Rarity to look at the source of the sound and saw said stallion with his two front plastered legs. "Easy, or else you'll get a nasty migraine."

Taking his advice as best as possible, Rarity closed her eyes once more and tried her best to control her pounding heart. Almost a minute later, and with her vision now mostly back to normal, she felt herself calm down and nurse Redheart entered the room walking straight to her. Wordlessly, the nurse began to check and monitor her vitals.

Untold seconds passed until Rarity found the energy to speak once again. "How long was I out, Redheart dear?"

"Almost a full week, I'm afraid. You kept waking only to black out again almost instantly. The spell those centaurs used to knock you unconscious hit you pretty rough," Redheart explained as she turned and pointed a light to her left eye for a few seconds. "Pupil reacting normally, good."

"We were... kidnapped?" Rarity muttered as she blinked her daze away.

Redheart hummed. "I'm afraid so. Right under the muzzles of the Royals Guards, too. If it weren't for Spike, well, I don't want to think what those monsters would've done to you all."

"Uggh, yeah, tell me about it. I bet he is never going to let me forget that," Thunderlane groaned from his bed.

"Spikey-Wikey?" Rarity said before remembering the purple and green blur that had tackled that centaur. "Sweet Celestia! Where is he? Is he alright!?"

"Calm down, Rarity. Spike is fine and is probably making his way here along the rest of your friends." Redheart explained. "Now, I want you to relax and stay put, alright?" Rarity nodded. "Excellent. Now, I have to see other patients. Good news for you is that nothing was broken, your wounds are mostly superficial and you have a nasty bruise on your abdominal region. You should be free to go in just a couple of days." She stated before leaving.

"Lucky you," murmured another voice.

Rarity, Flitter, and Thunderlane turned their heads to see a practically immobilized Noteworthy with bandages and cast all over his body except for his head.

"You're only mad because a centaur collapsed on top of you!" Thunderlane mocked.

"Those brutes are way heavier than they appear, I can tell you that much," Noteworthy let out a heavy sigh.

"Ha! I bet," Thunderlane chuckled.

Rarity couldn't stop a giggle escape as she watched the two friends talk. She then looked around the room and saw that there were ten occupied beds, including herself, in the fairly spacious room. Out of the ten, only four were awake: Thunderlane, Noteworthy, Flitter, and herself. Remembering the mare that had greeted her, Rarity turned to see the pegasus.

"Flitter, darling, what ab--out...you..." Rarity's question died when she saw, in complete clarity, how the light grayish had most of her face covered in bandages with enough space for her muzzle to remain free as did her ears. "D-Dear, what happened to you?" She asked tentatively.

"Oh, this?" Flitter asked pointing to her covered face with her front legs. "Doctor Health told me a centaur kicked me after Spike tackled it. Aaaaand also a few rocks and wooden planks hit me when their hideout was collapsing. I guess I was lucky to be unconscious when it happened."

Rarity bit her lower lip while she scanned the rest of Flitter. Sure, the bandages she saw earlier were still there, although now that her vision was practically back to normal didn't look as bad as before. It was obvious that her head had taken the worst damage. It took her a moment to realize that Flitter's usual chirpy, somewhat nasal, and buttery voice sounded a bit more crooked, thanks to the bandages no doubt.

Finding her voice again, Rarity spoke once more. "You sound quite relaxed if I do say so myself, dear."

"Ha ha, I guess. When I first woke up I freaked out because I couldn't see anything and my entire face hurt more than a trip to the dentist! But Doctor Heart explained to me that thanks to the Guards quick response he was able to fix me up nice and proper; it doesn't even hurt anymore and they'll take the bandages later today. Maybe I'll have one or two scars, but hey! It sure beats what those centaurs were planning to do to us," Flitter finished with a somewhat forced smile.

"Yeah, I'll take my broken legs any day over what those freaks were going to do to us, thank you very much," Thunderlane chimed in.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, but I do remember seeing a bonesaw and other... contraptions," Rarity said feeling a sudden chill run down her spine.

"You're going to love this," Noteworthy said sarcastically. "Those centaurs were going to suck our magic, but they couldn't do it like Tirek did. So they had to be a little creative..."

"Right. Because cutting off unicorn horns, draining our blood, chopping the hooves of earth ponies, and snapping off pegasi wings is sooooo creative," Thunderlane countered ending with a groan. "Dang centaurs got almost a hundred of us that night."

Rarity felt her stomach churn with disgust and would've surely barf were it not for the complete emptiness of her insides. Just then the frantic hoofsteps of several ponies were heard and before they knew it a group of six mares and one dragon burst into the room.

"Rarity!" Several voices exclaimed at the same time a moment before the seven newly arrived figures surrounded Rarity's bed. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy wasted no time and jumped on the fairly ample bed to hug their white-coated friend, mindful not to hurt the poor mare more. The group of seven began to ask how she was feeling or telling her how worried they had been, or sorry for not being there when the centaurs attacked.

"Girls. Girls! While I do appreciate deeply your concern, nurse Redheart assured me I will be fine. All of us are going to be fine," Rarity said once her friends had regained a semblance of control over themselves. Most of which blushed and turned to greet and apologize to the other three conscious ponies in the room. Pinkie and Fluttershy retreated from their embrace while the latter wiped away happy tears.

Now that she had the chance, Rarity eyed her friends finding them intact. She smiled and sighed, thankful that all of them, with the exception of Spike and herself, were out of town that night and were spared from any harm. And speaking of the little dragon, she had heard his voice but had yet to see him. Straining her neck a little, she found her target standing behind Twilight, not quite hiding but not coming forward either. Her heart dropped when Spike, feeling her stare upon him, stepped to the side and revealed that he had suffered some cuts, a nasty magical burn on his belly covered by a special ointment and that almost half of his face was covered in bandages. The bandages were wrapped around most of his crest and covered his left eye completely.

"Precious scales... you...," Rarity was at a loss for words for a moment, then she saw the small dragon smile widely and approach to her; Twilight helping him by putting him on her back. Rarity felt herself tear up before using her magic to pull Spike into a tight hug. "Thank you, oh so much, Spikey-Wikey. Thank you for saving us. Thank you, darling. Thank you." She finished by kissing his forehead.

"I-It was nothing, Rarity. Honest!" Spike rebuked with an intense blush covering his cheeks. "All I did was lead the Guards after the centaurs ran away," he said sheepishly.

"Don'tcha go undermining yerself, Spike! Without that nose of yours and your night vision them no good varmints would've gotten away without us being none the wiser." Applejack said nudging his exposed side.

"You think that's amazing? Before that good for nothing bastard put us to sleep I saw our tiny lizard mascot here bite off the face of that centaur in one bite!" Thunderlane said causing the group to look at him. "Dude, you were pissed!" The pegasus smiled widely. "C'mon, put it here, dude. Hoofbump!" He said barely moving his forelegs.

"And you killed the moment. Thank you, Thunderlame," Noteworthy groaned. "But seriously, Spike. Thanks."

Spike blushed and scratched the back of his neck while his friends giggled.

"Hhmmm, sorry for interrupting, but has anypony seen Cloudchaser?" Flitter asked.

"Yeah, she's doing a few extra rounds on Weather Patrol. Said she'll come visiting later," Rainbow Dash answered.

"Thank you, Rainbow Dash. Oh, hhmmm, Spike? C-Could you come here for a moment?"

"S-sure thing," Spike replied, Rarity released the hug, he jumped down the bed and walked up to Flitter's bed. Once he was next to her the mare began to search for him with her left foreleg. He grasped her hoof and she leaned to his side, slowly and trembling pulling the dragon into a hug causing the drake to freeze.

"T-Thank you, Spike," she said doing her best to nuzzle him.

For his part, Spike returned the hug with some nervousness. "Y-You all should be thanking the Guards, they did most of the job, you know."

"But you guided them and it was you who caught the centaurs taking us. Without you we would... we w-w-would...," Flitter squeezed the dragon harder. "Thank you."

They spent several moments hugging each other until they both slowly pulled apart. For the next good part of the following two hours, the group talked, casually making jokes about their injuries but overall thankful that no pony had perished or worse at the hands of the centaurs. One by one, the remaining ponies laying on the beds awoke to end up joining the conversation or because they were to be moved out for one or other examination. More ponies came in to visit another one of them. Eventually, though, the visiting ponies began to leave for whatever reason until only Rarity, Flitter, and an unconscious Swirl Spoon remained in the room. The two conscious mares laying on their beds in relative silence while Rarity read a fashion magazine her friends had brought her.

The door opened revealing nurse Redheart and nurse Butter Joy come in pushing a metallic tray with some containers on it. Behind them, Doctor Health followed close by. The trio made their way to Flitter's bed.

"Hello, Flitter," Doctor Health announced.

"Oh, hello Doctor Health. How are you doing?" Flitter replied with a smile.

"I'm doing fine, Flitter. I suppose you know why I'm here?"

"Yup!" Flitter replied moving around to sit on her bed.

"Good. Now, Flitter, I'm going to remove the bandages so you must stand still and you must keep your eyes shut until I say otherwise, alright?" Flitter nodded. "Excellent. I'm going to begin," Doctor Health said as his horn was surrounded with a green aura. Slowly but surely, the bandage covering Flitter's head was being carefully pulled and roll up with the aid of magic.

From her bed, Rarity was glancing at Flitter seeing the process take place. She was confused when Doctor Health finished rolling up most of the bandage, but not all of it. Flitter's right side was now free but her left side was still covered in bandages. What struck Rarity as odd was that these bandages were blue colored and had been covered up by the white bandages from before.

"Flitter, I want you to open your right eye, slowly. Take your time." Doctor Health ordered.

For the next few minutes, Flitter did as instructed, slowly and careful to not rush it. Doctor Health nodded and nurse Butter Joy performed short tests on Flitter's right eye. Once satisfied, the nurse stepped back and nodded to the doctor.

"How are you feeling, Flitter?"

"Never better, doc!" Flitter smiled clapping her forehooves together. "One down, one to go. C'mon, hurry up doc. I want to surprise Cloudchaser when she gets here!" Flitter said excitedly. After a few second of Doctor Health not responding, she brought her hooves down. "Ummm, is something wrong, Doctor Health?"

Doctor Health looked at Flitter for several more seconds until he sighed in defeat. "Flitter, I'm afraid I was not entirely honest with you when you first woke up. You see, that kick the centaur gave was more... damaging than I let you believe."

Flitter stiffened. "O-Oh... ohhhh... I...ummm... see... H-How bad was it?"

"Bad," Health said with a chilly tone.

"A-ah...," Flitter whispered. "B-Bad like Derpy's eye or bad as in b-blind?"

"Flitter," Doctor Health took a step closer. "Your left eye was practically ruined. That centaur nearly popped it out your socket. Were it not for young Spike's quick response to take you to the Royal Guards and then bringing you here immediately after, the damage would have been even more severe."

Silence fell in the room with the weak beeping of machines as background noise.

"But, as I told you, thanks to them I was able to save your right eye in full and prevent any further damage from taking place," Doctor Health said with a solemn tone.

Flitter was visibly trembling, her right eye moistening with fresh tears. Rarity had now discarded her fashion magazine and was too on the verge of tears when Doctor Health spoke once more.

"However, that doesn't mean you don't have a left eye anymore, Flitter."

"H-Huh?" Flitter sobbed. "B-But you said..."

"I said that your left eye had been heavily damaged, not that you didn't have one anymore," Doctor Health said, his voice laced with professionalism. "Flitter, I'm going to remove these bandages but you must promise me you won't scream."

Flitter remained silent for untold moments before replying. "I... I promise."

"You will find out sooner or later, I rather be the one showing it to you now. But you must be completely sure, okay?" Doctor Health insisted.

Flitter closed her right eye and took a deep breath. "I'm sure. Please, Doctor, show me. I promise I won't scream. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye...heh," Flitter chuckled weakly.

Doctor Health nodded before he started to take off the blue bandage. For what felt like forever, Flitter waited until Doctor Health finishes; her heart pounding hard and fast against her chest.

"There. Now, the process was rather delicate, Flitter. I want you to open your left eye very, very slowly. Take your time to adjust," Doctor Health instructed.

"O-Okay," Flitter said before she turned her head downward and ever so gently opened her left eye. The first thing she noticed was that there was no pain, unlike her first try with her right eye. The second thing she noticed was that the blurriness that obscured her left eye vision was diminishing faster than before. Blinking a few times and taking her time to properly adjust, Flitter finally looked up. "W-whoa..." she muttered with a lace of awe. Closing her right eye caused her jaw to hang open a bit more. "Everything looks so clear and detailed!" She said as she looked around the room. After a few seconds, she re-opened her right eye and looked straight at Doctor Health with a huge smile.

"Haaaah! Doc, you had me worried for a moment there! I thought I was going to have partial sight or some other disorder, but I think you just improved my sight!" Flitter laughed. "AH! I get it now. Cloudchaser is pulling my leg, right? My sister never wastes a chance to scare her little sister, hahaha!" Flitter laughed some more before turning her attention to Rarity. Flitter stopped laughing and her smile dropped when she saw the fashionista covering her agape mouth with both forehooves, while she looked at her direction with wide, unblinking eyes and a look of horror in them.

Slowly, dreadfully so, Flitter turned her attention to Doctor Health and the nurses. The nurses had a solemn, remorseful expression while Health looked at her with serious resolve and professionalism. His horn came to life levitating a small mirror in front of Flitter.

There in the mirror's reflection, Flitter found her familiar face staring back at her. Her mane was unattended and her trademark rose bow was missing, understandable given the situation. There were no visible scars and just one or two minor bruises that she could barely feel.

But there was one great difference. One that caused her eyes to widen in disbelief. Her right light raspberry eye was there, the same color as her twin sister's eyes, but the left was not. Her left eye couldn't be any more different even if she tried to imagine it. The iris had a vibrant green color, like the shine of a polished emerald, and the pupil was not round; instead, it was elongated and thin, like a slit.

"The centaur that kicked you was the same young Spike tackled when he found the room you were all in. After the remaining centaurs used their magic to collapse their hideout, most of the unicorn guards had to focus on preventing everything from falling apart. Spike took you outside and begged to the Commander to bring you here first. He complied allowing Spike to stay with you. After you arrived I examined you and explain the situation to the Guards. Spike overheard and... and offered his eye to replace yours, Flitter. Saying it was his fault you were hurt for him wanting to save Miss Rarity more than anything else." Health sighed. "I tried to explain to him why it couldn't be done, but to my surprise, it turns out dragons are universally compatible with almost every other living being; ponies included."

Silence met him.

"Flitter?" Doctor Health asked and moved away the mirror to see pale looking Flitter while tears fell from her eyes.

Flitter looked at Doctor Health's eyes and her breathing became agitated.

Flitter screamed.

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Cloudchaser made her way towards the room her twin sister was in. It was late in the evening, practically dusk, when she had finished her rounds and now here she was ready to keep some company to her dear sister. She was no more than a few hoofsteps away when she saw the door open and saw Ponyville's prime fashionista step out wearing a hospital gown. Upon seeing her, Rarity smiled.

"Cloudchaser, darling, just the pony I was looking for! Why don't we go for a nice, long walk outside, hmmm?"

Cloudchaser forced a smile. "Geez, thanks but I'm kinda on my way to check on my sister, so maybe next time?"

"Oh! Yes, yes, of course, I understand. But I think you maaaay want to reconsider my offer, darling. You see, your sister is a bit... preoccupied at the moment," Rarity said opening the door enough to cause Cloudchaser to approach and see what was going on inside. There she saw Flitter sitting on the edge of her bed alongside the town's very own dragon resident, Spike, sitting at her side while he clutched Flitter's right hoof. "See what I mean?"

Cloudchaser stared for a few more seconds until Flitter glanced back at the entrance and she saw her new left eye.

"... I see," Cloudchaser whispered seeing her sister turn her attention back to Spike. Rarity then closed the door using her magic to hang a sign that read 'Remain Silent. Do not Disturb Patients'.

"Shall we?" Rarity offered.

Soon the two mares left leaving the dragon and the pony alone in the room for them to talk freely.

End.