The Riddle Master
By Ritchie Grainger
“H-Hold still, Dash, it’s kinda hard to give you this medicine when you’re wriggling about like that!”
“I told you Fluttershy, I don’t like ponies touching me. Especially with sharp things. Isn’t there another way you could give me the medicine, like in a drink or something?”
“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash, but this is the only way”
Rainbow Dash sighed as she clambered out from the bed she was led in. She looked around at the colourful decorations placed around Fluttershy’s house. She winced as her left wing brushed against the edge of the bed. Dash looked at the injured wing with sadness, and sighed once more.
At that moment, Rarity and Applejack came in through the front door. Fluttershy rushed over to meet them in the doorway.
“She won’t let me give her the medicine. She says she doesn’t like ponies touching her”, Fluttershy whispered to Applejack.
“Dangit, just give it to ‘er, girl! Don’t take no for an answer!” Applejack retorted, frustrated with her friend’s lack of assertiveness.
“O-Oh, I could n-never do that, that would be mean! And I might end up hurting her!”
“Look, Fluttershy,” Rarity chimed in, “This is the only way that Rainbow Dash will get better. The doctors told her to take that medicine daily, and that is what she is going to--”
“Ugh, alright! I’ll take the stupid medicine! If that’s what will make you shut up!”, shouted Rainbow Dash, who had overheard the whole conversation from the side of the bed.
“Just, promise me it won’t hurt, Fluttershy. It doesn’t hurt, does it Applejack?”
“Uh, ‘course not sugarcube!” Applejack responded, a sense of uncertainty in her voice.
Fluttershy slowly walked over to Rainbow’s bed, syringe in hoof. The point sparkled and glinted in the sunlight as she passed the window. Fluttershy leaned in toward Dash, a bead of sweat dripping down the side of her head.
The needle slipped into Rainbow Dash, just above her throbbing wing. Dash winced as it went in, but tried her best to conceal her pain. Fluttershy pressed down on the top of the syringe, and the clear liquid went into Dashie’s body. She let out a soft ‘ouch’ as Fluttershy pulled out the needle.
“There, that wasn’t so bad now, was it?” Fluttershy said, placing the needle on a nearby table. Rainbow scowled and looked down her blanket, angry at herself for being scared of the needle.
“Now, get some rest, Rainbow Dash, the doctors said that’s the only way you’re going to get better.”
“OK,” Rainbow replied, in a aggravated but understanding tone. Fluttershy turned to look at the girls, an uncomfortable look on her face.
“Oh, right” Twilight said, “We better leave you to get some rest, Dash. C’mon girls, let’s go get some lunch”.
The four mares walked out the front door, closing it behind them. Fluttershy turned her attention to Rainbow Dash once more.
“Um, will you be alright here by yourself, Rainbow Dash? I don’t want to leave you alone, a-and I wouldn’t want you to feel left out or--”
Rainbow stopped Fluttershy mid sentence.
“I’ll be fine, Fluttershy. Like you said, I just need some rest, and then I’ll be back out there flying in no time!” Dashie replied, a determined look in her eye.
“Well, OK then. I’ll go join the girls for lunch. We’ll be back in an hour or so. Are you sure you’ll be alright here, all on your-”
“Yes, Fluttershy. I’ll be fine” Rainbow replied, her tone brisk.
Fluttershy turned and left for Sunny Hills Cafe, which was just a few minutes down the road. Before she left, she stopped in the doorway and gave Dash a weak smile from across the room, before closing the front door behind her.
Rainbow Dash sat up in the bed, her wing throbbing. She looked around Fluttershy’s house once more. There were bird cages of all sizes dotted around the room, each housing a small bird of some kind. Each of the cages were connected by stairs, which Rainbow thought rather odd. The ceiling was decorated with intricate floral designs and patterns, which made Dash’s head spin. The more she looked at the patterns, the more dizzy she felt. She tried to shake her gaze from them, only to become more disorientated. Her head began to ache, forcing her to let out a groan.
Rainbow led back down in the bed, a hoof resting on her forehead. She had a mild temperature, and now both her head and wing were throbbing. She started to panic. Dash swung her hind legs over the left side of the bed, her gaze still set on the strange patterns. They now seemed to be twisting and turning, and the shapes seemed to bend. The reds and greens shifted to blacks and whites, and back again.
Dash looked away from the patterns. She stared at the oak wall next to the bed, her eyes now half open. It seemed to be moving back and forth, like a jack-in-the box gone wrong. Rainbow felt her legs go numb, as she fell to the floor. She heard a ringing in her ears, as her vision faded to black.