Heart Dust

Slowly but surely eventually noises began to flood Lightning Dusts mind. She felt the warm sheets that surrounded her body like a cocoon; she also felt the chill in her spine that seemed to spread throughout her body.

Her muscles aced immensely and any small movement was treated like picking up a boulder. She didn’t know where she was exactly she assumed a bed by the blanket material, but no matter how hard she tried her sight would not come to her. She moved her head slightly to judge that she still had a head and that she wasn’t just going crazy, and soon she started to hear voices.

“She’s incredibly lucky. About thirty more minutes out there and she would have died for sure.”

“Was there something else I could have done Twilight?”

“No you did everything you could, you did a great job. I would have liked to get to her sooner, but that storm took a long time to die down. Her exhaustion nearly doomed her as well, but I managed to use a few spells that helped out and stopped her body from eating away at her muscles and moving to her organs.”

Lighting Dust wanted to move and get up now that she heard other voices. She struggled against the covers, but her ligaments were too sore to do much. She grunted and panted trying to roll herself out, and eventually her voice started to work as well.

“Ahhhh-heee---help! Please!” her horse voice called out into the blackness.

“She’s waking up!” She heard the rustling of hooves coming toward her and felt the presents of two bodies next to her.

“Please-ow…what-”

“Don’t talk!” said one of the voices. “You need water here.” She felt a plastic object touch her lips and she began sucking in instinctively like a little foal. The water touched her mouth and slid down the back of her throat like soothing nectar.

Nothing ever tasted so good in her whole life and it was just plain water. Eventually she got her fill and stopped sucking, the plastic object was taken away and she could speak more clearly now.

“Where am I?”

“You’re at my place Lighting Dust, I found you last night after you blew in.” Said the deeper voice.

“Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah, who else?” she said jokingly.

“Rainbow Dash! I’m here as well Lighting Dust my name is Princess Twilight Sparkle,” said the gentler voice.

“Princess?” Lighting Dust asked.

“Yes.”

“Why can’t I see?”

“We have a blind fold on your eyes right now. When you banged your head on Rainbow Dash’s door you hit your visual cortex located in the back of your brain. Thank goodness you only bruised it and didn’t do any permanent damage, yet for the moment you’re sight is injured so it’ll take some time for it to come back completely.”

“So can I take off the blindfold?”

“No, straining your sight right now will only make it worse.”

“Can I take a peek, please?” She heard Twilight sigh at her and Rainbow Dash chimed in, “Come on, a little peak won’t hurt anything.” There was a pause as she could tell Twilight was seriously thinking it over.

“Fine, just a brief glance you understand? Like I said your sight is damaged so it may be spotty or blurry.” She said putting her hoof on the blindfold. Then a flood of white light shone through Lighting Dust’s eyes.

It was blinding and she turned away from pain, yet as she looked back she could see nothing more than a dark blue and purple blur. The blindfold was put back on and she rested her head again. Lighting Dust gave a big sigh and said,

“So, what happened?”

“We were gonna ask you the same thing!” Rainbow Dash answered.

“Indeed. You’re body was completely exhausted, you’re cells began eating away at your muscles because you had nearly no body fat left. Also you’re recovering from the effects of stage two hypothermia, luckily Rainbow Dash wrapped you in blankets and put you by a fire, or that could have done some irreversible damage.”

“So how bad is it?”

“We’ll I’m not gonna say everything is honkey dorey, because it’s not. You’re muscles will take years to heal to return too normal and the cold caused you to rip both tendons in your wings. Those are going to take quite a bit of time to heal as well and even at that they won’t be as strong as they use to be. All said and done you’re alive and stable, that’s the most important part.”

“How did you end up out there, how’d you get here?” Rainbow asked as Lightning Dust felt tears welling up as the thoughts of before were flooding into her mind. She didn’t want them to see her cry and possibly do something to affect her sight. So she simply said, “I’d prefer not to talk about it right now.”

“Maybe that’s for the best, you need to get your rest. I’ve got to leave for a bit and let Spike know I didn’t just disappear in the night. Come on Rainbow Dash I’ll finish telling you a few things.”

“Okay, hey if you need anything just give me a yell. I’ll be right over.”

“Okay.” She heard Twilight and Rainbow Dash start the leave the room, but she caught them before they were out the door.

“Thank you,” Lighting Dust piped up. They both turned back and then looked at each other.

“Of course.”

“It’s nothing.” They were gone and Lighting Dust was left with nothing but her own thoughts and darkness. Broken. That’s all that ran through her head. That’s what she was. She couldn’t move, She couldn’t see and worst of all she didn’t know what was next. They would never put her up forever, and soon ask her to leave as well. She started to think maybe it was better to stay in the cold and let the snow bury her the easy way.

Lighting Dust wasn’t sure how long she had been asleep, but pure exhaustion had forced her mind to shut off. She felt a pressure at the other end of the bed and spoke up.

“Rainbow Dash?”

“Hi, Twilight told me that you needed rest, but you also needed to eat so I’ve got some soup here and I’m gonna help you sit up.” A hoof slipped underneath her and she did her best to put herself up. The covers were slipped off, but even putting the smallest about of pressure on her hind hooves caused a surge of pain. They shook violently and Rainbow Dash switched to using both of her hooves to raise her up against the bed.

She was finally sitting up right and even with the blindfold the world began spinning. It took forever for it to stop and Rainbow Dash was extremely patient, which was unusual for her.

“Here dude I’m going to feed you, that would be easiest.”

“Oh-okay then.” She heard the clattering of the spoon against the bowl and then the warm metal pressing against her lips. She let it in and sipped up what tasted like vegetable soup.

It could have urine really and it probably would have tasted good enough, because she was extremely hungry. Lighting Dust felt weird being fed like a baby and was slightly embarrassed. It must have showed because Rainbow Dash tried to spark conversation.

“So you must have gotten even faster since I last saw you huh? I mean you left a pretty good dent in my door and to even be going against the wind like that, man. You’d probably beat me in a race at my best.” Lighting Dust couldn’t respond thought. She couldn’t even fake the pride she once had. She felt bad for not answering, but she nodded and continued eating.

Finally she was finished and Rainbow Dash put the bowl to the side. She helped her to her back again and got up to leave. “Do you need anything else Lightning Dust?” There was a long pause, but eventually she answered.

“No, but thank you.” There was another long pause and she felt a hoof on her head. She rubbed her hoof along her head for a minute and left. It was a small expression of comfort, but Lighting Dust didn’t want her to leave.

She wanted her to stay and console her letting her know everything was going to be all right. It wasn’t, but even lies are soothing from time to time. Now tears flowed from her eyes and she didn’t care if it hurt. Not crying or feeling hurt just as much. Everything hurt, her heart was gone and her body was useless. Crying couldn’t equate to what she was feeling, but it was close.

Two weeks went by with Lightning Dust unable to care for herself. After the first week she could sit up by herself, barely. By the second week she could shuffle to the bathroom with aid by Rainbow Dash.

She still did not reveal how she ended up in this state for fear Rainbow Dash would emotionally block her off and cease taking care of her by the goodness in her heart and by pure obligation. Then again I guess she was also doing it out of obligation anyways, because she wasn’t going to throw out a blind crippled. Lighting Dust didn’t think anypony was that heartless...maybe.

She was also beginning to connect with Rainbow Dash as a friend. They manage to hold conversations during feeding time and after. She made her laugh and every time Rainbow Dash thought she was sleeping and rubbed her stomach through the blankets or brushed her hair out of her face, was special.

Rainbow Dash walked in and sat down on the bed. “Hi, how are you doing?” she asked.

“Just fine”

“Good, I was just checking up on you- and actually I wanted to ask something.” Lighting Dust dreaded those words, as she knew where the question was leading.

“What is it?”

“Well maybe you’d feel good enough to tell me what happened to you on the night of that storm?”

A cold sweat began to form in the base of Lightning Dust’s spine. She couldn’t tell her. It would be awful, she’d break down and cry before she even had a chance. Lighting Dust sighed and reached for Rainbow Dashes hoof. Luckily she grabbed it and held it for a moment.

“Rainbow Dash tell me truthfully. Do you only have one bed?”

“What?” Rainbow Dash was surprised and unprepared for such a response

“You live alone, so I’d assume you only have one bed. Have you been sleeping on the couch for my sake?”

“I-er, well I mean yes, but it’s really not that bad. I’ve gotten use to it you know?” She said with a humorous tone.

“I can’t force you out of your own bed like this anymore Rainbow Dash, it’ll eat me up inside.”

“It’s not a big deal really.” Rainbow Dash said knowing that she was just trying to dodge the question.

“No. Please, sleep in your bed tonight, I can take the couch just as easily.”

“What? No way dude I am not going to let something like that happen! You’re still injured.” Rainbow Dashed said defiantly. There was a pause and Lighting Dust said, “Fine then you’ll have to sleep in the bed with me.”

“Say what?”

“If you won’t trade beds then I’m still not forcing you out of yours. There’s plenty of room for both of us to sleep on, and if you refuse then I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“Lighting Dust- okay fine if you’re going to be stubborn about it.”

“Thank you.” She said smiling.

“Sure,” Rainbow Dash said as she got up. Once again she had avoided answering the o so daunting question. Yet if she wasn’t ready then she should, Rainbow Dash thought.

Later that night Rainbow Dash did exactly what Lighting Dust asked and crawled into bed with her. Their backs faced each other as they started to fall asleep. Her bed was much better than the couch Rainbow Dash thought.

Lighting Dust liked having the presents of somepony else, still not being able to take off the blindfold. Eventually her senses were lost and she felt as if she was placed in a pool of water. She floated on endlessly and looked at the moon and stars and she felt a bit of grace. This was the only time she could have the feeling of seeing things and she sorely missed being able to look at the world.

Her image of the stars was beautiful and the moon was so giant and huge, she wish one day to meet Princess Luna and see the fine crafters work. Eventually she looked over and saw her friend Krystal standing above the water with her back turned. Lighting Dust’s eyes widened and she kicked to flip herself over.

Somehow she found footing and turned herself over so that she was lying on her stomach.
“Krystal!” Lighting Dust called out but the other dark blue pony did not answer.

“Krystal” she called again, but nothing. She tired walk over to her, but ever time she moved her hooves the floor from beneath her gave out and turned to water again. Lightning Dust struggled and kept trying, but it was no good. Finally there was a sound from the other pony.

‘lmmr,” she mumbled.

“What?” Lighting Dust asked.

“lmar,” she repeated.

“I can’t hear you!” Lighting said.

“Liar!” Krystal finally spat out.

“Wha-what?”

“Liar, you’re a liar.” She repeated.

“I- I don’t understand.”

“You’re nothing but a filthy liar and you don’t deserve mine, or anypony’s kindness!” Krystal said still with her back turned.

“I’m sorry Krystal! I truly am, I tried my best, I tried to change but it was no good!”

“Excuses. You chose not to.” Lightning Dust was no on the verge of tears, however Krystal began to turn around and what she saw frightened her even further. She did not see her friend Krystal’s face, but she saw Rainbow Dash’s instead.

“No, no, no, no, no, please oh god I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. You’re right you’re completely right!” The half Krystal half Rainbow Dash pony stood up, and began walking away from Lighting Dust.

This only sent her in a panic and she tried to paddle her way towards her friends, but she only remained thrashing about in place. The other pony continued to walk until she was a faint dot in the horizon of the never-ending black ocean.

“Please come back, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Lighting Dust cried.

Rainbow Dashes was jolted awake at the sudden grasp of the pony that lay beside her. Lighting Dust was holding on to her arm tightly and mumbled the words “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” over and over again. Rainbow Dash put a hoof on her and shook her awake.

“Lighting Dust, Lightning Dust!” eventually she jolted awake as well, but in more of a stir. She gasped and shot straight up, it took her a moment to compose herself and realize what had happened.

“Are you alright?” Lighting Dust didn’t say anything, she simple stared straight ahead into the blackness and then warm tears began to stream from behind her blindfold.