True Friendship ?

by Dark-Aii

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Sad, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dinky Hooves, Rumble
Length: 8095

When Innocence is bliss in an unfair Reality, can Friendship hold true ?

Rumble was born with a rare condition.

He cannot feel pain.
This, resulted in him living in a world that he doesn't, nor care to understand.

Dinky, has befriended Rumble for a very short time.
She never loved ; never pitied him for who and what he is.
In fact, she considers him her one and unique friend.

So why are six unworthy examples, doing their damn best to indoctrinate those foals on the values of 'Friendship' ?

Published 2017-07-31 17:50:05 UTC
Last updated 2017-10-01 07:19:55 UTC

1 ~ Trust

[[Enjoy the story while listening to this heartfelt music.]]

The rays of the Sun shone proudly upon the small village, despite the occasional drizzle that fell from time to time. The air was in the process of yet, warming up again, from those small shifts. And that alone, had brought a small smile to creep its way onto her muzzle.

“It's nice to feel the cold wind, and the warm Sun at the same time,” she thought to herself. It was a silly thing to think, but nonetheless, one that she appreciated.

She continued to trot onward, uncaring of the passer-bys who sought to take shelter from the light pour, for the bakery, the restaurants, or other shops and merchant tents nearby. She could have waved at a few galloping ponies, or greet some others with a quick salutation. But that idea was rejected as soon as it came. She had some place important she needed to be, and she refused to let herself getting distracted, even by the people surrounding her.

After a few minutes of enjoying her journey, she had finally reached her destination. The neighbouring houses were somehow ill maintained. but not to the point of needing serious renovation. Some of them had their hinges missing from their windowpanes. Others lacked the gracious wall paintings, similar to that of the town centre.

One house in particular, even had one of its windows broken; patched-up by a piece of cardboard and rubber tapes. However, that was not the target of her gaze.

In front of her was a single storey house. The wood that made its walls, had very recently gained their first inhabitants of termi-vores (termite-eating insects). That fact was obvious, judging by the small white dots on the ground near the wood. Each one (if any were to take a closer look), an individual termite head, thorax or abdomen.

At that, an expression of fear and worry crossed her face. She had learned that every single insects had their natural predators and preys, as well as other creatures (sentient or not). That was a fact. Nevertheless, learning about the cycle of life, and actually seeing it with her own eyes was something she couldn't get herself used to.

Averting her sight from that particular scene, she instead focused on what she had learned so far about these small creatures. She remembered that, wood eating insects, no matter how much, would cause a significant amount of damage to any building's structural integrity. And with the term damage added in her train of thought, reparation and cost were the passengers that would inevitably come, in one form or another.

However, before her concerns could turn themselves into sadness, she was somehow able to pull herself together. Reminded that she was awkwardly standing in front of a door for more than a few minutes. She shook her head to dispel those sad thoughts, and tried to prepare herself as best as she could, for the near support that she would no doubt have to provide; to the fullest of her abilities.

She took a moment, and closed her eyes to collect her emotions while at the front door. She deeply inhaled the morning fresh air, then, and slowly, exhaled with a smile as genuine as one would offer a close relative. Then she knocked on the door.

While waiting, she felt relaxed; at peace. In a state of mind that would always be hers, and hers alone. No matter how much she denied, or praised it's existence. It was her treasure, her curse,... her ability.

“You know, sometimes, I always ask myself if you don't have a clock in that little head of yours," greeted an elder masculine voice, while the door was being opened. "Don't know how you do it though, but you always knock at exactly eight thirty in the morning.”

She cleared her vision to meet the taller individual before her, and immediately offered a hoof for a shake, as their usual greeting. While they shook their hooves, the smaller one took that as her cue to respond. “Good morning Mr. Thunderlane. Is your brother ready as always?” she questioned, switching her expression to that of a mischievous smile.

“You wish!” laughed the adult male in a mocking reply. “Come on in” – he beckoned her inside – “I bet he'll need your help, as always.” She followed him afterwards, then the stallion closed the door behind her.

Thunderlane turned, and immediately yelled at the other side of the house, “Yo! Bro! You've got company. So I'll see you tonight, OK ?”

“... Ok T, and thanks for last night. And I love you too,” yelled another small voice from another room inside the house; this one, belonging to a different pony. A colt.

She hadn't flinched at the change of their tone, nor their volume. If anything, it made her feel as if she belonged. As if she too, had a big brother, or a little brother, or both. She then watched the stallion go about, with his dark grey coat, amber eyes and blue-silver mane, navigate through the small living room with his strong wings to collect various items, which she couldn't name most.

“Sorry kido, we know that I'm used to offer you a glass of apple-juice. But we only have cool water at the moment, is that alright with you?” said the stallion, with a smile that almost looked pained, while he maintained a glass of said water with both of his fore-hooves.

It always amazed her, to see how fast this pegasus could produce a glass of cold water, while she hadn't noticed him opening the fridge, or even went to the kitchen. Did this mean that the glass was prepared before she even entered the residence?

She took it without objection, sat on her haunches and drank it with greed.

“Ah! Thanks Mr. Thunderlane. I sure needed that,” she said with relief in her voice.

Perplexed and worried by her relieved expression, the dark grey male paused then asked about: “Is everything going OK with you and your mother?”

Confused about the true meaning of his question, she could only respond with honesty. “Nah-hah! I've had apple-pie, apple-fritter, apple-juice, apple-cake, and everything-apple related that you can name... besides apple-cider of course” – She saw him relax, if only a little, and resume his search to fill a saddle-bag she saw near the front door. – “So it's great to not have apple-juice from time to time, that's all,” she concluded, only now realising too late that she might have said something rude.

“Well, if I had known that you weren't pleased with me filling you up with more apples” – he trailed-off for a moment with a nostalgic look – “Never mind that. Just, know that I won't be angry at you if you ever refuse anything from us. Is that alright with you as well?” She blushed in embarrassment, but lowered her blonde maned head, and accepted the offer with a gesture of apology.

“Alright kid! Then I guess it's time for me to hit the hay.” He placed the now stuffed saddle-bag on his back, quickly reached for the door, then paused at the entrance without turning, nor looking behind him. “And thanks for watching over Bro for me,” he spoke in earnest. The filly was about to say that it wasn't a problem at all, when the stallion cut her to it.

“Really, if it weren't for you and your mother, I don't know what I would have done, or even how.” He paused for a short amount of time without moving from his position, then resumed.

“You're a very mature little filly you know that? Maybe more clever than most adults here give you credit for, and that has nothing to do with me being nice. I mean it.” He then turned his head, so that one of his eyes would meet both of that of the filly. “If you ever need anything, no matter how crazy it is, know that I'll always support you and Mrs. Ditzy.”

He turned to focus his eyes on the now clear sky, spread his wings then hovered a little, after delivering one final message. “You truly are a gift of Faust, Dinky Doo.”

And with that, Thunderlane closed the door, then flew upwards in the direction of his new job.

~~~ [[ . . . ]] ~~~

“Rumble, tell me what happened with your tail! And I'm not taking your bad jokes for an answer, do you hear me ?!” ordered the glare of damnation that would doom the poor colt if he ever breathed the wrong word.

With a sigh of defeat, he truly, only had one option left. And that was to tell the truth. So after closing the house front door, and locking it up with a key that was later on placed in a small saddle-bag, he started trotting alongside Dinky, who was still waiting for an explanation.

“Remember that peach and strawberry scented candle we bought to celebrate my brother's new relationship with his marefriend?” Dinky's eyes widened at that mention.

“You tried to light it up? Bu-but, I thought we agreed that you would offer it to Thunder after it was wrapped-up!”

“I know,” cut off Rumble. “And I did pack it like you showed me.” He then turned his head away from her, embarrassed about his next reveal. “It was after I presented the gift to him. I was so excited that he found himself that new job, and new mare. I just wanted to do extra on the celebration, and light it up by myself.”

Dinky had no words to berate him at this point, what he did might have been dangerous, but in truth, she could have easily imagined herself doing the same for her mother. She closed her eyes while they were still trotting on a familiar path. Inhaled. Exhaled. Then opened them again.

“Then, I guess it's alright.” The colt was a little bit surprised, and took this moment to examine her face with a quizzical look. “I guess,” Dinky continued – “As long as you weren't badly hurt, then I can expect that you'll keep our promise, right?" she said at last.

“But aren't you going to ask me how I lit up that candle, or how it got my tail ?" questioned the bluish grey coated colt, with a double toned dark grey mane and tail.

After a few moment of silence, Dinky stopped in her tracks, signalling her partner to do the same, in order for her to respond. “I'll trust you, like I trust Mommy: which means Always!” – Rumble’s eyes widened in disbelief at Dinky’s words – “So I don't have to force you to tell me everything about you. Also, Mommy told me that friends can learn about one another every time. That means, forcing you to talk when you don’t want to is not OK. I’ll just have to wait when you’re ready,” concluded the little filly with a beaming smile plastered on her face. A genuine smile of trust and understanding.

Rumble’s eyes started to get moist. After all those weeks of knowing Dinky, going out with her to play games, or even study together, he truly felt happy to know that the filly beside her was his friend.

“So you're telling me that,” – the colt tried saying while restraining his tears – “that if I want to tell you anything, then I can. But if I don't want to tell you, then I can keep quiet, and we'll still be friends ?” Now a confusing smile was threatening to look like a headache on the poor colt's face.

“Yeah! Even if it's painfu — meanie. Even if it's meanie, I won't question you because we're friends,” she concluded at last, then frowned at herself for the slip of her tongue.

“Right…”, affirmed Rumble with a sad smile. “painful...”

They stayed where they stood on their path. Immobile. Silent as statues. They both closed their eyes, listening to the morning breeze, and the gentle swaying of the trees nearby. The singing of the birds on their mating season was an euphoric symphony for the ears. The small stream, connected to the pond nearby added an effect of angelic relief. Without a word, without a signal, Dinky leaned herself to her right, while Rumble did the same on his left. Opposing their body weight next to one another for support, they stayed there for much longer than they would care to know...

“I think I felt that”, whispered Rumble to his companion.

“Felt what?” murmured Dinky in reply, already expecting the answer from the colt.

“Your heartbeat, I think I felt that for just a moment,” he paused in concentration, then resumed. “And I think, that both of our hearts were beating at the same time.”

“Is that so?” she said, narrowing her eyes and speaking very carefully, as if ready to attack a prey.

Rumble, for his part, knew what she was about to do. She would no doubt assault him with tickles, probably using a feather from her mother's wings, in order to do so. And force him to agree to whatever ridiculous plans she might have in her mind for the day.

However, they both knew that he would not—or more precisely could not, be rendered helpless in a fit of unstoppable laughter. Never have been, and probably never will be. But that didn't mean he would not be subjected to a series of uncontrollable sneezing. So if his guess were to be true, and she would indeed try to get her way on what they would be doing for the day, then by all means, he had to try and worm himself out of this sneezy situation.

“What? You want us to play doctor to find out?” questioned the now nervous colt.

"Huh!" uttered the filly with surprise in her voice, silently removing her hoof from her small saddle bag, but failing to keep a long grey feather from touching the ground without her noticing. “Doctors don't look if ponies’ heart beat together; they take care of them when they are sick. Or if they have a very serious bo-bo,” she corrected him.

“Yeah! That was probably lame anyways,” he replied, noticing the evil feathery instrument beside Dinky, and doing his best to not give his expression of dread away. “T. told me, he played doctor a lot when he was little, with a friend of his every time they met at her house. Maybe they didn't have them back when he was my age?” he said in a very nervous manner.

“HUH!” now Dinky had to stop twisting her neck in surprise, lest she break something important. “How'd you come to that conclusion anyway?” she demanded with another one of her glares. Rumble now knew that Dinky wouldn’t force him to speak if he didn’t want to. Sure, it might get her confused, and that was clearly the intent, but he just didn’t want to see her like this, even if a small part of himself liked to see her cute and angry face.

“You know those other foals who T. forbid me to play with?”

The filly nodded in agreement, remembering the names of those three fillies who she had always envied, before having met Rumble. She then nodded for her friend to resume.

“Well, they pretty much search for cutie-marks that have never existed before : manticore-hunting-cutie-mark, fire-breathing-pony cutie-mark, cake-spinning-rock-star-cutie-mark. Wait, that last one was probably rock-cake-spinnin— You name it, and if they do it, then that job probably doesn't exists, yet.”

For Dinky, that explanation was quite valid in itself. And while she wasn't a fan of their little club anymore, she could imagine why they would choose to attempt to transform their childish imagination, into a living reality. She just might have done the same, if she were invited by one of them. “Well I still don't think that's how things wor—.”

Her ears stood at attention, searching for a foreign sound in the background that seemed to be getting stronger. Her partner, also noticing her change of attitude, stood up on all four of his legs and waited for her to do the same.

“The trot of multiple hooves on the ground, the sound of multiple ponies talking at the same time, so probably, it’s just a bunch of adults mares,” thought Dinky to herself. It made sense in a way, the colourful birds, the vibrant trees, the proximity to the pond... Who could blame a few ponies, for wanting to enjoy the peace that the town park would offer, on a bright morning weekend no less?

She got herself up as well, and smiled at her friend who looked impatient enough to trot away. “Come on,” he said. “We should find a quiet place to talk.”

However, before Dinky could agree and follow alongside him, they were interrupted by the sudden arrival of a flying pony with a cyan coat and wings, as well as a multi-coloured mane.

A pegasus she wished to not have any interaction with, at least, during this day. "Hey squirts," said the mare. “I thought you were all in Carterlot with Ms Cherilee and Blossomforth,” she said, landing near both foals. “Oh wait! Is that the smell of somepony skipping a school trip?” she said with a winning smirk, as if she had caught a criminal in the act.

Dinky and Rumble however, were both unfazed from her arrival. Sure, they kept their gaze at her while she started hovering a few centimetres off the ground to confront them. But aside from that, nothing else. They both looked at the adult mare as if she wasn't that big of a deal. That her attempt was unnecessary, useless even.

And that action in of itself made the mare back away, if only slightly. Uncertainty crossing her features as the mare once again, touched the ground beneath her. But she wasn't ready to let those foals even suspect that she would be intimidated by their neutral expressions. “Do you have a problem answering what I just asked you?”

Both foals simultaneously glanced at one another, raised an eyebrow in a silent argument to decide who would return the adult's questions, then returned to look at the cyan pegasus without a syllable spoken.

“H-hey?! I asked you a question,” stammered the mare, who started getting nervous. “So you better answer before I get your folks to teach you a lesson” she threatened while stomping her hoof in order to declare, and maintain her authority.

Dinky was about to answer, but yet again was interrupted as a group of five other mares approached in on the trio.

“Hey Dash, what are you doing with those two foals?” asked a pink pony with a dark pink mane. She was bouncing uncontrollably, as if gravity meant nothing to her. “Oh! I know who you are. Let’s see: Brumble? Nah! Crumble? Ouh! That sounds tasty! Drumble, like the drums of—.” At this point on, the four remaining ponies who arrived, ignored the pretty pink peppered pink pony.

“Pinkie, you're ruining the mood here. I'm trying to get answers from those two ditchers.” said Rainbow Dash, while glaring at the little ones once more.

“Oh! Darling, don't be this way. You might start getting wrinkles before you even hit your prime” said a white unicorn with a dark purple mane. "I'm sure they have a very good explanation for not going with all of their little classmate friends" she continued, eyeing both foals with precision, as if to detect some sort of flaws in their actions.

Dinky, on the other hoof, was more cautious of this unicorn, rather than the pink earthen or the cyan pegasus. Not that her abilities in the realm of magic would make her more dangerous than the others. But simply because most (if not all) of the town's grapevines are known to have originated... from this mare’s muzzle.

“Girls!” shouted another voice. “Are we really going to bother this filly and her friend? Weren't we heading for the hill to have ourselves our usual morning picnic?" stepped another unicorn. This one had a lavender fur, and her mane was coloured in different hues of purple.

Next to her, an orange earthen with a stetson hat, and another pegasus, this one yellow, with a pink mane came to view. But they chose to remain silent and see how this situation was going to untangle itself.

“So,” Rainbow Dash cleared her throat to resume the interrogation. “What do you have to say for your defence.” And she really had to make it clear that they were in some sort of public trial.

“Doctor's order” came the instantaneous reply from Rumble, who made all eyes go wide, safe his companion Dinky, who didn't look very pleased by his initiative. She would also swear to all those that she cared for, that she literally saw gears turning, and wires sparking with electricity in the eyes of the alabaster unicorn. “I'm also not allowed to do straining physical activities either. Or attempt to fly without any adult supervis—.” At this, the filly next to Rumble had to stop him by placing a hoof on his shoulder, and shaking her own head in disapproval for him to continue.

“H-how ?!” came the soft and horrified voice of the yellow buttered pegasus and pink mane, who all managed to hear. The pink furred pony on her part, stopped her rambling on the word ‘Qrumble’, had also stopped bouncing, and part of her mane seemed to have been deflated.

There was a very good reason why these ponies weren't told anything about Rumble. And it was so obvious for Dinky that she looked at all the mares with threatening eyes. The one with the stetson hat however, raised an eyebrow of her own at the display.

“The reason why is because of family matter,” slowly interjected Dinky. "And since I was put in charge of him, then that also explains why I'm not in Canterlot as well." She motioned for Rumble to follow her, then started walking away from the group. "We’re also busy," – she lied – "so excuse us if we have to go."

If it were anypony, Dinky wouldn't have been as harsh and dry as she was acting. But the fact remained that she didn't want these particular mares to know about her friend's condition; especially the white unicorn. She did not want them to start pitying the colt, feeling guilty for her first friend. And start showering him with special attention. The same special attention that brought a great deal of suffering for someone else who she loves deeply, more so than herself.

“And where do you think we'll let you go after telling us what you just did ?” interrupted Rainbow Dash, who now blocked the path of the two foals from trotting away. “It's clear to me that you've been lying to us, right Applejack? You can confirm that, right?” asked the cyan pegasus to the hat wearing orange earthen, who remained silent even as of now.

Rainbow Dash frowned, feeling that her friend's silence was probably hiding something important. Her four remaining friends weren't oblivious the the exchange as well. And a small part of the pegasus was starting to feel bad for playing the mean and authoritative pony from the get-go.

She wished she didn't have to confront them like she did. But she also couldn't let them trot away scot-free, while one of them revealed he was probably ill from some kind of sickness that prevented him from going on a field-trip. And that wasn’t just any field-trip, if one might wonder. It was a full day at the freaking Canterlot castle for crying out loud. So, if anypony were sick enough to not go on that trip, but find the time to enjoy the park's relaxing atmosphere, then she would get to the bottom of this no matter what.

Dinky however, just trotted around the mare to resume her path. "Rarity. Twilight. would you back me up in here?", asked Rainbow Dash who was now on the verge of pleading for moral support. The cyan mare instinctively held onto one of Rumble's wing. But the colt himself hadn't noticed her grip in order to prevent him from getting away, most likely by using his ability of flight. That would be one of her mistakes that she would soon regret ever doing in her life.

What followed, was the sound of breaking wood and tissue, as if somepony had tried ripping off their dress and managed to succeed while using dead and dry tree branches. It was sudden, and without warning, but Rumble knew that something wasn't quite right after that. There was this itch on the back of his mind that was silently screaming at him.

It felt strange, and familiar at the same time. He knew that something was wrong. Even the ponies around him seemed to be struck by some sort of paralysis spell. So, he slowly turned around, and to his surprise, found that Dinky was as well flabbergasted as everypony else.

“Dinky, is everything OK?” he asked with concern enveloping his every words,... Not noticing the broken and bloodied wing on his side.

Author's Note

~ 29/07/2017
Ok everyone, this is chapter 1 of "True Friendship", my second story.
The first one is being revised, because I came up with so many ideas that it became too complicated to write and keep track.

So, from now on, I'll just go slow and steady.

I hope you guys will love it.

~ 09/09/2017
Made a few updates on this first chapter: word correction, and shortened a few very long sentences. Also, added a few words in italic to empathise them.

~ 26/03/2018
I haven't been here for quite some time. So I figured for myself that I would update this chapter by rectifying a few spelling mistakes. Or logic in the wordings...
My English is getting better by the time, so I want to make my best in applying what I know to my stories.
Hope you stay faithful to the story of "True Friendship", because the only way for this story to remain incomplete forever, would be if I died then and there. <3

~ 03/11/2018
I've been thinking that no one cares what happens to me. Been thinking that I would just be a number in the countless sea of people living on earth. So, in order to be remembered, I'll do my best to create. And create. And create. So that some day, maybe, in the years beyond 2020, people still remember me.

Also, if you see a mistake in the writing PLEASE COMMENT ME ABOUT IT.
I want those chapters to be as clear (in the reading) as possible.

Thanks for your support, and make sure to follow me for more.
~Dark-Aii

Help support however you can.
Paypal ~ https://www.paypal.me/DarkAii
Patreon ~ https://www.patreon.com/DarkAii

2 ~ Control

[[Enjoy the story while listening to this heartfelt music.]]

The earth was dry.

It was horrible. Truly. Utterly. Horrible.

Rumble stood, as still as a statue, in a sea of nothingness but dry, and arid ground. The rocks were dust, and the dusts were rocks. The wind howled in a sickening attempt, as if to produce, a symphony for the damned. The sky was robbed of its warmth, deprived of its luxuriant beauty, and left to crush any who dared to breath, in a suffocating pressure that might perhaps give pause to the dead.

He refused to move. He refused to think.

For if he thought, he would understand. And if he understood, then he would start to feel things...

Apathetic. Dismayed. Anxious. Shocked. Awed. Terrified. Confused.

What were those words again? What did they mean?

Pain.

They all meant pain; in one way, or another.

Unthinkable. Unbearable. Unimaginable pain.

However, a fleeting thought, a silent whisper at the back of his mind chose this very moment, to question his unfortunate predicament. And it wondered for no ears to listen, if the feeling he was trying to suppress was truly known as : pain.

Immediately after, a shock-wave was felt. A few moments later, the pressure from the atmosphere lessened to a bearable degree. The ground shook with a tremor unlike any other while the sky swirled into a vortex of nothingness.

A subconscious urge compelled Rumble to look upwards. A primal impulse to see deep into the abyssal sky that belonged to him : it was the moon. Just a simple, full-moon.

The earthquake was amplifying in magnitude, uncaring for the night sky that revealed itself. While the latter was swallowing the disturbance in the air, and causing a great cloud of dust and small rocks to sail and disappear upwards.

The constellations above were now visible for the world to see, including it's single paralysed inhabitant. And while the lonesome young colt stared into the void, two voids stared right back at him. The one in the sky, and another one, sensed on the back of his mind. Somewhere. Watching. Lurking.

It was as inconceivable as to imagine the death of the Sun. However, and unfortunately, Rumble was forced to experience the aftermaths of those cursed moments.

The sky was cold.

It was quiet. Far, far too quiet to be natural.

The colt was deprived of the warm embrace of a night sky once more. His body temperature, lowering to a frightening degree, as to deny him the opportunity to even shiver from the cold.

Then again, as if the call for tranquillity was taken as an offence, the ground on which Rumble stood, trembled once more. The earth itself was being divided. Creating mountains, and pitfalls on the blink of an eye with each forming crevasses.

He was not ready. He was never truly ready.

It took him by surprise when he realised he was now falling. The earth gave way moments before, without him noticing his revoked stability. Plunging deep down below. Sinking to the other void who claimed him as prize.

Rumble fell, but did not scream. His vision blurred, but he did not panic. The pain he was feeling disappeared completely.

And part of his mind refused to believe that, his safety would now be assured beyond the graceful embrace of the nothingness.

Yet, before he became part of that void however, he would have sworn that a hoof was desperately reaching out for him. Far away, and close at the same time, as if hope and the undeniable realisation of being far, far too late were battling for control.

But he was far too deep to care any-more. What was the point in living, if it meant never feeling pain at all? Wouldn't that be similar to being dead? And why struggle to live, while knowing that all beings must die, one way, or another?

Why care to be saved one day, even by a divine being, if it meant suffocating in an endless nothingness, the day after? It pained him to admit it, but he failed on the very beginning. He moved when he shouldn't have done so. He thought when it wasn't his right to do so.

And as a consequence, he felt what was known as true pain.

He felt loneliness.

His heart was void.

~~~ [[ . . . ]] ~~~

Rumble slowly opened his eyes to the sound of muffled voices in his surroundings. He did not know why he was laying on his side, or resting on an elevated platform. He also didn't understand why he could not see his fore-hooves, despite having mentally recalled his member for the third time, to scratch his now twitchy muzzle.

But he had a sinking feeling that it might have something to do with the beings surrounding him.

So he slowly waited for his vision to clear itself. And once he was able to somehow guess where he was, his first instinct was to growl in annoyance. Immediately after, all sound in the room came to an abrupt halt.

An amaranth pink mare came to view in front of the colt, with a cold sweat. She somehow, managed to go pale upon seeing him, staring at her and blinking with no care for the world.

"Do-doctor St-table. I-I think the pe-pa-p-patient is awake," she said in between hyperventilation.

A few seconds later, Rumble heard a few metal objects being put on what he assumed was a metal tray. And afterwards, a cream caramel coated stallion came to view before him. He was about to go pale as well, with shock upon confirming the conscious colt, but Rumble had somehow expected this outcome, and wanted to see a different resolution being played instead.

"Hey! Doc. What's up?", he said as casually as any foal would say. Having the desired effect of waking 'Doctor Stable' from his shock. Her assistant was quick enough to fetch a clean needle, and filled it with a substance that would no doubt put the colt back to sleep, while also inhibiting his pain receptors.

"Don't worry, I can't feel a thing. If you know who Dr. Die-Stain is, then know that I'm the one he talks about during his seminars." He resumed with a chuckle, just for the added effect of reassuring the medical staffs.

Both the doctor, and his assistant's eyes went wide with recognition. The former, now hesitating to inject Rumble with the desired pain-killer.

"Please, don't put me back to sleep. You won't hurt me, even if you don't inject that sleep stuff on me. Plus, I promise to not move a single muscle. Well, aside from my mouth that is. And my eyes as well. OK, everything except my face?", he said with a nervous smile.

"Do-doctor?" interrupted the medical assistant who was feeling conflicted with what course of action had to be taken.

Doctor Stable himself checked the heart monitor, the respirator on the colt's muzzle, and other medical devices that were connected to the colt who was oblivious about them, until he noticed the stallion fidgeting with them.

He was made aware that he was breathing synthesized air and, had some kind of fluid going into his body via Intravenous therapy. It was something that he hated: being forced to act because of external interventions, such as medications and drugs.

Forced to not move his limbs when he wanted to. Forced to breath in the rhythm of the machine next to him. Forced to fall asleep when he did not want to go to bed, nor did he want to experience that strange nightmare.

To not be in control of one’s own body. That, was one of what Rumble truly hated.

"All right," the doctor said with a sigh through his surgery mask, and nodding for the mare to not inject the colt, as requested.

"And to think we almost panicked in there," he said while attempting to alleviate the mood. "That, would have been a first for me in almost thirteen years." He truthfully said.

"Do-do you think it's the right choice to be making doctor?" came the voice of the anxious mare once more.

A nervous sweat passed on the stallion's head. "Not really, nurse Chill Heart. As I said, it is a first time for me," he said with a gulp.

"But all signs the patient is displaying, shows us that, he truly isn't feeling anything, even before we administered him the injection. And because of that, the doloro-meter can be considered useless for this surgery," he concluded.

Chill Heart, on her part, lowered her head just slightly in understanding, and in pity for the small colt. Thinking of how a being so young, and full of potential, would see life while not knowing the limits of one’s own body.

"You know," said Rumble who broke the silence. "I still don't know why I'm here, or even what I just broke on me," he continued —the stallion went to wash his fore-hooves on a sink nearby, then beckoned his assistant to put a pair of clean gloves on them while throwing away the bloodied ones he removed previously, to check on Rumble's equipments earlier. All that, outside of the colt's field of vision.— "So, could you please tell me how I got here, and what part of me you are fixing again?"

Now Rumble was hearing murmurs and whispers from the medical staff. Figuring out that he would have to be denied the raw and salted version of what truly transpired.

It was all right, he figured. As long as he had a general idea of what happened to him, then that would do.

Occasionally, now, Chill Heart would glance up at Rumble to report on his current condition. And switch from looking at the medical devices, a metal tray to provide the doctor with the desired surgery items. And not to forget, the gore that the colt could not see due to his unique situation.

"Well,..." Chill Heart attempted to respond after a long pause. "One of your wings got caught up on something solid." — she glanced at the doctor who nodded his head in approval for her to resume. "And because every foal's wings are very fragile at first, they almost, always end up with complications." She attempted a forced smile, while Rumble heard a splash of fluid hit the flood.

"Scalpel," ordered doctor Stable. — The nurse quickly provided him with the item, then return to look at Rumble with a wince.

"That is why you were brought here thanks to your friends," one of his ears slightly perked up upon hearing that last word.

Friends. He was pretty certain he only had one, last time he recalled. Then again, maybe the nurse just assumed that the ponies he came in with were his friends. Since none of them would normally claim to be related with him as a direct family member. But who were they? He had no clue.

"...rents should be here in a few moments," concluded the nurse, to the confusion of Rumble.

"Could you repeat that last part please? I was thinking about something after you said 'friends'." said the colt.

Nurse Chill Heart looked for any indication of complications on the medical monitoring devices, then repeated herself once more. "Well, ..." — she looked at the stoic doctor, who seemed too absorbed in his duty to register her presence — "I was saying that your friends are probably still in the waiting room. And that your parents will be here any time soon."

"Oh! OK." was all he could say, before slowly closing his eyes, then resting his head on the surgery table. The nurse felt relieved to not disturb him any further. She just couldn't risk any complication with a patient still awake on an ongoing surgery. It didn't take an expert to understand what truly transpired at this point onward. One of his wings, or both are in serious damage. He's on a surgery operation, which by all means would scream that it cannot be less then gravely serious. All of this because, he did not pay attention to his surrounding, and got caught on something strong and solid. Strong... Solid...

Once he gets out of this operation, he just knew that he would get scolded by Dinky. His brother wouldn't risk losing his job, coming here on his first day of work. That would just be too crazy to imagine.

Rumble smiled at the display of envisioning Thunderlane, thundering -literally- in this hospital room to check on him. But that smile never lasted, for he was now too worried about his big brother. His job, his professional career, his passion and those he loves most. He would do anything to help his big brother.

Then, there came a question that never left him. A question that always found it's way at the back of his mind. Somehow.

'How much will it cost ?', he thought to himself.

Rumble tried to move his head in order to see the doctor, or more specifically, the open wound that was being worked on by him. It felt awkward and disturbing for him, to will his body to respond to his every command, and to fail repetitively. He even could not find the strength to move his head once more. And that alone brought him in a state of unease unlike any other.

'Why do I want to live again?', thought the colt. 'I will only bring more pain to T., to Dinky, and Mrs. Ditzy as well. I was careless, and because of that, they will have to pay for the surgery bills, as well as all the other medications I'm already taking. I don't want T. to see me like this. He always hides it, but I know that he cries because of me... Useless me.'

Rumble stared ahead of him, at the void that consumed his troubled mind. 'I've had so many accidents that the insurance company won't cover for us anymore. Bro is having trouble paying the house bills. I know it. I've seen the papers while he was too tired and slept on a chair, writing something. He even refuses for me to work too. I've heard other colts and fillies my age work in other places outside of Ponyville. All I do is take more space in the house, create an extra mouth to feed, and pile up more medical bills after medical bills for him to pay.', he presumed at last.

His sadness manifested itself to the world, in the form of a singular tear that fell on the operating table. Hover, and unbeknownst to him, Nurse Chill Heart saw the display. She silently took the syringe from earlier, and administered half the dosage that she wanted to inject. The colt's breathing hadn't changed. And the devices did not seem to register any problems as well. But she knew that the patient was now, and once more, taken in by the silent embrace of slumber.

She did not care about Doctor Stable's assurance that the colt would not feel any pain during the procedure. Nor did she want to have faith in this Doctor Die-Stain, despite his well known reputation as a neuroscientist and researcher. All that mattered, was that Rumble was feeling hurt.

Not physically, but emotionally hurt.

In her heart, she knew that it would be near impossible to compare herself to him. How would she feel if, she couldn't feel the hot rays of the Sun, the cool breeze of the wind, or the shuddering cold of the water, ever since she came to this would? How would she feel if she had no choice but to rely on second hoof descriptions, rather than actually being able to enjoy those moments with her own body? Truly, even Chaos would feel pity upon this young soul, right?

"Poor being," she muttered to herself, silently hoping, and praying that Rumble's luck would finally show itself.

~~~ [[ . . . ]] ~~~

[[Finalise this chapter, while listening to this short melody.]]

Outside the emergency operating room, a few couple meters near the entrance of the hospital's main doors, non medical staff ponies, and patient guests were allowed to remain in the waiting room, despite the early hours of the day.

A few came in as friends, while others were considered relatives, or family members. Some of them talked with each other, while others sought comfort and reassurance. In order to accept, or deny the reality of their situation. It was not an easy task. It was never an easy task. And amongst those ponies, two distinct groups however, chose to remain as silent and unmoving as they possibly could, waiting, thinking, hoping.

The first one was comprised of six young mares, all of whom were in their early twenties. They were all filled with sadness to a degree, especially a cyan pegasus, who had the unique trait of sporting a multicoloured mane. This one, chose to sit slightly further from her remaining party, out of guilt and shame. But still, close enough to receive the support and encouragement that everything would be alright.

The other group, comprised of three individuals, would have been considered as a strong family by any who passed by. All huddled together in their supportive embrace, they remained as if the world surrounding them had ceased it's time.

The dark grey stallion, who's wings were ruffled from exhaustion due to the long distance he had to cover. The soundless crying pegasus mare, who was so devastated that, her hold on a pale pink filly near her would seem to be as bone-crushing as it appears. And the filly, who seems oblivious to the pressing discomfort she was constantly receiving. Perhaps, thinking of this as her special punishment, for failing to protect the one she likes and respect.

The one, who might become crippled to the point of never being able to fly again.

Author's Note

~ 30/09/2017
OK everyone, this is chapter 2 of "True Friendship".
It has a few mistakes, here and there. And I might have confused a few people when it comes to the subject of physical, and emotional pain. But the overall is quite good in my opinion.

It might change in the future, when I re-read this chapter, then realise that it could have been better improved.

So that's what you get when you are learning to write a story, while actually maintaining a full-time job (besides other personal things).

I hope you girls and guys will love it.

~ 01/10/2017
Eeyup. Quite a few mistakes, as predicted. I'm glad that I'm not perfect. Because now, I can constantly seek to improve myself instead of assuming that everything is good.

~ 03/11/2018
WOW! It has already been a year?! WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING ?!
Welp! I was able to sort out my life, somehow. Finally coming to terms with the fact that I'll soon die. So yeah! Why not complete a few chapters along the way as well, right? It's not like my lifespan will get any longer.

And again, if you see a mistake in the writing PLEASE COMMENT ME ABOUT IT.

Also! You can support me via PayPal here : https://www.paypal.me/DarkAii

Thanks for your support, and make sure to follow me for more on FiM.
~Dark-Aii (Website.In.Progress)

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