Romantic Getaway (Sort of)

Flash awoke alone at the camp site. He felt emptiness under his wing. He rubbed his eye with his hoof, and then he realized Twilight was missing. He was about to shout her name, when he found a note on the old bandages she had laying beside him. It said:

Went to get more firewood and maybe some food. Don't worry, I'm not going far.

P.S. No nightmares last night! <3 Flash looked at the letter, and found it a bit adorable.

Well... I wish she wouldn't just go wandering off like that. But I'm sure she'll be fin- "AAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

He heard a hi pitched scream and it made him jump.

Oh no...

He quickly grabbed his medical kit, and dashed off to where he heard the sound. He dashed through the forest, checking his compass to make sure which way he went. Northeast. Got it.

He slowed to a trot.

It couldn't have been that far... I feel like I'm close...

He then came to a large cliff with about a fifty feet drop. He then looked straight ahead of him. What he saw was a sight to behold.

Damn, can't deny this view...

The cliff had a beautiful view of the sunrise. With trees and mountains in the distance. But then, flash noticed something on the cliff. There looked to be like a piece chipped off of it's tip. He saw several small rocks and ruble near it. Then, he decided to look down and then he saw her. Laying there in the snow below.

Twilight slowly started to wake. Ugh... my head... She looked around where she was, then looked straight up at the tip of the cliff.

"Flash... is that... you!? FLASH!!!"

"Twilight stay where you are!!! I am coming down." Flash then noticed there was red snow next to her side.

Oh no... she's hurt...

"I have to get down there fast. That much blood means the wound could be fatal."

He looked for any way to get down.

Damn it... why did my wings have to break!? He shouted in his mind.

As Flash was looking for a way to get down, Twilight was at the bottom of the cliff breathing and shaking violently. She looked to her left and there was a 5 inch gash on the side of her stomach. She was moaning and growling from the pain as she was losing blood. Fast. She then noticed Flash was galloping toward her from her side. "Twilight... Oh thank goodness you-" He stopped and looked at her wound. "Oh... oh no..." He rushed toward her and knelt down to inspect her wound. He had a worrying look on his face. Twilight looked at him with teary eyes. "H- how bad is it?" She asked. "It looks pretty bad..." Said Flash examining the wound... And then a sudden and painful realization hit him.

It needs to be stitched... Damn it. I don't want to to this... She is going to be scared out of her mind.   Flash had to break it to her...

"Twilight... I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this..."

"What... What are you going to do?"

"Twilight... I am not going to lie, this is going to hurt... a lot. I don't have anything to help ease the pain..."

"...Flash?"

"I am going to have to stitch it..."

She gasped. What! Surgery! Please! Oh Galaxia NO!

"Twilight... listen to me... If I don't do this... You will bleed out. You will die... do you understand me?"

Twilight wiped her tears away. "Flash... I... I understand..."

"Twilight, look at me... I need you to be brave... and trust me... okay?" Flash was starting to tear up as well.

Twilight was gripping the snow beside her as hard as she could. "Flash... I trust you..." She said, and she put her head up a bit to kiss his cheek.

This may hurt... But it's either this or I die...

"Do it."

Flash took out his med kit. He grabbed the bandages, stitches, and the alcohol.

First, he had to cleanse the wound so it wouldn't get infected. He tore a small piece of bandage, and put some alcohol on it. "Twilight, close your eyes, and no matter what happens hold still." She complied, and prepared for the pain that was about to ensue. Flash put the bandage on the wound, and Twilight screamed harder than when she fell off the cliff. She tried to remain as still as possible.

Twilight... I'm sorry...

Twilight was banging the snow with her right hoof to try and escape the pain. But it wasn't working. Flash was still cleansing it, but after a few seconds, it was over.

"Twilight, we are a third the way done." Twilight still had her eyes closed, her wound was already hurting enough, now it was stinging from the alcohol.

Flash took the thread and needle, and prepared for the worst part. "Twilight, as mush as this is going to hurt, keep completely still. Any movement could tear the stitching." Twilight tensed up waiting for the pain, gripping the snow even harder. Flash put the needle against her skin, and pierced it. Immediately, Twilight smashed the ground with her arm and screamed, but stood still. He continued to move it through her skin, and then put it through the other side of the wound. Twilight screamed again, this time much harder, and she continued to cry.

"Flash! Please stop!!!" She pleaded, but Flash kept going, as he figured it would be best to get it over with.

This grueling procedure continued for another five minutes, as Flash continued to thread her wound. Her screaming didn't subside, and lasted the whole duration of the surgery. Flash did the final thread, and tied it. He looked at Twilight who was still crying. She cried so much, snow was starting to melt around her head.

The moment I get these bandages on... I am hugging you harder than Celestia did when she got her sister back.

"Twilight... the hard part's done. Sit up carefully." She slowly did what she was told and tried not to tear the stitching. Flash took the bandage, and wrapped it around her waist.

Damn... I am running out of bandages. I need to be careful. Flash finished applying them, and the moment he let go, Twilight consumed him in her strongest hug yet.

Heh... looks like she beat me to it...

He heard Twilight speak. "I don't want to ever endure that... again..." Twilight said, crying into Flash's chest.

"Twilight... It's alright." He said as he rubbed her back.

"It's over. You were brave, and you pushed through it." Flash held her with more strength.

"Flash... I am sorry... I shouldn't have... wondered off." Twilight apologized, sniffling in between words.

"Twilight... It's fine. I'm not mad. But maybe now you could tell me what happened?" Twilight finished crying, and wiped her eyes.

"Okay... okay..." She began.

"I was originally going to look for more food, and firewood, hence the letter. Then, I came across that cliff. When I saw the view, I couldn't help but just stand there and marvel at it... It was so beautiful."

"I know... I saw it too."

Twilight continued. "Then, I don't know how... But there was this perfect warm breeze of air coming from the sunrise. It felt so... good... and it lured me closer to the cliff. Before I knew it, the tip of it broke off and I fell. I tried to glide down but I didn't know how. Then, I landed on some leaves that broke my fall, but I  felt a branch scrape my left side, and then I went unconscious for a few seconds." Twilight finished.

"Promise me you will be more careful from here on out... Please." She nodded and hugged him again.

"Alright Twilight, lets get you back to the camp site. Move carefully, you don't want to tear the stitching."

"Okay." Twilight said as she tried to stand up. Flash was holding her hoof as she did. "Here, let me show you the way I came down."

Flash led her to a hill that led up the cliff. She moved very carefully. "Twilight... I'm sorry that had to happen to you... When I was doing the surgery... Every move I made on you felt like someone was reaching into my chest and crushing my heart."

"Flash... It's alright..." She reassured him. But then she thought of something.

"Um... Flash. Am I... going to have a scar?"

"I don't think so Twilight. Maybe for a while, but alicorns don't have scars for long, considering their regenerative abilities."

Twilight was relieved. She didn't want to have something that reminded her of this experience for the rest of her life. Although, this place is where she confessed to Flash, everything else was too hard on her.

"So... No nightmares last night huh?" Flash asked. Twilight instantly blushed and put a hoof on the back of her neck. "No... heh. Thanks Flash."

He just looked at her and smiled.

Once they got back to the camp site, Flash told Twilight to relax.

"Twilight, just lay down and rest alright? I can work on the shelter myself."

"But Flash, I want to help!" She said almost shouting.

"I know Twilight... but any heavy lifting could open your wound. I couldn't stand having to perform another surgery on you." Twilight understood this completely.

"Alright Flash... I'll rest."

Twilight continued to lay down, and Flash reignited the fire for her to keep warm. "How long will it be until I can help?"

"I don't know, I'll check up on you every once and a while to check your wound, alright?" Flash knelt down and kissed her on the lips.

"Have a good rest Twi, love you."

"I love you too Flash..." She responded.

After she fell asleep, Flash got to work on making a fortified shelter against the tree. Using any branches he could find as the structure, and  packing snow over them like an igloo.

Flash heard lightning in the distance, and looked up at the sky. Damn, the storm is getting closer, maybe about five hours away. I need to speed this up Flash was working as hard as he could for the next two hours, occasionally checking up on Twilight. Then he remembered he wasn't holding her. I hope she doesn't have another nightmare... The storm's lightning may support in one. Flash checked on Twilight again. She isn't squirming, that's good. He felt her mane. No sweat... she looks fine. Then he checked her wound. It still looks bad... she looked pretty disappointed when she couldn't help... Flash thought for a minute. He really did need help. He couldn't finish the shelter by himself in time. And he couldn't work during the storm. Flash grunted. Damn it... I guess if she is careful... she can help.

He shook her to get her to wake up. "Hey... hey Twilight. Wake up. It's me." Twilight slowly opened her eyes and saw flash knelt next to her. "Flash..." Twilight rubbed her eyes and yawned. She looked around her. "Wow Flash, good job on the shelter... what time is it?" She asked. "It's about 1400, I woke you up to ask if you still want to help?" Twilight shot awake. "Yes! Of course Flash! What do you need me to do!? Oh wait... am I alright to help?"

"As long as you don't lift too much... I think you may be fine. Plus I can't finish this thing in time by my self. I just need you to bring me branches. We don't need firewood so it can be wet. And please... be careful." Twilight smiled at him. "Don't worry Flash, I'll stay close."

Twilight went off along with Flash's knife to find some branches. She also brought the food bag, in case she found any more Frostfire Cherries. Flash meanwhile, stayed with the shelter. He stood on top of it to see if it was sturdy. It didn't collapse but it creaked. Flash thought it was okay, considering he did weigh a lot.

Well, just a few more adjustments and this thing should be storm proof. Just as he finished his thoughts, he felt a drop of snow on his muzzle.

It's... snowing? The storm is close, I hope Twilight gets here soon-

"Hey Flash I'm back, I found some more Frostfires and I also got some dry wood for fire."

"Great job Twilight. The storm is almost here, help me construct one more layer and we will be all good. You're wound still alright?"

"It's fine, I'll help you out with the last layer."

They were almost done adding the last layer, and the snow was falling more rapidly.

"Okay Twilight, one more branch and... done!"

Flash and Twilight took a step back to look at it. "Well... there is enough room for a fire, and I dug out the snow inside so we can keep warm. The outside is covered in packed snow, so it should muffle some of the noise." Lightning startled them and they both clung on to each other.

"We should get inside." Flash suggested. They both trotted to the shelter as the storm approached.

Flash took off the panel he made from the front of the shelter, and gestured Twilight to climb in. Flash did the same and he fastened the panel into the front.

"So, you think this thing will hold up?" Twilight asked as she sat down. "Positive. I packed the snow really well on the supports from the tree. And the branches will hold it up just fine. I made a shelter similar to this on my trials."

Twilight thought wrong, as the shelter was creaking a bit from the wind. "Twilight, relax. It does that when pressure is put on it. It won't collapse." Twilight didn't believe him, as she kept looking around the shelter to predict where it was 'going' to fall. "Twilight, look at me."

Twilight looked up at his face. "I promise the shelter will hold up, trust me." Flash held her hoof as he talked. Twilight recalled when he gave her surgery.

and... trust me okay?

"Alright Flash... I trust you." She scooted next to him, and he put a wing around her.

Now... they just had to wait it out.