Imprisoned

The girls came racing up the stairs, hot on Rainbow's tail. When they saw Sombra, their hearts also broke. Twilight walked over to him before noticing the machine. She walked over to investigate while the girls checked on the limp, barely lucid stallion.

"These machines have been illegal for decades. Celestia taught me how to destroy them safely, in case I came across one that was working." As she tinkered with the machine, the girls tried to help Sombra. He had large bruises, along with extremely deep cuts all over his body. A small pool of blood was forming beneath him and his back legs were twisted and clearly broken. His horn was chipped with the tip broken off. Tears of pain were gently rolling down his cheeks as he whimpered. Fluttershy gently stroked his mane, trying to calm him down. Sombra was trembling and they could see the pain on his face. Twilight walked over and sighed, her ears drooping. Fluttershy looked up, her eyes full of tears. She took a deep, shuddering breath and spoke up.

"There's another one in the next room over." Twilight nodded and left, her horn glowing. Fluttershy watched her go before nuzzling into his mane while the girls got up and left, to detain any waking ponies. Now alone, Fluttershy gently placed a delicate kiss on his forehead, right above his horn. His chin rested on her left fore leg, while she had her other leg wrapped around his neck to keep his head from lolling. He moaned and tried to shift, only to yelp in pain.

"Shh. Don't move. Your legs are broken." Sombra whimpered as the girls came back in. Twilight's horn was glowing as she looked around, wary. Once she was sure things were safe, she dropped the spell.

"Fluttershy, we need to get him to the hospital."

"How? He can't walk at all." Twilight's horn began to blaze and there was a bright flash of light. When, Fluttershy's vision came back, they were in the Ponyville hospital. She turned right as the nurses spotted them. They gasped and quickly took action, gently lifting Sombra onto a stretcher and taking him away. Fluttershy stared after him, terror gripping her heart. His life was no longer in her hooves.

"Fluttershy, you need to go see your family. Though, when you get there, be gentle and patient with Zephyr." Panic flashed through her eyes at Twilight's words regarding her younger brother. He had a habit of getting into trouble and if she needed to be gentle then something was wrong. But why would she need to be patient?

"W... why would I need to be patient? Gentle, I get but patient?" Twilight sighed and looked down, deepening her friend's fears.

"He... hasn't been the same since you disappeared. Two months ago, you were declared legally dead by the police. After that, he shut himself in his room and doesn't come out except for food, water and the bathroom. He's completely broken." Fluttershy was horrified. She knew that they were close with each other but this... In a split second, she bolted past Twilight and out the door, her heart racing in panic. She flew faster than she ever had, desperate to see her brother. As she touched down in front of her parent's house, she felt fear wash over her mind. Taking a deep breath, she walked in. Her parents weren't looking at her, though they were in the middle of making a meal.

"Hello?" Her parents froze before whipping around, they're eyes wide. After a few seconds they raced over, nearly knocking her over. Fluttershy whimpered and buried her muzzle in her parent's necks, tears starting to flow down her cheeks. They stayed there for ten minutes, simply holding each other. When they pulled apart, her mother gently touched her cheek, a happy smile on her face. Fluttershy smiled back before her brother entered her mind. Her gaze went down as well as her ears. Concerned, her father touched her leg.

"What's wrong, Fluttershy?" She sighed and looked up at them, a look of fear in her eyes.

"Where's Zephyr?" Her fears were worsened as her parents looked at each other, unsure. Sighing, her mother turned towards her.

"He's upstairs in his room. As usual." Fluttershy turned on the spot and flew up the stairs, her ears pinned back. When she reached his room, the door was closed but not locked. Opening the door, she peered in to see Zephyr laying on his bed. However, he wasn't sleeping. He was looking at the photo album she'd given him two weeks before she was taken. He'd originally not been very pleased, though she had insisted he take it. His ears were down and his eyes had a scarily dead look to them. However, what scared her most, was his lack of wing care. Pegasi had a biological urge to preen when their wings got messy. The only time this urge was ignored was in times of immense emotional pain. Fluttershy whimpered and walked over to her brother, her own neat wings folded.
Fluttershy sat down at the end of his bed, staring at her unresponsive brother. She gently placed a hoof on his own, making him look up at her. However, his dead purple eyes make her heart shatter. She could tell she wasn't truly seen. Zephyr stared at her for a whole minute, his eyes half-lidded, before looking back down. The usual bun in his mane was undone and his mane was hanging around his shoulders in tangled knots. Tears filled her eyes and she placed her hoof on his cheek. When he didn't respond this time, she looked at the album. That made her heart shatter again. It was a picture of her and her brother. Zephyr was about a year old and she was about four. He was hovering over her belly as she tickled him, a loving smile on her face while the small, green foal squealed. A couple drops of water hit the plastic covering, making her look up. Her brother, who had broken a wing, a leg and a shoulder without shedding a tear, was crying.

Small streaks ran down his cheeks. Fluttershy sighed and took the album, drawing his attention. She placed the open album on his table before flying back over. Fluttershy settled on the bed and wrapped her hooves around his neck, only to feel he was shaking. Her eyes squeezed shut as his shaking got worse. His breathing sped up and he began to whimper. Fluttershy started to stroke his messy mane, her touch gentle. She pulled back slightly and placed a gentle, loving kiss on his head. For Zephyr, that was the last straw. He knew his sister's touch and while many ponies could match it, his family were the only ones who could even get close to kissing him. A loud, heartbroken sob ripped out of his chest ad he buried his muzzle in her mane, wrapping his hooves around her neck in a tight grip. Fluttershy knew the grip very well. He was looking for a lifeline. Zephyr was so scared that if he let go, she evaporate. She continued stroking his mane while his shoulders heaved, loud sobs still filling the room.

"Shhhh. It's okay, it's okay. I'm here." He let out a wail and his grip tightened, hurting her neck. Fluttershy bore through it though. Right now, her baby brother needed her and that was more important than her own comfort. Fluttershy could feel him trying to press his muzzle into her neck. His hind legs had curled up against his belly, giving away his terror. He thought he was dreaming. Fluttershy simply stroked him, unable to help his fear at the moment. After an hour, Zephyr calmed down, his body quaking and his breathing shaky. She tried to pull away, but when she did, his hold tightened even more. Sighing, she twisted her head and pulled away. Zephyr's eyes were red and his cheeks and chin were soaked with his tears. Her own tears appeared and she leaned up, pressing her lips to his forehead. He whimpered and stared at her, his eyes still filled with tears. Fluttershy spread her wings and was about to go downstairs for some food when Zephyr spoke.

"P... please d... don't leave m... me." Zephyr never stuttered. His voice, normally so loud and full of energy, was small, quiet and broken. He looked so terrified that Fluttershy stopped, torn between her brother and the pull of food. Zephyr won.
Fluttershy turned around and settled down beside him, wincing as his messy wings rubbed her own. She pulled the trapped one free and draped it over his back. He shivered at the touch, shill whimpering. Fluttershy grabbed his chin with her hoof and turned his eyes towards her. Zephyr shut his eyes and laid his chin on her hoof, pressing against her chest. The worried mare draped her lifted leg over his neck and rested her chin on his head.

"I'm not going anywhere."