Hush Now

Star Gazer opened his sky blue eyes, expecting the bugle to confirm that it was just a nightmare and that he was back in his living nightmare, instead. But he heard no bugle. When he looked around, he didn't see rusty bunk beds or grimy walls. The walls were white and the room was warm. Gazer tried to sit up but a crippling pain in his back and his head forced him straight back down on the pillows, the pain so intense he thought he was going to vomit.

"Hello? Is anypony there?" He called out timidly between deep breaths. A white pony came bustling in, a red cross cutie mark on her flank.

"Ah! You're awake young man!" She said cheerily, but got no reply. Star Gazer was staring at her side. Where on earth were her wings? How could an earth pony be in Cloudsdale?

"Um... Sorry ma'am  but... where am I?" Gazer asked. The white mare chuckled.

"Why you're in Ponyville infirmary dearie! You and your friend were in a pretty bad way after falling through those trees! Good job one of the Apple family spotted you."

"That filly!" Gazer suddenly exclaimed, once again sitting up, wondering if she was ok, and at the same time being in shock that he was on land. This time, he couldn't stomach the pain in his head and back, and the nurse had to quickly fetch him a bucket.

"I see you're awake then" A soothing voice found its way to Gazer's ears. He looked up when he'd finished retching. There she was. The filly that had saved him from his living hell. Her orangey peach coat glowing in the sunlight that was streaking through the window. He felt a sharp pang of guilt hit him as he saw the thick bandage covering her right wing and her right front hoof. She limped over to the bed and gave him a quick nuzzle - which resulted in both of their noses turning pink.

"I-I just wanted to say thanks for saving my life" She spoke, quietly.

"I... saved your life? I thought I was the one who threw us off the clouds?" He spoke, taking a sip of water from the glass next to him.

"After you tried to take off with us and we were falling, you opened your wings and covered us both. We fell through loads of tree branches, but you took the weight of us both from the fall. The doctor said he was amazed at how your back wasn't broken. You took a pretty hard bump to the head and both your wings and your back leg and tail broken". She quickly looked away, swallowing back a sob of sympathy and gazed back at her rescuer.

He sat back gently, trying to focus, but it was hard. Mostly because his head was killing him, but those eyes... they were just such a beautiful shade of pink, shimmering slightly with emotion. He caught himself staring and looked away, quickly.

"So." The filly cleared her throat before holding out a hoof. "I'm Willow Beam"

Star Gazer tried to reach out to take her hoof, but he realized that they were bandaged up. He shook his head apologetically at Willow Beam before answering.

"I'm Star Gazer - but just call me Gazer." He said nonchalantly before crinkling his muzzle into a grin. She beamed back brightly. Such a pretty smile, thought Gazer. "So, will you be able to fly back up to Cloudsdale and tell your family you're OK?" She shook her head.

"Nah, I'm stuck here until this wing heals up. Couple of weeks, the doctor said. Not that it really matters - I kind of wanted to see what was down here anyway." Gazer's eyes widened in pleasant surprise.

"No way! I always wanted to come down here too!" He replied. Willow Beam couldn't help but smile at the navy blue Pegasus. Gazer rubbed his head. "So what's going to happen to us?"

"Well," The peach Pegasus blew her soft pink mane out of her face before continuing. "They said that you can be discharged tomorrow, as long as you get plenty of rest and check in with the Doctor every couple of days. They've set us up with a room above the bakery here, and they even got you a wheelchair so we can go for a tour of the town when you feel like it" She grinned at him, and he returned the expression. They remained that way for a few minutes before a doctor ushered Willow Beam out of the room to allow Gazer to rest.

"I'll come to pick you up tomorrow!" She called, limping away on her three good legs. The navy colt just nodded - still grinning stupidly at his companion as she exited the room.

That night, neither of the ponies could sleep. Willow Beam laid on her face in the pillow of her bed in the bakery attic , her plot sticking in the air comically. At least it was comfortable. She couldn't sleep anyway, her mind was occupied on the colt that had saved her life and risked his own for her. A tear left her eye as she thought just how grateful she was for his bravery. In the hospital, Gazer stayed stone still, as to not hurt his wings more, thinking about the sweetest, kindest filly he'd met in a long time. Although he was in pain, he couldn't help but be a LITTLE grateful that they had been grounded together for a while.