Lightning Dust Returns

Beep!  Beep!  Beep!  Beep!

That was the first thing Rainbow Dash heard while waking up.  Then she heard voices.

"Everypony, she's wakin' up!" Applejack said faintly.

"Thank heavens!  I do hope she'll be okay, though!" Rarity added.

Rainbow Dash turned to see all of her PFF's in the room she was in.  She had just realized that she was in the hospital.

"*cough* Hey girls," Dash rasped.

Pinkie Pie jumped up.

"Dashie!  I'm so happy you spoke!" she exclaimed.

"Pinkie Pie, not so loud," Twilight ordered.

Rainbow Dash tried to move her limbs.  Luckily, her legs weren't broken.

"So, uumm, do you guys know about my injuries?" Rainbow asked.

The rest of the mane six shuffled their hooves and hung their heads.  They really didn't want to break it to Rainbow Dash, for it would devastate her.  Dash was surprised to see them in such suspicious state.  Suddenly Fluttershy lost it.  She began to cry a lot, both from her aching wings but mostly from the result of Rainbow's crash.

"Hey Shy, you alright?" Rainbow Dash asked concerned.

"N-no I'm not!  Do I look alright?!" Shy snapped.

Everypony was shocked to hear Fluttershy raise her voice.  The door opened and a doctor came in.

"I see you're awake now Ms. Dash," he said.

"So, what's wrong with me doc?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, you were brought here after it was discovered that you crashed to the ground.  Luckily, the crash was not fatal, though you were given surgery," the doctor said.

"Oh no, what did you remove?!" Dash asked with alarm.

"Unfortunately, your wings suffered the most impact.  I'm sorry to say that they were beyond repair," the doctor said sadly.

"Does that mean?" Dash asked with her voice cracking.

"It means that we had to amputate your wings.  I'm sorry Ms. Dash, but you will never fly again," the doctor told rainbow Dash.

Time seemed to slow down and go completely silent as Rainbow Dash let those words sink in.

You will never fly again.

The doctor then said that Rainbow Dash would be getting out of the hospital in hopefully a couple days.  He left after that.  Everypony looked at Dash.  Dash's pupils were shrunk to pinpoints.  She breathed heavily.

You will never fly again.

You will never fly again.

Those stinging words kept repeating in Rainbow's head.  She had to fly.  Flying was her world.  Flying was everything to her.  Now she could not join the Wonderbolts, teach Scootaloo how to fly, or even go back home.

A nurse stuck her head in the room.

"Now my little ponies, Rainbow Dash must rest.  However, I can allow one pony only to stay with her for a little while longer," she said.

"You girls, please let me stay.  I need to tell Rainbow Dash that I flew for her," Fluttershy pleaded.

"Okay Fluttershy, but only because Rainbow Dash means the most to you," Twilight agreed.

While the rest left Fluttershy trotted over to Rainbow Dash's side.  Dash looked at Shy with the most pitiful face anypony could manage.

"Fluttershy, I can't fly now," Dash said with a sniff.

"Now now Rainbow, I'm here for you," Shy assured.

Fluttershy then told Rainbow that she flew fast to get to Twilight.

"And it hurt a lot.  My wings weren't built for that speed," Shy said.

"You're very brave Fluttershy," Rainbow said back.

"If you feel upset right now, then don't be afraid to let it out," Shy assured.

So Rainbow Dash hugged Fluttershy tightly and sobbed.  The normally dare devilish and tough pegasus now crying like a frightened filly.  Fluttershy didn't care, though.  Dash needed her at this point.  Fluttershy let Dash cry on her shoulder until night fell, the Dash quickly fell asleep.  Shy's coat was stained in tears, but she did not care.

A nurse quietly opened the door.

"Uumm, nurse, can I stay overnight?  Rainbow Dash here really needs some company," Fluttershy asked.

The nurse breathed in deep.

"Okay, I'll make an acception this one time," she answered. "but do be quiet and maybe go to sleep yourself."

"Okay, I'll do that," Shy responded calmly.

After the nurse left Fluttershy carefully crawled onto the end of Rainbow's bed.

"I'm here for you Dash," Fluttershy told her sleeping friend.

After a few minutes Fluttershy fell asleep as well.