Returning 'Home'

Everything was going so well today. Fall was working the Apples Orchards. Bucking apples off trees into the buckets that were below them.

She was just about to head home where her coltfriend would be waiting for her. . . with an expectant face no doubt. When a pegasus flew over from Ponyville and told her about what happened. He blood went cold at the information.

Dropping her saddle-bags, Fall begin galloping towards the Ponyville Hospital.

It took her a good 10 minutes of Galloping but she made it, the reception area was chockablock full of ponies. Upon hearing a new arrival, everypony looked up to see Fall. Sad and Sympathetic looks on their faces.

A nurse from behind the front desk looks up and recognises her immediately, beckoning her towards the double hinged doors. Fall walks through them, following the nurse on the other side.

It took no longer than 2 minutes, but it felt like an eternity for Fall, as she walked through the sterile hallway of the Hospital.

They arrived at a single door, the bar above it reading “INTENSIVE CARE”. Her body trembled at the prospect of seeing her Coltfriend. . . her mate in such a. . .

Steeling herself, she pushed the door open.

The room itself was bland in design, a metal table next to the bed, a window at the far end, 4 beds with a good sized space between them.

One bed had its curtains drawn around it. The outlines of ponies working and talking to one another as they tried to help. . . him.

“Excuse me, Dr Degree. His Marefriend has arrived” Said the Nurse beside Fall.

“Tell her she’ll have to wait, this is one of the worst cases of mana-flame i've ever-”

“Shes here sir”

“. . . fine then. But no longer than ten minutes”

Fall and the Nurse walked up to the curtain. Fall reached forward, her hoof trembling as it drew nearer.

She gently pulled it away.

Anger, Sadness and Sorrow welled in her chest when she saw him.

He was on his belly, his back exposed fully.

It was Red and Angry, his flesh was. There was no blood, due to the veins being cauterised.

There wasn't a trace of skin to be found on his back, and some of his favourite Hoodie was stuck to his back still, the remains in a bin next to the bed.

But the worse thing of all. . . she could almost see one of the vertebrae sticking out from his back.

It made her Sadness rear up and crash down, causing the dam that was building to break, and the tears flowed freely.

The Nurse put a supportive hoof around her shoulder, giving a gentle but firm squeeze.

Fall reached out for his hand and held it, never wanting to let go for even a moment.

The doctor meanwhile, was continuing his ministrations of Healing Magic, his horn and eyes a translucent light green.

“I’ve managed to stabilise him for now. But he’s got a long way to go until he’ll be able to move again. I’ve already put out a request to Canterlot for more powerful healers, as well as princess Twilight Sparkles assistance.”

“This is all my-”

“Ms Fall, how could you of possibly known about that monster Kable being in Ponyville. And even if you DID know, how do you think you would of stopped our resident knuckle head from NOT going to stop him. It’s just a part of his nature. . . but even i have to admit, this is by far the worst he’s ever sustained before”

“. . .Will he be ok?”

“I sure hope so Ms Fall” said Dr Degree “I hope so”

Everypony held their breath, for Zeros Recovery.
____________________________________________________________________________

All of my back and the surrounding area HURT like a sonuvabitch, it felt like i got-

. . . oh wait, i did. Zero thought to himself, taking in his surroundings before opening his eyes.

He could hear the heartbeat monitor to is left and he could smell. . . Fall. All creatures had a unique scent, Fall smelt like the fresh Fall Leaves and Burnt Pine.

I open my eyes, looking to the right and seeing my mate.

She was fast asleep at my side, her upper body draped over my stomach and chest, one hoof around my waist, holding tightly onto me. I smiled, lifting my hand and scratching, gently, behind her ears.

She murmured happily and snuggled into my side just that bit more. After a short while of continuing my ministrations, Fall stirs from sleep and into the waking world.

Fall looks up at me, and gives me one of the most loving and sincere smiles i’ve ever seen from her.

“All it took was to get hurt to get you away from your job and to me, huh.”

She lightly hits my chest.

“I thought i was going to lose you.”

“Nah, it’s me were talking about. Gonna take more than mana-flame to kill lil ol me.”

Fall buried her muzzle into my chest, i scratched her scalp through her reasonably thick mane.

We just sat there for a good long while. Fall laying on my chest, listening to my heartbeat while i scratched her head.

I felt warm wetness drip onto my chest. Lifting Falls mane out of the way, i could see that she was crying.

She moves up my chest and lays her head underneath my chin.

“. . .i love you”

“I love you too”