The Heart is Where it is.

Chapter 8: Never Ruined When We're Together

Fluttershy jerked awake as Rainbow Dash got to her hooves, standing over the yellow pegasus.
"Get away, Soarin'!" snarled Rainbow as she took a step forward, lifting her chin. Fluttershy scrambled to her hooves as the light blue pegasus ruffled his wings, eyeing her.
"So, this is Fluttershy."
"I mean it, stay away. What did she ever do to you?" she asked defensively. Soarin' remained a calm expression, trotting closer until Rainbow Dash blocked his path.
"I said move it, Soarin'."
"I told you I'd come," he growled, flattening his ears as he tried to move around the cyan pegasus.

Rainbow Dash cracked her neck to the side, her eyes glazed with fury.
"You're asking for a massive beating--"
She was cut off as Fluttershy cleared her throat loudly, stepping up beside Rainbow Dash.
"Dashie," she whispered. "Let me handle this."
Soarin' grinned, giving Rainbow a shove to move her away.
"Soarin', if you hurt her," she began.
"Don't worry," Fluttershy said sweetly. "he won't." Soarin' chuckled at this, eyeing the yellow pegasus.
"Really? You must be a fool, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy exchanged a glance with Rainbow Dash.
"No matter what happens, don't move. Got it?"
"But Flutter--"
"I mean it."
Rainbow Dash hesitated then slowly nodded, glaring when Soarin' laughed again.
"A single team fight, huh? You really are crazy!"
Fluttershy began to shake nervously as he drew closer.
"Please Soarin', I don't know what I did but there is no need for violence!"
"You made Rainbow Dash cry!" he snarled, crouching against the stone.
"I did not," she replied calmly. "the stallion at the station said her parents were dead--"
"You suggested that she went to get the address! So you have to pay."

Fluttershy backed away from the light blue pegasus, her eyes wide.
"Please Soarin'! Don't do this," she pleaded, her voice quivering slightly. He narrowed his eyes.
"No more stalling; Time to put you in your place."
"Please!" Tears began to fall from her cheeks, her legs shaking violently. Rainbow Dash was about to charge and pummel Soarin' but remembered Fluttershy's words. No matter what happens, don't move. Soarin' shivered slightly and pounced at Fluttershy, grinning widely.

Fluttershy closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. As she opened her eyes she waited until his hoof was about to drill into her face.
What is she doing?! Get him, Fluttershy! Rainbow Dash thought frantically.
Fluttershy rolled to the side at the last second, adrenaline pumping through her veins as he soared past her with a cry. He came to a halt at the edge of the cliff only to be bucked off by Fluttershy's powerful legs. He tumbled over, using his wings to fly back up. With a screech of fury he charged the yellow pegasus, her eyes sharp. Fluttershy swung, her hoof connecting with his chest. He let out a painful gasp, growling.

Soarin' swooped behind her, his back leg swinging around to meet her head. The yellow pegasus ducked, his leg meeting air. Fluttershy knocked him over, spinning her leg around as he rested on the ground, his breath leaving him as he landed on the ground vigorously. Soarin' let out a cry of pain, his eyes wide with fear as the yellow pegasus leaped on top of his chest. She drilled a hoof into the side of his face, crimson liquid dribbling from his nose.
"Wait--!"
Fluttershy swung again, knocking his head against the rough stone of the cliff as he screamed in pain. Fire erupted through his head and down his spine as she swung again.
"Wait," he gasped as she drew her hoof back once more. "Wait!"

Fluttershy paused, glaring at the trembling pegasus before her.
"Please, I'm s-sorry! I've learned my lesson," he begged. "Please, just, let me go!"
The yellow pegasus slowly got off of Soarin', smiling at the aghast Rainbow Dash as she trotted towards her.
"Told you I could handle myself," she hummed with a wink. Soarin' got to his hooves as the two pegasi turned away, wiping the blood from his muzzle.
"Hehe!" Rainbow Dash snorted. "You showed him!"
The light blue pegasus charged without making a noise, pulling back his hoof as he aimed for Fluttershy.
"Thanks, Rainbow Da--"

Fluttershy was cut off as Soarin's hoof slammed into the back of her head, knocking the yellow pegasus to the ground with a sickening slam. Rainbow Dash tried to register what just happened, turning to the light blue pegasus.
"What did you do!?" She roared, launching herself at Soarin'. She knocked him to the ground and pounded away on his face, her fury like a blazing fire.
"Don't. Ever. Touch. Her!" she said with each swing, grinding her teeth together. Rainbow Dash stood up, kicking his side.
"Why did you come here?" She cried. "Leave me and Fluttershy alone!"
Soarin' groaned in pain, holding his sides. Rainbow Dash turned away and ran over to Fluttershy, collapsing by the yellow pegasus in tears. She scooped up Fluttershy, turning her face-up.
"Fluttershy?" she whispered frantically, brushing away a strand of hair in Fluttershy's face.
Twilight will know what to do! Rainbow thought. She slowly stood on her hind legs with Fluttershy knocked out cold in her arms, dashing into the thick darkness.
***

Rainbow Dash busted through the purple alicorn's door, crying out to her friend.
"Ugh, who is it?"
"Twilight, it's me, Rainbow Dash!"
"Rainbow?"
Twilight Sparkle rushed down the stairs, a grin on her sleepy face.
"Fluttershy was so worried about..." She trailed off as she saw the yellow pegasus limp in Rainbow Dash's arms. "Dear Celestia! What happened?!" As Rainbow Dash explained what happened, Twilight began to pace.
"Soarin' must have hit a pressure point, knocking her out. I fear Fluttershy may be," Twilight hesitated, choking on the last few words. "out for a few weeks."

Rainbow Dash slammed a hoof onto the floor, her nostrils flaring.
"No! Check for a pulse," demanded the cyan pegasus, wanting to make sure Fluttershy was okay. Twilight Sparkle nodded swiftly, moving over to Fluttershy. She placed a hoof on her neck, frowning.
"It's there, but it is faint. She'll be fine, I'm sure."
Rainbow Dash let out a huge sigh of relief, hugging the knocked out Fluttershy.
"She should stay here tonight."
"Can I stay, too?" Rainbow Dash asked with wide eyes. Twilight nodded, heading back upstairs.
"Sure. There's an extra bed for the both of you," she yawned.

Rainbow Dash gingerly picked up Fluttershy and flew upstairs, resting the yellow pegasus on the bed. She crawled into bed, curling up against Fluttershy. Oh Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash thought sadly. I feel so lost. The cyan pegasus closed her eyes, pulling Fluttershy closer and resting her chin at the crown of Fluttershy's head. Rainbow Dash slowly felt herself slipping in a deep sleep, clutching Fluttershy closer. Wake up soon.
***
Rainbow Dash opened her eyes slightly, glancing down at Fluttershy. Her chest rose and fell with each even breath, Rainbow Dash kissing her forehead.
"Morning," she whispered, mainly to herself. The cyan pegasus got out of bed carefully and headed downstairs.
"Twilight?" she called out as she entered the kitchen. She stopped as she saw all of her friends with scarred faces, listening intensely to Twilight Sparkle.
"I fear Fluttershy may have slipped into--" Twilight began with a quill and pen, stopping as she saw Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus slowly walked towards them as they fell silent, flicking her tail.
"Well?" she sighed. "Keep going." Twilight paused then turned back to the others.
"Fluttershy may have slipped into a coma."
They all gasped, staring at Rainbow Dash with sad eyes.
"Uh, Twilight," Pinkie Pie began. "what's a coma?" The alicorn's face lit up at the question.
"Well Pinkie Pie, when somepony goes into a coma, it's a prolonged state of deep unconsciousness."
"Who the what now?"
Applejack rolled her eyes with a groan, glancing at the pink party pony.
"It's like a deep sleep," she retorted. When Pinkie Pie let out a long oh, Twilight continued.
"Actually Applejack, this is not the same thing as sleeping, since the brain does not go through the normal activity associated with sleep during a coma. Whereas somepony who is sleeping may move if they are uncomfortable, a comatose patient will not, except for spinal reflexes," Twilight Sparkle explained excitedly. "Anypony in a coma cannot be awoken by even vigorous or painful stimulation. Anymore questions?"

The small group of friends were silent, all flabbergasted.
"No?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "Very well. Continuing. On the other hoof, there are forms of coma from which it may be impossible to wake. Since Fluttershy was hit in the back of the head, her nerve cells may never regenerate. The nerve cells may in fact regenerate, but at a very slow rate."
Her friends leaned in closer, eyes wide.
"Fluttershy may even suffer from brain death, which is an even more severe situation. At this rate, her brain cells wouldn't have regenerated at all but instead perish the remaining ones."
"Well, when will she wake up?" Rainbow Dash demanded.
"I can't exactly say when she will wake up," Twilight admitted. "If enough nerve cells die in that region, the back of her brain, I'm afraid she may never awake."
No, Rainbow Dash thought, backing away from her friends. No, she can't die! I need her.

"Rainbow Dash," Rarity said. "darling, you don't look to well. Are you ok?" They all turned to Rainbow Dash expectantly.
"Never... ever wake up?" she asked Twilight.
"Well," the purple alicorn began once more. "there is a slight chance. But I'm sure that won't happen and she'll wake up fine." Twilight rushed the last part, her eyes tearing up for her friend.
"It still could happen!" the party pony gasped, her eyes slashing over to meet Rainbow Dash's.
"What if she never wakes up? And I mean never! Then Rainbow Dash will have to suffer without her true love."
"Pinkie..."
"Rainbow Dash would then stay in her home all alone, never showing her face," Pinkie Pie whispered dramatically, clutching Rainbow Dash's face.
"Pinkie."
"Then Rainbow Dash would become a crazy cat lady like Rarity!"
"Hey!" Rarity scoffed.
"You know she only has one cat, right?" Applejack pointed out. Pinkie Pie narrowed her blue eyes.
"Give her time..."

They all groaned except for Rainbow Dash, walking away from the kitchen and into the bedroom upstairs. She gazed at the unconscious Fluttershy, padding over to her gingerly. Oh, Flutters. she thought with a sad smile, sitting on the edge of the bed. Wake up soon.