Kindness of a Fillyby SublimePieChaptersBlank...Healing Old WoundsUnexpected VisitRecoveryBlank...I layed there, staring up into the clear moonlit sky, in excruciating pain. I do not know how I got here, who or what was the cause of this, but if I don't find a way out of this mess, I'm sure to not see the light of day. I took deep breaths, as I slowly got up from the grassy surface below me. When I finally got up I found the source of the pain, it was my wing, even though it was pitch black it was clear enough for me to see that my wing is broken. One of my hind legs was in critical condition as well, so I had to limp my way out of this god forsaken forest. I started my journey out of this forest, which would seem like it would take forever in my state. As I kept on limping on and on through what seems like a maze, my eyes started to get droopy, I felt like I could collapse onto the floor any second now. I leaned onto a tree to catch my breath, I was incredibly hungry and dehydrated. As I looked around, I saw a duck and her ducklings in a formation walking past me. Maybe if I followed them they might lead me to a river of some sort, and maybe some fish. Hopefully I am right, but what other choice do I have? I take a few more seconds to recuperate myself, and I finally follow the ducks. My body gets heavier and heavier with each step I take, I just want the pain to stop, I just want to be somewhere safe, I just want to be back home, wherever that is. I walked slower and slower, I felt like the gravity of the earth was pulling me down to the ground. I finally closed my eyes, and fell down to the ground... I suddenly awoke with my head dunked into the river. I got up immediately, gasping for air. As I got my head out of the water in shock, I forgot about my leg and stand on it, yelling in pain. I fall down to the ground and hold my bad hind leg. I thought to myself at least I remembered not to roll over onto my back and wings, my hind leg was still hurting like hell though. I lay down onto my stomach and rest. I look to my right to see the mother duck and her ducklings getting into the river to swim. But there was one duckling that was too afraid to go into the water, he touched the water with his flipper but then took it out straight away in fright. Weird, I had no idea why but I felt like I had some sort of connection to this duckling. I felt like in my life I had a moment similar to the ducklings, a moment of weakness and fear. In a way, I felt sorry for the little duckling, it's never a good thing to feel left out and alone. I look away from the duckling and started thinking about getting food. I looked across the river, I saw a couple of fish swimming about in the river. I knew this was going to be hard, I can't swim in this condition, so I have to rely on pure luck. I stare at the river, and waited... ...and waited. ...and waited. ...and waited. But no fish came, my luck is really running out, if there was any to begin with. It then started to rain, I let out a sigh of annoyance. Please gods and goddesses, help me find shelter I try to stand up awkwardly with my two hooves, I only just managed to get onto my feet. I guess there's no point waiting for the fish to come anymore, I better find a place to sleep with some shelter from the rain. I set off again in search of a half decent spot to sleep in. My search came to a halt when I went through some bushes, but didn't see the steep hill. I rolled down the hill, getting scratched down on the way by the rocks. Yep, I have no luck what so ever. Or so I might of thought? I looked up from the ground and saw a club house of some sort. I wasn't sure who made it but it was good enough for me to sleep in. I dragged myself over to the clubhouse, I groaned when I saw I had to go up some stairs, but a few stairs aren't going to stop me now. Each step was painful, energy draining, and I nearly slipped a few times, in a few minutes I finally got up to the clubhouse. I was so glad to finally get up to the front door, but then I just realized... How the hay am I going to get in? The windows are too far away to break, I can't fly to them with one wing, I would go spiraling. Looks like there's only one way to do this, I'll have to buck the door down, but how am I going to do that? I then reconsider my choice, and try and break the lock instead of the door, it wasn't an advanced lock so I might as well test my luck. I turn my back to the door and raised my good hind leg. I soon started to tremble, my bad hind leg can't hold the weight of my body for too long. SMASH! The lock was still very much intact, I decided to put some more force into it. SMASH! I nearly fell to the floor after that kick, but the lock looked like it started to loosen. I put in as much energy and force as I could into the last kick. CRACK! The door was open, and immediately I fell to the ground. I held my hind leg, the pain was unbearable, I just wanted it to stop. I struggled to get up after that, I grabbed a hold of the door knob and pulled myself up. When I came into the clubhouse it was like a hurricane came in and trashed the whole place. There was planning sheets everywhere, circus equipment, musical instruments and even some skiing equipment. I closed the door behind me, and limped into the clubhouse, looking for some sort of cover and bed. The closet thing I found to a bed was a dog basket with some training equipment next to it. I moved the dog equipment with my hoof and slumped into the dog basket, can't say it's luxury but it's the best I got. I stare up into the ceiling, my breathing gradually getting better over time and the pain softens a bit. This is horrible, I don't even know how I got here, who I am nothing. What's worse is I don't even know if my race still exists, or if I have any relatives or friends I can go to, I'm alone, alone in a world where anything can happen. I stare at my battered and bruised arm. The blood from my deep scratches drips from my hoof, staining my cover. How did I get myself in such deep crap? Look at me, I look like I just came out of a street fight. I was sick of thinking, I just wanted to sleep now, to heal my wounds. I will figure out what to do next tomorrow. Healing Old WoundsThe sun shimmers above the fields of Apple Acres as me and Applebloom take Rain back to our home. I look at Rain as I push him along on a wheel chair. Why am I doing this? I'm bringing in a complete stranger Applebloom found in the Everfree forest of all the places, he could be a psychopath for all I know! I take a deep breath and sigh. Calm down Applejack, you know that ain't true. I'll just let him stay here for a little while until his wounds heal, then he can be on his way. I then take a look at he's amputated wing. How did he manage to get himself damaged this much anyway? To break both his hind leg and wing and have so many bruises and scratches... Was it Timberwolves, Manticores, maybe even a Hydra? My thoughts are then interrupted by Applebloom tugging at my hoof. "Sis, do you know what happened to him?" asks Applebloom still looking a bit panicked. "For the last time Applebloom, I don't know". Applebloom drops her head and sulks. I stop pushing Rain and sigh. I turn around and kneel down to Applebloom. "I'm sorry Applebloom for snapping at you like that, I just feel pretty agitated at the moment" I say rubbing the back of my neck. Applebloom looks up to me. "Will he be okay?" I give Applebloom a look of uncertainty, but I didn't want to worry her. "Don't worry Applebloom, he'll be fine as a fiddle while he stays with us, I promise" I said forcing a smile. Applebloom seemed to feel more calm then, and smiled back at me. This time I didn't have to force my smile, just to see her happy and relieved is more than enough. "Come on, it's getting late, Granny's gonna start worrying" I said grabbing a hold of Appleblooms hoof and guiding her back home. I feel a gentle sensation on my nose, which makes me shiver, but also makes me calm and relaxed at the same time. I opened my eyes to see a butterfly resting on my nose. As I got up from the ground, the butterfly flew off my nose. After I stopped getting distracted by the butterfly, I took some time to survey the area. I was in a middle of a field of various flowers, even though it was a field filled with life and beauty, it still felt like a barren wasteland. The only these field of flowers was a humongous tree. Is this a dream, or another memory? If so why would I be taken here? "That question will be answered soon". "What the?". I looked around, left and right, but there was no sign of where the voice came from. I got up from the ground and took a couple of steps forward and searched more thoroughly, but still nopony to be seen. I turned around and out of no where a tall blue mare was standing before me. "Boo". I screamed at the top of my lungs and dropped to the floor. The mare was giggling like a school filly, while I was just about as angry as a gambler losing all their bits. "I apologize, Nightmare night was not too long ago and I was still in the mood for scaring" says the mare trying to talk while laughing uncontrollably. I really wasn't in the mood right now, I felt like shouting at the mare, but I held it in. When I took a closer look at her she didn't look like a normal pony. She was much larger than most ponies I've met, and she had both wings and a horn, so she must be a alicorn. The thing that stood out the most was her mane, I've never seen anything like it, it was like she took a chunk out of the clear night sky and made it her mane. "You're right Rain, I'm not like other ponies" says the mare. "Then who exactly are you, and how can you read my thoughts, I'm sick of not knowing anything!" I shout. "Those who have patience will gain answers in time". The mare held out her hoof, and the butterfly from earlier landed on it like a owl. "I have visited many dreams, but this one this is the most beautiful by far. Then yet again, most of the dreams I've visited are clouded by memories and fears, so what is there to show if you can't remember anything." said Luna looking at the butterfly resting on her hoof. "Then, what about that tree over there?". "The tree?", says the mare taking a moment to stop examining the butterfly, "You will have to find that out by yourself". "But you haven't told me anything, aren't you supposed to be a guide?" I ask getting impatient. The mare holds her hoof in the air, and the butterfly once again takes off. "There is always a time in our lives where we may think we know ourselves, but really you know just as much as your friend, so we ask ourselves questions like does this pony really love me? Is this really what I want to do for the rest of my life? Am I doing the right thing? Everypony goes through this, but in your case you need to find out everything again". "Can't you at least give me a bit of guidance?" I ask the mysterious mare. There was a silence, a wind blows past me and the mare, making a shiver go down all the way to the bottom of my spine. The mare walks up to me and put her hoof on my shoulder. "Beginning today, treat the family who have taken you under their care as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and then the path will become clear.". "Be kind to the apple family, but how will that give me any answers?" I ask the mare. "Like I said, everything will soon become clear" says the mare giving me a smile. Suddenly out of no where a pulse wave goes in between me and the mare, all the various flowers, plants and grass get pulled out and get thrown in our direction. The mare reveals her wings and flies away from me. "Time has run out, remember Rain, do not lose hope, and if you do, find hope within the apple family!". The mare disappears and I'm left all alone in the middle of the field. I turn around and still see the tree. I muster up the strength to fight against the wind and debris. Each step I took it seemed like the tree was getting closer, then it started rotating. That's when I realized the tree was actually flying towards me. I quickly turned back and ran, the wind was giving me a little extra speed, but it wasn't fast enough. The tree hit me with tremendous force, and everything became pitch black. Next thing I knew, my face was deep in dirt and I felt like my head was about to explode. I looked around my surroundings to see that I was in a barn of some sort, but the real question is who's the owner of the barn? I then suddenly remember the mare telling me the apple family has taken me under their care, but why would they do that? I would think they would be hesitant to bring a stranger into their home. I hear the sound of a door opening behind me, I manage to just turn my back around while still on the floor to see Applejack running to me. "Good gravy Rain, you have to be more careful" says Applejack while helping me back up onto my wheelchair. "Sorry, I had this bizarre dream..." I said while Applejack was brushing the dust from the floor off me. "Dream? What about?" asks Applejack sitting on a block of hay. "I'm not exactly sure, there was a mare, but she didn't look like your common pony folk". "What do you mean?" asks Applejack not sure what I'm exactly on about. "Well for starters, she was much taller than most ponies I've seen, second she had this beautiful mane that looked like the night sky-". "Princess Luna?". "Princess who?" I ask a bit confused. "She's the goddess of the night, and sister of the ruler of our land Equestria" explains Applejack. "But, what would the Princess want me with me?" I ask pretty shocked that I was visited by royalty. "Well, you're not the first one I know to be visited by her". "There's more?" I ask. "Yep, one of Appleblooms friends Scootaloo was visited by her when we were camping out with a couple of my friends". "So she visits ponies dreams? Isn't that kind of an invadement of privacy?". "I'm sure she doesn't visit you to find out about your secrets Rain, I think it's pretty swell what she does, when she visited Scoots, her fear of the headless horseman faded". Ugh, the headless horseman, why do I have a feeling I've had the same experience when I was younger. "So from what I can tell, she helps you with confronting your fears?" Kind of ironic how she scared me in the dream. "Yep, if you really want to know more about this you could talk to Scoots, or maybe even my friend Twilight, she may have a book on it" says Applejack. Applejack gets up and does a little a stretch and yawns. "Anyhow, I think we both better hit the hays, in my case literally". "Huh?". "You need all the rest you can get if you want to get on all fours again, so you can take my bed for the next couple of nights". "You sure" I ask not really comfortable with taking somepony else's bed. "Yeah sure, I'll be fine I've slept in worse conditions" says Applejack chuckling, "I'll help you up stairs into my room". Surprisingly, she carried me all the way from the bottom of the stairs into her room, especially considering my current weight. She lays me in bed and tucks me in. Honestly felt a bit awkward, since I haven't been tucked in since, well I don't know but I'm sure I was pretty young. Applejack turns off the lights, says goodnight and closes the door. I finally go back to my original form and let out a sigh of relief, didn't know it was so hard to keep up at using a fake identity. I haven't felt such luxury in a long time, sleeping in Appleblooms dog basket wasn't exactly a pleasure. I was still thinking about what Princess Luna said, about being kind to the family and then the path will be clear, whatever she means, I hope it will give me answers. First I plan on asking this Scootaloo about her dream, and hopefully that will give me some more knowledge of this Princess Luna. I'm then woken up by rustling and creaks, I've always been a light sleeper so I'm not surprised I've been woken up by these sounds. I managed get out the bed onto the wheelchair with just the upper part of my body. I slowly make my way out of the room, weary of my surroundings since it was pitch black. The only source of light I got was from Appleblooms room which had the door half open, and turns out the sound was actually coming from it. I slowly opened the door to see Applebloom sitting on the chair, with a screwdriver and a few other tools. "Applebloom?". Applebloom suddenly jumps and falls off her chair. I quickly pull myself over to her, but she quickly gets up and puts her hoof to her mouth. "I'm sorry", whispered Applebloom, "Don't tell my sis I stayed up late". I looked at the table to see a wooden box with markings engraved on it, the most noticeable mark was the apple with vines going around it. "What exactly were you doing?" I asked. Applebloom sighed, brushed the dust off her and went back on her chair. "It's a very important object, not just to me, but our whole family" explains Applebloom. "A box?" I say slightly puzzled. "It's not just a box!" says Applebloom slightly raising her voice at me, but then quickly covers it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice I just...". "Don't worry Applebloom, I understand it's important to you, so if it's not "just a box" what is it?". Applebloom gets off the chair while holding the box and shows it too me. "It's a lullaby music box, you see my great great great great great great grandpapa was a carpenter, and decided to make this and pass it down to future generations of our family. From what my granny told me it's played to remember lost relatives in our family old and new, it's also played when a family member or somepony really close to us die, so we can remember them through the lullaby". I was little shocked by this, I never knew a family could be so close like this, I truly am lucky to be found by such a sweet bunch of folks. "So what's wrong with it, why are you fiddling with it?" I ask. Applebloom looks to the floor a little teary eyed. "Well...". There was short silence, but after a while Applebloom held in the tears and finally spoke. "It was show and tell not too long ago, my teacher Miss Cherilee told us to bring in a family possession, the school bullies got jealous because everypony thought my object was cooler and then...Well I think you can figure out the rest". Wow, what a cruel thing to do, I still can't believe there are ponies like this in Equestria. I really didn't want to just say "Oh that's a shame, well goodnight!", there must be something I can do. I look at the table and back at Applebloom who was getting teary eyed once again. "How about I take a look at it?" I ask not too confident I will get it working. "Really?! Thank thank you so much!" says Applebloom jumping to me and hugging me tight. "Shh, I won't get a chance if your sis wakes up" I say chuckling. "Oh, sorry" says Applebloom feeling a little embarrassed. Applebloom places the box back onto the table, then moves the chair out of the way so I could sit at the table with my own chair. I do a couple of stretches and then get to work. It looked very complicated at first but then for some reason or another things started to become clear, I knew that this part had to bad tweaked a bit, I knew that this part had to be replaced, it was like deja vu. It took me a while, Applebloom even started to get really impatient at one point, but I finally got it working. I turn around on my chair to see Applebloom with her upperpart of her body off the bed. "Applebloom? You still with me?" I ask. Quickly Applebloom flips off backwards on her bed and runs to me quickly. "Did you get it working?" asks Applebloom excitedly. "Well, it looks like it's much more intact than before, lets try it out". Applebloom got under her covers while I put the box on a nearby desk and started twisting the knob on the box. After a couple of seconds I let go off of the knob and placed it down the desk. Suddenly a majestic melody played, each note that played hit my heart like it was a drum. The lullaby just made you wanna forget everything and just basically live your life, it was that beautiful. I looked at Applebloom to see her smiling at me, with no tears in her eyes anymore. "Thank you Rain, you're the best". "It's fine Applebloom, it was the least I could do" I said smiling back. Applebloom stretched and yawned shortly after, I think that's my que to leave. I went out of Applebloom's room, switched the lights off and slowly closed the door. I let out a sigh of relief as I happily made my way back to my room. When I got to my bed I was was more tired than before, I guess that lullaby affected me too. Eventually I closed my eyes and went to sleep, with a grin on my face. Author's Note Special thanks to Cowboy Bebop for making me think of "The Family Lullaby" idea. Unexpected Visit"Come on!". I open my eyes to see that I was on cloud, and that I was not far from falling a twenty feet drop. I jump in fright and nearly fall off the cloud. "Come on, you aren't scared are you ~~@$*£!~~!?". I look up from the drop and see a changeling in front of me, he was flying in the air trying to convince me to do something. "Come on ~~@$*£!~~, show me what you got!". What was that? All I heard was static. My legs started to tremble, fear had striked my body, I couldn't move. "But I'm too scared bro..." I say. Was that me, I sound like a filly, was this the moment of weakness I was talking about? "Come on, I know you can do it, you just gotta believe in yourself!". I looked down from the cloud, I started to feel dizzy and sick. I looked at my brother to see him making hoof gestures to make me jump off the cloud. I take a deep breath, and jump, but only to grab underneath of the cloud making it flip with me on top of it again with my face deep inside of it. I take my head out of the cloud to see my brother landing near me and looking down at me. He looked disappointed, which made me sad. My brother sighed, "Ah well you may get it next time, come on get on my back". I climb onto my brothers back, and he takes off. "How ironic, with a name like ~~@$*£!~~ you'd think you would learn how to fly in an instant" says my brother chuckling. There it goes again, the static, what's going on? I suddenly feel a sharp pain going through my arm, like a shockwave. "Hey, are you okay?" asks my brother. My brother's voice soon turns into an innocent little filly voice with a thick accent, I finally open my eyes to see a filly right above me. "Hey mister! You okay?". I let out a scream, and jump out of the dog basket, only to collapse onto the floor. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare yer!". I turn to the filly, she had a red mane with vanilla coated skin. "I don't believe it, you really are one of them changeling fellers!" shouts the filly, "I can't wait to tell Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle!". She's excited to see me here? That was unexpected, I expected terror, because well, I can't really say I'm dashingly handsome. Applebloom then sees the blood drenched dog basket, and her expression changes instantly. "Oh my, what happened to ya? You need a doctor!" says Applebloom also spotting my cuts and bruises now. "I can't, they wont accept someone like me, they only accept ponies don't they? I doubt they have a Changeling hospital". the filly holds her chin and thinks. "Hey, can't you changeling folk use that special morphing power?". Oh Celestia of course! How stupid am I? I quickly think of a pony design and change into it, I decided to have a orient coat, a cararra mane with orient stripes going through it and crystal blue eyes. "Cool! Now that we have that covered, how are we going to get you to the hospital?". the filly thinks again. "I know!". That didn't take her long. "I can borrow one of granny smiths wheelchairs, I'll be right back!". the filly runs out of the door, but to my surprise comes back. "By the way, what's your name mister?" asks the filly. "My name? My name is...". There was a silence. The little filly looked at me with confusion. "What is it? What's wrong?" asks the filly. I might as well tell her, she's doing so much for me already. "Well you see, I can't exactly remember my name, I can't really remember anything to be exact". "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that, but don't worry! I'm gonna help you get ya memory back, I promise!" says the filly with great determination. I look at the filly grinning, I smile back, I don't know if she can really help me really cure my memory loss or not, but I should at least encourage her a bit. "Okay, thank you miss?". "Applebloom! Nice to meet ya, ya know you changeling folk don't seem as bad as most pony folk say". What? Have I missed something, what did we do? "You need a name too...". Applebloom looks around her clubhouse. Please don't tell me she's going to name me after an inanimate object. Applebloom looks through the windows, it looks like shes looking at water dropping from a leaf. "I know what I'll call you! Since it was raining yesterday night, I'll call you Rain!" says Applebloom looking pretty pleased with herself that she just thought of that name. Well, at least it isn't Raindrop, that sounds more like a mares name, but I'll just go with Rain for now. "I'll be back in about..." Applebloom looks at her fake drawn on watch, "20 minutes, see ya!" shouts Appleblooms running off. Thank Celestia, no offense, she's a good kid, but I need some space, I didn't really have time to relax since I was stressing about finding a place to sleep. I drag myself to chair and mange to pull myself up so I could sit on it. I look down onto the floor to see a trail of blood beneath me. I'm starting to feel a bit woozy, I better take it easy. What was that dream about, I didn't even know I had a brother. If so I have to find him, he maybe my only chance on finding out who I truly am. Once my wounds have healed up I'm gonna search a few towns, but I'm gonna have to make some money if I plan on doing anything. Applebloom then came rushing in the clubhouse with a wheelchair. "Come on, you're looking pretty pale, we should get you to the hospital as quickly as possible!". I got from the chair and limped to the chair. "I understand, but can we go a little easy, I feel pretty-". Applebloom pushes the wheelchair as fast as she can, sending me and the wheelchair flying out the front door, down the stairs, the way down was a pretty bumpy ride. I finally got to the bottom of the stairs, I felt like throwing up and I was about to pass out. Applebloom started to push me again. "Applebloom...". My vision slowly starts to fade out, Appleblooms voice now sounds faint, and now it feels like I hear the inside of my heard, my thoughts echoing inside like it was a hallway of thoughts. Finally, everything went dark... A burst of light filled my eyes, like I just came out of a cave. But where I found myself was not at an exit of a cave, infact I was lying comfortably on a hospital bed, near a opened window. A nice breeze collided with my face, making my entire body feel relaxed. Wow, I haven't experienced this kind of comfort since... I'm then filled with great sadness, my body becomes more tensed than relaxed now. I sighed and looked out the window, I see a old mare and her carer in the garden conversing, little fillies playing catch and two old colts playing chest. Finally I spot a couple on a bench, the mare was snuggling on the stallions shoulder. Suddenly I didn't find myself in a hospital bed, but in rather in someone else's bed. A mare changeling beyond beautiful like no one I ever encountered appeared at the door. She gave one hell of a seductive look. It was like I was under her spell, I just couldn't look away from her. She slowly walked towards me, but I still had eye contact with her, she had the eyes of a wild hungry beast. She then started to crawl on the bed, and finally she was on top of me. My heart was beating furiously, like a stamped of sheep running from a dog. She got closer to me, still giving me that look of hunger. Soon our lips connected, and we were making love. I found myself back in the hospital soon after, trying to wrap my head around what I just witnessed. Who was that mare? Was she my marefriend? Maybe even my wife? I didn't know what to think of it. All I know is she was one of the most beautiful mares I've ever laid eyes on, maybe it was when I was in my college years and I just slept with any random Pony. It was Applebloom holding a basket, she says hello with gritted teeth, so it was hard to make out what she was saying. She puts her basket on the desk near me and jumps on my bed. "Hey Rain," shouts Applebloom, "I was so worried about you are you okay?". "Well, you are you standing on my broken hind leg at the moment so I can't be sure" I say trying to hide the pain in my voice. "Applebloom get off the poor colt, he's in enough pain!". Now that's a voice I haven't heard before, but from the sounds of it she was a mare and she had a thick accent like Applebloom. I turned to the entrance to my room to see a orange mare with freckles, a blonde mane tied into a long ponytail, wearing a desperado like cowboy hat. "Sorry about her, she can be a little careless sometimes" says the mare looking at Applebloom disappointed. "Don't worry about it. By the way where am I?" I said looking around the room. "You're in Ponyville's finest local hospital, I'm surprised Applebloom took you all the way from the Everfree forest to here". I'm surprised too, that little fillies got a lot of energy inside of her. "Oh where's my manners, my names Applejack, I run Apple Acres along with my brother Big Mac, my Granny Smith and I believe you've already met Applebloom my little sister". "That's quite a large family you got there" I say. "You ain't seen nothing yet" said Applebloom chuckling along with Applejack. There's more? I don't even wanna know how many more there are. "Also I'm terribly sorry about your wing Mister Rain" says Applejack taking her hat off and placing it on her chest, "The doctors said there was nothing they could do". "My wing?" I say a bit confused. Applebloom and Applejack look at each other and then look my wings. I turn my neck around to see that my wing had been amputated, which freaked me out a lot. Applejack takes her hat off and places it on her chest. "The bone was sticking out and they had to perform surgery quickly on you, you was losing a lot of blood, if it wasn't for Applebloom here you might of bled to death". "Well, at least you have your leg right?" says Applebloom obviously trying to cheer me up, but I guess she was right, I would much rather lose my wing then lose a leg. I take another look at my wing. I can't believe this, why has this happened to me, has Celestia truly forsaken me? Am I tainted with just bad luck? I let out a sigh and flop my head back onto the pillow, staring into clear space. "I think we should leave Rain alone Applebloom, come on..." says Applejack guiding Applebloom out of the room. I then hear footsteps heading towards my door, and I'm yet greeted by another visitor. "Applejack, is everything okay?" says the mare visitor. "Don't worry Twi, he's alright". Twi? I look at the entrance door again to see Applejack conversing with a purple pony. I looked at the purple pony a while longer, feeling strangely attached to her. Suddenly everything flashes again. I find myself in the middle of a battle field, filled with many changelings running all around me, flying in from all directions. In front of me I see the purple pony who was conversing with Applejack, I run towards at her full speed. She doesn't suspect me and I tackle straight into her. I hold my hooves against her, she struggles to get me off. But unexpectedly she uses her magic to knock me off. She sends me spiraling backwards into a wall. My vision goes fuzzy but soon recovers. I look up from the floor to see Applejack charging straight towards me, but then cuts out with Applejack in the hospital walking quickly towards me. "Rain whats wrong?!" shouts Applebloom panicking. "I think he's going into cardiac arrest!" yells the purple pony. "Somepony get a doctor!" shouts Applejack at the nurses. Suddenly I find myself back in the battlefield, with Applejack inches away from me. She charges right into my stomach with her shoulder, leaving me hardly able to breathe. Applejack runs away while I collapse onto the floor. I slowly lose conscious, and start to slowly black out. I raise my head from the concrete floor and look at Applejack running away to a group of mares. I blink to see nurses bringing a supply of oxygen while a doctor comes in with a breathing mask. I then see Applebloom looking over me tearing up. "Don't die Rain, please don't die...". RecoveryAfter I fixed Applebloom's family lullaby box, I found myself fixing a lot more things. As I waited to recover from my injures I sort of became the handycolt on the farm, I fixed the sink if it was acting dodgy, the water supply if it got clogged, you name it. I thought I might as well did something as I waited to recover, and not be completely useless, but I was also following what Luna said, but so far all I've really gotten is the family's thanks, I really do hope she is right about this. As I was fixing Applebloom's lullaby music box, she mentioned her grandma so I asked Applebloom about her, turns out I wasn't the only one the Apple family was visting. "My granny has had lung cancer for quite a while now, she's been coping but it isn't going to last forever, she's going to need treatment sooner or later they said". "Is that why you wanted me to fix the lullaby box so badly?" I asked. Me and Applebloom were sitting on haystacks while her brother and sister were out bucking trees. "Yeah, she always loved the lullaby, and I wanted to bring it to her...I'm just hoping I'm not bringing it to her for other reasons". says Applebloom putting her hind legs to her chest and her arms around them. "Don't worry Applebloom, I'm sure she'll be alright, your nanny sounds like a tough old thing". "Heh, If she was here right now she would've said, "Who're you calling old." says Applebloom trying to mimic her granny. Both me and Applebloom laughed, we mostly just talked for the rest of the day after that, Applejack came along to check on us from time to time but she mostly just left us to converse.
Blank...I layed there, staring up into the clear moonlit sky, in excruciating pain. I do not know how I got here, who or what was the cause of this, but if I don't find a way out of this mess, I'm sure to not see the light of day. I took deep breaths, as I slowly got up from the grassy surface below me. When I finally got up I found the source of the pain, it was my wing, even though it was pitch black it was clear enough for me to see that my wing is broken. One of my hind legs was in critical condition as well, so I had to limp my way out of this god forsaken forest. I started my journey out of this forest, which would seem like it would take forever in my state. As I kept on limping on and on through what seems like a maze, my eyes started to get droopy, I felt like I could collapse onto the floor any second now. I leaned onto a tree to catch my breath, I was incredibly hungry and dehydrated. As I looked around, I saw a duck and her ducklings in a formation walking past me. Maybe if I followed them they might lead me to a river of some sort, and maybe some fish. Hopefully I am right, but what other choice do I have? I take a few more seconds to recuperate myself, and I finally follow the ducks. My body gets heavier and heavier with each step I take, I just want the pain to stop, I just want to be somewhere safe, I just want to be back home, wherever that is. I walked slower and slower, I felt like the gravity of the earth was pulling me down to the ground. I finally closed my eyes, and fell down to the ground... I suddenly awoke with my head dunked into the river. I got up immediately, gasping for air. As I got my head out of the water in shock, I forgot about my leg and stand on it, yelling in pain. I fall down to the ground and hold my bad hind leg. I thought to myself at least I remembered not to roll over onto my back and wings, my hind leg was still hurting like hell though. I lay down onto my stomach and rest. I look to my right to see the mother duck and her ducklings getting into the river to swim. But there was one duckling that was too afraid to go into the water, he touched the water with his flipper but then took it out straight away in fright. Weird, I had no idea why but I felt like I had some sort of connection to this duckling. I felt like in my life I had a moment similar to the ducklings, a moment of weakness and fear. In a way, I felt sorry for the little duckling, it's never a good thing to feel left out and alone. I look away from the duckling and started thinking about getting food. I looked across the river, I saw a couple of fish swimming about in the river. I knew this was going to be hard, I can't swim in this condition, so I have to rely on pure luck. I stare at the river, and waited... ...and waited. ...and waited. ...and waited. But no fish came, my luck is really running out, if there was any to begin with. It then started to rain, I let out a sigh of annoyance. Please gods and goddesses, help me find shelter I try to stand up awkwardly with my two hooves, I only just managed to get onto my feet. I guess there's no point waiting for the fish to come anymore, I better find a place to sleep with some shelter from the rain. I set off again in search of a half decent spot to sleep in. My search came to a halt when I went through some bushes, but didn't see the steep hill. I rolled down the hill, getting scratched down on the way by the rocks. Yep, I have no luck what so ever. Or so I might of thought? I looked up from the ground and saw a club house of some sort. I wasn't sure who made it but it was good enough for me to sleep in. I dragged myself over to the clubhouse, I groaned when I saw I had to go up some stairs, but a few stairs aren't going to stop me now. Each step was painful, energy draining, and I nearly slipped a few times, in a few minutes I finally got up to the clubhouse. I was so glad to finally get up to the front door, but then I just realized... How the hay am I going to get in? The windows are too far away to break, I can't fly to them with one wing, I would go spiraling. Looks like there's only one way to do this, I'll have to buck the door down, but how am I going to do that? I then reconsider my choice, and try and break the lock instead of the door, it wasn't an advanced lock so I might as well test my luck. I turn my back to the door and raised my good hind leg. I soon started to tremble, my bad hind leg can't hold the weight of my body for too long. SMASH! The lock was still very much intact, I decided to put some more force into it. SMASH! I nearly fell to the floor after that kick, but the lock looked like it started to loosen. I put in as much energy and force as I could into the last kick. CRACK! The door was open, and immediately I fell to the ground. I held my hind leg, the pain was unbearable, I just wanted it to stop. I struggled to get up after that, I grabbed a hold of the door knob and pulled myself up. When I came into the clubhouse it was like a hurricane came in and trashed the whole place. There was planning sheets everywhere, circus equipment, musical instruments and even some skiing equipment. I closed the door behind me, and limped into the clubhouse, looking for some sort of cover and bed. The closet thing I found to a bed was a dog basket with some training equipment next to it. I moved the dog equipment with my hoof and slumped into the dog basket, can't say it's luxury but it's the best I got. I stare up into the ceiling, my breathing gradually getting better over time and the pain softens a bit. This is horrible, I don't even know how I got here, who I am nothing. What's worse is I don't even know if my race still exists, or if I have any relatives or friends I can go to, I'm alone, alone in a world where anything can happen. I stare at my battered and bruised arm. The blood from my deep scratches drips from my hoof, staining my cover. How did I get myself in such deep crap? Look at me, I look like I just came out of a street fight. I was sick of thinking, I just wanted to sleep now, to heal my wounds. I will figure out what to do next tomorrow.
Healing Old WoundsThe sun shimmers above the fields of Apple Acres as me and Applebloom take Rain back to our home. I look at Rain as I push him along on a wheel chair. Why am I doing this? I'm bringing in a complete stranger Applebloom found in the Everfree forest of all the places, he could be a psychopath for all I know! I take a deep breath and sigh. Calm down Applejack, you know that ain't true. I'll just let him stay here for a little while until his wounds heal, then he can be on his way. I then take a look at he's amputated wing. How did he manage to get himself damaged this much anyway? To break both his hind leg and wing and have so many bruises and scratches... Was it Timberwolves, Manticores, maybe even a Hydra? My thoughts are then interrupted by Applebloom tugging at my hoof. "Sis, do you know what happened to him?" asks Applebloom still looking a bit panicked. "For the last time Applebloom, I don't know". Applebloom drops her head and sulks. I stop pushing Rain and sigh. I turn around and kneel down to Applebloom. "I'm sorry Applebloom for snapping at you like that, I just feel pretty agitated at the moment" I say rubbing the back of my neck. Applebloom looks up to me. "Will he be okay?" I give Applebloom a look of uncertainty, but I didn't want to worry her. "Don't worry Applebloom, he'll be fine as a fiddle while he stays with us, I promise" I said forcing a smile. Applebloom seemed to feel more calm then, and smiled back at me. This time I didn't have to force my smile, just to see her happy and relieved is more than enough. "Come on, it's getting late, Granny's gonna start worrying" I said grabbing a hold of Appleblooms hoof and guiding her back home. I feel a gentle sensation on my nose, which makes me shiver, but also makes me calm and relaxed at the same time. I opened my eyes to see a butterfly resting on my nose. As I got up from the ground, the butterfly flew off my nose. After I stopped getting distracted by the butterfly, I took some time to survey the area. I was in a middle of a field of various flowers, even though it was a field filled with life and beauty, it still felt like a barren wasteland. The only these field of flowers was a humongous tree. Is this a dream, or another memory? If so why would I be taken here? "That question will be answered soon". "What the?". I looked around, left and right, but there was no sign of where the voice came from. I got up from the ground and took a couple of steps forward and searched more thoroughly, but still nopony to be seen. I turned around and out of no where a tall blue mare was standing before me. "Boo". I screamed at the top of my lungs and dropped to the floor. The mare was giggling like a school filly, while I was just about as angry as a gambler losing all their bits. "I apologize, Nightmare night was not too long ago and I was still in the mood for scaring" says the mare trying to talk while laughing uncontrollably. I really wasn't in the mood right now, I felt like shouting at the mare, but I held it in. When I took a closer look at her she didn't look like a normal pony. She was much larger than most ponies I've met, and she had both wings and a horn, so she must be a alicorn. The thing that stood out the most was her mane, I've never seen anything like it, it was like she took a chunk out of the clear night sky and made it her mane. "You're right Rain, I'm not like other ponies" says the mare. "Then who exactly are you, and how can you read my thoughts, I'm sick of not knowing anything!" I shout. "Those who have patience will gain answers in time". The mare held out her hoof, and the butterfly from earlier landed on it like a owl. "I have visited many dreams, but this one this is the most beautiful by far. Then yet again, most of the dreams I've visited are clouded by memories and fears, so what is there to show if you can't remember anything." said Luna looking at the butterfly resting on her hoof. "Then, what about that tree over there?". "The tree?", says the mare taking a moment to stop examining the butterfly, "You will have to find that out by yourself". "But you haven't told me anything, aren't you supposed to be a guide?" I ask getting impatient. The mare holds her hoof in the air, and the butterfly once again takes off. "There is always a time in our lives where we may think we know ourselves, but really you know just as much as your friend, so we ask ourselves questions like does this pony really love me? Is this really what I want to do for the rest of my life? Am I doing the right thing? Everypony goes through this, but in your case you need to find out everything again". "Can't you at least give me a bit of guidance?" I ask the mysterious mare. There was a silence, a wind blows past me and the mare, making a shiver go down all the way to the bottom of my spine. The mare walks up to me and put her hoof on my shoulder. "Beginning today, treat the family who have taken you under their care as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and then the path will become clear.". "Be kind to the apple family, but how will that give me any answers?" I ask the mare. "Like I said, everything will soon become clear" says the mare giving me a smile. Suddenly out of no where a pulse wave goes in between me and the mare, all the various flowers, plants and grass get pulled out and get thrown in our direction. The mare reveals her wings and flies away from me. "Time has run out, remember Rain, do not lose hope, and if you do, find hope within the apple family!". The mare disappears and I'm left all alone in the middle of the field. I turn around and still see the tree. I muster up the strength to fight against the wind and debris. Each step I took it seemed like the tree was getting closer, then it started rotating. That's when I realized the tree was actually flying towards me. I quickly turned back and ran, the wind was giving me a little extra speed, but it wasn't fast enough. The tree hit me with tremendous force, and everything became pitch black. Next thing I knew, my face was deep in dirt and I felt like my head was about to explode. I looked around my surroundings to see that I was in a barn of some sort, but the real question is who's the owner of the barn? I then suddenly remember the mare telling me the apple family has taken me under their care, but why would they do that? I would think they would be hesitant to bring a stranger into their home. I hear the sound of a door opening behind me, I manage to just turn my back around while still on the floor to see Applejack running to me. "Good gravy Rain, you have to be more careful" says Applejack while helping me back up onto my wheelchair. "Sorry, I had this bizarre dream..." I said while Applejack was brushing the dust from the floor off me. "Dream? What about?" asks Applejack sitting on a block of hay. "I'm not exactly sure, there was a mare, but she didn't look like your common pony folk". "What do you mean?" asks Applejack not sure what I'm exactly on about. "Well for starters, she was much taller than most ponies I've seen, second she had this beautiful mane that looked like the night sky-". "Princess Luna?". "Princess who?" I ask a bit confused. "She's the goddess of the night, and sister of the ruler of our land Equestria" explains Applejack. "But, what would the Princess want me with me?" I ask pretty shocked that I was visited by royalty. "Well, you're not the first one I know to be visited by her". "There's more?" I ask. "Yep, one of Appleblooms friends Scootaloo was visited by her when we were camping out with a couple of my friends". "So she visits ponies dreams? Isn't that kind of an invadement of privacy?". "I'm sure she doesn't visit you to find out about your secrets Rain, I think it's pretty swell what she does, when she visited Scoots, her fear of the headless horseman faded". Ugh, the headless horseman, why do I have a feeling I've had the same experience when I was younger. "So from what I can tell, she helps you with confronting your fears?" Kind of ironic how she scared me in the dream. "Yep, if you really want to know more about this you could talk to Scoots, or maybe even my friend Twilight, she may have a book on it" says Applejack. Applejack gets up and does a little a stretch and yawns. "Anyhow, I think we both better hit the hays, in my case literally". "Huh?". "You need all the rest you can get if you want to get on all fours again, so you can take my bed for the next couple of nights". "You sure" I ask not really comfortable with taking somepony else's bed. "Yeah sure, I'll be fine I've slept in worse conditions" says Applejack chuckling, "I'll help you up stairs into my room". Surprisingly, she carried me all the way from the bottom of the stairs into her room, especially considering my current weight. She lays me in bed and tucks me in. Honestly felt a bit awkward, since I haven't been tucked in since, well I don't know but I'm sure I was pretty young. Applejack turns off the lights, says goodnight and closes the door. I finally go back to my original form and let out a sigh of relief, didn't know it was so hard to keep up at using a fake identity. I haven't felt such luxury in a long time, sleeping in Appleblooms dog basket wasn't exactly a pleasure. I was still thinking about what Princess Luna said, about being kind to the family and then the path will be clear, whatever she means, I hope it will give me answers. First I plan on asking this Scootaloo about her dream, and hopefully that will give me some more knowledge of this Princess Luna. I'm then woken up by rustling and creaks, I've always been a light sleeper so I'm not surprised I've been woken up by these sounds. I managed get out the bed onto the wheelchair with just the upper part of my body. I slowly make my way out of the room, weary of my surroundings since it was pitch black. The only source of light I got was from Appleblooms room which had the door half open, and turns out the sound was actually coming from it. I slowly opened the door to see Applebloom sitting on the chair, with a screwdriver and a few other tools. "Applebloom?". Applebloom suddenly jumps and falls off her chair. I quickly pull myself over to her, but she quickly gets up and puts her hoof to her mouth. "I'm sorry", whispered Applebloom, "Don't tell my sis I stayed up late". I looked at the table to see a wooden box with markings engraved on it, the most noticeable mark was the apple with vines going around it. "What exactly were you doing?" I asked. Applebloom sighed, brushed the dust off her and went back on her chair. "It's a very important object, not just to me, but our whole family" explains Applebloom. "A box?" I say slightly puzzled. "It's not just a box!" says Applebloom slightly raising her voice at me, but then quickly covers it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice I just...". "Don't worry Applebloom, I understand it's important to you, so if it's not "just a box" what is it?". Applebloom gets off the chair while holding the box and shows it too me. "It's a lullaby music box, you see my great great great great great great grandpapa was a carpenter, and decided to make this and pass it down to future generations of our family. From what my granny told me it's played to remember lost relatives in our family old and new, it's also played when a family member or somepony really close to us die, so we can remember them through the lullaby". I was little shocked by this, I never knew a family could be so close like this, I truly am lucky to be found by such a sweet bunch of folks. "So what's wrong with it, why are you fiddling with it?" I ask. Applebloom looks to the floor a little teary eyed. "Well...". There was short silence, but after a while Applebloom held in the tears and finally spoke. "It was show and tell not too long ago, my teacher Miss Cherilee told us to bring in a family possession, the school bullies got jealous because everypony thought my object was cooler and then...Well I think you can figure out the rest". Wow, what a cruel thing to do, I still can't believe there are ponies like this in Equestria. I really didn't want to just say "Oh that's a shame, well goodnight!", there must be something I can do. I look at the table and back at Applebloom who was getting teary eyed once again. "How about I take a look at it?" I ask not too confident I will get it working. "Really?! Thank thank you so much!" says Applebloom jumping to me and hugging me tight. "Shh, I won't get a chance if your sis wakes up" I say chuckling. "Oh, sorry" says Applebloom feeling a little embarrassed. Applebloom places the box back onto the table, then moves the chair out of the way so I could sit at the table with my own chair. I do a couple of stretches and then get to work. It looked very complicated at first but then for some reason or another things started to become clear, I knew that this part had to bad tweaked a bit, I knew that this part had to be replaced, it was like deja vu. It took me a while, Applebloom even started to get really impatient at one point, but I finally got it working. I turn around on my chair to see Applebloom with her upperpart of her body off the bed. "Applebloom? You still with me?" I ask. Quickly Applebloom flips off backwards on her bed and runs to me quickly. "Did you get it working?" asks Applebloom excitedly. "Well, it looks like it's much more intact than before, lets try it out". Applebloom got under her covers while I put the box on a nearby desk and started twisting the knob on the box. After a couple of seconds I let go off of the knob and placed it down the desk. Suddenly a majestic melody played, each note that played hit my heart like it was a drum. The lullaby just made you wanna forget everything and just basically live your life, it was that beautiful. I looked at Applebloom to see her smiling at me, with no tears in her eyes anymore. "Thank you Rain, you're the best". "It's fine Applebloom, it was the least I could do" I said smiling back. Applebloom stretched and yawned shortly after, I think that's my que to leave. I went out of Applebloom's room, switched the lights off and slowly closed the door. I let out a sigh of relief as I happily made my way back to my room. When I got to my bed I was was more tired than before, I guess that lullaby affected me too. Eventually I closed my eyes and went to sleep, with a grin on my face. Author's Note Special thanks to Cowboy Bebop for making me think of "The Family Lullaby" idea.
Unexpected Visit"Come on!". I open my eyes to see that I was on cloud, and that I was not far from falling a twenty feet drop. I jump in fright and nearly fall off the cloud. "Come on, you aren't scared are you ~~@$*£!~~!?". I look up from the drop and see a changeling in front of me, he was flying in the air trying to convince me to do something. "Come on ~~@$*£!~~, show me what you got!". What was that? All I heard was static. My legs started to tremble, fear had striked my body, I couldn't move. "But I'm too scared bro..." I say. Was that me, I sound like a filly, was this the moment of weakness I was talking about? "Come on, I know you can do it, you just gotta believe in yourself!". I looked down from the cloud, I started to feel dizzy and sick. I looked at my brother to see him making hoof gestures to make me jump off the cloud. I take a deep breath, and jump, but only to grab underneath of the cloud making it flip with me on top of it again with my face deep inside of it. I take my head out of the cloud to see my brother landing near me and looking down at me. He looked disappointed, which made me sad. My brother sighed, "Ah well you may get it next time, come on get on my back". I climb onto my brothers back, and he takes off. "How ironic, with a name like ~~@$*£!~~ you'd think you would learn how to fly in an instant" says my brother chuckling. There it goes again, the static, what's going on? I suddenly feel a sharp pain going through my arm, like a shockwave. "Hey, are you okay?" asks my brother. My brother's voice soon turns into an innocent little filly voice with a thick accent, I finally open my eyes to see a filly right above me. "Hey mister! You okay?". I let out a scream, and jump out of the dog basket, only to collapse onto the floor. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare yer!". I turn to the filly, she had a red mane with vanilla coated skin. "I don't believe it, you really are one of them changeling fellers!" shouts the filly, "I can't wait to tell Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle!". She's excited to see me here? That was unexpected, I expected terror, because well, I can't really say I'm dashingly handsome. Applebloom then sees the blood drenched dog basket, and her expression changes instantly. "Oh my, what happened to ya? You need a doctor!" says Applebloom also spotting my cuts and bruises now. "I can't, they wont accept someone like me, they only accept ponies don't they? I doubt they have a Changeling hospital". the filly holds her chin and thinks. "Hey, can't you changeling folk use that special morphing power?". Oh Celestia of course! How stupid am I? I quickly think of a pony design and change into it, I decided to have a orient coat, a cararra mane with orient stripes going through it and crystal blue eyes. "Cool! Now that we have that covered, how are we going to get you to the hospital?". the filly thinks again. "I know!". That didn't take her long. "I can borrow one of granny smiths wheelchairs, I'll be right back!". the filly runs out of the door, but to my surprise comes back. "By the way, what's your name mister?" asks the filly. "My name? My name is...". There was a silence. The little filly looked at me with confusion. "What is it? What's wrong?" asks the filly. I might as well tell her, she's doing so much for me already. "Well you see, I can't exactly remember my name, I can't really remember anything to be exact". "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that, but don't worry! I'm gonna help you get ya memory back, I promise!" says the filly with great determination. I look at the filly grinning, I smile back, I don't know if she can really help me really cure my memory loss or not, but I should at least encourage her a bit. "Okay, thank you miss?". "Applebloom! Nice to meet ya, ya know you changeling folk don't seem as bad as most pony folk say". What? Have I missed something, what did we do? "You need a name too...". Applebloom looks around her clubhouse. Please don't tell me she's going to name me after an inanimate object. Applebloom looks through the windows, it looks like shes looking at water dropping from a leaf. "I know what I'll call you! Since it was raining yesterday night, I'll call you Rain!" says Applebloom looking pretty pleased with herself that she just thought of that name. Well, at least it isn't Raindrop, that sounds more like a mares name, but I'll just go with Rain for now. "I'll be back in about..." Applebloom looks at her fake drawn on watch, "20 minutes, see ya!" shouts Appleblooms running off. Thank Celestia, no offense, she's a good kid, but I need some space, I didn't really have time to relax since I was stressing about finding a place to sleep. I drag myself to chair and mange to pull myself up so I could sit on it. I look down onto the floor to see a trail of blood beneath me. I'm starting to feel a bit woozy, I better take it easy. What was that dream about, I didn't even know I had a brother. If so I have to find him, he maybe my only chance on finding out who I truly am. Once my wounds have healed up I'm gonna search a few towns, but I'm gonna have to make some money if I plan on doing anything. Applebloom then came rushing in the clubhouse with a wheelchair. "Come on, you're looking pretty pale, we should get you to the hospital as quickly as possible!". I got from the chair and limped to the chair. "I understand, but can we go a little easy, I feel pretty-". Applebloom pushes the wheelchair as fast as she can, sending me and the wheelchair flying out the front door, down the stairs, the way down was a pretty bumpy ride. I finally got to the bottom of the stairs, I felt like throwing up and I was about to pass out. Applebloom started to push me again. "Applebloom...". My vision slowly starts to fade out, Appleblooms voice now sounds faint, and now it feels like I hear the inside of my heard, my thoughts echoing inside like it was a hallway of thoughts. Finally, everything went dark... A burst of light filled my eyes, like I just came out of a cave. But where I found myself was not at an exit of a cave, infact I was lying comfortably on a hospital bed, near a opened window. A nice breeze collided with my face, making my entire body feel relaxed. Wow, I haven't experienced this kind of comfort since... I'm then filled with great sadness, my body becomes more tensed than relaxed now. I sighed and looked out the window, I see a old mare and her carer in the garden conversing, little fillies playing catch and two old colts playing chest. Finally I spot a couple on a bench, the mare was snuggling on the stallions shoulder. Suddenly I didn't find myself in a hospital bed, but in rather in someone else's bed. A mare changeling beyond beautiful like no one I ever encountered appeared at the door. She gave one hell of a seductive look. It was like I was under her spell, I just couldn't look away from her. She slowly walked towards me, but I still had eye contact with her, she had the eyes of a wild hungry beast. She then started to crawl on the bed, and finally she was on top of me. My heart was beating furiously, like a stamped of sheep running from a dog. She got closer to me, still giving me that look of hunger. Soon our lips connected, and we were making love. I found myself back in the hospital soon after, trying to wrap my head around what I just witnessed. Who was that mare? Was she my marefriend? Maybe even my wife? I didn't know what to think of it. All I know is she was one of the most beautiful mares I've ever laid eyes on, maybe it was when I was in my college years and I just slept with any random Pony. It was Applebloom holding a basket, she says hello with gritted teeth, so it was hard to make out what she was saying. She puts her basket on the desk near me and jumps on my bed. "Hey Rain," shouts Applebloom, "I was so worried about you are you okay?". "Well, you are you standing on my broken hind leg at the moment so I can't be sure" I say trying to hide the pain in my voice. "Applebloom get off the poor colt, he's in enough pain!". Now that's a voice I haven't heard before, but from the sounds of it she was a mare and she had a thick accent like Applebloom. I turned to the entrance to my room to see a orange mare with freckles, a blonde mane tied into a long ponytail, wearing a desperado like cowboy hat. "Sorry about her, she can be a little careless sometimes" says the mare looking at Applebloom disappointed. "Don't worry about it. By the way where am I?" I said looking around the room. "You're in Ponyville's finest local hospital, I'm surprised Applebloom took you all the way from the Everfree forest to here". I'm surprised too, that little fillies got a lot of energy inside of her. "Oh where's my manners, my names Applejack, I run Apple Acres along with my brother Big Mac, my Granny Smith and I believe you've already met Applebloom my little sister". "That's quite a large family you got there" I say. "You ain't seen nothing yet" said Applebloom chuckling along with Applejack. There's more? I don't even wanna know how many more there are. "Also I'm terribly sorry about your wing Mister Rain" says Applejack taking her hat off and placing it on her chest, "The doctors said there was nothing they could do". "My wing?" I say a bit confused. Applebloom and Applejack look at each other and then look my wings. I turn my neck around to see that my wing had been amputated, which freaked me out a lot. Applejack takes her hat off and places it on her chest. "The bone was sticking out and they had to perform surgery quickly on you, you was losing a lot of blood, if it wasn't for Applebloom here you might of bled to death". "Well, at least you have your leg right?" says Applebloom obviously trying to cheer me up, but I guess she was right, I would much rather lose my wing then lose a leg. I take another look at my wing. I can't believe this, why has this happened to me, has Celestia truly forsaken me? Am I tainted with just bad luck? I let out a sigh and flop my head back onto the pillow, staring into clear space. "I think we should leave Rain alone Applebloom, come on..." says Applejack guiding Applebloom out of the room. I then hear footsteps heading towards my door, and I'm yet greeted by another visitor. "Applejack, is everything okay?" says the mare visitor. "Don't worry Twi, he's alright". Twi? I look at the entrance door again to see Applejack conversing with a purple pony. I looked at the purple pony a while longer, feeling strangely attached to her. Suddenly everything flashes again. I find myself in the middle of a battle field, filled with many changelings running all around me, flying in from all directions. In front of me I see the purple pony who was conversing with Applejack, I run towards at her full speed. She doesn't suspect me and I tackle straight into her. I hold my hooves against her, she struggles to get me off. But unexpectedly she uses her magic to knock me off. She sends me spiraling backwards into a wall. My vision goes fuzzy but soon recovers. I look up from the floor to see Applejack charging straight towards me, but then cuts out with Applejack in the hospital walking quickly towards me. "Rain whats wrong?!" shouts Applebloom panicking. "I think he's going into cardiac arrest!" yells the purple pony. "Somepony get a doctor!" shouts Applejack at the nurses. Suddenly I find myself back in the battlefield, with Applejack inches away from me. She charges right into my stomach with her shoulder, leaving me hardly able to breathe. Applejack runs away while I collapse onto the floor. I slowly lose conscious, and start to slowly black out. I raise my head from the concrete floor and look at Applejack running away to a group of mares. I blink to see nurses bringing a supply of oxygen while a doctor comes in with a breathing mask. I then see Applebloom looking over me tearing up. "Don't die Rain, please don't die...".
RecoveryAfter I fixed Applebloom's family lullaby box, I found myself fixing a lot more things. As I waited to recover from my injures I sort of became the handycolt on the farm, I fixed the sink if it was acting dodgy, the water supply if it got clogged, you name it. I thought I might as well did something as I waited to recover, and not be completely useless, but I was also following what Luna said, but so far all I've really gotten is the family's thanks, I really do hope she is right about this. As I was fixing Applebloom's lullaby music box, she mentioned her grandma so I asked Applebloom about her, turns out I wasn't the only one the Apple family was visting. "My granny has had lung cancer for quite a while now, she's been coping but it isn't going to last forever, she's going to need treatment sooner or later they said". "Is that why you wanted me to fix the lullaby box so badly?" I asked. Me and Applebloom were sitting on haystacks while her brother and sister were out bucking trees. "Yeah, she always loved the lullaby, and I wanted to bring it to her...I'm just hoping I'm not bringing it to her for other reasons". says Applebloom putting her hind legs to her chest and her arms around them. "Don't worry Applebloom, I'm sure she'll be alright, your nanny sounds like a tough old thing". "Heh, If she was here right now she would've said, "Who're you calling old." says Applebloom trying to mimic her granny. Both me and Applebloom laughed, we mostly just talked for the rest of the day after that, Applejack came along to check on us from time to time but she mostly just left us to converse.
