Inspire
~ Fall Down ~
It all started one cold, stormy afternoon. I woke up at around noon before wolfing down a small breakfast. Then I left my cottage and began trotting down the dirt path towards Rarity's house. I was going to help her with some house cleaning, because she was too busy to do it on her own. Dark clouds loomed in the distance and lightening flashed across the sky. A big storm was on its way, no doubt. Finally, I arrived at Rarity's cottage and knocked on the door lightly with my hoof. "Hello Lavender! Come in, come in!" said Rarity as she opened the door. "Hey Rare, what's up?" I said as I walked through the doorway and into the cottage. "I'm delighted that you could help with the clean-up," said Rarity thankfully. "No prob," I replied. "Let's get started." Rarity led me into the kitchen, and then into the bedroom. There were papers, materials of all sorts, party streamers and food bits strewn all across the floor. Rarity blushed. "Sorry about this mess, my sister and her friends had a sleepover here last night. And you know how they are," grumbled Rarity. I laughed. "You mean Sweetiebelle, Scootaloo and Applebloom? I used to be like them when I was a young filly - always getting up to mischief," I said. Rarity giggled. "Me too."
After we'd finished with the bedroom, Spike the dragon arrived to help with the kitchen. While Rarity and I cleaned up, he talked about nonsensical things that were completely irrelevant. He made us laugh, and we actually had a really fun time cleaning up the house. Shortly after we'd finished with the kitchen, Spike belched and green flames shot out of his mouth.
Rarity and I couldn't contain our stifled giggles and burst into loud fits of laughter. Then the letter fell in his hands. "It's addressed to Lavender," said Spike anxiously. "Me?" I asked in disbelief. I took the letter in my hoofs and opened it. It was from my best friend's mother. She wrote that Candy - my best friend - was in the hospital just outside of Ponyville, and had been there since the previous night. Candy had been suffering from cancer for 8 months, but no one thought she'd be in such a critical condition. She'd fought off the cancer before. Her mother wrote that Candy had asked to see me in her hospital ward, and that the doctors don't know if they'll be able to save her in time. I read the letter aloud, over and over again, and tears swelled up in my eyes. "I've got to go see her, Rarity," I said quietly. She too had tears in her eyes. I left Rarity's cottage immediately and galloped towards the hospital.
The rain pelted hard against my face. Everypony was retreating to the shelter of their own homes. Windows and doors closed, and the young ponies peered at me through the windows. I wished I was back at home, snuggled near the fire and reading a book of some sort. But I knew I had to see Candy. She meant more than the world to me. We'd been through a lot together - and I wasn't going to let her down. We spent most of our time together in our fillyhood days. And she was always there for me, no matter what.
The icy wind howled in my ears, occasionally throwing me off course as I rocketed through the wilderness. The rain flooded down from the dark clouds looming overhead. As I ran on, I became more and more scared. The wind was really strong, and many trees were tilting at dangerous angles. But I knew I had to get to Candy. Eventually, about 10 minutes away from the hospital, I approached the foot of a mountain. I felt the incline of the steep hill under my hoofs. My heart was beating fast, and I knew I had to rest. I spotted a tree under which I could take shelter. Unfortunately, that's when the first boulder knocked me off my hoofs.
I tumbled down the hill and landed on the ground below. Slightly dazed, I stood back up. Then the second boulder crushed me to the ground. The boulders were huge; maybe three or four times my size.
My vision was blurred and the wind continued to howl in my ears. The rain was falling harder than ever. I lay on the ground, not knowing what to do. Then the next boulder hit me. And the next. And the next. I couldn't move. My body was badly bruised, and my ribs were crushed. Barely conscious, I heard what must've been the biggest rock of them all come tumbling down the hill. I watched helplessly as the boulder rolled heavily over my hind legs. They snapped like twigs right before my eyes. The pain was excruciating. I lay on the ground, my heart beating softly. More boulders pounded my body. Then I took one final glance at my hoofs before losing consciousness.
I awoke to sharp pains in my ribs and legs. My vision was slightly blurred and I felt light-headed. I looked around slowly and noticed that I was in a hospital ward. The walls were tiled, and there was a small window near the foot of my bed. Metal beams supported and held my upper body in place. My heart rate was being monitored, so I heard the faint beep every so often. I had a headache and couldn't remember much of what happened. It felt as though every muscle in my body - especially my lower body - was being stretched or pulled at the same time.
It was uncomprehending. About 5 minutes later I heard a door open and a nurse walked into the room. "Lavender, you're awake. How do you feel?" asked the nurse gently. "Been better," I said sarcastically. The nurse smiled. "How long have I been out?" I asked the nurse anxiously. "About a month and 3 days," replied the nurse. She adjusted my bedding and walked over to my bedside table. There were flowers, teddy bears and get-well-soon cards laid out on the table. "What happened?" I asked softly. The nurse put some bandages in a drawer and said, "The storm caused an avalanche atop the Rocky Ridge Mountain. You were near the foot of the mountain when the first boulder knocked you down. Do you remember?" I thought for a moment. "Yes, I nearly broke my hoof from the fall," I replied. The nurse nodded. "Well, then the other rocks fell and most of them narrowly missed you. It's a miracle you're still alive. Applejack pulled you out before it was too late. If it wasn't for her, you'd probably be dead," said the nurse softly. I averted my gaze to the ground.
Then I gasped, "My legs..." I removed the covers on my bed. My hind legs were gone. I fell silent, and my heart monitor beeped slightly faster than before. "We had to amputate," said the nurse sadly. "There was no other way." I looked up at her. "I understand," I said faintly. Just then, Twilight Sparkle walked in. She carried a small box of chocolates in her hoofs. "I'll check up on you later, Lavender. Get some rest," said the nurse as she left the room. Twilight walked over to my bed and placed the box of chocolates on my bedside table. "Hey Lavender," said Twilight. "Hey Twi, thanks for the chocolates," I whispered thankfully. Twilight smiled back. "I'm really glad you're okay, Lavender," said Twilight softly. "We were all so worried about you." Tears swelled up in my eyes. "I didn't think I would make it," I said. Twilight looked at where my hind legs were supposed to be. Then a tear ran down her face. "Everything's going to be okay. You'll see," said Twilight gently. Then she sniffed softly, smiled at me and walked out of the room.
Many ponies visited me in my hospital ward over the course of 3 days. Pinkie brought me cupcakes, Fluttershy brought flowers and Rarity brought more chocolates. Even Applejack and Big Macintosh came to see me. I couldn't thank Applejack enough for saving me. She said she had been out looking for me after the storm because I hadn't returned. "Luckily I found you in time. I'm just glad you're okay, Lavender," said Applejack. Then, later that day, Candy's mother walked into the room. She tapped on the door before walking in. "Come in," I called weakly. "Hello Lavender," said Candy's mom as she walked into the room.
I greeted her and asked frantically, "How's Candy? Is she okay? Has she recovered?" The mother looked at me through her spectacles and sighed. "She's gone. The doctors couldn't save her," said the mother after a long silence. I didn't know what to say - I'd been through so much heartbreak already; surely I could handle this? But no, I was devastated. I ran through the rain, rolled down a mountain and got trampled over by huge rocks, had my hind legs amputated - all to get to her in time. All for nothing. The remainder of the conversation with Candy's mom was a vague blur. I nodded or shook my head when prompted, mumbled a few words of consent. Soon, the mother bade farewell, and I was left alone. That night I cried, and cried, and cried myself to sleep.