Guardian Wings

Chapter 2: Darker Plains

Pain, white hot searing pain that seeped into his mind as Frostlight plunged back into consciousness. His wing… it felt as if somepony was tearing it apart and making sure it was as painful as possible. He felt his body jolt and he screamed in pain. Something was holding him down. Straps maybe, he couldn’t see. Everything was white, and so very bright. “Calm down! Stop…moving!” a voice said. Frostlight wanted to calm down, but the pain was so intense he couldn’t stop. “The lights! Turn it down!” He screamed. The lights dimmed, and Frostlight could see, but it still hurt his eyes to open them. “My...my wing, it hurts. I want it to stop.” Frostlight said exasperated. “Don’t worry, now that you’re awake, we can start to use our magic to dull the pain.” The voice said. Frostlight felt his wing start to tingle, and the pain started to drift away. It still hurt, but the pain was bearable again. “We can’t use too much magic otherwise it’ll put you out to sleep, but her Majesty needs you awake.” The voice said. “The Majesty?” Frostlight thought, “What’s your name?” Frostlight asked. “I’m no pony important, what matters is your health.” The stranger said.

Frostlight’s vision came into focus and he saw the doctor’s features. He had a rugged muzzle, and his coat was a dark grey, and his mane and tail were a brilliant shade of crimson. His face looked of age, and Frostlight instantly knew he had plenty of experience in the medical field. His cutie mark was covered by his medical jacket, so Frostlight couldn’t figure out his specialty. “So…Princess Celestia wants to talk to me?” Frostlight began. “Yes, you will meet her soon, don’t worry you don’t have to leave his room.” The doctor cut in. “For now, please get some rest, you have 20 minutes of sleep before she arrives, then 5 minutes of getting presentable.” He continued. Frostlight wanted to sleep, but knowing that he would have a most likely brief audience with the Princess, well he couldn’t sleep. He started to examine the room. Very bright white walls, and he was lying on a plain bed with white sheets and supports, probably so doctors and nurses could notice any bleeding or abnormalities. He lie still in his bed, and stared into space, and his mind started to drift. The memories of yesterday came flooding back like water out of a bursting dam. The forest, his wing… the creature, all of which wasn’t pleasant in the least, but at least he didn’t endure it alone. Cross Sticks was still with him and still alive. Hopefully nothing would get in the way of their friendship; you never know what could’ve happened after that catastrophe.

“Alright!” a voice said, “Make way for the Princess!” It continued. Frostlight steadied himself; this was a rare opportunity, though he wished it had happened differently. The doors opened and She walked in. “Hello, Frostlight.” Celestia said. “Umm, hi” Frostlight replied nervously. She smiled, “I guessed you’d have this reaction, but I assure you you’ve got nothing to fear, even if I AM the ruler of this wonderful land.” Frostlight still felt nervous, but at a strange ease, as if something was calming him. “So, you’re here to…hear about the Incident.” Frostlight said. “Yes, in fact I couldn’t be more interested about this event in specific.” Celestia said. “Well, I guess you’d like it if I started at the beginning.” Frostlight said. “Yes please.” Celestia said. Frostlight half smiled and half grimaced. He began with the trip to the park, his friend getting mad, the forest, and eventually his dreaded encounter with the creature. He was very specific about part of the black creature turning into a Pegasus. Celestia herself was nonetheless shocked, but still she held an unyielding expression. “And that’s it, that’s all I can tell you because I blacked out then woke up here about 35 minutes ago.” Frostlight said. Celestia nodded, “Well, you and your friend has been very helpful, I going to go now…” Celestia began but Frostlight couldn’t help himself. “Is there any way and I mean ANY way I could help the cause, I mean, seeing that creature will haunt me for a long time, and it’d put me to ease knowing I’m helping get rid of it.” Frostlight blurted out. Celestia stood there, with an emotionless expression. “How so, would you like to help this predicament?” Celestia asked. “Well, I guess I could try to… join the Royal Guard.” Frostlight said hesitantly. “Well, normally it’d take a lot to let somepony who isn’t an Alicorn into the guard, but something gives me the feeling of trust with you. I’ll give you a chance to join, but I can’t let you join if you can’t pass initiation.” “Thank you!” Frostlight once again blurted out. “I mean, thank you very much.” Celestia smiled, “Good luck with your wing.” And she walked out of the room.

The doctor walked back into the room, but this time without his uniform. “You’ll be in the hospital for about four more days, so you’ll get regular visiting from family or friends but friends require a background check.” He said “Excuse me,” Frostlight said, “I couldn’t help but notice your mark.” It looked like a syringe, but the fluid inside was red, not of a chemical or vaccine. “What does it mean?” Frostlight asked. “Well, it signifies the life that blood gives you, and I’ll always be there for patients in need, and that I’ll never let them down…not on my watch.” The doctor said. “Please,” Frostlight began, “Tell me your name.” The doctor smiled, “its Bloodguard.” Frostlight smiled, “Thank you for patching me up, Bloodguard.” Frostlight said. “No problem, but as I said before, 4 days, and a week of staying off of it.” Bloodguard said.

Frostlight stayed in bed for the next two days, all alone. His wing wasn’t in the greatest shape after he sprinted through the woods with it after breaking it of course. But on the third day, visitors were permitted and he would get his wing tested for any problems just in case. Around noon, his friends visited him, including Cross Sticks. “So, how are you holding up in this boring white box?” Nightwind began. “Well, it was fine until you came…” Frostlight replied sarcastically with a grin. “Hey, watch it. Don’t you want to avoid angering me like you did Static?” He replied smugly. “Well, guess what?” Frostlight began. “What is it?” They all shot back in unison except Sticks. “Well, guess who in two days ago in fact, got a chance to join the Royal Guard?” Frostlight said unable to contain himself. “No…way…” Static Sound said dumbfounded. “Oh, but yes!” Frostlight said his voice starting to rise. “Well, well, look who found a position in the Royal Guard? When you starting?” Cross Sticks said unexpectantly. “Well, as soon as my wing is completely and I do mean COMPLETELY healed, I can go to Canterlot and join the initiation tests.” Frostlight said. “Well, I know this is a little early, but good luck, I’ll be sure to help you with anything in any way I can.” Nightwind said solemnly. “Thanks, all of you for coming, but I’ve got to get some rest so I guess I’ll see you tomorrow after the tests.” Frostlight said, and then the nurses escorted them out of the room.

The next day Frostlight was awoken around 10:30 AM. He was going to get scanned to see how his wing was healing and if there was anything wrong with the healing process or for any other abnormalities. Bloodguard entered the room quietly, “Alright, time for your examination tests.” He said. “Alright, anything I should know? Frostlight asked. “Well, there have been some changes to the tests. You will get your wing examined as normal, but you will get a through physical of your entire body so that you can join the Royal Guard as soon as possible.” Bloodguard said hastily. “I’m sorry you still have to go through initiation but pleasantries later, time to run some tests.”

Frostlight got up careful to make sure he didn’t put any pressure on his wing as he got up. As soon as he was up, Bloodguard was starting to escort him down the hallway. The corridors of the hospital were abnormally clean, all in whitewash tiles. What hospital was he in? He had a cousin who lived in Ponyville and got hospitalized, but this hospital didn’t look anything like the one there, and neither the one at Sky Wind. They continued down the corridor as Frostlight asked the question, “What hospital am I in anyway?” “You are in the hospital of Cloudsdale actually. You originally were going to be taken to the one in Canterlot, but due to your heatstroke and broken wing, you needed faster medical attention. That’s when you came rolling in the doors and I got you as my patient.” Bloodguard said. “Oh, how bad did I look when I came in?” Frostlight asked. “Well, at first you were barely conscious and delirious, and your wing was in pretty bad shape. Several of the tips of your wing were fractured and the main bones extending into the shaft of your wing was broken almost so bad you could’ve had a compound fracture if it bent forward more, but luckily the Cloudsdale Hospital is among the best equipped in all of Equestria.” He finished. Frostlight frowned in disappointment, how was this going to affect his flying? He was among the best of his class in flying and weather making, along with Nightwind in flying.

They approached the examination room. “Well, you are going to be under x-rays and then after that you will have 10 minutes to prepare yourself to be examined by the top medical officers in Canterlot. They are here to make sure you are ready to be extra prepared for initiation under orders of Princess Celestia.” Bloodguard said with a twinge of envy in his voice. “Well, I didn’t know the Princess would take me so seriously, but I guess that’s what her job is all about.” Frostlight added. The doctor smiled, and opened the doors for the other nurses to get him ready for examination.

The X-ray examination went along quickly but it felt like an eternity for Frostlight. The bright and sudden flashes of light disoriented him every time it went off. In about 20 minutes it was over and Bloodguard was in a desk in front of Frostlight giving him the results. “Well there’s good news and very bad news.” Bloodguard began. “Give me the bad news first, so that the good news can comfort me.” Frostlight said hesitantly “Here’s it straight,” Bloodguard began, “Your left wing can be mended to the point of comfort, but you won’t be able to use it for flying ever again.” He finished. Frostlight cringed terribly at this, how was he going to get through initiation like this? “The good news is thanks to the medical team from Canterlot, they quickly relayed the result to Princess Celestia and she confirmed you have the opportunity to be eligible for a prototype device.” He finished. “What is it?” Frostlight asked with desperation in his voice. “The magical scientists over at Canterlot have made a most recent discovery in enchantments. They’ve constructed a device that is used for the Royal Guard, and could be tweaked to be suited for your needs. It latches on to your wing, and applies whatever enchantment a skilled unicorn puts on it, and they could enchant it to make you fly again.” Bloodguard finished. Frostlight was relieved, but he knew he wasn’t out of the woods yet. “So, what are the drawbacks?” Frostlight asked. “Well at the moment, we don’t know, but you are technically the test subject for its affects. So are you interested?” Bloodguard asked. Frostlight took this in and made up his mind. “I’ll do it.”

The next day Frostlight got another pleasant visit from his friends, but he was too anxious for words, and their meeting was short. But only around noon did the Canterlot physicians come to his room and brief him. “Well mister Frostlight, you are very brave for taking on this prototype and you are actually among the first to test it, and after we fully examine you for your initiation you will test our new technology should we deem you ready.” The first doctor said. “We don’t know if your wing will affect its effectiveness, but if it can get you to fly again, you are truly blessed to be here at this time of technology.” The second doctor inquired. “Let’s get started.” The third suggested, and then they went to the examination room.

Frostlight was put under a series of tests. First his leg reflexes, then his perception reactions to fast moving objects and light changes, third his brute strength, and then finally he was examined by height, weight, and length. His tests went very well except for the fact his wing was broken. “Am I ready for the prototype?” Frostlight asked after the tests. “Well… We could give you a try now, but only once, we don’t want to strain your wing do we?” The third doctor said in good faith. “Let’s go do this!” Frostlight said with excitement peeking out in his voice. The four ponies trotted outside to the courtyard of clouds. The sunshine sent rays of light to beam down of on clouds. An Alicorn came out of the doors at which they too had exited, and he carried a brief case in his mouth. He wore Royal Guard apparel and had the look of focus on his face. “See you soon…rookie.” He said, and strode off into the hospital from whence he came. He seemed vaguely familiar. “That’s Shieldguard; he actually is in fact, Bloodguard’s brother.” The first doctor said. “He guards ponies’ lives with the sword, and the other with medicine.” The second doctor said. “So then! Let’s begin.” The third doctor said hastily.

They went over to the briefcase that Shieldguard had left for them and it contained a bracelet of the finest gold in it. The first doctor opened it and clamped it around the base of Frostlight’s left wing quite snugly, but comfortably. The second doctor started to brief him on what he was supposed to do. “All you need to do is wait for our specialized Unicorn to arrive and she will enchant the bracelet so that it contains a special healing and flying ability, so then you can fly once again.” He said. Frostlight flapped his left wing gingerly, testing to see if he could maneuver his wing the way he could before the Incident had happened. It seemed alright, and told the doctors he was ready. They stood in the courtyard for about 3 minutes when a Unicorn came through the doors. “Hey, how come she can touch the clouds without falling through?” Frostlight asked. “Well, we’ve all been enchanted with a spell that allows us to stand on the clouds, but enough of that.” The second doctor said. As she came into view Frostlight recognized her as none other as Twilight Sparkle. “Let us begin then!” She said excitedly.

Twilight’s horn began to glow softly, but the longer she held the spell in, the brighter it got and more excited the energy became in its movement. She started to sweat and breathe faster, but this was short lived because then she suddenly released the enchantment in a flash of bright purple light. It nearly blinded Frostlight but he closed his eyes in time. When he opened them again, Twilight was sitting down, and two of the three doctors were asking her if she was alright. Frostlight peered over to the bracelet he had strapped around his wing. It glowed a soft purple, and it seemed to fit the bracelet’s golden color. “Okay, go ahead and try it.” The third doctor encouraged. Frostlight spread out both of his wings, and with a big leap, he took off into the sky.

Frostlight couldn’t have been more happier, he was able to fly again! After all the ill news and events that had happened something right beside the fact he was an initiate in the Royal Guard had happened. He soared through the clouds and did several loops to test if his wing was truly in top condition. He shouted with joy, in which matched the joyous cries of the doctors and Twilight as they saw him start flying. Frostlight knew it was time to land. He slowly descended and so did his emotions, but he was still happy he was able to fly again. “Well, all you need is more rest, and we can let you out of the hospital and into the initiation tests.