Of Broken Horns and Shattered Harmony
No! No no no this can not be happening!
I simply stood there for a few seconds after it happened, my ears ringing,
...my horn...
These enemies were so much more powerful then us, we didn't a chance... the worst thing was... we all knew that.
I can't be the first to die! They need me... I need them... please
I opened my mouth to scream in pain but no noise came from it, I tried to move but I couldn't feel my legs. All I could do was stand there, my mouth hanging slightly open. The robot just stood there, it was like it was giving an amused look from its emotionless features.
How could I be so stupid! I let my guard down for one second then... this...
My knees gave up beneath me, having already been shot there to prevent me from running away, I fell to the floor like a rag-doll, the ringing in my ears becoming deafening.
The creatures, no, the robots... They are merciless tin cans.
The only feeling in my body was pain, breathing hurt, blinking hurt, seeing hurt, thinking hurt.
Just close my eyes... just for a second... be at peace... rest.... NO! No. Don't let them win, blood beats metal... It has to. Friendship, yes isn't that what they said? It feels so long ago now, when she fell.
The robot caugh my eye, its mouth piece was flashing. Was it was talking. Yes.. it was, not that I could hear what it was saying over my own heart beating and shuddering breaths that came with the ringing...
What has Equestria ever done to these... these.. MONSTERS.
The robot, having lost interest, just walked away. Leaving me to die like this, that is, I hope that I die... Nopony deserves pain like this... Not even Sombra or Nightmare Moon.
Maybe someone will come, if they get hurt they come here right? Maybe they can help..
I kept thinking this, trying so hard to keep my hopes up as I lay there. But I knew that there was no point in living like this, all the years of medical school teaching me. The horn... such a precious thing... so delicate... yet so vulnerable. And now mine shattered, leaving nothing but a spiked bone on my forehead.
I swallowed, my friends were out there... fighting for our homes... and I'm just laying here feeling sorry for myself.
"Stay strong my dear, it's not your fault I promise. Just remember..."
That voice... I blinked, I remember, that was my mothers... that was the last think she said to me before she died. She was the reason why I became a doctor, the reason why I hate myself for not being good enough... I couldn't save her. Nopony could, not even the best doctors in Equestria... Yet I still blame myself.
I can't let Equestria fall just because I can't handle a little headache...
That's when it hit me... Even if I did survive, without my horn... My magic... I couldn't help anypony. I'd been so selfish, I'd said that I'd need a little more time to prepare, when the others had only mere seconds to get ready for the attack. And then I was cornered... I didn't stand a chance on my own.
My vision had been slowly blurring, but I hadn't noticed. I'd been too caught up in my own thoughts. My eyes began to prickle, I wanted to cry, but I didn't have the strength to.
I'm going to die here... all alone.
What was left of my vision was suddenly taken over by a blinding pink light. I closed my eyes, bathing in the warm glow, feeling at peace at last. The last thing I remembered thinking about was being with my friends again, when we were young and innocent, before... all this.
Of Broken Horns and Shattered Harmony
"But, that doesn't make sense! How did she survive?" Nurse Redheart snapped, looking over the notes. "It's just not possible."
Doctor Stable sighed and looked over to the dusty blue unicorn laying on the hospital bed, "I'm not even sure if she's going to recover from.."
"The whole town was obliterated! There weren't any survivors!" Nurse Redheart cut him off, "Nothing was left, just her."
"That's what I mean."
The nurse gave the doctor an inquisitive look, Doctor Stable sighed, "Yes, she may well recover from her horn injury, no, she will not be able to use magic. But that's not what I'm worried about." He adjusted his glasses, "What I'm worried about is will she recover from losing everyone around her."
A wave of guilt washed over Nurse Redheart, she shook her head sadly, "I can't even try to imagine what she's been though, and she's so young too." She closed her eyes, "Those things are getting stronger, and we're getting weaker,"
Just then Spike ran in though the door holding a scroll with Luna's cutie mark on the stamp. "The Princess has written back!" He called, "She said that she would like to meet her when she wakes up." The young dragon announced.
"Ah, okay we'll tell you when she does." Doctor Stable said, as if on cue there was a quiet, tired voice from behind them.
"Uh... hello?... Where am I?" The unicorn asked, squinting her magenta eyes. "...better yet... who are you ponies?"
Nurse Redheart smiled warmly, "Hello there, I'm Nurse Redheart, this is Doctor Stable and Spike the dragon. You're in Ponyville General Hospital, what's your name?"
The unicorn stared at the three of them for a long time before answering, "Uh.. I'm Patches."
Redheart nodded, "So how are you feeling Patches?"
"Could be better... My head hurts... a lot actually." Suddenly a look of horror and panic crossed her face, "Oh no, no no no! I'm in Ponyville?! What about the others? Are they alright?!"
The nurse winced and look over to Doctor Stable for help, who sighed sadly. "Patches, was it? I'm very sorry but, you were the only survivor of your town."
Patches blinked, she stared into space with her mouth hanging open slightly, "No," She whispered softly, "No, they can't be gone.. There must be a mistake." Her eyes snapped back to the doctor.
"I'm sorry."
"But..." Patches ran out of ideas, she didn't want to be here, she wanted to be with her friends again, before all this. She brought her hooves and blankets up to eyes and hid her face, whispering things to herself.
It was never easy telling them they had lost someone close to them, but telling them that they had lost they're whole village... Doctor Stable shook his head and looked over to Spike, "Tell Luna, she may need time to recover from her losses."
Spike nodded and left the room, writing the letter as he left. When he reached the doors and passed though them he blew it away in a puff of green fire. Nodding in satisfaction he turned but before he could take another step he burped up a reply.
"Huh? That was quick." He muttered to himself, as he opened the letter and read it silently. He blinked and frowned. "Wait right there?" he read out loud.
Just as he read the letter clouds began to covered up the sun and the wind caught up, almost blowing the scroll from Spike's claws. There was a bright, white flash in-front of Spike which forced him to shield his eyes, when the light faded Princess Luna stood before him, the dragon smiled up at the Princess of the night and bowed.
"Always a pleasure to see you Spike, have you been well?" She asked.
For a moment Spike lost his composure, feeling an icy sadness wash over him, "Well uh, I'm better then I was.. I still miss Twilight though.... Will she ever come back?"
"Oh... My apologies Spike, I did not mean to bring back bad memories, I suppose that I am more used to losses. But we my never know if she is able to return." Luna spoke softly, realising that she may have hit a nerve. "Now then, would you be so kind as to show me this new pony?"
Putting on a brave face, Spike nodded and led the princess into the hospital and to the room where Patches was staying, Doctor Stable was just outside.
"Ah, Princess." He greeted her with a bow, "Her name is Patches, going by her cutie mark she must be a doctor of some sort. Yet she won't say any more to us, obviously she is distressed."
Princess Luna nodded and entered the room, Nurse Redheart looked up from the side of the bed and bowed her head to the Princess and stepped away from the sobbing Patches, Luna came over to Patches but the she didn't seem to notice her.
"Patches?" Luna started, the broken unicorn looked up from the blankets, when she saw the princess her eyes widened,
"Princess L-luna?" She asked, her voice shaky. The princess nodded.
"Patches, I understand how this must feel for you. The loss of all those around you," Patches sniffed and frowned, Luna smiled weakly, "I've lived for over a thousand years, the amount of friends I made and spent time with only to watch grow old and die are countless... Especially when I was banished, by the time I returned I knew nopony, only my sister. And know even she has gone."
Patches sniffed again, "I guess your right but.. I-i just don't know what to do any-more." To this Luna smiled again.
"Never forget them, as long as you remember them then they will always be with you."
A smile, a sad sad smile that could break a ponies heart crossed Patches' lips, "O-okay," She said quietly, "I could never forget them.. not ever."
"What I would also like to know is how you survived, I have a theory, so tell me: What was the last thing you remember?" Luna asked.
Patches frowned, "Uh well, thinking of the times I was with my friends. You know before these invasions, then there was this bright pink flash and then... nothing." she could feels her eyes prickling again.
"A bright pink flash you say?" Luna said thoughtfully, "I need to look into this, so I must leave you for now."
Nodding to Nurse Redheart, Luna began to leave, only to stop at the door, "Good bye for now Patches, stay strong for their sake." She turned to face the unicorn and smiled weakly, "Oh, and do be careful when the painkillers wear off." And with that she left.