Angel Wings, Broken Rainbows

"Where am I? The last thing I remember.....Fluttershy was watching me practice. She looked so beautiful in the evening light. Oh but then.....oh no, I made her cry again. Next time I see her I'm gonna make it up to her somehow. A face like hers should never have to feel tears. It's strange, I can kind of hear her crying right now."

"I dropped her off at home, then I was walking and.....nope, everything's blank."

"Rainbow."

"Fluttershy? Is that you? Where are you?"

The world around her began to change. Lush greenery sprouted everywhere and a gentle breeze passed through her mane and tail. A great warmth came down from above, illuminating the beautiful meadow the now surrounded her.

"Rainbow."

She turned and saw her standing there. Her flawless carnation colored mane and tail swayed in the breeze, brushing across her golden coat. It seemed to glow all around, framing her face and those gentle, aquamarine eyes. Rainbow Dash felt herself falling in love all over again.

"Are you okay Rainbow Dash? You're staring at me."

"Oh, am I? I'm sorry. It's just.....you are really beautiful 'Shy."

A blush now graced her golden cheeks, "You know Rainbow? I don't say it enough, but I think you are beautiful too. I always have."

"Fluttershy, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why don't you love me? I'd be a good marefriend. I am the Element of Loyalty after all. I love you so much Fluttershy. I try to move on, but my heart hurts every day. Just tell me, please."

"Oh Rainbow," Fluttershy said, moving closer to the cerulean pegasus fighting her own tears, "I do love you."

Rainbow's eyes widened at those last words and suddenly she felt her love's lips press against her own. They were so warm and soft. She felt all the pain and loneliness she'd felt over the years evaporate into nothingness. All that time waiting for something perfect and now she was here and she was more than worth it. The kiss finally broke and Rainbow wrapped her forelegs around the warm and glowing pegasus before her, and she felt another pair wrap around her. She allowed herself to be held, gently nuzzling the other mare's neck.

"I hope this moment never ends."

Suddenly the warm embrace was broken and those beautiful turquoise eyes met hers again. Something was wrong, it was as if the whole world started shimmering all at once.

"I'm so sorry Dashie."
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"I'm so sorry Dashie."

Rainbow Dash's eyes fluttered open and slowly drifted about, taking in all her surroundings. It was obviously a hospital room. Obviously, she was the one who was hurt, but why couldn't she remember what happened?

A dream. Of course.

The words she'd just heard, combined with the pressure on her hoof brought her into the now. It was the voice she heard every night in her dreams, and the touch that she wanted every minute of every day.

"You know 'Shy, I wish you'd call me Dashie more often."

The canary yellow mare met eyes with Rainbow, and while she'd been sobbing for quite some time, it transformed into uncontrollable weeping.

"Hey hey, I'm the one in the hospital bed. Shouldn't I be the one crying?"

"I heard you were hurt and I didn't know what to do. I've never been so scared in my life. Without you.....I......I don't know I'd......" she collapsed.

"Oh Fluttershy, why do I keep making you cry?" she thought.

"Come on 'Shy. I'm okay n-aaahh," as she moved to embrace the crying pegasus beside her a sharp and immense pain shot throughout her body. What the hay was that?

"Dashie! What's wrong?"

"I don't know. When I moved it just really hurt. What happened to....." Everything came flooding back in an instant. The darkness, the complete and total helplessness, and the pain. It was like it was happening all over again. The searing fire spreading through her core. The machine at her side quickened it's pace and her breathing became fast and shallow. Everything was turning black.

"No, Dashie! Dashie what's wrong?! Nurse Redheart, Doctor, anypony help her!"

"Fluttershy, help me....." the blackness came back and took her again.
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Nurse Redheart came into the hallway and placed a comforting hoof on the weeping mare back, causing her to jump.

"What happened?! Is she okay?! We were just talking and she-"

"Calm down Fluttershy. She's okay. It was just a panic attack. I'm guessing the trauma gave her temporary amnesia, and when her memory came back, it was too much for her."

"Is there anything I can do for her? Whatever it takes."

"Honestly, the best thing you can do is be here for her. She's going to be here for at least couple of weeks until the stitches are ready to be taken out. We will evaluate her mental state and go from there, but you have to be strong for her."

"But.....I'm not.....-"

"Fluttershy! There you are!" She turned to see Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. They were all out of breath as they had sprinted all the way here.

"Where is Rainbow Dash?! Is this her room?!" Twilight readied her magic on the doorknob but was interrupted by Nurse Redheart.

"Wait! I'm sorry girls, but Miss Dash has just had an episode."

"An episode? What does that mean is she okay?!"

"Oh no no girls, she's okay. It's just imperative that she get her rest right now."

-BeepBeepBeep-

The nurse's pager went off obnoxiously in the otherwise quiet hallway.

"I'm sorry but I have another patient. Miss Fluttershy knows the situation and can fill you all in. If any of you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask me." With that, the nurse pony departed, leaving the great uneasiness among the five ponies.

"Fluttershy, can ya tell us what happened to'er?"

"She's.....she was.....-" Fluttershy started but was unable to form any complete sentences, when she felt a purple hoof on her back.

"It's okay Fluttershy. When the police informed Celestia, she sent me a message."
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Minutes had seemed as hours as Twilight talked. She gave up fighting back her tears long ago, but did not break once in recounting the situation.

-SNAP-

The others ponies turned as Applejack's hoof exited the waiting room wall. "When ah get mah hooves on the monster who did this, I'll send him straight ta Tartarus."

"Applejack, I know you're angry, but now isn't the time for that. The only thing we should worry about right now is Rainbow Dash."

"Rarity is right," Twilight said, "my brother is going to find whoever did this. We just have to be here for Rainbow."

Pinkie Pie had been silent this whole time, a new record for the pink pony. She'd reverted to to her Pinkamena state, mane and tail gone straight and flat and in place of her near-perpetual smile, an expression of pain.

Nurse Redheart appeared once more, "Girls, she's awake again."

As all the ponies began to walk, Twilight spoke up, "Wait, I know you all want to see her, but we don't want to overwhelm her. Fluttershy, since you are the one she asked for, you should go. The rest of us will wait until she's had a little more time to recover."

The other ponies looked devastated, but they all nodded in understanding.

"Okay. I'll tell her you're all here and we're all with her."
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Fluttershy opened the door and saw her there. Her rose eyes had glazed over a bit and she sat there in an apparent haze.

"Dashie?" Fluttershy said, almost in a whisper, "The girls are all here too. They thought it was best that only one of us visit, so I-"

" 'Shy.....I really don't want to talk to anypony right now."

"Oh. I understand Dashie." Fluttershy turned to leave when that broken voice came through once more.

" 'Shy, will you hold me?"

Fluttershy said nothing as she sat on the side of the bed and wrapped her forelegs around her best friend. The broken pony buried her muzzle in the warm golden coat of the pony she loved and let all her pain, all her anger, every tear she had left fall from her beautiful rose eyes.