A Fallen Angel

Angel woke in Ponyville's hospital. The first thing he was aware of was a splitting headache. He tried to sit up in his bed, but didn't have the strength.

Instead, he resorted to exploring his room with his eyes.

He didn't find much to look at. A simple hospital room with two beds, only the second was un-occupied. Angel saw a window to his far right, and, straining his vision, he saw that the moon had risen.

Angel heard the sound of voices outside the door. One he recognised as Nurse Redheart, the other was Melody.

Melody sounded irritated. "I don't care what 'complications have arisen', I want to see my son."

Nurse Redheart tried to explain to her. "You don't understand. He's too weak. We can't risk letting anything foreign into that room. He may catch something as small as a cold and die."

Angel wanted to see Melody. He called to her, but all that came out was a low, pathetic moan.

Melody sounded like she was losing her patience. "Listen, you don't understand. It's been three weeks. I want to see him!"

Nurse Redheart cut her off. "As much as I may want, I can't risk you letting an-" she lowered her voice to a low murmer, making Angel strain to hear her."-an alicorn die because you wanted to see him."

Melody gasped. Angel couldn't here anything anymore. He tried to call again. "Muhhh..." He managed.

Melody's voice came back. "Did you hear that?"

Angel hopes jumped. He tried again, trying volume rather than enunciation. "Uuhh!"

Nurse Redheart was the next to speak. "It sounds like Angel."

Melody instantly regained her irritance. "Then let me see him!"

Angel tried one last time "Maa..." he repeated, his voice losing strength.

Melody must have lost her patience at this. Suddenly, he heard the door open, and the next moment, Melody was at his side.

Angel pulled his lips up into a smile. Or the best he could manage. "Muum..."

He started as Melody began to cry. ...She never cries... He thought with more guarantee than he felt.

Clearing her throat, she murmured softly into his bedside. "Oh, Angel. I'm so sorry. I almost killed you."

Angel shook his head as best he could. "Nnnnuh..." He couldn't move his tongue anymore.

Melody nodded. "Yes, I did. I'm so, so sorry."

Angel lay there, wishing he could form whole words. Nurse Redheart came into the room.

"Y'know, Melody, although I really, really shouldn't, I could try and arrange it for you to stay here now that he's awake."

Melody didn't look away from Angel. "Thank you, Ms. Redheart."

Angel woke again, much later. He felt his mother holding his hoof. He tried to lift his neck, but couldn't muster the strength. Angel loathed the feeling. He could feel every muscle in his body turning, begging to be used, but the signals weren't getting to their places.

Angel let out a frustrated moan, accidently waking his mother.

"Hey, Honey." Melody cooed to Angel.

Angel tried to smile. For the first time, he noticed he had an oxygen mask on. He instead tried talking. "Hhe-"

Melody shushed him. "Shh, Angel. You don't need to say anything. Just go back to sleep."

Angel was surprised to find that that had angered him. He didn't want to sleep. He wanted to go outside. He glanced at the window. It was still dark.

Melody traced his gaze. "Appearently, the doctor says until your body gets used to the sun, you're going to be practically nocturnal."

Angel let out a sigh. He looked at Melody. "I'm sorry to have put you through this, Angel."

He shook his head. "Nu... iiis nuh-"

"Yes, it is my fault. I made you stay there. I kept you there since school ended. You did everything you were told, and I just made you do more." Melody began sobbing again.

Using all he could pull from his reserves he lifted his hoof and tried to comfort her.

Melody grabbed his hoof and put it against her cheek. Her eyes overflowed, and a single tear fell onto his hoof.

Angel shook his head. He put all his effort into trying to form words, each one taking about three minutes."Daa....uhh... Dun kr-krah. Puh...lee..."

This achieved the opposite of the wanted effect. Melody winced everytime he had to restart, and no longer being able to hold it, she burst into tears again.

Angel started to tear up, himself. He tried shaking his head. "Nuuhh..." He trailed off.

Melody gazed up at him. "I'm so sorry..."

Angel lay there with his mother on his arm until he fell asleep again.

Angel woke and saw Melody. Or Melody's back. His mom was talking to somepony in the hospital doorway.

"I'm not sure if he's awake. You're welcome to see if he is."

Angel strained his muscles, but he couldn't lift his head. He had to wait as the ponies Melody was talking to came into the room.

"Trasss.... Ky....." Angel couldn't speak any more.

"Hey, Angel." Kyzer said. "How're you feeling?"

Angel tried to answer in words, but all that came out was a low "uuuh." Angel cleared his throat before trying again. "Guu...." He winced. Giving up on words, he just nodded slightly.

Tracy leaned over. "I tried to get Trix to come with us, but she won't leave her room."

Angel strained his muscle to lift his eyebrow. Trax explained. "She's upset about how you ended up here, man. She had been going on pretty harshly about how you hit Diamond Tiara. She felt horrible when you had your stroke."

Angel looked at his hooves. "Su'y."

Trax shook his head. "It was her own fault, man."

It was, indeed. Angel heard a small voice say.

Suddenly, Angel heard another voice he wished he hadn't. A voice that cut through his thoughts.

"So... I guess this means he's awake?"

Diamond Tiara walked over to his bedside. Angel didn't want to see her. He didn't want her insults. He couldn't put up with it.

Instead, Diamond Tiara took one look at him, choked, and quickly trotted away. Filthy Rich walked over to Melody. He leaned down and whispered into her ear. Angel strained his ears to hear. "I'm sorry about all of this. She's been pretty upset about it. She..."

His voice dropped too low for him to hear, but it must have been something big, because Melody was definitly surprised to hear it.

"Oh! I see..." Not much to go off of. Melody looked back Angel. Thankfully, she didn't start crying again.

Angel did his best attempt of a smile at her before looking over at Trax and Kyzer. He saw them slip a "Get-well-soon" card on his bedside. "Th-" Trax cut him off with his hoof, and simply nodded.

Angel lay in the room with his friends and mother. He lay there in suppressing silence until Nurse Redheart came and pressed that oh-so hated little button.

He looked at his mother with an attempt at humor. "Ni'."