> Hearts of Harmony
>  by Obigity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Night To Be Remembered
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smoke billowed through the air traveling far as the eye could see, ashes rising and falling like snow choking every living thing that came across it's smothering path. The fire originated from a small town once filled with life lied crumbling in heated ruin. The inhabitants doing their best to evacuate while helping others was for naught as all were swept away by the flames. From the night sky, colorful creatures fell to the earth with ‘thuds' like falling stars, scattering across the land. Soon all creatures of flight were cleared from the air as the fumes suffocated the atmosphere.

All those that remained on ground were forced to navigate through the remains of their homes but soon as the flames spread all were met with death as the flames quickly consumed them in its seemingly never-ending mass eradication.

After many hours the raging inferno died, buildings were burned to debris, crops turned to ashes, corpses burnt to a crisp, and all that was left standing were a few burnt structures. In the center of the town, a melted pole stood firmly into the ground, attached on top waving was a tattered flag with a symbol of the sun. At the bottom, heavily covered in ash and debris was a small being that looked dead at first glance but looking closer could see it's small chest rising. It's eyes halfway open revealing what was once full of life now halfway filled with death, golden irises that reflected it's dull soul could only watch and wait for anything to find it.

‘No, no, no...not again.'

Those words continued to repeat in their mind filling it with despair, feeling it's heart cracked like glass. Every waking moment it laid there felt like a lifetime and when it started to rain it began to lose hope that anyone would find them.

Soon the only source of light came from the glowing embers of the once peaceful town, the morning sun from behind the clouds came by quickly that the poor soul thought it leapt into the afternoon in a matter of seconds, but chalked it up to the smoke causing hallucinations. Even with the sun above them, the smoke and rain continued to shroud the land in darkness that was too thick for sunlight to penetrate.

Sleep forcefully tried to take them into the dream realm and to never awaken but with every last bit of strength it held on, wishing to live on. Until at last it's breathing began to descend as their vision began to fade into darkness all it could do was weakly raise a trembling limb into the air. 

All its strength vanished from the body as the arm fell down, before it could touch the ground something caught it.

It listened to the flapping of wings, and a soft voice call out to him,

"It's ok, I got you." 

Forcing himself to look closer at his rescuer he could make out a vague shape that looked either to be divine or a delusion. A figure that had yellow fur? And spiky orange hair? Descended next to him still holding its hoof tenderly as their wings folded onto it's back…...Hoof? Fur? Wings? Orange? 

Every question stirred him out his tired state to get a good look at the one who saved them. Sad enlarged brown eyes staring at him as (she?) pulled him into a gentle hug with her foreleg,

"It's ok, it's going to be fine." 

All he could do is blink before his vision began to fade once again as he heard her frantic yelling and a green light before everything turned dark.

‘so familiar.'
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Three Months Later)

Spitfire sighed as she opened her locker thinking about today's event. Her concentration broke again today when she tried flying in formation, nearly crashed into another Wonderbolt member into the bleachers. She was glad it was just practice before the actual event was to take place tomorrow, but she couldn't get her mind off of this bad feeling she's been getting for the past last three days. It's usually like this when she about to perform before a crowd, but this gut-wrenching feeling she's been getting has been growing worse. Spitfire would chalk it up to her being nervous like she usually is before she performs but this feeling been getting her distracted even on practice days and that never happened before.

She finished her hygiene, drying off as she walked to the door before she was stopped by a young gruff male voice,

"Hey Spitfire, the Leader wants to see you."

Once more she sighed as she made her way to the Wonderbolts chief flyer.

Captain Motorsports a strict but fair stallion, his team referred to him as the lead-from-the-front pony that earned the respect of ponies from all over Equestria throughout the years but none more so than his team.

During his time as Wonderbolt Captain Motorsports has made many excellent flyers from all over Equestria and even finer citizens when they are integrated back into civilian life which he always believes that they are to be outstanding ponies both professional and personal.

His slightly sagging blue-grey fur and brown mane with a patch of white reflected his age along with some battle scars that lay hidden told stories of his time as a Wonderbolt. In a few months, he'll retire, and the mantle will be passed down to the Vice Captain who he sent another member to fetch a while ago.

Speaking of, his office door opened, and Spitfire came walking in with a neutral look on her face.

"Good Afternoon sir, you wished to speak to me?"

She saluted and cut when he waved his hoof.

"Yes, please take a seat."

His words crackled like a fireplace from his younger years at yelling at new recruits. Spitfire clopped on over to the empty stool sitting directly in front of her Leader without looking too worried she sat without a sound and waited for Motorsports to begin.

Anypony would feel intimidated sitting directly in front of their boss but not her, after all the things both of them went through she could confidently say she felt comfortable when he stared at her likely thinking how to start the talk.

"How are feeling Spitfire?" The Captain of the Wonderbolt's began politely.

"Fine sir, thanks for asking." It was a curtly answer, very much not like her to give a short answer that lacked her fiery tempter she always displays even when she talks.

He raised an thinly eyebrow at her in disbelief, "Really? Because from what I saw today, you didn't look ‘fine' it seems like you were distracted and what I've seen this week you've been looking like something terrible happened. You want to talk about it?"

Spitfire's shifted uncomfortably; she could never hide anything from her superior especially one that knew her since she joined. It was obvious from the beginning he would always see through her, another sigh left her as she contemplated how to begin to describe herself.

"It's just... I've been getting this feeling. Like-This really bad feeling that's been throwing me off the game."

She said in a dry voice as she laid it thick. Spitfire was never much of the ‘feely' type and thought best to get this counseling session over with.

Captain Motorsports put a hoof to his chin as he hummed in thought.

"Do you know around the time it started?"

Spitfire tilted her head while recalling,

"Around when I left the hospital."

The Captain gave her a solemn stare,

"Is it about Coltsville?"

The memory of a burning town danced across her mind as she could still remember the rain as it poured down on the burning remains of the inhabitant and the inhabitants as if in mock pity. The stench of death and wet smoke filled her nostrils as she searched for…she blinked hard ridding herself of those memories.

"No, sir."

He saw the conflicted look on her face, "Are you sure? I told you if you needed time I could give you the month-"

"I promise you, sir, it has nothing to do with that." Interrupted, again her words sounded too wooden even to her.

"Spitfire."

Her friend's face twisted in deep concern, "You came back to work too soon. Everypony else took the month off to collect themselves, but you didn't, and I'm worried."

Both recalling the day they were sent out in response to an all hands emergency response from the Princess that everypony in the country knew it to be the greatest incident of the millennium. Anypony in Equestria knew about the fire or what it's now called ‘The Great Coltsville Fire'.

It was the first recorded major lose they had in over a thousand years. The lone Pegasus who delivered the message was so exhausted from the miles of travel and in an heightened sense of desperation that when the mare finally made sense, emergency rescue units were sent and the word was passed to the princess who had immediately called for the messenger.

Nopony knew when it started, later on from the accounts of the remaining survivors said it came out of nowhere without warning. One account from a unicorn stallion who was enjoying his lunch outside when it happened, dark clouds formed above them and fire fell from the sky like rain and it didn't stop for hours until the town and lands around them became the new Tartarus. Three hundred lives were taken that day with only ten survivors, there would've been more but the wounds were too severe for the victims either from the physical pain of having their flesh melt to their bones or their will to live on as they watched their loved ones turn to ashes.

Due to the severity of the situation, Celestia had made the decision to abuse her power by pulling the sun to midday to overpower the smoldering clouds with pure beams of sunlight. The clouds and smoke refused to disassemble even when magic was tried. Not wasting any time ground forces were sent in, and flyers were told to keep low and not breath in the fumes if they couldn't help it.

After many struggles, the unicorns killed the smoke, and the pegasi kicked the rest of the dark clouds away, but it was too late. Everything was burned to the ground and what was left didn't remain for long after the ponies were scavenging through.

Days have passed as the bodies were taken away and rescue teams were sent away for the cleanup crew to work. The following weeks were miserable, to say the least, family and friends were in mourning, a mass funeral service was held the names of the ponies that died were released to the public as Princess Celestia herself read every one.

A month passed, and a memorial was built in Canterlot for those who died. The ones that survived stayed at the Canterlot hospital, best health services in all Equestria and most were released within a week or some cases months until their next of kin had been contacted.

Spitfire had been visiting the hospital daily to check up on the ponies making sure that they were in good health.

"I know, but work helps me keep my mind clear and focused. Although, now things haven't been clear when I left the hospital."

The Captain seemed confused before he realized, "Ah, it's about him isn't? The one you saved."

Of all ten ponies that survived the only one that gave them trouble happened to be the healthiest out of all the survivors. This particular case was brought to attention by the hospital staff that the patient has suffered from severe trauma during the incident and has not yet been able to remember anything about his identity. They concluded that he has what they could closely call DSM-V which happens when a pony has been exposed to so much trauma that the mind represses the memory, but in this case, his entire life before was locked away.

With nopony able to identify him or records that weren't burned away there was no hope for finding his relatives, he would be given to the nearest orphanage.

Spitfire regularly checked up on him seeing how he's doing, making small talk and filling him up on Equestria or taking him out to gain back his motor functions. It became apparent he needed physical therapy when he started to have trouble moving properly, Spitfire overheard this from the doctor and asked to become his trainer which they thought was strange coming from a Wonderbolt, but they sent the request up. A few days later she got the green light from the hospital after they reviewed her profile seeing as she had many recommendations and a certificate in therapy. Since then she regularly visited and helped the little one regain his strength.

She lifted her head, "Yeah, he had to undergo another test to determine if he could regain his memory; it's more of a shot in the dark method than standard practice."

It was his final week in the hospital before the ward would take him. Spitfire has been having an internal struggle about it, sure she was glad that the kid's in fair condition and would be given proper care and in the unforeseen future a suitable home.

She was the one to explain it to him, but when she finished there was no sadness or even a look of shock, he knew what was going happen, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. The only reason she could think of was he ran of tears that day and the only thing left was to accept what came next and it hurt her so much she didn't know why.

Her inner self clashed against what her mind and feelings were telling her what to do, but that was her problem; she didn't know what to do.

‘Faust, I hate this.'

Although it seemed Captain Motorsports knew exactly what she was going through because he gave her a knowing look, "How the kid holding up?"

Spitfire puffed out her wings with a smile stitched onto her face, "He's doing fine for somepony who doesn't know what's happening to him. He hates being stuck in the hospital, but only allowed to walk around with adult supervision; it's not necessary when he knows where he's going. I swear that colt acts more like an adult than most ponies I know."

A fond smile made its way across her face, "Like the other day we were walking down the hallways when these two elder ponies were fighting over who wanted to sit next to the window to look outside when he talked to them, and they agreed peacefully to take turns. Heh, he's always been like that: helping anypony in need or doing random things like cleaning or fixing things. I asked him if he wanted to be a butler I could have him meet with one of Princess Celestia servants, but he told me he didn't want to be a bother."

Spitfire had to give it to him; the colt knew what he was doing as a Repair-Pony. She couldn't be more proud of the little guy when he helps others complaint or without thinking twice at times it worried her thinking he'll overexert himself, but so far he's not been showing any signs of struggle. So she left him to his own device and it seems to be doing well for his growing reputation as an unofficial staff aide.

"You seem to get along with him quite well; he's really grown on you?"

Spitfire felt the smile on her face grow up and sprout out blended between a smirk and a grin,

"Well we do have some chemistry, he's got a lot of talent in that little body of his, it would be a shame to waste~"

Captain Motorsports shook his head chuckling at his Vice Captain antics. Always a teaser that one, never shying away from 
the opportunity to embarrass others one thing she did pick up from him.

"By Faust, Celestia help him then." Laughter echoed from both ponies.

Her Captain's eye twinkled with hidden intentions, "Planning to make him hate his life from such a young age?"

He shook his head mockingly, "You truly are heartless."

Spitfire shrugs her shoulders, "Hey with a brick personality like his, that's the only reaction I can get out of him. You have to keep pushing his buttons until he decides to do something about it."

"Well, I hope he learns fast if you're going to stick around."

Spitfire mood instantly changed by how she stiffened up and laughed nervously, "Yeah…"

Hearing the uncertainly in her voice, Captain Motorsports smile went back into a straight line, "You are going to visit him before he gets medically separated right?"

Spitfire nodded her quickly, "Of course I am! I wouldn't leave him alone after all the time we had together. It's just…" She trailed off and refused to look at him like she was afraid of what he would see.

It didn't take a scholar to put together what Spitfire was trying to get at. After getting to know the colt she had grown attached from the way she speaks animatedly about, it would leave her heartbroken state when he left her and from one pony to another he could understand that feeling like a parent would being forced to watch as their child is taken from them.

The more he thought about it and judging by the way Spitfire acted; she was thinking the same thing. Captain Motorsports knew what he had to do and as both team leader and her longtime friend.

"There are no right choices here." Captain Motorsports said calmly.

Spitfire flattened her eyes, "I know, It's been eating at me every night, and I-"

"I'm going to stop you right there." Motorsport interrupted with an authoritative voice that mad Spitfire automatically locked her body up and paid full attention to like a fresh new recruit,

"You're not as clueless when you first joined the Wonderbolts and you already know what to except you don't have the nerve's to act on it."

He moved out his chair talking to her as he maneuvered around his office in a militaristic fashion.

"I know I'd taught you to always show confidence in everything you do, even when you're wrong. True, this situation isn't like any I've ever seen so I can't help you, all I can do is offer counseling and support. You Spitfire, are stuck between a choice and choosing either one terrifies you."

He stopped behind Spitfire as her head sunk lower and lower with every word that came from his mouth, "There's no easy answer to this, and I don't expect there to be. But it doesn't matter, any action that you take I will not think bad of you."

He layed a hoof on her shoulder, "It's best to nip it in the bud before it gets out of hoof and turns into something you'll regret. However you want to do this, remember nopony will judge you."

At those words, Captain Motorsports turned around and walked out, as he was about to close the door he heard a small voice, "How do I know I made the right choice?"

He didn't miss a beat when he answered closing the door, "What makes you happy."

Spitfire looked down on the floor for a couple of minutes when her leader left thinking about everything he just said. She's been through this for days, and it hasn't gotten her anywhere now that she has advice it cleared up a few things, but the issue remained. Getting nowhere she got off the seat and headed off hopefully some fresh air would shed some light on her struggles.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A red brick building outside the edge of Canterlot came into view as Spitfire was flying. She landed on the pavement gracefully, folding her wings she proceeded to walk up the front doors with a small smile. Her legs went into the motion as she moved across the clean white floors up to the front desk with the golden words [Celestia's Hospital] embedded in the wooden furniture.

The mare known as Sunny Honey shuffled away documents by lighting up her horn watching as wisps of energy organized the papers, before she could actually file away the mare saw a familiar yellow coat and greeted the Wonderbolt with a knowing cheery smile and a voice to match her name, "Hello Ms.Spitfire are you here to see the little one?"

Nodding her head Spitfire looked down to see the guest check-in sheet picking up one of the pencils with her mouth she quickly wrote down the needed information. Seeing as everything was in order, Sunny smiled.

"Stairs are on your right, the second floor, you know which room deary."

Thanking her, Spitfire walked towards her destination all the while still thinking about her talk with the Captain.

‘Don’t think about it.'

She thought to herself when she got to the second floor, steadily moving her hooves down the hallways she passed a few familiar ponies wearing white coats who gave her a nod of recognition.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw two ponies of the opposite gender wearing black, and white dress clothes walk out of the room she was about to go in. They didn't seem to notice her as they walked away, the suited business mare shook her head in pity as she spoke to her coworker, "That's just sad, out of all those that are leaving here he's the one that goes home without a single pony who remembers him or even himself for the matter."

The stallion kept his voice smooth although they hear some sympathy from him as well but Spitfire didn't listen. Instead, she felt something burn in the back of her throat and choose to swallow it back down as she slowly walked into the room.

Inside the room was immaculate with one bed and a window that beheld a beautiful view of the city with a clear sight of the royal castle built into the mountainside. The sound of flushing made Spitfire turn her head to the right to see the door leading into the private bathroom open wide and out walked the little thing that's been in her thoughts for days.

A small thinly scarlet furred Earth pony walked out the bathroom looking conflicted, but he quickly covered it up when he saw her, "Good evening Spitfire, how are you doing today?"

The politeness and honesty poured through his voice like sugar made Spitfire want to roll her eyes. Instead, she choose to greet him by rubbing his silky silver mane.

"Hiya kid, have you been lonely without me? Did you miss me, my little Handy Dandy?"

He gently pushed away from her hoof with an annoyed look, "I miss you when I want to leave the room."

She faked a shocked face, "Is that all I am to you? A hall pass?"

Spitfire dramatically put a hoof to her head as she spoke tearfully, "I thought we had something special! What happened to time we shared? Those good old days?"

"We know each other for a few months."

"All those precious memories!"

He closed his eyes breathing out a little before asking, "Aren't you supposed to be busy today?"

She quickly got over her drama, shaking her head, "Naw, just got done with our preliminary practice for the show tomorrow which I want you to go to if you're still interested?"

Spitfire already talked to the doctors about letting him out for a day, and they agreed to it surprisingly, most likely by seeing him stuck inside the hospital and him wanting to leave every chance he got.

He bowed his head, "I would appreciate it if it's not too much trouble for you."

Spitfire nearly groaned with disgust at his overbearing courteousness, "Alright already! Geeze, it's just time outside the hospital. You're going to see more of it in a few weeks."

He shrugged his shoulders awkwardly as he walked to his desk grabbing his Patient Information Card that was attached to a metal bead necklace. She watched him amusingly as he struggled to put the thing around his neck without success. Spitfire got enough from watching and wordlessly turned him around and helped put it on.

It's a little fun that she had to help with small things, he learned the basic of how to hold things, but he still struggled with putting on his clothes or other material that included his teeth which required lots of patience. It was honestly rather cute, not that Spitfire would ever admit to anypony.

"There you go, remember it's all about aiming. Don't be afraid to get a little dirty, put your teeth into it; it's all one fluid motion like so."

He listened obediently to her as she instructed him, he watched as Spitfire slightly smiled as she talked about catching items at the right moments which involved complex movement, but she seemed happy to explain it to him as simple as possible.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself, has practice been good?"

She thought back to practice and withheld a wince. She nervously chuckled, "Kind of? Not exactly my best today, but tomorrow will be perfect. After all…" She grinned proudly, "My number one fan will be there, and I can't disappoint."

He raised an eyebrow, "Who may that be?"

"Your so mean!"

His lips curled up into a small smile as they both walked out of the room to the lobby area which they greeted most of the staff along with some patients. They got out to the building and walking to the wooded area where most the hospital's residents came to relax on a beautiful day.

As they enjoyed the scenery, Spitfire thought back to this morning with her Captain; she decided not to think about it, so Spitfire chose to focus on something else.

"So I uh, saw those two other ponies coming out the room, what did they want?"

She most likely knew what they were there for but she still asked anyway, the young pony glanced at her from the corner of his eye before looking back, "They just wanted to check up with the medical team before I go. Mostly asking how well I've been and that I'll be living at Acres Homes Orphanage in Manehatten."

She tried not to look too saddened by the news; she instead wrapped a hoof around his neck as they walked.

"How about you? How do you feel about all of this?"

He tilted his head in deep thought before answering, "It's all I've been thinking about for the last month, and now that I'm here there's not much to think about. I don't know what I'm supposed to think."

They walked in silence, and before they knew it, they saw the edge of the forest. The older of the two looked down at, the younger one trying to think about anything to say to him, but nothing would come out, as always his maturity showed when he spoke dismissively.

"It's fine; I'll just have to adjust. From what I heard the city would be a great opportunity for me to meet potential family."

Her mood dipped even lower from the casual way he said that she wouldn't be able to look at him at this rate then she had to say something fast.

"The Equestria Games are being held in Fillydelphia this year!" She blurted out the first thing that came to mind, wasn't the worst thing she said, it gave her ground to drive the talk away from the unpleasant conversation.

The young stallion gave her a quizzical look before she hoof-faced herself when she remembered that she hadn't fully educated him on the sport's foundation history only of what her job entitled.

"It's a competition of flyers all over Equestria that represent a city to participate in games ranging from timed obstacle courses to precision making skills and the team with the most golden ribbons gets the honor of winning the Equestrian World Cup."

He hummed in interest, "Are you going to partake in these Games?"

She ruffled her wings in excitement, "Well of course I am! I got this cool new trick I going to use to blow away the competition and would surely get me in Celestia's good grace, maybe even bear the Guest of Honor at the next Sunset Celebration!" She went off ranting her fantasy leaving the younger one to stare at her flatly.

‘She sure likes attention, hope she won't try to be too competitive, knowing her I think she'll be fine.'

As she withdrew from her crowd of imaginary fans, she took upbeat steps, "Only a few more months away from all that excitement! I'll show everypony who is the top dog around here!" He smiled at her childish exuberance, and his curiosity was peaked about this Equestria Games.

"Speaking of these Games will anypony else in the Wonderbolts be participating?"

She rolled her eyes as if to say ‘well duh.'

"Of course there'll be other ponies coming with me like Fire Streak and that newbie Soarin. There has to be a team; otherwise, you can't enter, silly."

With a tiny smile came to him as he said in a innocent voice, "It sounds like your the only one pulling your weight. Are you sure your teammates will be able to keep up with you?"

Spitfire felt heat creep around her cheeks as she slightly flustered, "Yeah!! Well!!!…O-Of Course my teammates win!! They're good at what they do too, ya know!!-It's not all about me!"

‘Could have fooled me'

He thought as he watched Spitfire's cheeks burn with embarrassment as she tried to salvage herself by not coming off as one of those drama garnering, glory-hogging, aristocrats she sees at every Sunset Celebration.

She calmed down from his teasing and getting some small, petty revenge she messed with his mane once more getting the hair thrown back into his face.

As they walked back to the hospital, Spitfire continued where she left off, "Our team can only partake in one event, so I'm going to make sure everypony pushes themselves for these next few months."

He nodded agreeably as he once more fixed his mane while throwing in a word of caution, "Not too hard I assume? You don't want your teammates to overexert themselves."

He tried to think carefully of his next words; otherwise, she might take it the wrong way, "You like to take things a little too extreme."

Spitfire looked at him oddly like she's never heard those words before, perhaps it was her job requires them to be competitive and pushing one's self to the limit daily is normal. They were first unit responders to major crisis so anything could happen from then to now that's why training was so vigorous for them to adapt to any situation at any time. The concept of taking it easy was never an option; aerial acrobatics are to be trained until their bones snap from the pressure, hair falls from stress, mind breaks until all that's left is your conditioning of only to push past the pain to get the mission done. There are few in between who make it into the academy much less a Wonderbolt and it was up to the top, of the top, chain of command to decide who was to train these undeveloped which was none other than her.

And by Celestia did she love her job.

"What are you trying to say? I'm a great instructor. Just look at my current record."

She raised a hoof as if counting, "I'm the second current team leader of the best flyers of all Equestria, I know every trick there is in the book and can not just do my work blindfolded but while backwards. I'm also the best part of the show, everypony adores me, I do amazing feats with nothing but my senses to guide me…"

She kept adding in one point after another that didn't have much or at all to do with her coaching but more of herself like she always talks about. The young colt could only think he would never meet another being in his life that likes to talk a lot about themselves as much as she did.

Wanting to stop her before she goes off on another imaginary trip, he purposely bumped into her on autopilot she flapped her wings to prevent herself from falling. She steadied herself gracefully and glared at the not so guilty earth pony that tripped her; he only gave her that look which made her feel a little sheepish.

Spitfire is aware she likes to talk about herself without even realizing it, and the only way to make her stop is by physical force, by now he has no problem shoving her if it means to keep her quiet.

"Before you decided to talk about how great you are, what I meant was others are not like you when it comes to physical activities." He pointed out.

"You need to be patient with them before lifting off so to speak."

Spitfire didn't know why he was bringing this up, but a memory came to her that caused her to slightly shrink on herself when she thought about it, now realizing where he was coming from.

Spitfire is a bit of an enthusiast of meeting standards and winning which is one of her major flaws as it gets the best of her most the time leaving her short-sighted. A couple of weeks ago when they were exercising, she took things too far when she wanted him to do what was impossible for him at the time and screamed at him furiously when he didn't meet her goals.

After she realized what she's done utter horror and shame overcame her, he didn't let it get to him like everything else which wasn't much in comparison; it still made her feel bad, so she took him for a treat later on.

By reminding her, he hoped to get her to understand. Not because of how hard she pushed him that part was fine, but because of how guilty she looked. When he saw the teary look on her face as she realized what she's done, he immediately didn't like it; he didn't want her to be sad.

Sad…

She tried not to think about her problems and instead focus on him, he's got plenty of hardships ahead that he needs to fix and it won't be as easy as him repairing broken things.

Speaking of things needing to be fixed.

"Is anything coming back to you? I'm not complaining, but calling you kid all the time is starting to get old for me."

‘But that means you are complaining.'

He wanted to say but wisely kept his mouth shut unless he wanted another messy mane.

"I haven't yet, but I can remember it being there. I need some more time, and when I go, I'll let them change it."

One quality she admires about the pony is his conviction. His firmness as he told the doctors that he didn't want to be renamed caused some controversy when they had to write him down as The Patient, but it didn't bother him or the little nickname the nurses call him ‘Scarlet,' not very original but it stuck not with her though.

He just knew it, deep down he knew his name, and it would come to him one day. It was special to him, and the medical staff has honored his wishes not to label him as a Pony Joe.

"Well when you do, be sure to write it on a name tag so you won't forget." He gave her a dry look as she snickered at her senseless humor.

"It's better than any of the ones you picked." He shot right back.

Spitfire laughter died and instead exclaimed in a dramatic tone, "Are you kidding?! I pick great names you don't know anything about! Actually! You don't know anything at all! You shouldn't even talk!"

He thinly lifted an eyebrow, "I may not have my memory, but I don't need to know you have a terrible taste in naming." This time he raised a hoof in the air but in a more mocking fashion, "Cloud Dust, SkyBurn, Cheesecake, Silvertail, Storm Breaker, Star-"

"Ok! Ok! I see your point." She nervously said as she quickly cut him off, looking around to see if anypony overheard him. It seemed to embarrass her to call out what she thought was ‘cute' baby names.

"Still think Cloud Dust is a good one." She muttered under her breath.

He gave her another flat look, "I don't have wings."

She waved it off, "It doesn't have to be literal."

He mentally disagreed with her as he thought of nearly ninety percent of the populace that lives up to their names. Quite literally.

Honestly, it's like she got them by rolling up her favorite words in a jar and mashed it with another word hoping it would match, but he wouldn't judge her too harshly, there were other names worse than what she picked. So he did what he's been doing the last three months by letting it go and give Spitfire an eye roll.

As they drifted away from the original conversation, he wanted to give her teammates his condolences-Ahem sincerity to the upcoming event. He might not have known them long, but when they visited him, they seemed like-ah-good ponies. That word kept stopping him like it was the wrong thing to say, but he just put it in the back of his mind for now.

"Can you be sure to give them my regards and wish them luck. Tell them I'm sorry for not being there to cheer them at the Games."

Spitfire halted this time both looking intensely at each other; she decided to stop dancing around the issue. Swallowing her nerves and realizing just how dry her throat felt, she talked with false confidence, "You know, if you want to I can talk to the doctors about extending your stay and you won't hav-"

"No."

His calm voice cut through Spitfire's sentence causing her mind to blank for a second. She saw the cold look he sported before her brain caught up with what he said, then reboot with a fiery start.

"You don't have to do this! There's plenty of other options! I can pull a few strings talk to some ponies I can get you moved to the Remedial Program! You can become a permanent resident at the Recovery Wing! You don't have t-to go!"

‘Don't leave me.'

She desperately wanted to say but the words stuck in her throat. His eyes reflected sadness for the mare mentally kicking himself for not thinking about how it would affect Spitfire as he's aware of how much time she puts off to be with him.

Many times before he tried to get her to stop visiting him so frequently, but for some reason, she kept denying him and continued to barge into his life filling his black and white world with colors. He wishes desperately for an answer to her problems, but he, like her, had to move on.

He schooled his face and voice, both of which didn't waver.

"I've been putting this out long enough. I can't stay here and wait until somebody remembers me or myself for the matter."

He steeled his eyes on her, "It's time that I have to go."

The Orange Pegasi's eyes watered, but her face contradicted her emotion by how angry she looked. Her rage overthrew his rational thoughts for her selfish wants. She snorted in anger before she yelled which startling a couple of birds nearby.

"Why?! It doesn't have to be this way!! I can set you up with more appointments!!! Talk to the Providers!!! Changing locations!!! Anything I say will and can happen!!! Even if Celestia herself said no!!!"

She went on talking about what she could do, but he knew nothing would change unless he agreed. Strangely at time like this he remembers reading from some Med Law book: If patient(s) proved to be in full health consented by the medical staff and/or approved by Parent, Guardian, (or in his case) Ward of the Court as a functional citizen; Member may retain the rights to discharge themselves if proven to be in good health in both state of mind and body. After that, it goes on to different Articles, but the main point was that he had the right to choose as the hospital had given him the go-ahead to be released. He hasn't experienced any recurring blackouts or repercussions of being an amnestic like repeat memory loss. Only his identity took the fault for that.

Staying here waiting until they kick him out wasn't an option if he wanted to learn more about the world he would need proper guidance. He wouldn't get the education he needed since he still hasn't scratched the surface of Equestria History which Spitfire thinks could be picked up along the way by anypony who could read a book, but he still would need to go to school to learn more about his surroundings and not to mention: learn to write.

His word would never break, it's the only thing in this world he's got left, and she knew it. So he stood there, just like all those weeks ago taking it as she yelled at him instead this time her face looked desperate as she tried in her own way to convince him to change his mind. He knew this was the only way both could move on, better to let her vent her frustrations on him now than later. It will give her the time she needed to prepare for his departure which she should calm down by then.

Her rage withdrew after a few minutes of nonstop yelling. Her body trembled like a leaf in the wind, a few tears escaped from her eye dripping down her chin. The intense silence followed both of them didn't know what to say which was more than enough than what can be said. Spitfire threw herself forward holding onto the smaller pony. No words were needed; just action alone spoke louder than anything she'll ever say.

The hardened Wonderbolt who so many thought was impervious to anything that clung to him like a lifeline was still a living, breathing, feeling equestrian. All he could do is wait was rub a small hoof along her back for what he thought was comfort until she collected herself and offer her a sad smile that promised everything was going to be alright even though it wasn't.

After a while, she pulled away as she whipped away the few remaining tears, her voice was a little hoarse, but he could still understand her, "I'll...Get with the Foal Service and tell them that you don't need that extension anymore."

She said with a defeated tone; she couldn't convince this young colt to change his mind then the least she could do is respect it. It was disheartening to see him leave without knowing she could at least do something. But all she could feel was useless when she saw him nod his head somberly in appreciation, her throat closed again, and her wings dipped almost touching the ground.

How it must feel for him she couldn't imagine most likely he would feel bad but not for himself but for her, these last few months she picked up how to track his mood which was easy since he was an open book when he tried expressing himself and she could see the amount of frustration adorn his face like an impossible puzzle he was trying to solve. But she could tell this was the only way he knew best to help both of them move on except the roles were supposed to be opposite.

She was supposed to be the one consoling the younger one.

She was supposed to be the shoulder to lean on.

She was supposed to tell him everything was going to be okay.

Yet here she was afraid, beyond terrified of what will happen when he leaves. Too much afraid of when the time comes...he'll be gone forever. She'll go back to leading her team, finding potential candidates to join the Wonderbolts, perhaps someday wonder what could have been if she didn't have the fear to do what her heart wanted her to follow. Because she was nothing but a fraud hiding behind behind a mask from everypony that got too close to see how truly soft she was and she hated to been seen soft.

‘Why do you do this to me?'

Drained from everything she led him back to his room not noticing or acknowledging the worried looks he kept sending her. He didn't know what to say so he didn't say anything that could fix the situation, he hoped over time she would get better and find her passion again.

Her happiness was more important than his own; he never could explain why he did it other than it was the right thing to do for the one who saved him. Saving her the heartache by leaving her was the only option he could come up with that would let her live her life without him interfering any further.

Mirthless was how he could come close to feeling about this predicament, nothing would be fixed, and he would remain the broken pony when she found him.

It was the kindest thing to do for her.

As they entered the room a light blue unicorn wearing a white coat signifying him as a doctor nearly crashed into them coming out when he was too busy looking at his floating clipboard in front of his obscuring his view. He quickly stopped by years of reflex from looking too intently at something and not paying attention to his surroundings. He yelped in surprise,

"Sorry! I almost didn't see you there."

Amber eyes locked onto Spitfire, "Ms.Fire? I thought you were supposed to return until after the Wonderbolts show?"

Spitfire managed forcefully grinned to cover her sadness, "Nah, I came in early to see the little guy before I head out."

She pulled said ‘little guy' into a hug which he didn't or couldn't return since she was squeezing him very tightly he was barely able to breathe. His annoyance came back, but he let her have it for putting her through that emotional roller coaster. For her sake, he would suffer in silence.

The unicorn chuckled at his predicament, "Well that's good to hear. You came back at the right time. We're about to take young Scarlet here for the procedure." He stepped to the right hoof out inviting him inside the room, "The nurses will come for you in a couple of minutes, I'll be in the ITU Room shortly after."

Spitfire let the colt go. Both went inside as his Primary Care Doctor Night Light left to get ready for the operation with his colleague Doctor Cold, who practiced as a Neuro-Magician. His associate was the one going to be the one performing the spell while Nightlight assisted.

As he left them be, the amnestic walked to his small desk to dropped off his PIC Card as he did Spitfire thought many things to say to break the ice forming between them after her little spat but nothing came to mind.

She opted to stay quiet and waited for the right moment. Staying quiet didn't take long when she saw what he was doing, she raised a hoof to her mouth to hold in laughter when he had some trouble with the chain that got caught in his mane. He was trying to swat at it with his hooves which amounted to nothing. Spitfire took great amusement at his struggles as he uselessly swatted before trying to throw it off by whipping his mane back and forth like somepony headbanging to music.

She saw the perfect opportunity, and she wouldn't let it pass.

"Ok Punk Rock, let me help."

She tangled with his silver locks and after pulling out a twine of hair as the chain finally came off.

"You realllly need more practice with your chompers if you want to grab things." She said while setting the Information Card down on the table, showing off her skills of multitasking.

"Or are you still too scared to get your mouth dirty?"

He was going to fix his mane once more but gave up when he knew it was going to be messy no matter what he did.

"I just don't like to touch things that have been passed around somepony else's mouth."

She gave him a hard look, "Look, it's a bad time to be a germaphobe for a pony of your status, you're going to have to get over it. If it were up to me, I would just let you pick up the dirties things off the street and not let you wash your mouth until the end of the week."

She nodded her head while smiling, "That'll cured you right up."

‘Or have me traumatized!'

He thought in bewilderment of Spitfire's treatment. Hoping she doesn't get the idea of doing worse than that he quickly said, "I-I'll find my preferred method of overcoming this. The chain always getting knotted in my hair every time I take it off, so it's not really a bother for me at this point." Spitfire gave the young stallion a sly smirk, seeing through his attempt for not going through with her plan.

"Sure, if you think you're doing so well then how about we talk about your results from our training sessions."

At the word ‘results' he dropped his nervousness, instantly straightened up looking at her with a firm face that could give those stone-faced Royal Guards a run for their bits. Taken back by his seriousness, she could only think that she would never see another somepony his age pay so attentively at their grades before. Not even her. When she was his age, all she wanted to do was hang out with friends or show off her Cutie Mark, which sadly didn't apply to him since he's still stuck inside a confined area for most of the day with limited individuals coming to see him and as for the other...well. Spitfire looked at his blank flank...He had more important things to worry about than finding what he's meant to do at the moment.

Seeing him wait patiently she quickly cleared her throat, "Ok kid, here's my conclusion for our little segments: You got the agile function to bend your body fluently which is good for stretching that I see you practice time to time to help out your muscles. Being able to do the basic maneuvering for long periods of time, you exceptional well with your hooves to do tasks and able to move around like how you're able to stand on your hind legs while multitasking."

Strange kink, but she still made small notes seeing how it's his first instinct when trying anything and when he tried walking on his own for the first time. It's strange to look at like somepony break dancing which wasn't all that uncommon...

"Buttt." She said lengthy, "you rely on them too much, while using your hooves is a great it's not helping you get any better with your mouth which you should be focusing on more. I hate to break it to you, but Earth ponies such as yourself don't have the luxury of having magic or wings to pick things up when you're having trouble. Your only gift is to mouth things and people off when you need to."

He frowned at the end but knew she was right. He's been trying to avoid using his mouth for a while, he would've preferred to use another method or some tool instead, but the undeniable truth was that his mouth was his other sets of hooves and he had to use it at one point.

"I'll..practice more when I get the time." He said defeated and slightly embarrassed tone, most likely that Spitfire had to be the one to point it out.

She nodded her head approving, "See to it that you do, I don't have to point out that one of the many things you'll learn is writing and you can't learn to do that with your hooves."

Slowly learning like a newborn foal, but he'll get there. His progression was extremely taxing for his body after the injuries he sustained during the Incident which resulted in him being bed rested for two months and she suspected his mind was also struggling to keep up with the loss of muscle memory. His body was rebuilding itself while his mind was trying to play catch up, the condition his body was in at the moment wasn't in good shape. Not to say he was in good health but it was spending all that time in bandages caused muscle wasting to appear all over his body nothing but a little magic and natural growth couldn't fix, he was still under advisement to take it slow, so far after all the things he's done with helping the other residents it was safe to say he was steadily getting healthier. He was strong for somepony who stayed in bed for so long, but she chalked it up to his Earth Pony inheritance that all seem to possess in the muscle department.

"Thank you." He said out of the blue, Spitfire caught off guard by the compliment after telling his flaws caused her to tilted her head in puzzlement.

"For what? I'm just doing my job."

He shook his head slowly, "No, thank you for spending time with me when you didn't have to."

He explained and he very carefully thought of his next words, "I'm also sorry for upsetting you earlier, I never intended for you to be hurt."

She felt out of her depth, with a tired moan she rubbed her wild fiery mane, "Listen, I know I said all those things and...I'm sorry." It was awkward saying these things, but she said what needed, "I'll try not to get too, but here it is."

Spitfire sucked in a deep breath and hardened her face like she was preparing herself to go to war, "I like you kid, like a lot. You know that? I want to let you know even if you're not here I'll still be. So I wanted to say how much the time I spent with you meant without me having to scream it. So…" With timid steps, she embarrassingly embraced the scarlet colt but this time with less pressure and more care, she went as far as to rub his mane soothingly.

"If your ever in need of anything no matter the distance don't hesitate to write me."

His only response was placing one hoof on her back, not to comfort her but to acknowledge the hug even when she was pouring out her heart to him.

This was a better outcome then he expected, she could finally move on along. This is all he wanted, his only wish was for her to be happy and without him, she could excel at her job without his presence to distract her. She always talked about taking over as Captain of the Wonderbolts how much it meant to her, and he noticed after some time he wasn't helping her reach it if she kept on putting a halt to it by staying here helping him and from what he heard her Captain was going to retire soon. Her new position as Captain of the Wonderbolts will be demanding, making this relationship between them more difficult to maintain if that meant she had to choose to skip her job. It didn't sit well that he was the cause of her problems, so it was better to put a stop to all this by leaving.

It didn't bother him. Almost nothing bothered him most likely the fire burned out his emotions along with his ability to understand how wrong it was not to feel any sort of sentiment from others. Although there had been times when something within him tugs his heart when he sees others in trouble, and he wants to give everything to help out which is fine by him, it gives him things to do and makes him ponder more on the subject of why he did it in the first place.

The mystery that is himself continues.

Spitfire pulled away looking down smiling warmly at him taking in the moment to appreciate how far the both of them have come. It made that little voice in the back of her head become louder than any of her thoughts, and it solidified the conviction of her next course of action.

"Seriously, if you need me for anything you can always yell and I'll come flying in." She tapped her forehead, "Headfirst if I have if I have too."

Just thinking about it made him wince, "Let's just stick with letters for now."

She laughed, "Sure thing kid."

The tension between them lessened, Spitfire wasn't happy at the outcome, but it was enough to know it would all be fine. There was still doubt, but she still took into consideration that she can have it settling by the end of the week.

The kid looked at her with a kindly smile, "I hope you do well in the Games. I wish your team the best of luck."

It was the third time since the beginning she saw anything other than a blank or annoyed face. It was then she realized how tired she felt, her legs were ready to give up from his heartbreaking smile. She already let out her tears on the walk over here; all she could do is pull out the same smile he was wearing.

"Yeah." She said sadly before shaking off her bad mood, "But let's not think about that. Let's think about ordering a plate of delicious cinnamon twists and jelly sprinkled donuts that are divine treats from beyond the clouds, after the flight."

She extended her wing out again and wrapped it around the young colt's body, "I probably didn't mention this before but there's this great place that I go every time we finish a mission called Moe's Donuts, and they serve the best treats in all of Equestria."

Top notch services all year round and not to mention her close friendship with the owner he lets her choose a variety of flavors to pick from his personal stash that could make the mouths of even Celestia herself, water with hunger.

Perhaps she daresay, it's even better than Apple Cider Season.

She's the only one he serves them to! That instantly made him her go-to pony for any food emergency.

He hummed, "That's interesting." 

Then he remembered, "Ah, speaking of food. Did you get to eat after practice? I can go to the main cafeteria and grab something soft for you so that you don't get stomach cramps."

She smiled sweetly at the thoughtful gentlecolt, "It's alright; I already had something before I came here." 

She felt something twitch when she also added, "And also." She looked down at him with narrowed eyes, "Never ever, ever, everrr!! Get me anything here."

The young colt rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Ah sorry, I forgot you don't like the hospital's food."

She snorted with anger, "Food?! It's so disgusting that even pigs won't eat it! Canterlot's dungeons serve better food than that hot garbage!"

She really shouldn't insult the hospital chiefs. They make...comestible food quality. You have to focus on the taste.

Really focus.

She stopped her ranting to look him over, "Your worried about me when it should be me asking about your eating habits. Just look how skinny you are."

To prove her point she felt her way around his small frame like a doctor inspecting her patient feeling his rib cages before settling her hoof on his chest, "I'm thinking one of these days of taking you out to a buffet and let you eat to your heart's content, but that would go against my advisory as your Physical Trainer. Perhaps more proteins. Hmm….Maybe doubling up your oatmeal's?"

She tilted her head as tapping his chest continued, "You gotta eat more solids," She decided with a self-assured nod, "I think it's about the right time to double up your meals, so your fine to eat to your heart's content."

She did it again, "I swear twigs have more weight than you do."

He felt something tremble on his face from the persistent jabbing, "Tall, lanky, and a bookworm. You make the perfect picture of a nerd."

Poke poke poke, "You know; I can keep going all day."

He pushed the hoof away with a frown that quivered as random twitching danced across his face. She smirked feeling accomplishment for making him show more of his emotion by bringing them out the most annoying ways possible.

Spitfire felt a little better from her very-much-needed therapeutic activity. As she swelled with happiness, she felt the familiar bounce in her legs she gets when a song was about to erupt from her. Instead of bursting out singing, she held in on the music begging to be released inside of her.

Without losing her beat, she turned that energy into a million-megawatt smile directing it at the annoyed Earth Pony, "Kid if you plan on going anywhere in life. Remember Altius volantis!"

He rubbed his chest sighing with defeat when she smiled widely looking at him expectedly, "Soaring higher." He said in an unexciting tone.

"That's the spirit!"

‘Clearly.'

Just as she was going to keep up her pestering his saviors walked in the room which were two unicorn nurses wearing white scrubs with nurses cap. They set up the medical equipment with the glow of their horns and began monitoring his vital.

As the young colt waited quietly as they finished their routine making small talk with him to check his condition and one informed him of the basics of what he'll be going through, Spitfire watched silently as he was prepared to be taken to the ITU Room.

She could not stand for silence any longer.

"Nurse, I think something's wrong with him!" She began in a dramatic voice, "I saw him foaming at the mouth earlier like a mad dog! I think he's got Rabies! Quickly! He needs immediate vaccin-!"

"Ms. Spitfire!" One of the nurses interrupted in exasperation, already tired of her personality, "I will not sterilize Mr. Scarlet, just to keep you from being bored!"

"But it's true." Spitfire snickered trying to keep the charade going, "He needs the shot, as a matter of fact, he likes shots, don't ya sport?"

The young stallion and the nurse looked at each other unconvinced.

"Can you give her something to make her stop talking?" He silently pleaded.

The nurse glanced at Spitfire with a gleam in her eye, "I got 200 milligrams General Anesthesia on standby."

"OK! I see when I'm not needed," Spitfire said nervously, getting up quickly not wanting to test how far her joke would go. Plus she really hated needles.

"I got to go anyways, gotta get up early tomorrow for the show. Tell the ponies in the Ticket Booth to let you in the VIP Section, say your Spitfire's Guest, and they'll show you the way."

He nodded his head in confirmation, "I'll be there."

 She came up to him while carefully avoiding the nurse who said that would stick her just in case she changes her mind, "I know you will. Have a good night kid." Rubbing his mane one last time and surprising him with a quick peck to his forehead, she turned away leaving him with the two nurses not seeing his reaction.

 His mind was left in disorder as she left. He touched his forehead where she planted the kiss on, ‘What just happened?'

Spitfire was never that affectionate before and she has never done anything ‘feely' while others were watching or else she's seen as ‘uncool.' The first time she attempted it was when both were still in that phase questioning their relationship making it awkward for the both of them when she left to go home by saying her goodbyes with a hoofshake like an exchange between two cunning businessponies.

It's a blue moon when she does try, although she goes to ridiculous lengths to keep that facade away from the public eye by blocking every view somepony can possible see them from and by acting like it never happened afterward. Today has been a challenge for both of them.

It probably was nothing.

"That's soooo cuuuute!!!" 

Followed with a sound that resembled a squee, both hooves pressed against her cheeks, eyes glittered with excitement.

"Hush Sweet Tea, there's no need for that." The strict nurse chided her coworker, although she herself tried to hide the smile threatening to overcome her neutral demeanor.

"Don't be such a sourpuss, Raspberry! It was cute! Even you can admit that!"

Shaking off her colleague's banter, the unicorn Nurse Raspberry turned to the child that made her feel the unprofessional need to hug him just by seeing his adorably confused childish look.

"Are you ready to go Mr. Scarlet?"

"Ah! Yes, I just…" He said not sure what to say.

The other nurse who still was smiling like a dolt looked playfully at him,

"Are you sure about that, Sweetie Pie?"

Blushing under his coat, he embarrassingly nodded his head along, not trusting himself to speak at the moment.

Looking to each other, they nodded their heads the nurses gently guided him to the room where they would conduct one last test.

It seemed like Spitfire could invoke other feelings.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inside the room where the trio were heading for the operation, two unicorns were inside the room behind an observation glass window reviewing separate portfolios that levitated in the air in front of them.

Doctor Night Light was pacing in the room muttering to himself, while he was reading a levitating parchment with the word Medical Assessment boldly labeled as the cover title. He stopped to adjust the glasses on his nose when he finished reading, pinching the area between his eyes he let out a short breath to refocus his mind before lighting up his horn to flip the papers to the beginning and proceed to reread it all over again.

The other pony in the room stood lazily next to the one-way viewing window was another stallion that contrasted Night Light. Short, messy crimson mane sprawled across his neck like a bird’s nest with a matching but lighter coat the shade of dusty red that looked unkempt for a medical personnel but anypony who worked there knew it was just his uncaring attitude for grooming.

The rest of his body was covered by long black business suit overcoat that fell over him in a natural way with a white shirt underneath, but the coat’s tail wasn’t long enough to cover the missing patch of muscle from his right hind quarter that looked like somepony tried to peel off the layers of skin. Two oaken stilts were fasted around the injured leg each holding the limb steadily in place, everywhere he went the pegs would touch the ground with soft clicks warning pony’s who was coming their way.

Intelligent emerald eyes scrutinized the fineprint, they occasionally flickering to the other side of a floating black and white x-ray of a brain. Once in awhile he would slowly nod his head as if confirming the paper had the correct up-to-date information, not before long he finished looking through the portfolio.

Rapidly glancing back and forth between the folder and the worn out blue stallion, he broke the silence, “You know, I heard that somewhere in the Smoky Mountains there's a rock that give Pony’s the ability to control fire and make them grow three times their size just like a dragon hyped on gems.”

Doctor Cold looked at his somewhat-of-a-coworker/friend half seriously, “You wanna ditched work to find a few magic rocks? Go terrorize a few villages? Demand their gold and virgins?” He said that last part with suggestive eyebrows.

The good doctor let out a breath but didn’t bother turning to look at him, “I’d rather not be involved with your schemes today, I have my daughter’s enrollment at Canterlot’s most prestigious school in a few hours and I don’t want to get on the bad side of Velvet.”

His daughters entrance exams would take place in a few hours after the operation, giving him enough time to head over to support her through the evaluations. He wasn’t going to miss it no matter the cost, otherwise his wife would never let him hear the end of it.

Doctor Cold humfed with dissatisfaction, “Why miss out on the fun? There are ways to get you to go. I can contact an old PI I knew from back in the day and see what kind of dirt he can dig up on the examiners, which won’t take long, and give those old neighsayers the ultimatum to either accept your brain child or be faced with public humiliation.” He pitched his maniacal scheme in a reasonable tone.

“Consider this thanks for sharing your tasty fat pills with me.”

Still not moved even by his appalling suggestions, Doctor Night Light kept examining an X-Ray of a pony’s skeletal structure as he nonchalantly replied back, “I appreciate your willingness to blackmail your old coworkers, but I think she’ll do fine on her own.” He wouldn’t bat an eye at stabbing his former associates in the back, so why would they not do the same with him.

“Also I would appreciate it if you didn’t eat my wife’s cooking that she made for me.” He stretched out that last word.

Doctor Cold shrugged uncaring, ignoring his last sentence, “If that's what makes you sleep at night, I still think those prunes deserve a hoof to their face for being antsy about everything that doesn’t fit their ‘requisites’.”

The snark in his voice made Night Light sigh before stopping his reading to glance over his shoulder, “Your still mad at them from their last visit? By the moon, that was over three years ago when are you going to let it go?”

“Like they should talk about my 'unconventional' teaching methods, when their entrance exams alone are unrealistic and not to mention the only brats they allow in are dry humping her Highness’ royal shanks.”

He said with a roll of his tongue as he limped over to an X-Ray Light Board, the wooden supports ‘clicked’ across the floor, “Prestigious my flanks, don’t be surprised if they try to make her conjure some fire demon from Tartarus that reads Filliam Shakespony.” He stuck the floating x-ray photo inside, narrowing his eyes even deeper in concentration on the exoskeleton.

“Considering that you use to work there makes it even more ironic you would trivialize their ‘unrealistic’ methods.” Night Light wouldn’t be surprised if Cold got his maddening thought process from or they got it from him.

Seems to make more sense that way.

“Perhaps you should heed their words and go for the safer options that usually don’t involve angry spouses or lawsuits?” He asked tentatively. Not that it would work, it’s the thought that counts.

For him anyways.

"Hlight foresetten plight" Doctor Cold said in old Ponish tongue, looking at Night Light with a smug look, "I never lose when things are done my way and those who whine are sore losers.”

Instead of feeling irritation as most Ponies would from his over-inflated ego, he just smiled in defeat but it was quickly replaced with an anxious look, “I just hope she does well. It everything she ever thinks about, I couldn’t imagine how bad she’ll take it if she fails.”

“Like what would you do if she cries to her daddy why it’s all so unfair?” Doctor Cold added in unhelpfully.

Night Light felt his heart as well as his body temperature drop to a chilling degree. 

His eyes widened as his pupils shrunk in horror. The aftermath of her actually failing never crossed his mind even the slightest, but with the way Cold said it made that reality seem very real. All previously confidence he held had fled in terror, his eyes darted around the room in a frenzy as his hooves nervously pranced in place. The folders he was holding telekinetic dropped unceremoniously on the ground as he was thinking of that dreadful future.

“Oh my Celestia!! What am I going to do?! I didn’t want her to feel like it was her responsibility to surpass her brother!! But all this time I made her feel like she had to live past those expectations!! I didn’t mean to put her under pressure!! It’s my fault!!”

Huffing at his colleague's stupidity, Doctor Cold lit up his horn stopping the tapping dancing idiot in place. He turned his blue body in his direction to look him straight into his non-humored green eyes, “Listen to me-Hey! Hey! Listen!” He slapped a hoof on his face to stop his colleagues body from moving around, “Listen up mommy worrywart, it doesn’t matter if your daughter doesn’t get in, she’ll do fine in any other school that will gladly accept her. Think about it, your sorry flank didn’t make it in and look where it got you.”

He kept his eyes leveled as his logic began to sink into Night Light’s head, “I’ve known you for years and I know that this is nothing to worry yourself over about. So as your esteemed lookout for your short-sighted being.” A red hoof nudged at his glasses, “I want you to ask yourself why should you be freaking out, when you should be thinking about being there for her when she does or does not get in? Stop acting like an idiot or by Starswirl's beard I will find a way to send you to the moon.” He said threateningly.

He slowly let him go as he saw the panic die away, Doctor Night Light immediately took a deep breath in and let it go calming himself.

He gazed at Cold with a look of wonder, “Since when did you become so supportive?”

“When you became a pain in my flank all those years ago when you got married."

He then shrugged his shoulders, "Plus your voice makes my ears bleed.” He added as an afterthought.

Today he finally reached his peak of tolerating Light’s family drama, the idiot should be glad he didn’t throw him out the window.

Cold picked up the folders Night Light dropped on the ground, levitating them onto the table. Night Light let out a deep breath, reassuring himself of what his sarcastic friend told him. It was nothing to worry about he’s been panicking over nothing, if it’s anypony that should panicking it would be his daughter. Velvet would laugh at how silly he was acting and she tell him the same thing Cold told him, but in a nicer way.

Maybe he was a mommy worrywart, he just needs to remember to have faith in his little Sparkle.

“But still if your, you know-mad and want to plot revenge my door is always open.” Doctor Cold said nonchalantly after that heavy talk.

“Revenge is also my hidden talent,” He gestured to his Cutie Mark that was covered up by his coat, “It has a double meaning, don’t tell anypony or I might have to snuff you out.”

Night Light blinked then chuckled at his flippant attitude, “Don’t I know it," Feeling his dread leave him as they return to their old ways, "You're the first I think of when I want to get back at somepony.”

Doctor Cold raised his head grinning with pride, “Trust me, I can hold grudges longer than any Griffon that loses Bits.”

After was that said, the door opened to the main room and in walked their patient who looked a little stiff as the green and pink nurses guided him to the center of the room. The room opposite of them had a few equipment lying around that monitored magical vitals and bodily readings. It was made especially for the heavily injured, there would usually be three doctors in this room with a high aptitude of magic but for their purposes it would only require the both of them. The room was thickly layered with reinforced rubber to block sound and to catch them in case of magical failure that tossed them into the walls.

“Finally, I was beginning to think they were lost on the way over here. It wouldn’t surprise me if the nitwit stopped on the way to help a nanny cross the rooms.”

Doctor Night Light smiled as they settled in the room, “He is special like that. You should pick up what he’s giving off, maybe then Saddles let you have a shot at her.”

“Please, I don’t need to learn anything from him. He only does those things because that's what others told him to do without knowing when to stop, like a trained house pet.”

Doctor Cold intoned, “Step one: lose your memories and make others pity you. Well, I already completed half that lesson.” He said with a little harshly before Night Light could say anything he left the room.

Doctor Cold moved at a slow pace, he hobbled over to the silver maned Earth Pony, “Hello again! I noticed that your tardy to our little party. So which elderly did you stop from fighting over the deserts this time?”

The Patient looked at the crippled doctor neutrally, “I asked the nurses if it was ok to make a quick stop to Twiddle Fiddle’s room, he's about to be discharged and he wanted to see me before he left.”

Doctor Cold looked to the two which they only responded by looking away innocently or staring back at him without a hint of shame, he hung his head sighing,“That’s very considerate of you.”

He looked straight at him this time without sympathy, “But my time is valuable, if you wanted to see him then you should have scheduled your playdate after.”

The amnesic narrowed his eyes back, “I’m sorry, but promised to see him before the operation and it would've been too late by the time it was finished.”

The doctor hummed as he stared at mindless colt for a while an unknown emotion passed over him as he stared at the bold youngin, “Interesting.”

He shrugged his shoulders expressing indifference before switching topics, “So here what's going to happen: we're giving you a sedative to relax your brain to let us worm around in your little noggin to find the source of the blockage. When your sleeping you'll feel a little funny and not the fun type when I cast the spell. So try not to fight against it if we happen to come across some memory of you using the toilet."

"But first.” He smiled pleasantly which he took great delight in seeing the colt slightly squirm, “We need a way in.”

The colt stood still as one of the nurses applied something wet to the back of his neck and then feeling his fur being cut. The green nurse mare cleared the spot with a wet cloth, removing any remaining hair. She nodded to the other nurse when the hair was removed.

Already familiar with the process, he settled in a kneeling position as pink unicorn Nurse Sweet Tea grabbed the needle filled with clear substance with the glow of her horn, aiming carefully at a vein at the back of his neck.

He couldn’t help but smile on the inside. Spitfire was right, it looks like he was still getting that shot.

He didn’t even flinch when the needle went in. He did shift uncomfortably when he felt the cold liquid slowly eject inside of him spreading into his veins like ice which left as quickly as it came. It took a couple of seconds but slowly he could feel his vision wan as his eyes slowly blurred.

“Remember.” The Doctor’s voice became an echo, “Don’t try to fight against it. You need too relaxxx” His voice drifted further and further away until he heard nothing but the sound of soothing waves.

The two Doctors and nurses watched as his head fell forward taking him into a deep sleep.

“You can at least pretend you like him.” Doctor Night Light mumbled under his breath.

“What’s the point? He likes it when things are straightforward. That’s one thing we do have in common.” The red stallion said as he limped his way back into the other room. A screen right next to the x-ray board lit up showing a live feed of the pony’s brain waves, which gave off some interesting results that Doctor Cold has been reviewing for the last three month.

How he became The Patient's Caregiver was something to be written off as coincidence, when he snooping around Saddle’s office looking for a good excuse to rummage through her stuff (and to prank her) he found The Patients portfolio locked in a cabinet (which he instantly picked). One look at the word 'classified' and he indulged himself, in less than five minutes into reading he all but demanded loudly to be apart of the inner circle after seeing the very simple brain activity that went inside the red entity’s body.

After swearing to secrecy which he thought was too much but after hearing who they will be answering to it was necessary. Doctor Cold still couldn't believe that Night Light would be involved with anything 'classified' much less keeping a secret, which he is horrible at if spoiling surprise parties counts.

He's used to seeing these readings from late hours of research and studying his scans. But Night Light on the other hoof..

“Ok! Wow! Ok..Just-Wow! This is-Just look at how the neurons works into his corpus callosum. The scans aren’t picking up any activity at all in the centre-Look at that!" He pointed excitedly at a dark smudge that appeared on the monitor, "It’s filtering out the cerebel-!”

“I can read this you know, it was a subject I forcefully had to partake in Med School.” The crippled Doctor moaned interrupting his partners prattling. Gods, he sounded like an eager student who found the answer.

“Yeah! Yeah! I know, but seeing it for yourself, you can’t help but wonder...” He trailed off still starstruck.

Doctor Cold didn’t say anything, he analyzed the monitor with intense laser focus with something of interest if staring intently at something counts, “It’s a complete mess is what it is. I’m not even sure how he’s still able to walk.”

Doctor Night Light gained his bearing looked a bit apprehensive. The blue stallion looked between the monitor and him, “You think you're up for this?”

Emerald eyes looked at him with a challenging look, “If you don’t feel confident, you can always wait outside.”

Finally annoyed of his dismissal, Doctor Night Light stood in front of him, “Cold I'm serious, this isn't some science experiment where you can mess up and get a participation medal. We’re talking about going inside his head to remove something that we still have no idea how or what's doing that.”

This had the hoof prints of a anything-can-go-wrong written all over it. If he messes up even once, it could backfire and do some serious harm to both of them with Cold locked inside the recipient's head. That’s why Doctor Cold is the only one going inside so that Night Light can watch over them to be able to ‘tether’ him back to reality. It was a desperate move on their part and would only cut away the area around the actual problem until they could find a permanent solution to the disease.

Late hours of studying, researching, and going over their source materials turned into days, weeks, months of failure. They tried everything on and off the book with zero success frustrating Cold to no end. Night Light came to the conclusion that Scarlet condition was incurable, but Doctor Cold stubbornly would never believe in that.

Instead all Cold did was cite knowingly, "Hlight foresetten plight.”

Night Light searched his partners facial expression for a while until he scoffed to the side with reluctance. He reminded himself if he was going to have faith in somepony then he let it be in the most capable sharp tongue of a jerk he knew.

He nodded his head passively, finally agreeing to this madness, “Fine...Let me just say if you turn into a kid again, I’m giving you to Twilight as a reading buddy.” Night Light said halfheartedly.

“Then let's just hope I make it back.” He said without his usual mockery.

Already committed to watch him go through with this, Night Light wanted to leave him some warnings, “Try not to leave imprints of yourself while your there.”

Doctor Cold locked on the sleeping form of their patient, “I’m not going to make another me, even I get tired of myself after a while.”

Night Light shrugged, “Had to say it in case the young fella picks up more of your attitude, I swear at some level he acts just like you.”

The red stallion rolled his eyes, “Yeah we do have that charming personality and clueless mindset about how ponies seem to think smiling makes everything better.”

Night Light tried his best to push away his thoughts of horrible outcomes if the spell does fail fatally, “No I mean on a deeper level both of you think your empty on the inside. One of you thinks there’s nothing left to fill while the other is trying to learn how to fill that void. It’s like you’re both trying to find purpose.”

“How exciting it must be for you to watch us connect like two opposites coming together.”

He took a conspiratorial tone, “Or could it be, that you secretly want to have that special connection with me?"

Cold looked at him in fake anguish, "I’m sorry to break it to you, but my heart is already taken and you name's not Cider.”

Doctor Night Light gave him a look already convinced that this operation will just be another case to prove his superiority, “Yes, I am distressed you choose a drink over me like a leech moving on to its next victim.”

“Your comparing me to a parasite?...Cool.”

A few minutes went by, Doctor Cold watched as The Patient’s brain monitors slowly ticked away at a normal pace notifying him that everything was going well. To an outsider’s view it seemed as if nothing's change, true the pony is asleep but the brain is never off. As a matter of fact the brain is more active during this stage when pony’s resting likely because dreams are taken from parts of the mind and it transfers over into Dream Realm.

“Vitals are showing spikes in REMS, Heart rate is slowly picking up, body temperature is cooling down. We’re about to enter the second stage of the sleep cycle.”

Cold added on, “Blood pressure is lowering, we’re about to hit Theta Wavelengths. All is going accordingly, we should have enough time to explain why you didn’t say anything to me.” He said casually.

The blue unicorn’s head perked as he adjusted his glasses nervously, “I-I was told under strict orders to keep it under wraps from anypony who didn’t need to know….and from Saddle’s to not let it get to you specifically.”

In the end it didn't even matter when he found out either by fate or dumb luck or Saddle's lack of self-awareness which he was sure she was still beating herself about. In some ways, he was glad he found the folder in Saddle’s desks, it gave him much relief to know that somepony he knew was involved and it took a load off his mind off of the fact it wasn’t him that said anything.

He was terrible at keeping secrets.

“So you thought it was best for me not to know, because you were afraid of getting talked down by somepony three feet higher than you?”

“This is Princess level stuff!” He defended himself in a harsh whisper to not wake up their patient, which was ridiculous since they were in a soundproof room, “I’ve never done something this important before! Not even that one time when the Griffon Ambassador got a stomach ache from eating too much candy!”

It was an interesting experience to cut open a griffon’s stomach after learning they don’t digest soft materials as well as they thought they should from being carnivores and all. 

Although, they should have warned him that you take the plastic wrappers off before eating it.

He cut short his pity party, “I was hoping to spare you countless hours of existential crisis that would end in everypony’s agony.”

‘And for my safety you didn’t try to break in Starswirl's Forbidden Spell Book section and use unspeakable methods, again.’ He thought to himself, fearing what his response would be only to relax when the green eyed Doctor looked at him with his classic your-kidding-me look.

“Well it’s nice to know your spine is still missing and your still a class A sucker for following the rules. Or was that from your Parenting 101 rulebook?”

Not taking any offence, he looked at Cold with a small smile, “Some things will never change.”

“You keep saying that even when I’m at the Smoky Mountains breathing fire and brimstone at those who dare take my treasure.” He said a little toothy at the end before wiggling his eyebrows, “I mean unless you ask politely, you can always join me with the village hottie for a manaja twa.”

Night Light closed his eyes halfway, “No thanks, I’d rather be here helping my urinary retention elder pee than get tossed in some rat infested prison for playing a live adult version of Ogres and Oubliettes.”

“If that’s what makes you feel giddy on the inside. It’s your loss or minus one turn. Anyhow, how is Lock Heart?”

He pushed his glasses back onto his nose, “Better, now that his kidney stone was removed for the second time in his life.”

Paying half attention to their conversation Cold looked back at the monitors, “It would do you some good to suggest that if he continues to forcefully diet himself, he won't have any spare parts left to give to his would be organ abductors.”

Night Light eye’s followed when the vitals finally showed the colt was in deep sleep, “I’ll try to keep that in mind when you tell your patients to stop faking their illnesses.”

“Please, as if there was some sick pony that could entertain me longer than my late night flings.”

A stray thought came to him, “Which is kinda weird, I don't have recurring patients. Usually they seem to go away after a few hours, days if they like me that much.”

Doctor Night Light chimed, “Or they are grievously sick and have a legitimate problem even you can’t solve. Which to me sounds like another excuse to keep you awake at night.” And more trouble for him in the morning.

“One of those happens to be how much idiocy pegasi can generate. They really give the title ‘Bird Brain’ a whole base of operation on its own.” Cold callously said.

Night Light eye twitched as he defended them, “They’re not that bad.” He tried not sound weak but Cold, like always saw through him.

“Not that-?! Have you ever seen the walk in? Nearly 80 percent of the numb-skulls out there are Flynn Rider wannabes.” He hissed in outrage as he thought of most his time wasted at the clinic downstairs just to stare at the overgrown broken chickens with unimpressed looks.

“At this point, it’s all the things that the mortician could solve.”

"How horrid!", Night Light couldn’t help but chuckle, “I can’t imagine the complaints Saddle’s will get when they pick up their coffins as a prescription.”

Doctor Cold gained a thoughtful look that made the chuckles die away in the gallows as fear replaced his being, “Please don’t do that, forget I said anything.”

The green unicorn Nurse Raspberry unknowingly saved him the drama when she poked her head in, “Excuse me gentlecolts, but it’s time.” She said curtly before going back out to stand dutifully on the younglings side.

Without saying anything both of them let their eyes connect briefly as unspoken words were passed between the two as they headed out.

Cold clicked on over to the sleeping colt, Doctor Night Light stood on his left waiting for him to work his magic. The red stallion closed his eyes with a look of concentration, his horn fizzed to life with red energy as he built up the needed amount of power. With no hesitation leaned down and touched The Patient’s head a white light enveloped the room briefly before dying away leaving both their motionless bodies to be watched over the surveying eyes of his fellow staff.
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Pretty empty in here, then again what else is new?’ 

Doctor Cold floated through the empty void of his patient's memories. Once in a while, he would see an image of a place but would instantly flicker out before he could get full details of what it was.

The ‘Void’ was nothing more than a stretch of dark hallway that kept going on and on forever it seemed. Behind him floated a ball of fluorescent light the size of the moon that shined into the endless sea of darkness like a lighthouse.

The Doctor was sure to stay vigilant in case the kid starts resisting his advances by unconsciously blocking his path like a door closing on his enchanting face. A red glow surrounded his ‘body’ and he took off in the single direction at measurable speeds, enough to examine his surrounding area for signs of discrepancies. To his disappointment nothing was revealed as he surfed his patients mind.

He wasn’t in a hurry, time functioned differently than in the real world, here time moves slower but not on a phenomenal level but to where an hour here equals ten minutes out there. It wouldn’t surprise him if he were here for hours and when he woke only thirty minutes had passed.

Another thing that frustrates him when he tries to learn more about the Dream Realm which nopony seems to know much about, is how it functions or the fundamentals of such a layout. Most have theories regarding dreams but nopony is able to say for sure how dreams are made to be other than being unconscious memories or pure imagination.

When Cold used to teach at Celestia’s school he remembered researching into the dream field for ‘scholarly’ reasons in the restricted levels for days, only to come up short every time he thought he was a lead. The only semblance of useful information were some nonsensical stories about spiritual journeys by somepony who looked like they wrote it while eating wild berries. However, there were some solid leads of a dream-walker that was said to be powerful enough to visit the dreams of others, although it was reported around a thousand years ago (much to his exceedingly growing annoyance) he doubts that even Celestia could remember that far back.

Back to his mission, what he came here to do was another challenge. For starters he would be searching for the problem with his ‘eyes’ for anything out of the ordinary. All the emptiness and lifeless background that covered the entire cerebrum like the vacuum of space was not helping.

Second, the means to cut away the blockade was the idea of an idea that theoretically could work on a normal Pony if the kid was anything but normal. Luckily for the little brat, Cold wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t at least interesting.

Thirdly was the soup of the day, which was taking the word off some dusty old book written during a time when nopony understood what the words ‘infection’ or ‘sterilization’ meant. Even then the book was written during medical infancy, although it did state they relied on Mage Meadowbrook’s teachings who was widely known as the pony to revolutionize the medical field and her teaching methods would later on become the cornerstone of Equestria Health Care. It did hold some merit, it was at this point he was willing to try anything before the kid leaves the hospital.

After exploring what he would refer to as ‘Absolute Zilch’ (AZ for short) for about two hours, it was getting to the point where he thought it was going to be a waste of his time when something caught the corner of his eye.

He turned in the direction of the movement in the vast emptiness, crawling closer he squinted to see what it was. With enough distance, he finally got the clear picture of a shapeless blacker-than-ink liquid moving fluidly around a group of complex looking Hoberpony Sphere’s that clumped together to at least a hundred others. The black smile oozed around the empty space like a tentacle monster squirming in the water, every few seconds it would move its mass around the captured cell leaving behind a shiny layer of silicone sticking the sphere’s together turning the neurons into a beehive.

It gave him the impression that he was in the right place.

Carefully he passed by the moving darkness and deeper into the mass blockade looking around attentively and idly noticing the nerves looked dead they should be in the garbage disposal, but with right concentration he could ‘kick’ them back in working order. But it had to be at the right location which happens to be a little further in the dark stuff.

It didn’t take long to find the center of the cluster, he found the biggest nerve that weakly pulsed golden light as the tar chained the memories in place. Figuring he was going to get close as any he thought of the counter spell that took form over his head, red light swirled around him as the violent waves gradually picked up pace before it condensed into a single point to the tip of his horn before shooting out with a powerful burst of energy. Striking dead on the virus, he grit his teeth as his horn began to heat up very hotly and his dream avatar began to flicker in and out.

He wasn’t physical at the moment, but he was still real in some shape or form, however it works in the Dream Realm. Even if he couldn’t physically feel the heat, he did feel his brain running on a high fever which he knows for a fact the body could burn up which would affect his mental state if it continued or incineration by spontaneously combusting.

Won’t that be a fun way to go?

Something wet coated his body and the pain began to lessen, the heat was still the same output as it was before except his body emitted a blue hue. He felt cooler like a layer of water was covering him.

His lips twitched upward as his compatriot pulled through on the successful spell.

As his head got back to the task at hoof he noticed the tar peel away to reveal the exposed nerve, before he could celebrate he looked closer at the tissue before spitting out a curse.

What was supposed to happen was the structure to break away which would make an unstable balance in the virus that could unclog the clot and allow the neromagicain to operate but instead underneath it there was a strange formation of blue lines running across a blanched membrane all parallel to each other holding it together. He didn’t know whether to blame this or the kid in general for the unexpected when he thought to have everything figured out.

He reared back his head, lighting up his horn again concentrating on getting through the strange nerve just enough to break into and the rest should theoretically fall away, even if it felt like his head would explode.

It was at this point he realized he was using an axe, when he needed a chainsaw to get the job done. He’s already been here for too long and with all the tremors he was making he was sure to attract some trouble or wake the kid up from all the cutting up going on in his head.
	
	As his horn poured out mana, he focused on cutting through the nerve with a high intensity beam instead to open up the membrane when a small crack split across the white shell. Cold looked in confusion as small blue lights spewed from the open tissue like fireflies. One was about to touch him when he suddenly got struck from the left.

He moved unbalanced like a drunk Pegasus who lost control of their wings. He righted himself and quickly looked over at his body to see what hit him. A spot of black sludge on his ribs moves across his fur causing a coldness to spread throughout his body.

	Taking that as his cue to leave, he didn’t notice the blue lines glowing brighter as he zoomed away from the moving darkness trying to close in on him.

Cold continued to zigzag across the closing membrane like a professional Wonderbolt as he neared the outside with precise maneuver. As he finally reached the past the obstacle his eyes for a second lost its focus when pain ebbed against his avatars ribs like a swarm of bees. For a moment he took his eyes off the path when the ink struck from behind. Tendrils of black web latched onto his hindquarters and slowly began to pull him back into its mass.

	As Cold struggled to move, he watched as the light dimmed as the kid slowly began to wake up. As his only door was closing he put all the strength to muster in his rear legs which caused his right leg to flare in pain as he kicked with so much force it snapped away from its base like a rubber band. Luckily that action propelled him further away in time as other tar webs reached out barely missing him.

With a glow of his horn he shot away from the moving darkness towards the light at speeds that would make Pegasi green with envy. The light slowly faded into dying embers when he reached it within trotting distance, he could feel the black sickness work its way up to his neck like the cold would wash over him giving him frostbite. As he was within hoofreach the moving tar covered his eyes filling his vision with…. p--ch--------em-ty----in---ite---et--ity-----ab-ss---en--ess---bl--k-----Lov-ly----Darkness..............................

…
…
…
…
...

Gasping for breath, Cold felt the solid ground under him as his vision returned he could vaguely make out a blue shape.

“C-Cold-Cold-Cold! Are you ok?”

Concerned honey colored eyes stared at him.

Hazy green eyes narrowed accusingly, “Nopony snogged me when I was out did they?”

“He’s fine.”