At The Mid Hour Of Night, I Fly

The race was almost over. Fluttershy was sitting with her friends in the VIP box of the stadium, guests of princess Celestia and princess Luna. The princesses had insisted they join them, wouldn't take no for an answer. Fluttershy had hated the pomp and ceremony of it all. Rarity had lapped it up of course, Applejack made a show of disliking it. Fluttershy wasn't here to show off, she was here to cheer on Rainbow, to see her Dashie perform as only she could. Rainbow loved to race, lived for it with a desire so intense it was like anyone else breathing air. Rainbow wasn't just good at it, when she raced she was as an artist upon her stage, and Fluttershy loved to watch her perform.

From her vantage point Fluttershy could see Rainbow turning the last corner of the track, she was easily going to win, and in a joyous state Fluttershy was leaping in her chair, whooping and cheering Dashie ever onwards. Ever since Rainbow had schooled her in the art of a good cheer she was determined to encourage her girlfriend as much as she could, regardless of the bemused looks of the VIP’s around her.

Rainbow was looking straight at her. Not just in her direction, Rainbow had managed to find HER in the crowd. In that instant they had connected, somehow. Dashie saw her cheering her on, and Fluttershy saw her switch to a higher gear, racing ever faster. She saw Dashie give her a wink as the Sonic Rainboom erupted behind her, saw the sheer pleasure on her face as she broke the sound barrier, the rainbow coloured streak flowed from her hair marking her passage through the air.

Then Fluttershy saw Dashie flare her wings, knew the danger signs as Dash tried in vain to slow down. Saw that she was still going too fast, much too fast. She watched Rainbow hit the wall at what seemed an impossible speed, the three seconds from rainboom to impact seemed to last a lifetime. She looked on helplessly as her beloved spiralled head first to the ground. Shy willed her to somehow pull up, sure it was a prank at her expense. Any moment now she’d rise up, laughing at Shy’s shocked face.

No. It didn't happen. She saw the dreadful, awful impact. Arms still outstretched Dashie plotted impossibly fast into the ground, leaving a metres long furrow behind her. A second ago there had been the noise of the crowd, now there was utter silence. No one moved, no one even breathed. The other racers had stopped and started milling around the furrowed crater. Shy couldn't stand it, she leapt to her feet and flew down to the track, shoving her way through the gawking athletes.

Rainbow Dash, her Dashie was laid before her, sprawled in an impossible position, muscles showing on limbs where the flesh had been ripped away, bent in unnatural angles. Her left wing had been ripped from her body, it had disintegrated as she hit the wall then bounced along the track. Her right wing wasn’t looking that much better. Blood was pouring from what seemed a thousand wounds on her broken body. Shy dropped to her knees beside Rainbow, weeping openly.

Then the horror. Dash was moving. Shy saw it but refused to believe. Slowly, awkwardly, Rainbow pushed herself to her feet, turning to face Fluttershy.

Fluttershy screamed. Rainbow was staggering towards her, her head lolling to one side as her broken neck refused to hold it upright, cold dead eyes staring glassily at nothing. Her tattered right wing hung limply at her side, rotted skin sloughing off her dead frame. Then she spoke, her voice little more than a ghastly whisper. “That Rainboom was for you babe. You did this to me. You killed me.”

The corpse-Rainbow was upon her, broken arms reaching around her, pulling Shy into a twisted embrace. Shy could feel fetid breath on her neck as her dead girlfriend kissed her neck and pulled her hair so that she was looking straight into her dead eyes.

“It was for you. You. Killed. Me.”

Fluttershy sat bolt upright in the hospital bed, panting heavily in the darkness as she struggled to get her breathing under control. Her blue eyes adjusted to the dark of the room, the beeping of the many machines the only other noise besides her thundering heartbeat. Reaching for the curtain that divided the room she pulled it aside with her left hand to reveal the unconscious occupant in the bed next to her. Rainbow Dash lay there unmoving like she had been for the past four months since the accident.

One hundred and twenty days had past since Rainbow’s accident at the race track. Fluttershy had been by her side through every single day. She had been so insistent that she stayed by her girlfriend's side princess Celestia had taken the unusual step of politely ordering the hospital to allow a second bed in the room so she could be with her. Canterlot Royal hospital had been really accommodating in that regard, Fluttershy really couldn't fault their excellent staff at all.

The yellow pegasus yawned and checked the clock next to her bed, it read three fifteen a.m. Why her nightmares always woke her up around this time she had no idea. They had begun a couple of days after Rainbow’s admittance to the hospital. Now almost every night Fluttershy relived that fateful day. It was going to be Rainbows day, the culmination of months of training, hard work and sacrifice. All those early four a.m. starts, the five hour training sessions, strict diets, missed parties and other things they had given up would have been worth it for Fluttershy to see her girlfriend achieve her lifelong dream of joining the Wonderbolts. Everything would have been worth it.

Fluttershy cast her mind back to the race, as she often found herself doing. Through the fog of the dream she saw the events unfold in her minds eye once more as she laid back on the bed and gazed unfocused on the dark ceiling.

She kept asking herself why. Why in the wide world of Equestria did Rainbow push herself for that rainboom? Rainbow had the race won, easy and by a long way. Thunder Lane was nowhere near her in second place, and Cloud Chaser was even further behind him in third place. People said she was playing the crowd, showing off for the hell of it. Fluttershy alone knew the real reason why. It was her fault. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie had all scoffed and rebuked her when she had voiced that thought out loud weeks ago. No matter what they said in her defence though, Fluttershy knew the truth. It was her fault. Turning that last corner on the track Rainbow had looked up into the crowd and had found her. Rainbow had given her that wink and cocky grin plastered all over her face. Never was a creature more in her element than her Rainbow was then. Fluttershy had seen it from the crowd, the sheer exhilaration of the moment. Rainbow Dash was were she belonged, where she felt most alive, and despite what she told Fluttershy in the bedroom, where she was happiest in the world. Racing was where Rainbow was at home, it was wholly her domain. It was her fault. Seeing the grin from her girlfriend Fluttershy had cheered louder than before, and Rainbow had gone even faster until she had produced the rainboom. A moment of pure and utter bliss had settled on Rainbows face, total serenity.

Three seconds. Three short seconds. That's all it had taken to stun the entire crowd to silence and rip apart two lives. Months of dedication and training, not to mention a lifetime of dreams had been cast away in three seconds. Everything had changed in those three seconds. Little more time than it took to blink had reduced Rainbow Dash to a bloodied broken mess sprawled on the track.

Fluttershy had immediately flown down to her side, followed closely by both princess Celestia and Luna. She had cradled her broken and bleeding body in her arms, smearing bits of her girlfriend over herself as the other pegasi in the race had flown over to gawk at her. Fluttershy had held the unconscious pegasus, her tears had splashed over her unmoving body. Her world had fallen apart, nothing else mattered at all. She had known back then that it was her fault.

Celestia had put her hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder, had tried to get her to give Rainbow to her, but Fluttershy had refused, shaking her head. What if something happened to her? Gently but with insistence the princess had taken Rainbows body from her. Before she knew what she was doing Fluttershy brought her hand across Celestia’s alabaster face, leaving a perfect red hand print on her face, for taking her Dashie from her. Luna then stepped in, and restrained her from attacking the princess again, Fluttershy didn't care, how dare anyone take her love from her! The watching crowd hushed even more, not knowing what to do next. Celestia simply gave Luna a look, ignoring the stinging pain in her face. They shared a moment between themselves before deciding on a course of action. Luna had suggested Ponyville General, Celestia countered with Canterlot Royal. They had both agreed it was further away but far better equipped.

In a flash of golden magic Celestia and Rainbow were both gone, and Fluttershy was about to go berserk again until yet again Luna halted her with a smile. Placing her dark blue hand on Fluttershy's shoulder they too disappeared in a flash of blue magic. An instant later they were at Canterlot Royal hospital, an army of doctors and nurses bustling about Rainbows body. That had been the last she saw of Rainbow that day, she squeezed through the throng of medical staff and planted a kiss on her bloodied cheek as her girlfriend was wheeled away into the operating theatre. No amount of royal authority would get her in there, all Fluttershy could do was sit and wait.

Sit and wait as Celestia turned her furious gaze to Fluttershy who was sat beside Luna trying with all her might to hide behind her long pastel pink hair, her confidence and anger having quickly evaporated as Rainbow had been wheeled away for emergency surgery. The expected rebuke from Celestia never came. The Solar princess simply smiled at Fluttershy and lit her horn with golden power. That was the last Fluttershy remembered until the dreamless sleep spell’s effects wore off.

Opening her eyes groggily the pegasus sleepily took in her surroundings, briefly wondering where she was, before the horrific memories of the race and crash came washing over her with the fire of a tidal wave. Sitting up and stifling her tears Fluttershy saw Spitfire waiting for her. The Wonderbolt captain offered her a weak smile as she sat next to her in the waiting room and pulled her into a tight hug of support.

“How you doing Fluttershy?”

"Um, I don't know, okay I guess…just waiting for Dashie, she’s in there…” The yellow Pegasus pointed to the operating theatre door, which remained resolutely closed.

"She'll be alright you know, she's tough that Rainbow is.” Despite herself Spitfire didn't seem very confident, Fluttershy could see her warm smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“I don't know, she was hurt pretty badly in the accident,” seeing Spitfire’s questioning look Fluttershy continued, “sh – she, Rainbow I mean, well, she lost her left wing when she hit the wall. By the time she hit the ground it had disintegrated altogether…” Fluttershy saw Spitfire visibly flinch at the mention of the lost wing, the colour draining from her face.

“You - you mean she can't fly anymore?”

Fluttershy shook her head sadly, "no, and that's if she even wakes up at all…”

Spitfire cast her eyes around nervously, unsure of what to say next, but feeling that something should be done to improve Fluttershy’s mood. Well, she was sure her team mates Soarin and Fleetfoot were taking care of that right now with the hospital administrators. Besides, the thought of a pegasus unable to fly sent a nasty chill down her spine making her uncomfortable even being here,  involuntarily Spitfire's wings flexed, ready to carry her far far away. “So, you staying here with her then?” Was the best she could come up with.

“Oh, um well  was going to stay here as long as I can, but with medical bills and expenses I'm not sure how long that'll be…”

At that moment Spitfire caught sight of Soarin and Fleetfoot making their way towards them, smiles plastered on their faces. “All sorted captain, they went for it no problem.”

"Thanks you two.”

Fluttershy couldn't help but be confused at this development, “um, what's going on?”

Spitfire flashed Fluttershy a smile, “you can stay here with Rainbow Dash until she wakes up, don't worry about any bills.”

“But how, why?...”

“We  took care of it,” Fleetfoot answered quickly, “open cheque to the administrators courtesy of the Wonderbolts.”

“Yeah,” put in Soarin with a grin, “least we could do for the girl that saved our lives not long ago. Anything you need, anything at all just put it on the bill, we’ll cover it all.”

Fluttershy felt fresh hot tears stinging her eyes, she could stay, permanently! “Thankyou, thankyou all.”

“It’s really no trouble,” as Spitfire stood to leave, she handed Fluttershy a package she’d been holding on to. “Here, for Rainbow Dash when she wakes up. Come on guys, let's go.”

Fluttershy took the parcel as she watched the three flyers walk out the hospital. She didn't see them again, but the Wonderbolts had stayed true to their word, every expense meeted out to her had been covered immediately and without question and for that she was eternally grateful.

The pegasus sat wearily on the edge of her bed and looked once more at Rainbow Dash. She had kept herself going these past few months by telling herself she was resting, that she was just asleep and that one day soon she would wake up. Now after four months Fluttershy had begun to doubt herself more and more. Wrapping her cream yellow arms around herself she hugged away the slight morning chill that was in the hospital room. Looking around the room in the half-light of morning she could make out the silhouettes of the many ‘get well soon’ cards that decorated Rainbows half. Even in the near darkness she could clearly make out the shape of the biggest one there on the window sill, the one from herself and their friends, signed with their respective cutie marks all surrounding Rainbow's cutie mark.

Her friends.

Fluttershy tried and failed to suppress a contemptuous snort at the thought of their friends. She understood that they all had lives, and jobs and families, but would it really hurt them to drop in and visit her and Rainbow once in a while? She knew Rarity was busy with the Boutique and Sweetie Belle; that Applejack had her chores on the farm as well as Apple Bloom and Granny Smith to care for; she understood that Pinkie Pie was busy with Sugarcube Corner and babysitting the Cake’s twins; she got it that Twilight Sparkle was busy doing whatever it was a newly crowned and ascended Alicorn princess did all day, but It had been at least two weeks since any of them had been in to see them and at least a week since any of them had called the hospital telephone to leave any messages.

Fluttershy got up and walked past the waste bin in the corner of the room, casting a glance at the crumpled banner within it. She could just make out part of the letters that spelt out “welcome back Rainbow” across it in typical bright and gaudy Pinkie style. The party pony had put that up the day after Rainbow had come out of her first six hour surgery. She remembered Pinkie had been so disappointed to see her stricken friend still unconscious, to spare her feelings her friends had insisted on the subdued party anyway. By the tenth day that banner had been hanging by one hook on the wall, and by the twenty second day it had fallen in the trash where it stayed. The bright multicoloured balloons too were long gone, as was Pinkie herself. She had been the first to stop visiting, muttering something along the lines of ‘I prefer to remember Dashie as she was, not like this…’ as her excuse.

Rarity and Applejack had stayed around longer, both trying to get her out and about, either to resume their regular twice-weekly spa visits or a day out at Sweet Apple Acres. Fłuttershy had agreed to the spa trip, but had flown back to the hospital in a guilty panic before the mud baths could be prepared, scared that she'd miss Rainbow waking up if she wasn't there. The pegasus had pointedly refused to leave the building again after that anxiety attack, and eventually Rarity and Applejack had stopped trying to persuade her. Neither of them understood, she simply didn't want to leave Rainbow’s side, she couldn't leave her, not like this. They had carried on visiting for a week after, before they too made their excuses. For Rarity it was preparing for the Autumn / Winter fashion line, and for Applejack she had found a multitudinous amount of chores, repairs and even a barn rebuild to keep her busy and away from her competitive friend’s side.

Fluttershy laughed a mirthless laugh at the thought, that infernal barn seemed to demolish itself every other week lately.

Of all their close friends Twilight had stayed around the longest, having only stopping her visits two weeks ago. Fluttershy could tell the new princess was just keeping up appearances though. She hardly spoke during her visits, spending the two hours in awkward silence until it was time for her to leave. Twilight had even brought Scootaloo with her once, and only once. The shock of seeing her idol / mentor / adopted big sister covered in bandages and plaster casts with just her right wing remaining had been too much for the filly to take, and she had fled the hospital in an orange blur that almost reached rainboom speeds.

So here she was, four months, or one hundred and twenty days after the accident sat alone by her girlfriend's side as she always was. The outside world may have ceased existing for all the damn Fluttershy gave. Dawn began to creep it's early morning light through the shutters on the window behind her as Celestia began once again to raise the sun.

With the light beginning to illuminate the room properly Fluttershy reached for Rainbow’s left hand, the nearest one to her and took her girlfriend's hand in her own, giving it a gentle squeeze just like she had done every morning. “I’m sorry Rainbow, it's all m…”

Fluttershy barely felt it, the slight movement almost going unnoticed. Then she felt it again. Just as slight as before, but definitely there. A third time and it was unmistakable. Three times Rainbow had squeezed her hand. At first she thought she was imagining it, then she had felt the second and third squeezes and there was no mistake! Rainbow, her Rainbow was waking up!