Hardships and Truths

Rarity came round groggily, hearing voices about her. Keeping her eyes closed in pain as she groaned. The voices in the room all started getting louder, the volume hurting her ears.
"Applejack" she whimpered out, somehow knowing she was there.

"Easy there Rares, ahm here." Applejack's voice came over quietly, the warm breath against her ear letting her know just how close the mare was.

"Hurts." Rarity managed to gasp out as she tried to breath.
"Ah know sugarcube, it will, you got busted up real bad girl. Doctors can't do much more fer the pain they say, any more painkillers likely kill ya. Ahm sorry."

Rarity managed a small nod before finally opening her eyes, the first thing she saw being Applejacks bright green eyes looking down at her.
With a sudden start she gasped out "Sweetie-Bell!" But before she could do much more she heard Applejack shushing her.

"It's alraght Rarity, she's been stayin wi’ me an Applebloom. Twilight sent her to Sweet Apple Acres with Spike after she got t’ the library.”
While hearing this she felt Applejack gently brush her mane out her face.

It was only then she noticed the bandages about Applejack, securing a dressing along her spine. “Your back!” She managed to gasp out. Rainbow’s head popped up next to Applejack at this and answered the unspoken question of what had happened.
“Heh, yeah, as soon as Applejack knew you were in trouble she near blew the cloud I was sleepin’ on from under me with how fast she were runnin’. As soon as the Boutique came into view she dashed in protecting your body with her own.

“Aw shucks, Twere’nt nothin’” Applejack mumbled looking at Rainbow and the others.
Suprising to Rarity it was Twilight who refuted that. “Nothing? Yeah right! When I vanished that wall in time to see that beam slam down on your back I was near worried for the both of you! Had you not been stood there that beam would’ve hit Rarity on the head.” She finished looking to Rarity concerned at the last word.

Rarity couldn’t believe what she heard, but more pressing was her throat was parched. “Thirsty” She managed to croak out.

Before anyone could move Applejack had grabbed a glass of water from the side and held it near to Rarity. Rarity tried to reach out to levitate the glass to herself when she felt nothing. Normally when she used her magic she could feel it thrumming through her horn. Now not only could she not feel her magic but she couldn't feel her horn!

"My horn?" She whispered out, trying to raise her forehoof.
"Easy there Rare." Applejack said quietly before holding Rarity's hoof down with her own.
Twilight levitated a straw over into the drink which Applejack held close to allow the slightly panicked unicorn to get a drink.

"Wh. . . Why can't I *gasp* use my magic?" Rarity asked past the pain, not liking the look of sorrow Applejack was giving her.

"Rare, ahm sorry, there’s no easy way t’ say this . . .” Applejack started tears in her own eyes.
“It. . .the. . .” She stuttered to a stop as Twilight stepped forward.
“Rarity, by the time we got there, whoever did this to you had already. . . broken. . . .your horn, I’m afraid that now the only magic you can do. . .is on yourself. Even then it’s only basic. I’m sorry.” She finished closing her eyes and looking away.

Rarity couldn’t believe what she was hearing, it just wasn’t possible. No unicorn had ever lost the ability to use their magic before. She lay there shaking her head in denial. This wasn’t happening.
She looked to Applejacks face, eyes pleading that it not be true, yet Applejacks own tears confirmed the harsh reality for her.

She couldn’t hold on to the tears anymore, as they fell she started sobbing.
At the first sounds she made however a strong pair of arms pulled her close to another body, an Orange earth Pony’s body to be exact. Turning her head she buried her face against Applejacks shoulder, harsh sobs wracking throughout her own body.

-o.O.O.o-

Applejack held on to Rarity as best she could, her own tears blurring her sight as she tried in vain to comfort the beautiful white mare in her arms. Carefully she manoeuvred herself so she was sat on the bed next to Rarity leaning back against the headboard, supporting her as she held Rarity through her heart-breaking wails.

She looked about the room to see the other four who’d come with her, they all had their own tears falling. One of their own was hurting and there was nothing they could do to ease her pain.
This was nothing to the physical pain that Rarity was in, this was like saying a Pegasus could no longer fly, Rarity had lost part of her very being in the attack.

The attack. Applejack held Rarity tighter for a moment vowing that she would find out who had hurt the most generous pony she knew, and why.
She swore she would find justice for the fashion oriented pony if it was the last thing she could do.

Through it all Rarity’s cries echoed through the room, Pinkie’s mane had gone straight and flat as she was being held by Fluttershy, their own tears visible. Rainbow was holding on to Twilight, helping keep her upright as she seemed to have blanked out, the only sign of life from her was a steady stream from her eyes.

Slowly over Rarity’s cries calmed down allowing the others to get control of themselves, however her grip on Applejack stayed constant. “Please, please don’t go.” Rarity was heard saying quietly looking up to Applejack.
“Ah ain’t goin’ nowhere girl.” Applejack said quietly as an earth pony with a white hat bearing a red cross stepped in.

“I’m sorry but visiting hours are now over, I’m afraid you’re all going to have to leave. You can come back tomorrow.” The Nurse informed the group.
“NO! DON’T GO APPLEJACK PLEASE!” Rarity cried out holding on to the farm pony tightly.
“I’m sorry miss Rarity but she can’t stay. Now please let her go.” The nurse seemed rather insistent but Applejack wasn’t known as stubborn for nothing. “Ah ain’t leavin’ her. She wants me tah stay, then ahm stayin!” Applejack announced.

The nurse pony shook her head. “I’m sorry it’s Hospital Policy, you need to leave. Now.” The nurse said in a polite yet stern tone.
“No, please no, don’t go. Please.” Rarity was mumbling against Applejack. She didn’t know why it was just her she wanted to stay, but if she was this desperate Applejack wasn’t about to leave her friend. Turning to the nurse she spoke two words. “Ahm Stayin.” The nurse gave her one more look to try dissuade her before she spoke once more.
“Very well, I shall have to go and get security.” With that the nurse left the room.

Twilight turned to the others. “ok, I was hoping never to have to do this, Applejack as of right now you and Rarity are under Crown Protection, as Celestia’s Protégé I have certain. . .powers of authority I’m bringing to bear.” With that she turned to the door again. Her horn glowing a slight purple, with a short flash she had ended up dressed much the same as the princess, just with a tiara instead of a crown.

“The Princess will be here shortly, the spell I used took my state clothes from the stand in my room, she has it warded and taught me this spell long ago.” With that she turned back to the door as it opened and two stallions walked in, each with a band about their forehoof stating ‘Security’

“We must insist you remove yourselves from this patie. . .”
Twilight interrupted them using a tone of command that none of here five friends had heard her use before.
“Hold. With the Authority granted me by the Crown, with holding the title of Potégé to the Princess, I order no action to be taken until Princess Celestia has determined a course of action. Any action taken before then will be treated as an attack on the Crown. Do you understand!”

Applejack couldn’t believe what her eyes were telling her. Normally Twilight was one of the more reserved of their group trying to avoid conflict where possible, and yet here she was facing down two security guards at least 3 hooves higher than her!

The guards nodded. “Very well.” As they finished they turned and left the room, as soon as they were out the room Twilight sat hard on the ground with a thump, Rainbow quickly going to her side and helping her up to a chair. “Thanks Dash. They may not look it but this outfit is HEAVY.” She said.

Applejack shook her head and looked down to Rarity who throughout hadn’t let her go. Looking closer she could see a light pink tinge on the bandage about her head. “Damn.” She mumbled as she hit the nurse call button, moments later the nurse stepped in. “Yes.” Her tone was as cold as ice.

“Well iff’n yer gonna act lahke that. Can we get some clean bandages, an ahm sure Fluttershy won’t mahnd changing them.” At this Fluttershy shook her head, looking directly at the nurse, somehow finding her own strength to face her down.
“Oh no, I don’t mind. At least I don’t try and isolate emotional patients when it’s obvious they need support, so I’ll be tending Rarity’s basic needs while she’s here – AND after she’s discharged.”

The nurse stepped out with an expression of affront. Applejack looked over Rarity’s head to Fluttershy. “Damn. When d’you get all assertive missy?” Fluttershy gave a small smile back. “It. . .its thanks to Pinkie.” She said pointing to the party pony, who’s mane, thankfully, had returned to its normal poofyness. “She said, if I act confident. . . maybe one day I’ll . . .be confident.” Fluttershy said looking to the floor.

Applejack looked back down to Rarity who still hadn’t let her go, and hadn’t made any move to remove Applejacks arms from about her. Applejack could see she had fought down the despair of losing her horn, but she also knew this was only temporary.

The nurse returned with clean bandages and dressings but before she could approach the bed Fluttershy flew over and took them from her with a stern look, quickly moving over to the bed she used her wings to hide Rarity’s injury from everyone else’s sight before moving back to allow the nurse to inspect her work.

“Very good Miss Fluttershy, I dare say you did as good a job as any nurse I know.” She said before turning to leave, however before she got to the door a *Knock-Knock* echoed across the room as the door opened to show Princess Celestia.

“Twilight, you have used your Authority for the first time. I have spoken with the nurse on duty, and I must say I am proud of you, you did it not for yourself, but for a friend in need. I have confirmed your decision but also added to it, all of you will be allowed to stay after visiting hours, along with Sweetie-Belle should Rarity wish.” With that she turned and left the room not giving the others chance to speak. The nurse followed her out obviously trying to change her mind to no avail.

“See now, that wasn’t so bad, an ahl stay here as long as ya like.” Applejack whispered to Rarity whose eyes lit up with gratitude as she leaned in to the orange earth pony.
“Thank you.” She whispered. Her breathing slowed as she fell back to sleep in Applejacks arms.
Applejack looked around to the others.
“Guys can someone tell mah family ah won’t be able to work fer a few days?”

Twilight nodded. “Sure thing Applejack, plus don’t worry, I’ll go and help out at the farm like I did last season.” Pinkie and Rainbow both nodded and indicated the same would hold true for them.
“Thank ye gals. Nah you better git goin’, ahl stay with Rare tonight.”

The other four made their goodbyes with Fluttershy promising to return in the morning to check Rarity’s dressings. As the door closed behind them Applejack looked about the room. She was now alone with the mare and had chance to think about the events of the day.

It was going to be a long night.