Chapter 3 - Homeward

A sharp spike of pain jolted Twilight awake, her bound wing spasming painfully against the vine tying it down. An inexplicable sense of confinement surged through Twilight's mind, speeding her breathing as she fumbled with the vine to untie her wing. The vine came loose and Twilight breathed a massive sigh of relief as her wing shot out to join the other in a few test flaps. The alicorn re-tied her moss-and-vine bandage, taking care not to tie her wing down again to avoid a repeat of the situation.

Her urges satisfied, Twilight laid back down to think. Why did I panic? I think Rainbow Dash mentioned pegasi hate having their wings tied because it takes away their freedom. Maybe because I'm an alicorn I've inherited some behavioural aspects of the other two pony races? Twilight sat up and spread her wings, examining her feathers. Also, the state of my feathers is horrendous! I have dried blood and dirt all through them! Twilight stuck her muzzle in the feathers of her left wing and started straightening them out, moving them into place with uncertain tugs and nudges.

I'll do my right wing once I've cleaned it up. Also, what happened to the weather team I was expecting? Maybe they missed my trail? I'll just have to go and look.

Estimating she’d only been unconscious for a couple of hours, Twilight stiffly got to her hooves and started limping along the trail she'd made earlier to take her back to the clearing where she'd defeated the manticore, wincing every time she put weight on her right side. At least the forest is calming when nothing's attacking me.

By the time the alicorn filly made it into visual range of her destination she was panting heavily and her side was burning with pain, once more dampening her right wing as blood soaked through her moss bandage. I really need to get this checked out, it shouldn't still be bleeding this badly. Maybe I keep reopening it with all this walking.

Reachingthe clearing, Twilight looked about for any ponies and, upon not seeing any, sent a bright magenta flare into the sky to attract attention to her location. Sitting down again, Twilight gave herself a look over and determined that nopony would notice her coat or mane colouring through the streaks of mud and blood covering her body. My wings are almost invisible in all this muck too!

A bright rainbow coloured trail drew Twilight's attention as it streaked towards her, marking Rainbow Dash’s arrival as the first pony to respond to the flare. Rainbow touched down in front of Twilight with a flap of her wings.

“Hiya kid! Whatcha doing out here…?” Rainbow’s voice trailed off as she took in the state of the filly seated in front of her. “Whoa. What happened to you?”

“A manticore.” Twilight stated flatly before changing the subject. “Can we go back to Ponyville please? I'm tired, sore, and sick of this forest.”

“Uhhh okay, just lemme tell everypony where we're going and then we'll be right off.” With that, Rainbow leapt into the air again with a powerful stroke of her wings and flew off for a minute before returning. “Hop on, I'll get you to a hospital ‘kay?”

“Thanks.” Twilight mumbled, struggling onto the cyan pegasus’ back, who had thoughtfully crouched down to make the climb easier. At least she hasn't asked for my name, I don't feel ready to tell her yet. Suddenly feeling faint, Twilight fell asleep, lulled by the steady beating of her friend’s wings.

Twilight opened her eyes to the sight of a very confused looking unicorn stallion wearing a Ponyville doctors uniform. The alicorn giggled nervously. “Umm, can I help you?”

“Indeed you can young miss. Would you mind telling us how a filly your age managed to find herself in the Everfree forest?” The doctor levitated a notepad and pencil over from a nearby table and prepared to take notes.

Twilight’s eyes roamed around as she started talking, noting she was in a room in Ponyville hospital, with equipment lining the walls and a constant beeping emanating from a heart rate monitor. “Well, I guess I just woke up and I was there, I don't really know how I got there in the first place.” Twilight intentionally left out the part where she died, thinking he didn't need to know. The doctor arched an eyebrow at her, a disbelieving look flitting across his face before a mask of neutrality closed over his features.

“Very well. If you need anything or remember anything new, press that button-” the doctor pointed with a hoof at a red button on the wall beside Twilight's bed “-and somepony will be along shortly. Get some rest, you only arrived here a day ago and are still recovering from your ordeal.” He promptly turned and walked out, shutting the door partially behind him.

With a sigh, Twilight turned to the meagre collection of books on her bedside table and resigned herself to a day of boredom. Even I get bored of reading eventually. Especially hospital books. Without warning the door to her room swung open again and none other than Princess Celestia stepped in, closing the door completely behind her and regarding Twilight with an unreadable expression.

Twilight shrank back against the wall behind her, something in her teacher’s expression sending a small spark of fear shooting through her body. “H-hi Princess.” The Princess’ expression softened and she took a seat next to Twilight's bed.

“Hello my little pony. How are you feeling?” Twilight breathed a sigh of relief.

“I'm fine Princess. A little sore, but I can handle it.”

“Indeed. The doctors tell me you were attacked by a manticore. Is this true?” The Princess’ gaze bored into Twilight's own, seemingly searching for something.

“Yes?” Where is she going with this?

“What is your name, little one?”

Twilight stiffened. “I -uh...I ca-” Princess Celestia’s stare sharpened, cutting through the alicorn filly’s resolve. “I'm… Twilight.” Celestia’s eyes widened in shock.

“Twilight? Twilight Sparkle!?”

Twilight blinked and tears welled up in her eyes, quickly overflowing and becoming a flood as she threw herself into her mentor’s hooves, her body shuddering with the force of her sobs. Celestia started, catching the tiny filly in her hooves before pulling Twilight close to her chest and wrapping her in a warm embrace, tears beginning to stream down her face as well.

Twilight cried for a full five minutes before her cries subsided into the occasional sniffle, the last two days of emotional turmoil having finally found release in her tears. When Twilight finally pulled back from Celestia’s embrace her muzzle suddenly split in a massive yawn.

“Oh I'm sorry Princess, I'm still a bit tired due to my recovery.” Celestia gave a light chuckle in amusement.

“Go back to sleep Twilight, you've had a long couple of days. If you don't mind though, I think I'll stay for the night after I've taken care of a few things. We can figure out everything else in the morning.”

Yawning again, Twilight mumbled her acceptance and received a soft nuzzle from Celestia as the Princess rose to her hooves and left the room, pausing briefly to speak to a waiting nurse in the doorway before striding down the corridor. Twilight sighed and looked down at her clean, heavily bandaged body. It's gonna take at least a couple weeks for this to heal enough for me to be able to walk unassisted again. I did serious damage moving around after I got injured.

Burrowing further under her blankets, Twilight promptly fell asleep, her energy depleted by the healing process and physical young age.

Author's Note

Unfortunately, I have completely, miserably, and utterly failed to keep any semblance of a working schedule due to a combination of lack of motivation and school. That being said, don't expect another chapter within the next six weeks or so (although it may happen).

Anyway, feedback is appreciated, especially around the whole emotional thing (I've always sucked at that).