It felt different somehow, everything felt different. Her eyes fluttered open but she couldn't see anything. Her eyes seemed like they were refusing to work. She felt warm, but not the comfortable warm, the on fire warm.
Wait... fire?
Twilight shot up, her eyes still not working, but now she was aware. She jumped to her hooves and immediately fell back down, a pain in her head making her almost pass out again. She shakily pulled herself up again, her eyes slowly coming into focus, but she just screwed them shut again anyway.
The library was burning.
Twilight noticed the inferno all around her. She stood up despite the pain in her head and immediately shot towards the balcony, pushing open the doors and jumping off, flaring her horn at the last minute, hoping to stop her fall.
No magic came, and she landed, face first, on the ground.
Blackness.
*
“... shy!” She heard, but she didn't respond, unable to move or to even speak. “Please... Fluttershy!” This time she caught the voice, she turned her head slowly towards it. Rainbow dash was there before her, she looked battered up, barely able to stand, but here she was. “Fluttershy! Stay with me flutters!”
“Rainbow...” She choked out, reality slowly seeping its way back.
“It'll be okay fluttershy just hang on, please forgive me for this!” The next thing she new, she were lifted up from the floor and onto her back. Fluttershy expected a twinge of pain, and there was one, but it wasn't hers. Rainbow was obviously struggling, Fluttershy could feel the trembling in her legs as she allowed her to carry her out of her cottage, and into the still evening air.
*
She awoke to a burning in her legs, and she was lying in something warm. She tried to pull herself to her hooves but could only move her forelegs. Her mind was working faster than her body would allow itself. It wasn't until the first twinges of pain pulled her back to reality, that she finally looked back at her hind legs.
One was missing, the other hanging on by just a strip of her skin.
She reeled back in shock, which was obviously a bad idea, she just wailed in pain and fell back down. Applejack was never one to give up, but at this moment, there wasn't a thing she could do.
“Applejack!” Came a voice off to her left, and in a flash Big Mac was at her side. “Hold on.” With those word he hauled applejack onto his back. She felt such intense pain that she just fell back into unconsciousness.
*
She awoke, hearing screeching sounds all around her. She felt pains in her sides but other than that she felt completely fine. Events of last night still fresh in her mind. She pushed off her large bed, the thing that kept her alive no doubt, and stood up. She looked around her home, what was left of it. Suddenly the floor gave out, Rarity fell down to the bottom floor of her boutique, pinned down by rubble.
A beam fell down straight for her face. A scream was all she could muster before it struck..
Blackness.
*
She woke to nothing. There was not a sound around her, not one she could hear anyway. Her head felt wet and warm, and an intense pain on its left side. She tried to move some of her now straight pink mane out of her face, but she couldn't move. She tried to call for help, but what met her ears was nothing. She felt herself be picked up. She had no time to notice who before she slipped back into darkness.
*
“Twilight wake up.” She was pulled out of the blackness to the sound of a soft voice. She opened her eyes and noticed the yellow pegasus standing above her. Fluttershy noticed and hid behind her mane a bit. “Oh... sorry, but, they said I could wake you up...”
Twilight noticed her friends gaze. “Fluttershy... You're okay?”
“I'm fine Twilight, but how do you feel?”
“I just have a huge headache.” Twilight lifted her hoof to her head, trying to massage away the pain. It was then she finally noticed.
Her horn was broken.
She panicked. The feeling hit her way too fast, her mind was racing. She brought her other hoof to her head, patting it harder than she should have, but it confirmed it. A shriek of horror gripped her throat, erupting from her lips before she could contain it.
Fluttershy retreated behind a plant pot in the small hospital room. At that moment another pony entered. A unicorn with a white jacket walked up next to twilight's bed and noticed the still shocked librarian. “Miss Sparkle, I'm sorry, there wasn't anything we could do.”
She turned to him, staring at him with shock filled eyes. She didn't have the strength to speak, she just slumped back down into her bed and lied there, giving up.
The doctor left, and Fluttershy returned to her side. “Twilight, we need to go see the others.” Her usual soft, calming voice now filled with fear. “Uhm... If you want to that is.”
Twilight just stared at the ceiling, her mind never slowing down. Her horn was gone, what was the point of going on?
“Twilight please...”
Twilight turned to her with an annoyed look on her face. “What am I supposed to do without my horn Fluttershy?” She spat at her, a bit more aggressively than she intended. “I'm nothing without it! I should just let them medically euthanize me.”
Fluttershy was obviously upset at this, she cut in with the most forceful voice twilight had ever heard the timid mare use, outside of her gala incident. “Twilight Sparkle! I don't care if you have your horn, you're still my friend, and I know the others feel the same way!”
Twilight was shocked at the tone Fluttershy used. But her thoughts were shocked into rationality again afterward. “Okay Fluttershy, lets go”
“Okay Twilight, but you might not like what you see.” Her timid, barely audible tone had returned. Twilight ignored her and got out of bed, following her out of her room and into the quiet halls of the hospital. They walked to the room next to Twilight's, Rainbow's room. She walked inside and saw her lying there, staring at the ceiling.
“Hi Rainbow.” Twilight said just above a whispers. All she could see was her face, the rest of her body was covered by the blanket. When rainbow saw them, she sat up, and allowed the blanket to fall away, revealing her back. Twilight gasped at what she saw, or more so at what she didn't see. “Rainbow! Your wings!”
“Yeah I know Twilight, don't stare, okay? I'm not the only one missing something.” Her usual cocky attitude and foregoing voice was gone, replaced by a tone that was almost hostile, and a bit dark. “As long as Fluttershy is okay that's all that matters to me.”
Fluttershy squeaked. “B-but Rainbow, I was okay before you carried me here. You shouldn't have exerted yourself like that.”
Twilight was confused, she was about to ask when the doctor spoke up from behind them, he was waiting in at the open door for the reunion to finish. “Miss Dash carried Fluttershy all the way here from her cottage, She collapsed as soon as she stepped hoof inside the hospital.”
Twilight glanced at Fluttershy, who seemed to have formed tears in her eyes, then at Rainbow, who was looking away from them as if the wall on the opposite side of her bed was the most interesting thing in the world at that moment. When she spoke her attitude wavered even more. “Yeah, I had to make sure she was-”
Fluttershy cut her off, “I told you I was alright! I tried to get you to let me carry you, I saw the pain you were in.” Fluttershy broke into sobs at these words. “You were crying in pain every step you took Rainbow, I-I couldn't stand seeing you that way.”
Rainbow was silent. Twilight thought she knew why the cyan pegasus was so Tarterus bent on getting Fluttershy here, but she didn’t like thinking that about one of her best friends. That Rainbow would only carry Fluttershy here to boost her own ego was something she didn't want to believe was true. When Rainbow finally did speak, she was happy to see that her thoughts were wrong.
Rainbow finally looked at them, tears forming in her eyes, seemingly trying to avoid eye contact with Fluttershy. “I had to be cool... I mean I had to... I'm the...was the fastest flier in eq-” She threw her hooves in the air. “Buck it! Fluttershy I love you!”
Fluttershy squeaked and took a few steps back “Rainbow-”
“No, please let me finish. When the earthquake struck I was above your cottage, on a cloud, watching you as you did your usual tasks. I watched as you trotted around, taking care of your animals, singing with that beautiful voice for the birds. The way you care so much is so...admirable to me. The earth started to shake and you ran inside, something inside me just screamed 'protect her', so I went inside. You were lying there frozen in shock just as part of your cottage was falling in, so I jumped on top of you and protected you. I couldn't see you get hurt, I wouldn't allow you to get hurt! When I woke up I tried to make sure you were alright, my mind was still on panic mode. When I carried you here I wasn't crying in pain Fluttershy, I was crying because my mind was telling me you were hurt. I had to get help. So there you have it, I'm sorry Fluttershy but I was too much of a coward to tell you before, but I had to now. I realized we may not have time tomorrow, life may not wait for us.”
Rainbow broke out into sobs. Fluttershy took this moment to place a hoof on the ex-pegasus' shoulder, and smile at her, tears forming in her eyes as well, but she willed herself to be strong for Rainbow, just like she always was for her. “Rainbow, I'm so sorry I put you through this. If only I had spoken up sooner, this may have been avoided.”
Rainbow looked at her with a confused stare. “Wh-What do you mean?”
Fluttershy hid behind her mane a bit, then took a deep breath, calming herself, but the words came out anything but calm. “IlovedyoueversinceflightschoolRainbow!” She panted, seemingly in shock at what she had just admitted, but she shook her head, and carried on. “I-I mean... in flight school you were always there for, no matter how badly you were teased you always took it upon yourself to help me through mine. Every night I would come back to our dorm and just cry, and you would be there to help me no matter what. Even here in Ponyville I get my strength from you Rainbow. Rainbow, I-I love you too.”
The two just stared at each other. Twilight coughed awkwardly, snapping the two out of their trance. “Well, as happy as I am for you two, I think we should go see the others.”
The doctor had left the room during Rainbow's confession, which went unnoticed. Rainbow got out of bed shakily, but happily leaned on Fluttershy for support. The doors swung open and Applejack came through. They turned to look. Twilight and Rainbow gasped in shock, Fluttershy already knew.
Applejack was in a wheelchair, white gauze bandages where her legs should be. “Howdy girls. Woah Twi, love the new style.” Twilight didn't hear her, she was fixed on the farm ponies legs, or rather, where there should be legs. Applejack noticed and wheeled herself over to her, a smile on her face. “Now, sugarcube, 'tis impolite ta' stare.”
Twilight broke out of her trance and looked up at Applejack. “Oh, yeah, sorry. It's just... things keep happening way too fast. What happened to you?”
Applejack looked down, only to notice her missing hind legs, and looked back at Twilight. “Ah' don't know Twi. All I know is that Big Mac carried me here after the quake hit. Now Twi, don't look at me like that. I'm fine. Now let's go see Pinkie.”
Fluttershy spoke up. “Uhm... We should see a doctor before we go to her room.” The others turned to look at her, she took a step back, and continued. “I-I mean... they need to explain just what happened.”
They all nodded and left the room, Fluttershy in lead towards the front desk. When they arrived she spoke to the unicorn mare behind the desk. “H-Hello again”
She looked up with a smile. “Oh, hello Fluttershy. What can I help you with?”
“We would like to see Pinkie now please, but they don't know what happened.”
She turned to them, her smile faded. “Ah, yes. Come with me girls, I'll explain on the way.” She got up and led them down the hall opposite they way they came. “Miss Pie was baking when the quake started, according to Mr. Cake, who brought her here. The oven seemingly exploded, which ruptured her eardrums due to the close proximity she had to it. She will never be able to hear again.
The others gasped, but the nurse was not done.
“But even if you were to talk to her and she could hear, she wouldn't understand. Shrapnel from the oven embedded itself into her skull, our doctor worked to remove it all for hours. The result was serious brain damage, leaving her mentally unstable.”
Everypony was about to question what she meant, when they arrived at her door. The nurse opened the door and they saw Pinkie in the bed, bandages around her head, seemingly missing her whole mane. The doctor nodded to them. “Just be easy on her.” She left the room, the others just looking at Pinkie.
Pinkie noticed and turned to Twilight, her face lit up and she extended her hooves to her, shakily grabbing for her, she tried to speak but it was just inaudible gibberish. Twilight went over to her and put her hooves around her and squeezed her. Pinkie seemed to want to say something, but all that came out were high pitched squeals.
Twilight noticed what the doctor meant. Pinkie let go and looked at her head. She pointed a hoof at it and muttered something along the lines of 'horn' which Twilight just ignored. She stepped back, letting go of Pinkie, as the doctor walked in with what looked like a teddy bear. When pinkie saw it she again lit up reached for it. The doctor gave it to her and she snuggled it tightly.
Twilight looked at the others for the first time, each ponies expression was unreadable. After a few seconds, she finally spoke. “She seems to be happy.” Tears pulled at her eyes as she watched her. Pinkie was now mentally ill. She had to tell herself that over and over again just to will herself to believe it.
The others nodded, no words were spoken as they left the room, allowing Pinkie to rest. Twilight turned to Fluttershy, who was looking rather ill. “Fluttershy, she's alive at least.”
Fluttershy looked at her, shaking her head slowly. “I know... I knew before you all did.” She turned away from her. “But Rarity, she had it worse than any of us.” Her voice cracked.
“Now Fluttershy, remember what you told me in my room? We'll always be friends, no matter what.” She said slowly. She felt she knew what Fluttershy meant, but was praying to the goddesses that she was wrong.
“Girls,” She said finally, turning to them all. “Let's go back to the waiting room, I need to tell you something.”
Once they were all back in the waiting room. Fluttershy began. “Sweetie belle found Rarity after coming home from keeping shelter in their club house. After she was brought here they determined that debris had fallen on her. They did multiple operations on her but...”
Her voice trailed off. “'Shy, what are ya' tryna' say?” Applejack said with fear in her voice.
Fluttershy continued as willingly as she could. “But... She didn't make it. There was too much damage.” Everypony was quiet, non of them knowing what to say. Rarity was dead, their minds were having trouble wrapping itself around this fact. “They moved her body away for the funeral already.” She continued softly after a few moments.
After nearly a minute of silence, Twilight finally looked around at each of them and spoke. “So... what now?”
There was no answer. Nopony knew the answer. What were they going to do now? Applejack lost her legs, there was no way she could possibly run the farm now. Rainbow lost her wings, all her dreams had involved her joining the Wonderbolts. Fluttershy lost all her animal friends. Pinkie Pie lost herself, and Twilight lost her horn. There is no way a broken horn can ever regain its magical properties, it can only be synthetically repaired to look like a real horn. But Rarity... She lost everything that she could ever give. This was the toughest pill to swallow for every one of them. They were all trying to imagine a life without the beautiful unicorn stressing over even the smallest amount of mud or dirt in their coats. A life without Rarity promising them a new dress every other week.
A flash of light pulled them out of their thoughts. Princess Celestia stood before them, her usual bright smile nowhere to be found. “My little ponies. I have heard everything from the hospital staff. Are you all alright?” They all nodded as she looked around to survey the damage for herself. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were holding onto each other tightly in the corner of the room, lost in each others eyes. Celestia took this moment to try to lighten the mood. “It seems that through all this loss, something beautiful has been found at least.”
Fluttershy and Rainbow immediately looked at the Princess, noticing that she meant them. Fluttershy hid behind her mane. Rainbow was the one to speak. “Yes Princess, I just wish that this was revealed in more... considerable of times.”
Celestia put on her smile. “Now Rainbow, finding the light in the darkness is just what it takes to recover from such an awful tragedy. I wish you both the best.” She turned to address all of them now. “As for the damage all of this has done to your homes, I invite all of you to stay in Canturlot until any necessary repairs can be made.”
Twilight turned to her teacher. “Thank you so much Princess.”
“Anything for my most faithful student and her friends.”
Twilight was going to question her ability to study under the Princess, but a Doctor pushing pinkie in a wheelchair came into the waiting room. He noticed the Princess and immediately bowed, then turned to the other 4 ponies. “Ladies, I just wanted to bring this to your attention. Due to Hospital laws, we cannot house mental trauma patients here. It is up to you whether you want her to stay in a mental institution, or if you would want to house her yourselves.” Through his speech, Pinkie was just staring at the Princess, her teddy bear in her arms, her eyes wide as if she were witnessing something truly shocking.
The Princess spoke. “I shall take care of her myself, as with all of these ponies, in Canturlot. Thank you Doctor.”
He bowed to her again. “Yes your highness.” And walked out of the room.
Everypony in the room had their eyes on Pinkie, who was bouncing in her chair like a small filly. Small cries could be heard throughout the room. Despite what happened to her, she looked so happy. She looked as if nothing in the world had happened to her. A realization hit Twilight at that moment.
“Would Rarity want us to be sad right now?” She asked, much to the surprise of everypony else. She looked at Pinkie. “We'll find out what to do, we can just never give up. Just like how Rarity never gave up on making our dresses for the gala.”
Everypony nodded. Their lives were forever changed in one night. Their future was uncertain. But they were all in agreement of one thing, and that was that no matter what, they would always be friends. Twilight got up and walked over to Pinkie Pie, wrapping her hooves around her as she playfully stroked her hoof through Twilight's mane. Fluttershy and Rainbow followed. Applejack did the best she could to wheel herself over to them and join in.
“We'll get through this girls.” Twilight choked out through sobs, but not of sadness. Her tears were born of happiness for having the best friends a pony could ever ask for. “For Rarity”
“For Rarity.” The others all said as one.
The ground beneath their hooves may have been shaken, the foundations cracked and crumbled away. But the roots of friendship will never be severed.