The Village

Fluttershy opened her eyes. A bright light shone down on her. She couldn’t move; she couldn’t feel her legs or hooves. For a moment she wondered if she had died, or maybe she was still in the process of dying, on those elongated few minutes before fading from this world. No, that couldn’t be right, because as she tried to take a breath, oxygen filled her lungs, and it was like a rush of new life washed over her body. She coughed, her mouth and throat were painfully dry. She was covered in sweat from a recently broken fever, and an ache throughout her body made itself known. She was sore; the pegasus’s muscles felt like they had been through a cheese grater all over.

The mare groaned, and rolled onto her side, noticing the cast on her wing as she did. It was only then that she realized where she was: Ponyville Hospital. She was relieved, but a pang of guilt struck her stomach as she remembered the events of the night prior. Was she a bad pony for doing what she did? To so rashly take so many lives? No… surely the lives lost there saved countless others, and those who were set ablaze were nothing but suffering husks of their former selves. But even still, Fluttershy wished she could have done more for them… for Ginger and Leif who sacrificed so much for their little village.

Fluttershy’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a door opening behind her. Nurse Redheart walked in and saw that she was up, “Oh, Miss Fluttershy, you’re awake”. The little yellow mare had so many questions, but her aching maw could only get one word out, “w-water…”

After emptying two cups full of water, Fluttershy sat up, and watched as Redheart brought in another mare, dark gray, with stripes and golden rings adorning her body. Fluttershy knew immediately who it was. “Good morning Fluttershy, when I found you, I feared you would not make it, but luckily, I was mistaken”, the zebra said, relief clear in her tone. “Zecora!” Fluttershy exclaimed, “I have so many things to tell you, there was a village, and they had an outbreak of swamp fever, and-”. Fluttershy was cut off by Zecora, “One step at a time, dear Fluttershy, for now take solace that your wounds are benign. Once you are healed, there will be time, you may tell me all about the fire I saw, that gave me a sign.”