Scars that Won't Heal

Chapter 3

Floating. Just, floating. It was a weird feeling. Like being underwater, but able to breathe. She couldn't quite comprehend it. There was nothing everywhere. A complete absence of color. She looked down at her hooves. Even they lacked color. Nothing made sense.

Suddenly, a voice called out. It was calling her name. It sounded unfamiliar, yet calming. Startled, she called back.

"W-who's there?" She called out into the void.

"Who I am, is of no importance. What I am about to tell you, is the most important thing you must remember when you wake up."

She was unsure of how to respond.

"Oh...Kay?"

"You're about to go through the most difficult time of your life. And nothing about it will be even remotely easy. But you MUST remain vigilant. There are so many people that need you. You have to stay strong. You will come to terms with these events one day. Just stay true to yourself. Do you understand?"

She thought about their words. What did all of this mean? What was going to happen? How do they know? She hesitated before shakily giving a response.

"......yes. I u-understand."

"Very well. I wish you the best of luck. Perhaps we will meet again someday. Someday....."

The voice faded away, echoing until the void was once again, filled with silence.

Then, she began to fall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pain. That's all Rainbow Dash could feel as tried to gain the willpower to open her eyes. Slowly, she wedged them open. The light blinded her, piercing her eyes like daggers. Her vision swam into focus as she tried to make out her surroundings.

There was a lot of white. The room she was in was large. There was a wheelchair in the corner and a few empty chairs by the wall. She glanced at her hoof and her eyes traveled down her arm until she saw an IV jabbed in her wrist. Then it hit her.

She was in a hospital.

Her ribs ached and she couldn't move her left wing. Her chest was covered in bandages, along with her wings, her right forearm, her left hoof, and her right flank. She was covered in burns that felt sticky.

What happened? She thought. The last thing she remembered was not being able to sleep last night. She closed her eyes and tried to gather her thoughts. She was cut short when she felt somepony touch her hoof.

Her eyes snapped open and she looked on the opposite side of her bed. She was greeted by soft, teared up, turquoise eyes. The pony had long pink hair that looked like it hadn't seen a brush in weeks. Dash was dumbfounded as she struggled for words. Her voice came out weak.

"F-fluttershy?"

The butterscotch mare burst into tears as she softly embraced her friend. Rainbow's eyes began to well up as Fluttershy's soft cries echoed in the empty room. Fluttershy let go and tried to withdraw her tears.

"Oh, *hic*, D-dash. I'm s-so glad you're, *hic*, awake."

"Fluttershy. Calm down. Breathe."

"I-I'm sorry. It's just. I......I didn't think you were ever gonna wake up."

"What are you talking about Flutters? What happened?"

"Y-you mean you remember the f-fire?"

"Fire?"

Dash swam through her thoughts. Fire.... Then the memories flooded back. Applejack. The barn. The fire. Scootaloo. She gasped and yanked on Fluttershy's hoof.

"Where is everyone!? Are they okay!? Do is the they make it out!?"

"Calm down. Everyone's okay. Well...."

"Well what!?"

"Let's not talk about it right now. I'm not the right pony to tell you."

"C'mon Fluttershy. Just tell me."

"I-I can't. I won't."

*Sigh* "Fine. Where is everybody?"

" At home, asleep. It's a little past midnight right now, so I guess we should get some sleep."

Rainbow didn't want to argue with her anymore. She looked stressed out enough.

"Yeah, I guess."

"G-goodnight..."

"G'night."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Dash was greeted by a parade of friendly faces. All of her friends, apart from Applejack, were there to keep her company. Twilight brought her Daring Do books, Pinkie brought her favorite game, Candy Land, Rarity put new drapes in her room, and Fluttershy never left her side.

Days passed and she would soon be able to leave the hospital. Soon enough Applejack came to visit her with SweetieBelle and Applebloom. They all had minor cuts and burns, but they appeared to be fine.

Throughout all her days in the hospital, one question kept coming to mind. She just couldn't keep ignoring it, so she asked it out loud while everyone was in her room. And once she did, everypony fell into a dead silence.

"Where's Scootaloo?"