Chapter 2
The Darkest Hour
The next few days were just a clouded haze. Nothing seemed real, everything felt like a dream and had a sort of foggy quality to it. I only wanted to wake up, but I couldn't. Nurse Redheart had me moved to a rehab center for pegasi near the outskirts of Whitetail Wood. I can remember days going by where I did nothing but stare at the sky and go through the motions. Wake up call at nine o'clock, breakfast of some goopy mush at nine thirty. They took me out to a swimming pool where I had to 'fly' underwater to build up my wing strength again. I threw myself into that part the most. Every ounce of anger I felt at the world flowed through my veins at those times, turning my vision to a red tint as I pushed myself harder than I should go, than I cloud go. How could I be so stupid! I should have stopped sooner, I should've had a spotter, I should've….. All those should've, would've, could've type thoughts left when the reality of my situation finally hit me. Back and forth, back and forth I rocked on my bed in my room, crying, pleading, and begging for some salvation from my troubles. Pleading for faster healing, more progress, begging to be sky bound once again. For somepony or something to help me. My pleas went unanswered; life was blind to my tear streaked muzzle. My progress in rehab was moving at a snail's pace despite all my efforts, and no matter how hard I worked I wouldn't heal any faster. "So -sniff- that's how you want to play? You won't help me? -sniff- Fine then! I'll just leave and never come back!" I leapt off of my bed, glancing down either direction in the hallway before slipping out an exit and making a run towards the mountains…..
I looked down at the cliff before me, listening for any sounds of pursuit as I shoved a loose rock off the edge, watching it bounce down the mountainside. -Crack.- This is it. Those ponies were lying; I won't fly, ever again. What's the point anyway, my medical won't meet Wonderbolt standards anyway… My dreams are dead; I'm useless as a pegasus and a friend…. My hooves knocked a rock loose from the cliff edge as I closed my eyes and leaned off the edge.
POV SWITCH: Scootaloo
"Why can't I fly.." I kicked the wheel of my scooter, looking around at the steep non-scootable passes and cliffs. -Crack.- I looked up and saw some rocks falling down the cliff followed by a blue and rainbow blur. "Rainbow Dash? Pull u-" -SMACK!- Eyes growing larger and larger as I began to panic, I rushed towards nearby Sweet Apple Acres. I have to get help, I can't lose my hero! The coolest pony ever doesn't die from a fall!
POV SWITCH: Rainbow Dash
I felt nothingness surround me as I floated, everything was silent save for a mumble of panicked voices in the background. I could see a light growing in front of me. "Rainbow Dash, wake up my little pony. Your time has not yet come." I felt myself growing heavy, sinking towards the black abyss below me. "Wake up Rainbow Dash."
-Beep!-
-Beep!-
-Beep!-
I hate that noise. Sore. I was sore, and felt like a ton of bricks had been dropped on me. I opened my eyes and looked around me. Unlike last time, my friends were nowhere to be found. But a book on my nightstand caught my eye. On the book was a note.
'Dear Rainbow Dash,
We don't know why you did what you did, but we want you to know that we still love you and want you here with us. We stayed as long as we could, but the nurse had us leave you to your rest. Please Rainbow, don't ever do that again. Fluttershy has been bawling her eyes out, and Pinkie Pie's mane has gone flat. We don't want to lose you Rainbow.
Signed, your friends.
P.S. Read the book. Please? Start in the Book of Matthew'
I looked at the book beneath the note, a pang of guilt stabbing into my gut. I was leaving them…. The Element of Loyalty doesn't abandon her friends! Rainbow Dash what were you thinking! Stupid, stupid Dash! All those thoughts faded at the sight of the title of the book they had left me, 'The Holy Bible: NKJ'. I picked it up and started to read. "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David and the son of Abraham…" (St. Matthew 1:1)
