Chained Wings

February 18, 2001

I saw a green foal get thrown to the wall today...

And as far as anything really can go, the foal, what was his name? Swifty? I dunno, continued to cry as the red mare began to hit him.

I could see those tears in his face as the older one just stomped on his face like that. But I guess what really got me was the look on his face. He wanted, no needed help, and no one bother to help him. The red mare apparently she didn't like the color of his fur, green... I don't know what so wrong with that color, most of the Pegasi have it, whether it's their fur mane or eyes; those little Pegasi were never hurt because of that color reason...

So why did that red mare want to hit him so bad? I remember seeing her keep crushing his face on the floor like he was dirt. And he continued to look at me as if I were to do something... And I'll admit, I wanted to help him. I really did... But if I got involved then...

~Swifty didn't even do anything wrong, that red mare just didn't like his green fur... It was wrong I knew that but... I don't know, I just want to get out of here. They abuse us for whatever reason they want.

If you dropped a plate, you get beaten.

If you didn't clean the floors right, you get scalding water poured on you.

If you bump into a worker, you slapped in the face for it.

If you even exist, you get abused some way or another... it becomes a habit for those guards to give us a "Rough Lesson" as they called it...

I just...

...

Gotta go, the guard will make his rounds. Write you later Bolt.

Chapter 2: Reasons

TICK… TOCK…

The sounds of scribbling pencils and of a single timer continued to click throughout the silent classroom. The air was stale and cool just enough to make anyone just stop breathing for a moment due the tense feelings and emotions that would be born from just the air alone.

But that didn't seem to bother the young cyan filly at all. What did annoy her were the sounds of the timer's ticking, each time it clicked with every passing second, every tick another moment of life just another memory behind the young pony's life.

But that wasn't the reason why it irritated her, no her life already is just a toilet, so why add more to it. No she was bothered at the sound, every little click that that single rusty timer let lose is deafening towards the little filly all the while she looked down at her slightly crumpled but unmarked paper before her. The question only buzzed in her mind as those red hues stared at it with a glare, she had nothing written for the question, but she did have one thing she knew… she HATED writing.

Emphasis on the hate.

And that wasn't a lie, she would prefer doing cleaning up the bathroom then having to deal with literature any day. With a tiny shut of her eyes, she opened her cracked lips slightly and grabbed a hold of the pencil that remained besides the paper with her teeth.

TICK… TOCK…

Her red eyes re-scanned the question: "What have you done in the past that was wrong, and why?" Write an entire page (front and back) and use complete sentences. DO NOT Write anywhere else besides the lines provided for you. You have 30 minutes to answer the question.

With a furrow of her brows and a tighter bite on her pencil, she placed her head on her hoof. The question repeated in her mind multiple times, and each time she would think for an answer, but so far she didn't have any results. Though a few thoughts did appear to her mind when her red eyes just bore into the paper's question, but none of them fit with the question that she was satisfied with. Just what in Equestria is she supposed to write anyways?!

TICK… TOCK…

If anything, she doesn't recall ever doing wrong in the past anyways. Well, at least anything that was extensive… Her eyes trailed around the dull classroom, watching as other fillies and foals quickly scribble down their written answers onto their papers. When she looked back at her own paper, she vaguely realized that she hasn't even bothered to write anything, why would-

Her eyes darted down back at the paper noticing a still shadow appear over her paper.

"HEY!" The sudden loud voice made the filly jump as her red irises shrunk in size from fear.

"What Do You Think You're Doing?!" The tall stallion demanded in such a threatening tone that the young cyan Pegasus forget to breath.

"Answer The Question!" He shouted so harshly that it forced the filly quickly retreat back to her writing. She never bothered to look at the stallion at all, and quite frankly she was scared to even look at his shadow. The cyan Pegasus continued to write whatever peeped inside her head, her mouth marking up the paper with no thought or process of coherent literary. Fear shrouded in her body even moments after the instructor's shadow disappeared.

TICK… TOCK…

Seconds after finally realizing that his shadow no longer loomed over her paper, did she finally paused writing for only moment. The orphan Pegasus blinked in question and dared to use a corner of eye, and sure enough he was no longer besides her seat. The stallion now hovered over other students in the class and inspecting their own papers, checking what answers that have scripted. She released a tiny gasp of air from her, making sure it was practically inaudible, even to herself.

She cast her red eyes back to her paper...

"I don't know what to say about the purple rainbow cloud near the shower flower..." It read.

The orphan let out another tiny exhale of air once more, before she flipped the pencil so that the dull lead now remained her mouth and the unused eraser on the paper to remove what she wrote.

*This is so stupid!* She thought annoyed, as she continued to erase the scribbled lead.

*Forcing us to write something that we did wrong in the past.* She continued to erase her words, but at the same time, her red eyes turned to look to her side; noticing the empty seat across from her. Another inaudible sigh escaped her throat, it has been two days since she hasn't returned to the class... The cyan Pegasus started to worry; if anypony was late to any of the orphanage's classes, even by a minute the punishment would be a physical lashing in front of the entire class.

TICK… TOCK…

And right after the punishment was over the young ponies are STILL forced to sit and pay attention to class regardless if they got a concussion from the blows.

TICK… TOCK…

The orphan Pegasus quickly flipped her pencil back in its original posture, with the lead side touching the paper; her lone thoughts focusing on her needed written answer.

TICK… TOCK…

Still... she never did anything wrong...

TICK… TOCK…

Teeth bit into her lip, she was just so tired of this, and-

TICK… TOCK…

Wandering eyes found themselves locked on the timer sitting on the instructor's desk.

TICK… TOCK…

Only Ten Minutes Left!

Thousands of thoughts instantly synchronized in her mind, almost making her just want to rip the essay paper in shreds and just leave the classroom. But she knew better...

TICK… TOCK…

The sounds of ticks and tocks continued to echo and she hasn't done anything yet! A sudden blink and look at her paper instantly come in realization.

She Hadn't Done ANYTHING!

TICK… TOCK…

Rapidly she proceeded to write, and only wrote that one idea that came to her head. Nothing more.

"In my entire life, all I can say is... that I never done anything wrong in my life before..."

Everything ached...

From the tips of my wings to the soles of my hooves. I could go on, but I really doubt my head would allow me to think more than just that.

"Do you think she'll be okay Twilight?" A worried but gentle voice started, though it echoed like she was inside a cave.

"She will, she's the strongest pony I know." Another voice responded, it was probably the one the shy voice was talking to.

"Don' forget stubborn." Another voice answered, this one had a strong accent.

"Don't be a party-pooper Applejack!" An almost high pitched voice scolded.

"No, Applejack is right." Now this one sounded proper, "Rainbow is stubborn, there is no way she wouldn't let something like this bring her down." The proper pony continued.

"I agree with Rarity. I know Rainbow, and if anything she would be waking soon." I could easily recognize that to be Twi, as the echoing voice stopped midway, allowing me to hear her voice more clearly.

No one seemed to have said anything afterwards. But I knew that they were thinking about my condition. Why else would they all be in my room? I could feel something soft and warm under my back, though without any movement I felt a tiny lump under my flank, maybe a pillow?

Alright, gotta wake up… I forced myself to open my eyes, but strangely enough I didn't get them open, how deep asleep am I?

I tried again, and for the first few tries I couldn't get my lids to open up, but I wasn't going to give up. After a few more tries I noticed something like a bright line appear before me, it was then I realized that they were my eyelids that managed to open a crack. And when I pried them open a bit more a small ray of light shining through my sight that blinded me.

"Look She's Waking Up!" The energetic pony said instantly.

The bright light pulsed for a moment, but with a few minor blinks that light died down significantly. I don't know how long I have been doing this, but the blurred vision was improving in quantity slowly.

The first thing I managed to clear out was something purple.

"Oh thank Celestia you're alright Rainbow." The purple mare said, a gentle smile on her face.

"We were so worried." The yellow mare continued walking close to me with tearful eyes.

"We Thought You Were Never Going To Wake Up!" The pink mare said and unlike Fluttershy her tears fell from her face like small rivers.

"We did not." Rarity stated with a small slant of her eyes towards the pink party mare. But the small glassy look on her eyes stated otherwise.

"What are you talking about Pinkie?" I responded looking at the pink mare, a smirking expression on my face. I started to get up, but the base of my back prevented me from moving. Making me wince visibly. It was when I vaguely felt the warm sheets slide down from my neck to my stomach as I forcefully pushed myself into a sitting position.

Every movement I made hurt...!

But despite this I forced myself, giving them my knowing smile. "I'm perfectly fine."

I stared at them with a growing smirk, however, that look disappeared when I caught sight of their expressions other ponies. "What?" I questioned, my eyes drifted over to Twilight, seeing as she was the closest to me.

"Rainbow... you were asleep for four days..." She started, her amethyst hues shifting away from me and down to the floor.

"F-Four Days?!" I cried, my red eyes huge. How could I have been out for FOUR DAYS?! I snapped my head towards the rest of my friends; as if expecting that they were joking, I searched their faces frantically looking for any form a slip of an expression. But all I saw were the similar worried expressions...-

I felt a resistant large lump in my throat, this isn't good...

I cast my attention to the pink mare, knowing that she would be the one to tell me it were a joke and burst out laughing, "Heh! Got Yah!"

But even Pinkie wasn't staring at me.

Uh Oh...

If EVEN Pinkie is pulling the joke and not staring at me then-! I paused my thoughts cold, what in Equestria is going on? But before I could even ask that question, I couldn't ask. My eyes drifted past my friends and directly on the room.

*Since when was my room whi-* I didn't bother to finish that thought bubble when I realized that the rooms were covered with white cloudless walls and a hard tiled floor. There was a pale green curtain to my side that's drawn back revealing a second standard empty bed made and ready to be used when needed. Besides the furniture stood a plain wooden drawer with a flower pot sitting in the center.

Not even a single trophy or Daring Do Poster in sight…

A thought brick hit my head in realization.

I wasn't in my room. Or in my house for that matter.

"What happened? Why am I in the hospital?" I questioned, as worry bubbled inside me. I tried to ignore the burning pain that erupted from my haunches down and tried to get up, but the flaring pain wouldn't let me do so. I did try again, there is no way I am going to give up-

A gentle weight pressed against my hoof. I stared at the purple hoof before up at the owner.

"Rainbow, you..." This time it was Applejack that started, but for some reason she couldn't finish her sentence.

Tick... Tock...

I pursed my lips at her expression, and I knew she was hesitating, I opened my mouth to break the ice-

"You were fried! The doctor said that your heart stopped when the lightning hit you! If you hadn't fallen to the ground the electricity would have stayed inside you and damage you! But the lightning already stopped your heart from working!" Pinkie cried quickly, her tears now gushing like waterfalls.

My eyes widened large in shock at Pinkie's sudden outburst and I stared at each of them in shock, but the moment I did, the rest of my friends looked away from me, or at least away from in my general direction. Images returned to my head like a freeway train. Instant flashes of me flying back home, before the sound of lightning and something white flashed before my eyes.

I was...!

"The doctors..." It was Rarity. "Said they managed to bring you back, with an electrocution spell..." She paused, a small gulp came right after.

"But the effects might be that there is a chance that..." The white unicorn couldn't finish her words; the tears threaten to jump out of her eyes like the pink party pony.

"You might have some difficulty with walking." Twilight continued, and this time unlike the others, she did look at me directly in the eyes, her amethyst eyes glassy with tears threatening to fall out, but I could tell she wouldn't dare let them loose.

Millions of thoughts coursed along with yesterday's images flashing rapidly in my head, the pain... the crash, the burning, sizzling sensation when something electrocuted through my haunches. It did happen, I was struck by lightning...!

Time just felt like it was slowing down when I looked down at my back legs, and I made my legs move.

I did make my legs move...

I stared at them, and I made them...

They wouldn't move.

Fear struck me beyond reason. "No... No! NO!" I shouted without realizing, making every pony in the room wince.

"Are You KIDDING ME!?" I shouted and pushed my hooves in my face in mixed shock irritation, but mostly anger. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!

"Rainbow please..." Fluttershy started, but I didn't even bother to look her. At none of them.

"Complications with my legs?! That's Not Happening! I've never had problems with them before! They Are Like My Wings They Shouldn't Hold Me Down!" I shouted incoherently.

"Now hold on sugar cube! No one said that you wouldn't be able to walk." The farm pony tried to reason.

"It's just gunna take a bit of time to get them to work like they used to. Be thankful it wasn't your wings." She continued, giving me one of those green glares.

I wanted to just glare at her back, but a sudden thought pierced my mind when I glared into her apple green eyes. Her element is honesty, and as far as I am concerned, she's never lied to me or the others once...

And for the most part she is right about one thing. I looked at my sides seeing the familiar lump of my wings, though I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about they also got hurt. But when I extended both my wings to a full stretch, well with AJ and Twi moving out of the way first, I was able to extend them in their full glory. There was a dull throbbing sensation of pain on my left wing but otherwise fine, the first few flaps of my wings proved it.

That was something at least...

"See, at least you can use them." Twilight said, giving me a tiny smile.

And honestly I couldn't help but also give her one. About maybe a few seconds passed with just us looking at each other, Twilight was being sincere, and I had to appreciate that. Well, she certainly lives up to being dubbed as the Princess of Friendship, she almost always knows what to say in the right moment. I felt my face warm up realizing that I had been staring at her without a single blink.

It would have been much more awkward had there not been the sound of a door opening. Six pairs of eyes faced at the entrance of the room, and we all caught sight of a white unicorn nurse with a pink and red mane entered inside the room, as she carried what looked like bandages and a few other medical supplies on a metal trolley in the room. Her golden eyes widened only slightly at the sight of the six of us.

"Oh..." She started her voice low, but loud enough for us to hear. "I had no idea that Miss Dash had any visitors." She stated a faint blush over her face. "I didn't mean to intrude."

*I guess there are ponies that can rival against Fluttershy's shyness.* I thought bemused.

AJ took a single step forward. "You ain't intruding miss... uh?"

"Petalo. Just call me Petalo." She said, a tiny smile on her face, but with the slight pink tint on her cheeks, just practically screamed she was embarrassed.

The six of us looked at each other before back at the white nurse pony. I rose a brow that was a strange name? And I looked down to see her cutie mark, there was a red cross with three roses, two of them being red and the single middle one being pink.

Well... I guess that explains why it sounds like petals...?

"Well, I'll wait until you finish visiting miss Rainbow Dash." She said looking down, a faint blush over her face. Is it her first day on the job?

"The wrappings aren't as important right now. I only thought I would give them a check to see if they were alright." Petalo said, while she gently made her way out of the room, and closing the door slowly. As she did this, it made me raise a brow.

Wrappings?

I looked down, lifting the bed sheet up to see, no doubt about it, I was covered in wrappings. My stomach and haunches were completely wrapped and so was my right ankle. The thinner wrappings were now blotched with red blood, though not as significantly as the one around my stomach.

Faint memories of seeing something green and brown flash before eyes come to me. A tree?

A small burning sensation pulsed in my belly at the mere thought of the crash. I slanted my brows in frustration.

Okay its official…

I HATE Lightning!