On a wing & a prayer

I opened my eyes and looked around, but I didn't recognize the room I was in. the bed was soft and clean, and the room itself was quite large.

I heard the door open and watched as a nurse walked in and started to read my charts.

She apparently didn't realize I was awake so I cleared my throat, which caused her to drop the charts.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.” I said in a very dry and raspy voice.

She just gaped at me, unable to move or speak.

“Are you okay?” I asked trying to sit up, only to have a mind numbing pain stop me in my tracks.

The nurse ran to the door and called to somepony I couldn't see, and within seconds the room was almost packed with clamoring ponies.

It was Twilight I recognized first, a look of both relief and worry plastered on her face.

“What happened,” I asked, instantly remembering the fire, “The fire! What happened to Carrot Top?”

“She’s fine thanks to you,” The doctor said, injecting something into my I.V., “She was discharged a few days ago.”

Again I remembered the fire, and jumping on Carrot Top to shield her from the flames and falling chunks of timber.

“What about the fire?” I asked, rubbing my temples.

“Long since put out, and thanks to your quick thinking,” The doctor praised, “You saved many lives that day.”

Twilight cleared her throat to get the doctors attention, “Do you mind if we have a moment alone to talk?” She asked in a stern yet kind voice.

The doctor nodded and gestured to the other ponies in the room. They left, which gave us the privacy Twilight wanted.

At first nopony said anything. They just stared at me with a range of emotions.

“Don’t everypony talk at once.” I joked. Trying to lighten the mood, but to no avail.

“Come on guys, you’re starting to weird me out.” I said sitting up. The pain only caused me to flinch.

Twilight sighed and spoke up, “Quick-Bolt, we have some very bad news, but you need to stay calm. You just came out of a comma and we don’t know how you’ll react to high amounts of stress.” She calmly stated.

“What do you mean comma,” I asked, “How long was I out for.”

“Two and a half months,” It was Fluttershy’s turn to speak up, “but that’s not the bad news.”

“What’s the bad news then?” I asked, starting to get a little worried.

“T-the bad news is…is…I can’t. I can’t bring myself to tell him.” Twilight cried as she busted into a fit of sobs and tears.

Rarity walked over to Twilight and led her out of the room, accompanied by Fluttershy, who had also started to cry.

My gaze then shifted to AppleJack, who had a few tears running down her cheeks. “Please AJ, you got to tell me what’s going on.” I almost begged.

She opened her mouth as if to speak but instantly closed it again.

Big Mac was the only one who had the courage to answer me, “Let’s just say that you’re now more like me than you are Fluttershy or RainbowDash.” He somberly replied.

I still didn’t understand what he meant. So I looked at RainbowDash, who flared both of her wings and lowered one of them.

Then it finally hit me. I leaned forward and tried to flare my wings, but only one of them extended. I then tried to feel my other wing, hoping with all of my heart that it was in a cast, but the only thing I felt was a nub where my wing used to be.

Tears welled in my eyes as I realized that, in protecting Carrot Top, I had lost my right wing, “This has to be a joke,” I said, trying to get off of the bed, “Please tell me that this is some kind of sick joke.”

The tears were falling freely now as I ripped out my I.V., along with a few other devices. The machines went haywire, and Big Mac rushed to my side.

“You have to stay down partner,” He said as he tried to push me back onto the bed, “The doctors still need to take a look at your head.”

At this time doctors rushed in along with my other friends, drawn in by the noises the machines were making.

They tried to help Big Mac push me onto the bed, only to have me shove them away. Then I felt a hoof on my shoulder and the whole room froze.

I turned to look at who was touching me, but gasped when I saw Celestia standing before me. Her face was calming and her eyes were pleading, as she spoke to me, “its okay Quick-Bolt. You’re safe now.” She said, pulling me into a loving embrace.

I returned the hug and cried into her chest as my friends joined in the hug.

I continued to cry as Celestia started to explain how the fire started in the first place.

A few hours later.

Celestia had told me a few things, before I was discharged. First was that the fire was started when a little unicorn tried to show off for her friends. Next was that of all the injuries reported, mine had been the most severe. Other than a few mild burns here and there, everypony was safe. I was finally told that I was going to be honored for saving the town.

After my discharge Twilight took me back to the library, where we waited for some special guests to show up.

Since I arrived at the library, a certain purple and green dragon hadn’t given me a moment of privacy. He wasn’t being rude or anything like that. He was just staring at me and every time I would get up and leave the room he would be right on my heels.

“You know it’s rude to stare.” I said with a bit more spite than I meant to.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that… that.” He stammered, searching for the correct words.

“What,” I asked, “Don’t you trust me?”

“You’re my hero!” He said, jumping up and hugging me around the neck.

I chuckled and pulled him off of me, “Yeah, what’s more admirable than a colt who was accused of rape?” I said sarcastically.

“But you could never do anything that horrible. You saved the town for pony’s sake.” He said defensively.

Before I could say anything else the doorbell rang, and Spike went to answer the door.

As soon as I heard the door open, a yellow and orange blur raced through the house and picked me up in a bone crushing hug.

“I’m so sorry little bro,” the blur apologized, “We rushed right over when we heard you woke up.”

“Spitfire please stop. I’m still really sore.” I pleaded.

She loosened the hug and landed on the floor so our mom and dad could join the embrace. We continued to hug until Twilight entered the room.

We broke up the hug, and I introduced every one, “Twilight these are my parents, Dark-Runner and Pandora, and you already know Spitfire. Guys, this is my mare-friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

They exchanged formalities and we all sat down.

“What are you doing here,” I asked, “I know I’m not important enough to interrupt official WonderBolt business.”

“You’re right,” Spitfire agreed, “We’re here because we got invited to some colt’s birthday party. He apparently slept through his first one.”

“Who’s party would that be?” I asked, getting a little nervous.

“Why it’s your party sweetie.” My mom clarified, much to my dismay.