Chapter 1 A Piercing Reality
"Oh thank you Twilight I hate to be a bother but I didn't think you would want the whole venue three feet into the road."
"Oh it's no bother at all you didn't do it, but who would set all this stuff clearly in the cart path. Plus I think my magic might be strong enough to teleport the whole venue back three feet. It will take too long to break down and re-set up all the vendors and everything on this side of the street. If worst comes to worst we'll just have to deal with it in the road.But I think I can do it " She says with an unsure and excited look on her face, always eager to try doing new things with magic.
"Oh goodness that sure seems like alot Twilight. Please be careful."
Twilight's horn starts glowing dull at first, then slowly getting so bright that it's hard to look at. Slowly getting more and more strained and gritting her teeth as she builds more magic. Just then a light grey pegasus comes flying a short distance over one of the venues pushing a small storm cloud, one of her eyes wandering as she speaks.
“Hey Rainbow Dash, where do you want this storm cloud?” Rainbow looks up seeing who it was with a sigh and a light facehoof.
“Now Derpy we can't have storm clouds hanging over all the ponies at the festival. Here let me show you where I want them til the event is over.”
“Okay, sorry.” The dejected pegasus hangs her head as she stops pushing the cloud but she herself is still going forward. She slams into the dark cloud and it shoots off a lightning bolt right at Twilight.
The lightning hitting Twilight's horn in its overcharged state causes a dispersion of energy as the two forces oppose each other exploding in a violent shower of white and purple sparks that singe tiny spots on the ground as they land. The discharge of electricity mixed with the raw power of a teleportation spell of that magnitude tears open a small dimensional rift for a split second as you're slung through it.
Only thing you see is bright sparks and a brief flash of what looks like a purple unicorn as your stomach slams into her face and you both crumple to the ground, the whole ordeal taking less than a second.
You hear a soft voice eke out clearly sounding frightened. You start to open your eyes trying to shake off the disorientation. You shake your head again seeing a yellow winged horse, your best guess, come into view as your vision clears. The look of terror written all over her face, You turn to look where she is looking to see the purple unicorn laying on the ground unconscious, the yellow one too scared to approach her with you there.
Two more winged horses land beside the other as one of them calls out.
“Oh no! I’ve killed the princess!” Tears start streaming down her face. You don't know how or why she is talking but you hardly have the time to think about it at all.
The rainbow colored one has a determined look on her face and starts marching towards you and the purple unicorn; the yellow one is still frozen stiff. You need to take charge of the situation before it gets out of hand.You call out to the rainbow horse pointing your finger at the other one.
“ Help the…”you stumble over your words not knowing how to describe it. The only thought left is color. “ the….the gray one, help her, I'll get this one.”
Rainbow tries to console Derpy who is practically frantic thinking she is going to get banished to the moon for killing a princess.
“I don’t want to go to the moon, I'm sorry” she cries.
“You're not going to the moon Derpy it was an accident and she's probably fine… I hope.”
You go to stand up and grimace in pain grabbing your stomach. You look down to see a nice size puncture hole and blood running down your shirt. The yellow one sees this and all fear washes off her like it was never there. She rushes over to you.
“Oh my, Oh no, Oh goodness your hurt….. Badly….and princess Twi...” You cut her off scooping up ‘The Princess’ in your arms as you stand, your teeth clenched tight from the pain.
“Gahhh.” You grunt out the guttural noise as you make it to your feet, you see blood on the unicorn's horn, it becomes painfully obvious where you got your wound. You talk through your clenched teeth, your breath ragged between each word.
“Where’s…..Hospital…”
The yellow one points a hoof in a direction. You look up thankfully it's only a few buildings away you can clearly see the red medical cross. You start taking steps and can feel yourself start going numb, blood flowing more now that you're straining yourself. Even though she's only half your size the hole in your gut starts draining you of your strength fast.
“Are you sure you don't want me to carry her?” Reaching her hooves out, floating up in the air with her wing flaps.
You don't know if you're delirious or what but her voice sounded heavenly, so smooth, like honey being drizzled into clouds, then wrapping them in silk. Or maybe she is actually an angel, you can even feel the wind from the wings caressing your face. Then like a big ole idiot words just pour out your mouth, even you can’t believe it. You look her straight in the eyes with a small smile on your face and a manly tone.
“Don’t worry pretty girl, I'll get her there.”
Her entire face turns beet red. She is so startled she stops flapping and falls about a two foot landing on her butt with a cute squeak. It was pretty silly of you and absolutely adorable of her, but it's just what you needed.
You can't simply fail and look like a chump in front of this beautiful lady, horse or not even you can tell how pretty she is, and she’s counting on you. You gotta show her that you're made out of the stuff of legend, the manliest of men... at least in your own mind.
Then you look down and realize your blood is running down the feathery purple wings, dripping, and leaving a blood trail in your wake. You're starting to feel cold and breathing is more difficult, the only thing you can think of with each step is… ‘I have to make it’. You can't even feel your legs anymore.
The yellow angel, though now hiding her flushed face behind her mane, still never leaves your side for a second.You are finally there. You take two steps inside the door and look over at her.
“See I told you I would make it.”
You shoot her a big smile. You see her smile back but only for a second before your expression goes blank and everything goes black. You collapse to the floor with the purple unicorn held gently in your arms, blood starting to pool around you as nurses rush over. You can hear your yellow angel start to panic and you want to tell her everything is going to be fine but you aren't able to as that visual sea of black fades to complete lifelessness.
Chapter 2 - Hospital
Twilight regained consciousness shortly after arriving at the hospital, much to Derpy’s relief. She had only been awake five minutes and Derpy was already bawling before she even got a chance to leave her hospital bed, thankful that she hadn't killed her favorite princess and was also no longer at risk of being moon bound.
“I’m so sorry princess... I wasn't trying to kill you I promise!,” she wailed out, burying her face into Twilight’s chest fluff. She was desperately trying to breathe as she uncontrollably sobed out unintelligible sentences. Twilight started tearing up at such a moving display. She hugged Derpy and reassured her that everything was fine and she slowly started calming down but not before Twilight's whole chest was covered with tears and snot.
“There, There, See, I'm not upset at all,” she pulled Derpy away from her chest. ”But I do need to know what happened in detail. She looked over at Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. After a few mins she had all the knowledge she needed and she proceeded with her explanation to them.
“...then if you take into account magical and electrical thermodynamics the reason I was knocked out wasn't because of the force of the creature coming through the portal but the concussive discharge of the disbursement of electricity and magical energy as they repelled one another violently. In fact I was already rendered unconscious before the creature had actually impacted me.” She was clearly pleased with herself.
Unfortunately, it was far too much for the 3 pegasus’ negligible knowledge of magic. Rainbow’s face was scrunched up clearly confused with one of her eyes twitching, while Derpy had a vacant look on her face, her head could start smoking any second from her mental gears seizing up, and Fluttershy was guiding a family of ants to a tiny hole in the wall. Twilight sighed and cleared her throat.
“So in short the creature didn't actually do anything wrong.” All three answered in unison.
”Ohhhhhh!”
“Now, I would like to go and check up on the creature.” Rainbow looked over at Derpy.
“I think I'm going to help her home, I think she's had a long enough day.” Fluttershy quickly chimed in.
“Can I go with you Twilight? And shouldn't you wait for the doctors to release you?.”
“Sure you can come with me. I'd be glad to have company.” Twilight says, starting to gallop in place.
“As far as the doctors are concerned, I'm a princess, what are they going to do about it, I mean this is a friendship emergency….. Or something like that! Now come on, I need to study it! Spike! SPIKE! Get some scrolls and quills quick!
A few mins later they are standing in front of an operating room window Twilight's mouth is agape. Spike's grim facial expression says it all.
“Jeez Twilight, remind me not to make you mad, ever, again.”
“My horn did that!” She squeaks out. “I mean I know they can be a bit dangerous but, that hole in his midsection is the size of a filly’s hoof for crying out loud!”
“Twilight I don't feel so good… all of a sudden.” The pegasus’ eyes have gone glassy and she looks like she could pass out any second from the sight.
“ Oh gosh, look away Fluttershy. How about we get you some fresh air.”Just then the doctor comes out.
“Thank goodness you're here Princess. We're patching him up as best we can. As far as I can tell no internal organs were hit but some decent sized arteries were. If he would have bled for another minute or two he wouldn't have made it this long. I wanted your permission to give him blood seeing as how we don't know what it is, or he's still not going to make it, he’s just lost too much.” Just as twilight is about to open her mouth, Fluttershy speaks up.
“He can have my blood!” She yells out about as loud as you would expect her yell to be, causing everyone to turn their head. Not because it was loud but because it was Fluttershy.
“Are you sure , I mean you were just about to pass out just moments ago. Plus I think they have plenty of blood on hoof already.”
“ Oh please Twilight. I mean it was so heroic how he risked his life to try and save you, I guess he still is kinda. It's the least I can do... pretty please. She looks up through her hair with big eyes, her bottom lip poking out.
“Fine. That's a little weird but if you really feel like you have to. I don't think there is any harm in it, but don't think that face will work on me every time.” Fluttershy’s face beams a smile until she realizes the nurse standing there is waiting on her, because now she has to give blood.
A few hours and a good bit of blood later and you're finally stable enough and get moved to a room, still under close observation, with everyone hoping you regain consciousness.
“This is the frustrating part... The long wait. There are so many questions I need answering.”
Fluttershy shoots her a look.
“And of course, getting well is top priority.” She heaves a heavy sigh. “Well, all we can do now is wait. I’m going back to the castle, are you coming?
“I… I think i'm going to stay here for a while...if that’s um… okay with you. You know, just in case.”
Days had passed and the only thing that had remained the same was your semi lifeless body in the hospital bed and the beautiful angel who rarely left from the seat in the corner. Twilight comes everyday to check on you but probably just as much to check on Fluttershy and make sure she eats. Twilights worry for Fluttershy and Fluttershy's worry for you only grows as the days pass.
You have only opened your eyes for a few seconds, long enough to see her pink hair beside you, wringing out a washcloth in a small basin before you lose consciousness again. If only the pegasus could have seen it then maybe her worry would have subsided even if it was only a little bit.
“Fluttershy you really should go home and make sure everything is okay and get a good night's rest.”
“It’s okay Twilight,a few days ago I arranged for Dr. Fauna to look after my animals while I'm here. I would hate for him to wake up and there are no faces he recognizes at all. I imagine that would be really scary.”
Twilight sighs heavily knowing she won’t win this argument unless she makes her leave, which she doesn't want to do.
“Alright ,but if you remember from past experiences, you have to take care of yourself or you won't be able to take care of others.”
Feeling scolded a little she hangs her head and manages to get out a small.
“Okay.”
“I'll be back later to check on things.” Twilight turns and heads for the door.
“Ummm, Twilight!”
Twilight turns back to her.
“Yes.”
“He’s moving.”
“Guh… I feel terrible.” You groggily rub your eyes and start to open them only to see two ponies staring back at you. You quickly scurry backward slamming your back against the headboard before wincing in pain and grabbing your stomach.
“Wait, that was real?!”
“Yes it was , now please dont move around too much or you're going to tear open your stitches. Just stay right here and I'll go get the doctor.
She quickly dashes out the room leaving you in an awkward silence with a bashful pony who’s diligently trying not to look at you. Having already realized this is in fact real you try to go with the flow and break the silence.
“Sooo, what's your name?” Your words startle her.
“I...I’m Fluttershy.”
Well Miss Fluttershy, I don't know if it was your job or whatever but I remember you taking care of me while I was asleep and even before on our way over here. So Thank you.”
“Oh I don't work here. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. It really wasn't any trouble at all.”
“So how is our patient?” The doctor says as he and Twilight enter the room. You tense up a little and say nothing.
“No need to fret, I'm just going to give you a quick look and make sure you're okay.” He trots on over and starts shining a light in your eyes. Then he checks your wound and redresses it.
“Unfortunately I don’t know anything about your kind, seeing as you're not a pony like the rest of us, but everything looks fine as far as I can tell.” Twilight clears her throat and speaks up.
“How long before he can leave the hospital?”
“He can leave in a few minutes if you want.”
“Do you want him to stay with me Twilight? I’m sure I have plenty of room.”
“No, that's okay I prepared a room for him yesterday just in case.” Fluttershy looks away a little sad.
“Though I do have to say Princess, make sure he stays in the bed the next week or two as much as possible. We don't want him tearing anything open. I’d really hate to have to get more blood from Fluttershy.
You quickly look over to her in amazement at how nice this one pony has been to help a complete stranger in so many ways. The sudden attention leaves a pink hue across the pony’s cheeks. The doctor speaks again breaking your focus on the cute scene before you.
“That being said Sir, you are quite lucky you didn't get injured worse.”
“Good thing he hit me instead of Princess Celestia.” Twilight blurts out with a little gigglesnort.
They both look over at her with a slightly horrified look on their face at the grim picture she just painted for them, while you are just left confused.
“Annnyway, I guess we should get going. Are you ready? She asks walking over to you.
“Umm. Sure, I guess.” You shrug your shoulders. Fluttershy gives a little wave and you look at her a little confused cause you haven't even gotten out of bed yet. Then you see the Princess’ horn start glowing.
