I was in agony. I lay there, knowing that I was being moved, but I couldn't make sense of the twisted thoughts and sounds encompassing me. I drifted in and out of consiousness, and only one thing lingered. The pain. The most insufferable pain I had ever experienced, and it was permanent, never leaving or faltering. Even the feeling of air stung on my burnt and broken arms. I could remember everything that happened, and I held it as my guiding light in the catastrophe that was my being.
Three hours earlier
I ran through the smoke, coughing and wheezing at the cacophany of fire surrounding me. I was blundering about at random, knocking things over in my blinded state. I could barely see through my sore, smoke-scarred eyes. They were watering uncontrollably, and I could feel myself stumbling through small embers. Every step I took made me want to scream in agony, but I held it back... for now. The main entrance to the house was already burning, so I knew I had to get one thing, the one thing that I needed to make sure escaped from this fire with me.
As I stumbled into my room, I collided with my desk and collapsed to the ground. I tried to pull myself up, muscles screaming in protest at every movement. The crackling of flames surrounded me, and I knew I didn't have much time. I reached up and shakily pulled open my drawers, quickly fishing through them, frustratedly throwing things behind me. Where is it? It has to be somewhere. I can't lose it now! I desperately thought. I finally felt it! The unmistakeable metal texture of the badge rubbed against my fingers. I quickly pulled it out and shoved it into my pocket. My father's badge, from when he served in the air force. I remembered. This medal is my last memory of my father, who died soon after I was born. I was forced to move in with my uncle and aunt. A loud cracking above my head brought me back to attention. I need to get out! I desperately thought, making a break for the window. But it was too late.
Another loud cracking above me made me glance up quickly. A large wooden support beam in the ceiling was visble through a burnt hole and had caught fire. I could hear it splintering. I could barely make it out through the haze, but I could tell it was weakening. Another crack and the wooden support brace collapsed on top of me, still on fire. I screamed in agony as I was crushed under the burning haze. It was then that I blacked out.
Four hours after the incident
I was dreaming. I knew this because I was temporarily relieved from the pure agony that was my charred body. It wasn't even my body anymore, just a pile of burnt flesh that had sustained me for... fifteen years. I was walking on clouds, and I was surprised as to why I wasn't falling through. I could sense something in the air, a sort of... Pleasant motherly feel to it, as If my mother was still alive and was nearby, still being able to love and cherish me. I lazily dragged my hand through the clouds, feeling the soft embrace on my hand before I remembered something. I slowly stood up and reached into my pocket. I could feel the badge, and I felt a poke of happiness. At least he died happy. I recalled, as I sat beside his deathbed several years earlier. I slowly pulled the badge out, glancing over it in all it's beauty. It looked pure and well polished, reminding me of the way he had always kept it during his time serving. I glanced upwards and noticed I wasn't alone in this paradise. I could feel a presence nearby, but it was a soft, comforting one. I glanced up as I heard a loud noise that sounded a bit like an explosion, only it was soft and slightly muffled by the nearby clouds. A large circle of rainbow shot into the air, and I could see it climb for many feet up until it finally disappeared, out of my sight. I let out a small smile. I slowly took a step forward. "How strange." I whispered, but another voice had spoken at the exact time I had. A soft, feminine voice. I felt myself comforted as I slowly turned around, looking to see who had spoken to me. I felt a twinge of curiosity as I noticed a cyan pony sitting on the clouds behind me. She had her back turned, and I noticed her tense as she yawned. She was gazing at the setting sun behind me, out of my view. But the one detail that fascinated me most was that she had a mane made of pure rainbow, stretching out behind her neck. It was the same tint as her tail, but, as I observed her more thouroughly, I noticed she had appendages that looked like... wings? That was strange, a pegasus with a rainbow mane. I smiled, despite the fact that my world had already fallen apart. I slowly made my way over to her, and I gently sat down beside her. She jerked and instantly glanced at me, eyes darting nervously. I felt myself being pulled into their depths, something about those beautiful magenta eyes felt... Utterly peaceful. I smiled gently as she relaxed, extending a hoof towards me.
"Hi. My name is Rainbow. Rainbow Dash." She stated. My smile expanded slightly.
"I'm David. It's nice to meet you, Rainbow Dash." I stated, gently grasping her hoof and shaking it. She smiled back.
She opened her mouth to say something, but the image was suddenly interrupted when I heard a voice. It sounded faint, and diluted, as if we were underwater. "Dash? Come on, wake up!" the voice said. The dream began to break up around us.
Rainbow looked confused. "Twilight?" She asked as the link was severed, and I plunged into darkness.
My eyes shot open a second later, and I realized I was sitting across the room from a bed that had five ponies gathered around it. I slowly stood up, feeling confused. I froze when I glanced at the figure lying on the bed. It was Dash, and she had a bandage covering her forehead and her wings. She looked bruised and broken, and I felt a stab of pity. He eyes suddenly fluttered open, and she sat up, though it looked quite painful. She slowly glanced around the room before her eyes finally came to rest on me. She looked as shocked as I felt. "D-David?" She quietly stuttered, looking like she didn't believe what was happening. To be frank, I didn't either. The ponies all glanced over their shoulders, and I could feel their gazes boring through me. They all glanced back at Rainbow, confused. "Who?" The orange one asked. I started shivering. "Dash, what's happening?" I quietly asked. She kept glancing between the ponies and me, looking uncertain. I suddenly felt nauseous, and I stumbled.
I awoke to a bright white light, and I blinked a few times, waiting for my eyes to adjust. As they came into focus, there was still the remnants of a sting there. I could see my arms, blackened and scarred as I lay there, wearing a hospital gown, on a hospital bed. I could see that I was hooked up to an IV, and I sighed gently at the quiet beeping. The pain suddenly came back with a vengeance, and I flinched. A blanket was placed over my legs, but I was still stuck in the bed. I glanced over to the table beside me and I felt a jolt of sadness. I could swear I felt a confused and sympathetic presence there, in my mind.
It seemed like it belonged to that pony, Rainbow Dash.
I could see my father's badge, though it was hideously mutilated. The badge had melted slightly under the heat, and the majority of it had completely lost all it's structure. It was blackened, and it was off-shape. I quietly glanced away, heaving a quiet sigh. Who was that mare? I don't know of any 'Rainbow Dash.' But... The name sounds... Familiar. I can't quite put my finger on it, though. I sighed gently. Why am I obsessing over this? It was just a dream. Everything is fine. I could feel her presence again, and she seemed to be thinking the exact same thing. I gently lowered my head to the blanket in front of me, and I found that the rainbow mare seemed to occupy my thoughts more and more as I drifted off again.
