Friendship and Good Deeds are Rewarded

The hours slowly passed before the doctor walked out to the group of huddling ponies " Everypony, Fluttershy has suffered some major injuries to her wings and to her left hind leg." as doctor spoke the tension thicken in the air " She is in stable condition and recovering from the surgeries. Your friend is recovering in the intensive care ward. She did not suffer any internal injuries, or any major spinal injuries but she may never be capable of flight again. Some of the bones in her wings were broken but thankfully we were able to repair some torn blood vessels and muscles, so we did not have to amputate them."

All the friends let out small sighs of relief from hearing that her wings were saved from being amputated. " We did the best we could to repaired the damaged muscle tissue and skin but she will feel a constant pain from her wings even after they all completely heal. Pegasus wings are sensitive to touch and other stimuli which helps them with their jobs concerning the weather but the nerves will be overly sensitive within the scar tissue." The groups relief was suddenly crush with this news of how Fluttershy would suffer pain even after surviving this terrible accident, possibly for rest of her life.

" We will give her pain medication for that along with a ointment that will help numb her wings after she recovers. Her back leg was broken in three places but that leg should be healed in a month or two. From the injuries I saw on her it looked as if she was trying to fly away when she was injured, I think that action saved her life when the wings took most of the impact but she would have not made it if you ponies had not reacted so fast after the accident. She is lucky to have friends like you all."

" When can we see her doctor?" Twilight asked with a feeling of relief and concern washing over her.

" It will be at least over night of observing her in the intensive care ward, before we will move her to a private room. Even then she still maybe too weak from the blood lost and her injuries to have visitors. We will let you know when she can have visitors." the doctor said before turning to walk back into the emergency room.

" Thank you doctor, Girls I think we should go on home and prepare to visit her tomorrow. We need be strong for her and be ready to comfort her when the time comes." Twilight said trying to be strong for the rest of the group. All of the friends looked at her and nodded their heads.

Applejack began to speak with her best attempt to be calm " Well me and Big Mac are gonna head home now. I am so sorry girls...." as her face show the guilt feeling that had been building up inside her.

"E..e..yup" Big Macintosh added before hanging his head and looking away from the others. Applejack and Big Mac slowly turned from the others and walked out the door of the hospital lobby in silence.

Rarity turned to Twilight " Darling I am going to return home too. I need to finish that order..." before losing herself in thought about all that had happened and what the future held for Fluttershy.

Twilight watched for a few moments before speaking to her " Rarity? Are you going to be alright?..."

The white unicorn shook her head the replied with a somber tone " I am not sure." before turning for the door and walking out of the lobby with distracted expression.

Twilight looks over at the pink pony left standing beside her " Pinkie are you going to be okay?" she asked concerned over her friends despaired look.

" I...I...am...not..." Pinkie mumbles with a disconcerted look and dashes out through the lobby doors.

As Twilight heads out of the hospital and towards the library, she looks back at the hospital one last time with single tear rolling her cheek. " Be strong, Twilight. For Fluttershy and our friends." she whispers before taking a deep breath and suppressing sorrow so she concentrate on her task of finding a way to help friend.

Rainbow Dash lands at the door to Fluttershy's cottage and  pauses for a moment before she opens the door. She looks inside hoping this was all a bad dream and that her friend would greet her any minute with a soft hello. The greeting she had hoped for never comes and just an eerie silence is heard as she just stands there in the doorway for a few minutes.

Finally she walks in just a few steps and begins to mumble to herself " I am suppose to be...Ponyvilles ...HERO!!!! I wasn't there... some HERO...I am." The cyan pegasus slowly trotted through the living room and then up stairs to Fluttershy's bed room door. " This should NEVER have happened..." opening the door she walked into the room " I have been her closest friend since flight school..." looking at the picture on the wall nearby she walks over and takes it down holding it against her chest.

Rainbow Dash gazes down at the picture of her and Fluttershy sitting on a cloud with her foreleg wrapped around neck in a playful manner and ruffling Fluttershy's mane with a hoof. " I saved ponies before and never knew most of them and my closest fillyhood friend....I couldn't even be there to help her." the pegasus walked over to her friend's bed and set the picture gently down on the bed.

" I...I...I...FAILED HER!" the cyan pegasus scream as smash her hoof against the floor cracking a board in the floor before running over and grabbing a photo off a shelf of just herself. " I...HATE...YOU!" she roared she threw it to the wooden floor watching the glass over the picture shatter then pounding her hoof upon the picture over and over until the picture began to turn red from her blood. She froze when the picture could not be seen for the blood covering it and the pain cuts on the bottom of her hoof was numbed by the pain she felt as the cold paralyzing thought of her friend might be dead gripped her heart and mind.

She silently walked back to the bed and climb on it taking hold of the picture laying there with her unbloodied hoof bring it next to her face. " Fl-Flutter...s-shy...I-I'm...SORRY!" Rainbow dash collapsed onto the bed with the picture and began crying uncontrollably. Soon her crying grew loud enough to scare the small creatures in the room that were hiding from unexpected visitor. After a few hours Rainbow Dash's crying gradually soften until finally there was silence as she fell asleep.

Angel had watched the distressed pegasus with an uneasy feeling listening to her talk to herself and when the she went up stairs out of sight. He walked over to the open front door and quietly closed it before hearing the shattering of glass coming from up stairs. The nervous rabbit cautiously approach the stairs and began walking up to the room with the crying cyan pegasus slowly hopping up to the side of the bed. The white rabbit look around and notices the shattered glass, blood, and knew crying pony had been injured then the rabbit quickly hopped out the room and back downstairs.

Angel races over to a end table next to the couch and pulls a the drawer then grabs some gauze, tape, before rushing back up to Fluttershy's room. The rabbit rushed and jump onto the bed then carefully began bandaging the hoof of the pegasus after finishing his task he notices the picture the pony was clutching on to for dear life. He slow lifted a paw to it edge of it and gently pulled at it until seeing it was of Fluttershy and this pony laying before him. He lays down beside the sleeping pony and closes his eyes to fall asleep but soon feels something wrap around him and pulling on him. He opened his eyes to find the bandaged hoof and leg of the cyan pegasus around him while being right next to pegasus laying there. Angel began to weeping almost knowingly something bad had happened to Fluttershy.

The long walk back to the farm was almost unbearable for Applejack and Big Macintosh. They walked together in silence after leaving the hospital and just as they got to the outer part of the farm they both looked back to where the terrible event happened earlier that day and stopped walking for a moment. It was almost as if they were both thinking what could have they done different to save their friend. As they began walking together again their thoughts were in disarray when Big Mac finally broke the silence saying "Umm...AJ..."

Applejack interrupts him by quickly saying " It's alright...we'll talk about....it tomorrow..." as she tried to be calm but inside her head she screaming. They continued walking in silence, when they finally got home both of them walked to their rooms with their heads hung low. As Applejack shut the door to her room, Big Macintosh could hear his sister start crying. Big Mac's eyes begin to well up with tears again as he entered his room and closed the door behind him.

Applejack ran over and laid down on her bed burying her head in the pillow there. She screamed into the pillow letting out all the pain she had kept locked inside from the days event. After releasing all of her pent up emotions into her pillow she thought to herself  Rainbow was right!...I was fast enough to catch that cart!...It's my fault!...I could have stopped it!...It's my fault...my fault... reaching up she grabbed her hat and threw it across the room. She pounded the bed with a hoof as her eyes began to sting from the flow of tears, soon her body felt heavy as the crushing guilty feeling  washed over her. Applejack closed her blood shot, tear stained eyes as part of her disheveled mane fell in front of her face How can any of her friends forgive me for causing this? she cried out in her mind.

She laid her head down on the pillow and pulled her blood stained hooves in front of her face her suddenly she realized that Fluttershy's blood on her hooves was no longer crimson it had turned into a deep dark brown color from the dirt that had clung to the blood. The sight made Applejack sick, She leaned over the edge of the bed and vomited a few times before getting to her hooves then going to the bathroom. Applejack turned on the hot water to the shower in her tub and stepped inside then began to furiously scrub her hooves to remove that nauseating reminder of today.

After half an hour scrubbing and crying, she could still see the light brownish tint on her fur and hooves " It...won't...come...off..." she muttered as the hot water flowed over her body and down her face mixing with her tears. The orange mare laid down in the tub and grabbed her hind legs pulling them against her chest in the fetal position shaking like a little filly.

Big Macintosh listened to his sister crying in the next room as he walked over to his bed and laid down. His eyes still watering up from the images burning in his mind. I should've check that cart this morning. I am responsible for the equipment here on the farm I should've..... he suddenly realized that he could have prevented this accident.  It's my fault...my fault... ringing out in his head as lay there. He laid there on his bed as his vision blurred, muscles ached, and his mind went numb from the guilt he was feeling.

Everything else he forgot like the sweat that had dried on his coat from his run to find help, his yolk that he normally removed from his neck still on causing him discomfort but going unnoticed by his mind, his mane was ruffled and a tangled mess from everything that happened today. He stared at ceiling of his room lost in his mind and dead to rest of the world as mentality beat himself into unconscious.

As Rarity finally reached her boutique she starts trying to remember the dress design she had been working on before today's horrible event had occurred. She opens the door to her shop Come on Rarity, you have to finish that order she thought to herself. Closing the door behind her as she entered. " Okay I think this fabric is just perfect for this dress." as she looked at the floating roll of material coming from shelf in front of her. She takes the fabric to her sewing machine and gets started sewing on the partial dress she had left there. Her vision starts becoming blurred as she worked on the dress " My hoof keeps shaking..." she said trying to place the needle into perfect position to start sewing on the delicate lining of the dress. She didn't even notice that she tried to sew without magic as her mind race between her work and Fluttershy.

She sets the needle down on the desk next to the sewing machine then wipes her eyes. " That's...okay...I will just finish placing the gems on that dress over there." she said to herself with false confidence. Rarity tried to levitate the gems over to the dress but she couldn't concentrate clear enough to place them into the proper spots " Oh...Rarity...You can do better." she tried again but after seeing the terrible placement of the gems " How can I be working on this when my best friend is laying in the hospital in such a terrible condition!" she scream at herself as she flung the gems at the wall with enough force to buried them into the plaster. " I am a horrible, terrible friend for trying to work...I-I can't do this right now."

Rarity could not hold it in anymore as ran over,  laid down on her bed, and levitated a picture from night stand next to her bed over to her. She took in her hooves and stare at the image of Fluttershy and her in room wearing their gala dresses then gently place beside her head, she pulled a pillow against her chest and held it close wishing she could be holding her friend now as she gazed at the photo with a tear falling from her eye.

Soon Pinkie Pie made it back to Sugar Cube Corner and as she slowly trudged through door causing the bell about the door to ring out and a mature blue mare with pink mane stepped out from the kitchen." Pinkie are you alright?" Mrs. Cake called out to the pink mare she saw moving toward the stairs.

Pinkie stops and looks at her " I-I-I'm...O-Okay...M-Mrs.Cake" she said with the smallest of fake smile that Mrs.Cake had ever seen.

Mrs. Cake rushed over to the distressed pink pony and wrapped her hooves around her in a hug. Pinkie's body started shaking against her as she held on tight to her little baking helper. " Pinkie its alright to let out your emotions from today, please don't bottle them up inside or hide them from me. I won't let you go until I know that you are letting out these feelings you are hold back." she said with a comforting motherly tone and giving a squeeze. Pinkie Pie looked up at the motherly blue mare with tears streaming down her cheeks before laying her head against Mrs. Cake's shoulder and crying into blue fur. Mrs. Cake sit down on her haunches and patted the crying mares back causing the pink pony sit down with her. Mrs.Cake just kept rubbing Pinkie back and say " Shhh...It will be alright my little pie."

After a hour Pinkie Pie lifted her head from the blue mare's shoulder and sniffled " T-Thank...Y-Y-You...Mrs.Cake." she stammered  while giving her weak but truthful smile.

" I am sure she will be alright, Pinkie Pie." Mrs. Cake said as she held Pinkie close and trying to comfort the shaking pink pony looking back at her " Let me help you upstairs to your room." Pinkie could only nod her head and struggle to her hooves then they slowly made their way up the stairs and into the pink pony's room. " Pinkie I saw the cart carrying Fluttershy and doctor pass by earlier today. Believe me your friend will be okay." Mrs.Cake said in her soothing tone as Pinkie look up at her " I promise okay."

Pinkie asked Mrs. Cake as they reached her bed " You pinkie promise?" wiping away the lingering tears from her eyes and climbing into bed.

" Cross my heart, Hope to fly, Stick a cupcake in my eye." Mrs. Cake said while placing a hoof over one eye. " Now you get some rest and you'll see everything will better tomorrow." she continued while tucking the pink pony into bed and kissing her forehead. She then walked over to door " Good night Pinkie." She said turning off the light. Pinkie laid there with small smile on her face knowing no one can break a Pinkie promise.

That evening as Twilight approached the door to the library, her mind was racing with thoughts Should I tell Spike now or wait? Then she had idea I could look for a spell or some kind of healing treatment for her. She opened the door hoping that Spike was already asleep so she didn't have to tell him the terrible news and have his crying or constant questioning interrupt her search for a solution. She look around the room and let out a sigh when she found the room to be empty  I will be sure to tell him tomorrow. she thought to herself as she door closed behind her. Her horn continued to glow with magic as she pulled book after book looking at their titles for any sign at it could be the book to help her friend.

It seemed like hours had passed since she had started her search and as she looked at the last book cover she lowered her head. " None of these books had what I was looking for." she whispered to herself. Then in a moment of pure clarity she thought Canterlot Library! She had forgotten that she could use the books and scrolls from there. I will write a message to Princess Celestia... She caught herself forgetting another important option  Maybe the princess could use her magic or maybe she will  know some healing magic I could use to help Fluttershy. She quickly found a empty scroll, quill, and her ink well, then started writing the letter to the princess.

Dear Princess Celestia,

A terrible accident has happened today to my friend Fluttershy. Please princess I need your help in finding a way to heal her injuries or maybe you could help her. I am so worried about her, the doctor said that wings would never be capable of flight again and that she might suffer long term pain in their present state and in the future. I just feel so helpless right now that I can't find away to help her from the books here in the library. So please princess find me a way to help her.

Your faithful student,

                                   Twilight Sparkle

P.S. Please write back as soon as possible.

The lavender unicorn started up stairs looking for little dragon when it hit her  I will have to wake up Spike! He will surely ask about the letter. What will I tell him? You have to do this Twilight. Maybe he won't ask. He will be sleepy and I will just have him send it then tell him to go back to bed. she thought to herself as reached the top of the stairs and found the little dragon asleep in his bed. She could hear him lightly snoring under his blanket and gave him a slight nudge to wake him. He continued to sleep and she kept nudging him harder until he began stir.

" Uh...Twilight" yawning as he wiped the sleep for his eyes.

" Spike please send this letter for me." Twilight said as she wore fake smile.

" Can't this wait until morning? Spike asked with small bit anger in this voice.

" Sorry but I forgot to send this letter to the princess about my assignment." She said with a urgent tone.

Spike remembered how she reacted when she was late on her assignments and gave in " Okay..." as he open his mouth and a green flame burst forth burning scroll " There its on the way to the princess..." laying back onto his small bed and covering up his head with his blanket " She tells me that I'm a baby dragon need my sleep but wakes me up in the middle of the night." he mutters in a low whisper still irritated by the interruption of his sleep.

" Thank you Spike you can go back sleep now." she said with more cheerful tone. Twilight went over to her bed laid down waiting for the reply from the princess. A few minutes passed by when green flames came out of the mouth of the sleeping dragon which only caused him to roll over in his bed. Twilight's horn glow as she lifted the scroll in front of her and began to read

My most faithful student,

This is terrible news, but you need to get some rest. I will personally look in the library here for some way to help Fluttershy. Also please keep me informed of her condition and soon as I find a way for you to help her, I will personally come to Ponyville with the information. Until I arrive there please be sure to help your other friends through this troubling time.

Your Mentor,

Princess Celestia

As Twilight finishes the letter she starts feeling some sense of relief knowing that the princess was personally handling this problem. " I should get some sleep, maybe the doctor will let me visit Fluttershy tomorrow." she whispered to herself then laid back on her bed and slowly fell asleep with the comforting thought The Princess will able to find the magic needed to heal Fluttershy.