Band of Five Attributes (Re-Written)

A few days had passed since the missing pony’s report had been officially filed, and during that time, no leads sprang up as to where Tenmei had gone off to.

Until a most dreary morning, that is. Everyone sat at the table, with a spare chair for Raki. The group was talking like the half-asleep ponies they were when someone began to knock on the door. Koto went to answer it, and upon opening the door, she was greeted by a royal guard of the pegasus variety.

“We just found the missing pony in the Everfree Forest near-dead.” He said, and in that same moment, all jaws went agape and their owners wide-eyed.

Kaguya slammed her front hooves on the table. “N-near-dead?!” She cried, ears flat on her skull.

“Yes, I’m afraid. He’s being taken to the hospital immediately.” The guard replied, quickly going about his business. Koto closed the door after he left, turning back to her companions slowly.

01’s face had darkened. He gulped hard. “We...we should visit him later today.” He murmured. Indeed, the group did later pay the young stallion a visit, and what a sight greeted them as they opened the door that led to his temporary room: he was covered in bandages, and the exposed bits of pelt had visible bruising on their frames. One of his front legs was held to his chest, much like that of Koto when her left foreleg had been broken.

Much of the bandages on his body had already been bloodied, and he lay on the bed with eyes scrunched shut. His breathing was slow but shallow, as if life was escaping him still.

Nurse Redheart trotted into the room, eyelids slanted in worry as she entered. Tenmei’s group of visitors looked at her.

“He’ll have to stay put for a month. There were many broken bones in his body, and cuts on his legs. Even his tail had been ripped off--I’m not sure how he’ll act once he awakens, if he wakes up at all…” She said, blinking a few times.

“Do...do you know what got him?” Yuuki asked, wings shifting in unsease. She looked back to her friend.

“He was very clearly abused, but by what I can’t say. All I know is a group of royal guards found him in the Everfree, about to be attacked by timberwolves.” Redheart answered, shaking her head. “He’ll have another surgery tomorrow; his body couldn’t take much. I’m afraid the problems don’t end with the broken bones or torn tail.” She added.

“Whatever it was, it clearly caused him a lot of pain.” Nagare sighed, turning his attention to the bedridden stallion. Tenmei began moving his head back and forth, groaning weakly as he did. “I just hope he can pull through…” He added, watching the pitiful, sluggish movements of the weakened pony.

Koto noticed four IV bags, and an additional five blood bags hanging on racks, all attached to Tenmei. She then looked back at Redheart as if demanding another answer without words.

“He’s lost too much blood during the operation after he arrived. His temperature was also dangerously low.” Redheart sighed, nodding once. Doctor Stable then trotted in, a worried look of his own upon his face.

“I’m afraid the whole medical team will have to help tomorrow. There won’t be visiting hours then; I hope you all understand.” Stable said, eyelids slanted as if he were going to cry.

“If it’ll save his life, we understand.” Kaguya replied with a nod, glancing back at Tenmei who still fidgeted about in his sleep. “I just hope he makes it.”

“The chances are slim to none. Even so, we’ll do our best for him.” Redheart sighed, nodding once more.

Another month or so had passed since that day. Tenmei underwent three more surgeries during that time, but he didn’t seem to respond to the treatment. He lay there in the bed groaning and moving his head sluggishly, and did little else. It was almost as if a spell had bound him so, and nopony knew just how to break its grip upon him.

Until, that is, the very end of that month, and during hospital staff off-hours.

He slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in a void of pitch-black darkness. Almost immediately, his entire body began to hurt at once, and he winced as a result. Then, it suddenly got much too bright for him, and he nearly closed his eyes shut in response. As the bright dulled and his eyes got less strained, he noticed bright patches along with light grey blurs that were barely discernable from said patches.

“Where...am I?” He asked, hearing the sound of hooves hitting a floor getting louder before stopping abruptly. The stallion could now see in the corner of his eye a white splotch with a pink blur atop its supposed, fuzzy frame.

“Ponyville Infirmary. You were in critical condition.” Responded a feminine voice as the stallion felt something slide onto his face. Now, he could see a tiled ceiling, and Nurse Redheart standing next to him. “One of your friends brought me your glasses earlier today.” She added, watching as the bedridden pony turned his head weakly in her direction.

“It hurts…” Tenmei moaned, closing his eyes again.

“Your surgeries were only weeks ago--you shouldn’t be in pain still. The whole team fixed you up good as new.” Redheart sighed, eyelids slanted in worry.

“Surgeries…?” Tenmei asked, opening his eyes once more. He looked towards his body, and found much of it covered with a white blanket.

“Yes. You had a total of four to fix up your many problems.” Redheart confirmed, this time with a nod. “We thought you’d never make it--I was expecting you to be dead about now, actually. You pulled through, though, and for that, I am glad.” She added, smiling faintly. She then frowned suddenly. “Just...what in Equestria happened to you?”

Tenmei scrunched his eyes shut instantly. “I...I don’t want to talk about it.” He sighed.