A/N: well guys, here's the next chapter for this story, there will be more chapters up for other stories later, now is when things get even more interesting, enjoy.
The Beginning of the End: chapter 6: mysteries unfold
The last thing Flame remembered was falling to the floor of the stage, and blacking out, but he also remembered the voice, that he heard in his head, and the strange pony that came up to him, while he was lying on the verge of death, yet did nothing to help, and then he just vanished in the blink of an eye, then everything went black.
When he opened his eyes, he felt blinded by a strange white light, he tried raising his hoof but felt too weak, he heard what sounded like muffled talking, but could not make out what they were saying, he watched as blurred shadows moved around him, he could not tell if they were friendly or hostile, but he was too weak to defend himself either way.
Then his weakness got the better of him and he closed his eyes, and let darkness fill his vision.
After what seemed like a few minutes, he opened his eyes again, and found that his vision was not as blurry as before, but it still required him to raise his hoof to block the light, which he did with better luck, as he waited for his vision to return, he heard what sounded like a heart rate monitor, giving off its small beep sound.
As his vision fully returned, he moved his hoof back down to his side, and looked up, he found himself looking straight up into a light fixture, it's glow forcing him to turn his head to the side, he saw a group of monitors, all of them bright and working, he moved his head and looked around the room, from what he could tell, he was in some sort of hospital room, he tried moving his other hoof, but a sharp pain shot up, and he cringed and it fell down.
He continued looking around, and saw a nurse walk up to the side of the bed, unaware that he was awake, she checked the monitors, and started scribbling something down on paper, he tried clearing his throat, when he did she gave a small gasp and turned to him, "oh, you're awake" she said walking up to him with a kind smile, "what…what happened?" he asked, but his voice came out very rough, she looked to the side, and picked up a glass of water, and gave it to him, being unable to pick it up himself, she helped him tilt his head, and placed the glass on his lips, he drank it gratefully as the cool liquid spilled down his throat.
"there, now give it a little bit and try to speak" she said, Flame waited for a minute and tried speaking again, his voice came out better but still had a gravely edge to it, "where am I? What happened to me?" he asked, the nurse looked away for a minute, and said, "Go tell them he's awake" she said and turned back to him, "you were in pretty bad shape, two shots, one to your side and one to your shoulder, the bullets have been safely removed, but the one that hit your side, fractured a part of your rib cage, and the bones are almost fully healed, but you shouldn't do much outdoor activity for a while" she said, Flame sighed, and looked away, but suddenly his eyes shot open and he turned back to the nurse, "wait, my wife, my kids, Shining Srmor, what happened to them?" he asked desperately trying to sit up, but was only met with a sharp pain to his side and shoulder, he was about to fall back in bed but the nurse placed a hoof on his back and good shoulder, "easy now, you'll be in pain for some time, not many ponies survive what you did, you should count yourself lucky" she said, and he chuckled a bit, as she helped him into a sitting up position, "yeah, I've heard that before" he said and turned to the nurse, with a worried look.
"But…my family?" he asked, she smiled at him, "they're all fine, your wife stayed with you the entire time practically, even after visiting hours, she refused to leave your side, we finally convinced her to leave the room, she's down in the lobby with the rest of your family, must be nice having such a caring and loyal wife, you must love her very much" she said, he sighed and smiled as he leaned back, "yes…I love her more than anything, my family is the most important thing to me" he said, the nurse smiled, and turned to the side table, and lifted up a small package, and opened it over a glass of water.
Flame watched as a small pill, fell out into the water and started dissolving, until the water had a bubbly look to it, she lifted it up, and turned to him, "here, drink this down, it will help the healing process" she said as Flame tried to use his magic but felt weak, she smiled and brought the glass to his lips and he drank it, just as he did the door to the room opened, and in walked a very tire looking Twilight, when she turned and saw him awake, her eyes lit up, and a wide smile appeared on her face, and she ran up to him, and almost fully jumped on the bed, and threw her hooves around his neck, "oh Flame, your awake, your finally awake!" she shouted happily, Flame felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and Twilight applied pressure.
"Oww, Twilight I'm glad to see you too, but you're killing my shoulder" he shouted, she let go, and got off the bed, and took his hoof in hers, "oh Flame, I thought I would lose you" she said tears forming in her eyes, Flame smiled and lifted her up to the bed, so that she was leaning over to him, he smiled and brushed her tears away, "you're not going to lose me" he said and he kissed her on the lips, Twilight greatly welcomed it and they stayed like that for a few minutes, until the door opened again.
They both separated an turned to see Shining Armor and Cadence walk in, both of them smiling, Twilight got off the bed and turned to them, Shining smiled and walked up to Flame, "well, glad to see your awake" he said, Flame gave off a chuckle, "yeah well, it's not like I haven't been in this situation before, when does the doctor say I can leave?" he asked, Shining gave a soft chuckle, "I think he said sometime tomorrow, your bones are still healing, but should be done by tomorrow afternoon" he said, and they all fell silent.
Shining's smile disappeared, and Flame had an idea about what he was going to say, "listen Flame, I don't know how to say this, you saved my life, if it weren't for you, I would be dead, I can't thank you enough, I don't know how I can ever repay you" he said, but Flame raised his hoof, "you don't have to repay me at all, sacrifice is what family does for each other, I know you would do the same for me, I just hope it doesn't come to that" he said with a light chuckle, and they all joined in.
"Speaking of leaving the hospital, how long have I been in here?" he asked, they all turned to each other, when Cadence spoke up, "after the attack, you were taken straight here, that was about two days ago" she said, Flame gave a shocked look, and turned to Twilight, "what about Night Gale and Star Dust?" he asked, she smiled at him, "there both fine, they back at Shining's house, they were here earlier, but left to get some sleep" she said and Flame gave a sigh of relief, just as one of the doctor's walked in, "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over now, Flame will be under good care, you should all get home, and sleep" the doctor said, and they all made their way out of the room, Twilight gave one last look at Flame, who flashed her a comforting smile, she smiled back and left the room, and the doctor walked up to him.
"I suggest you get some sleep, you're going to need it" the doctor said, Flame smiled and thanked him, before he laid back down with the help of the doctor and slowly began to drift off into sleep.
(Later that night…)
Flame woke up to the drum beat of rain on his window, he opened his eyes and found himself sleeping on his good shoulder, he watched the rain beat down on the window, he remembered that the weather teams had scheduled a heavy rain fall, with the occasional thunder and lightning, but not enough to worry the hospital workers, he couldn't remember why he woke up, but also he felt as if he couldn't sleep, something must have woken him, but he couldn't remember what it was.
He lost his train of thought when the door opened, and in walked a male pony dressed in a doctor's uniform, he didn't look like his other doctor, but he thought it must have been the night doctor, he had his white face mask covering his most of his face, all Flame could see was his eyes, he watched as the doctor walked over to the machines and examined them, the entire time keeping his eyes on Flame, who felt as if this stallion was familiar somehow, but he couldn't place his hoof on it, as the doctor started tinkering with the machines, Flame turned on to his back and sat up, watching the doctor.
"oh, it's okay doctor, one of the nurse's already came in to check on them" Flame said, the doctor merely chuckled, and turned to him, "oh, that's not why I'm here, I just passing by, and decided to check up on my favorite patient" he said, Flame could see a sinister smile appear behind his mask, Flame was about to ask what he meant, but was stopped as the pony reached up and removed the mask, so Flame could see his face, and what he saw shocked him indeed.
As he took it off, Flame suddenly remembered the stallion, a pony with a dark grey coat and blood colored mane, he recognized him as the pony he met in the alleyway back in PonyVille a few days prior, "you!" Flame said a look of shock and a look of anger on his face, he tried to sit up better but did so very slowly, as the medicine was still trying to heal him, "nurse! I need help!" he shouted but the pony just smiled and gave off a chuckle, "oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you" he said as he watched him, Flame sat back down and the pony walked up to him, and placed the covers back over him, "don't touch me, or come near me!" he shouted, "I remember who you are, your that pony Red Star" he said, the pony smiled, "guilty as charged" he said with a smile as he walked over to the other side of the bed.
"Just wait until I get a nurse in here, she'll call the police, and arrest your sorry ass!" he said, the pony simply, "oh, I wouldn't bother with that, I've already taken care of all them" he said with a sinister smile, Flame looked him in the eyes, and saw the look, his eyes widened, "what…what did you do to them?" he asked in shock, Red Star just burst out laughing, and looked at him, "aha, I just love that look, you look so serious, that's what I like about you Flame, you have the most interesting reactions, to everything, it's hilarious" he said as he caught his breath, Flame wasn't amused, he just stared at him, "you haven't answered my question" Flame said sternly, Red Star stopped laughing, and looked at him, and just gave off another chuckle, "oh come on, your no fun, seriously what do you think I did, did you think I killed them…well I could if I wanted to, but that's not what I'm here for" he said yet again walking over to the other side of the bed.
"Then what are you here for?" Flame asked, Red Star smiled, "now that is the right question, simple enough, I'm here for you Flame" he said with a smile on his face, Flame's eyes widened in shock and fear, but he tried to mask it with anger, making Red Star laugh, "don't try to pull that 'brave face' look with me, I can see how you really feel right now, and relax I'm not going to hurt you, I'm just here to tell you some things" he said, Flame looked at him with a curious look, "tell me what things?" he said and Red Star smiled again, "now, we get down to business" he said as he took off the hat and the coat, and tossed them to the side, but pulled a black cloak out from the pocket, and draped it over his shoulders, and fastened it around his chest, he gave a sigh of relief, "ah, much better, wasn't one to dress up a lot" he said and smoothed his mane.
"Well?" Flame asked impatiently, Red Star looked at him, "hmm, oh yes, first of all, the last time we met you were very rude to me, but I'm willing to push that aside, there are more important things to talk about" he said, but Flame didn't remember what he meant, but listened intently, "secondly, you refused to head my warning" he asked with a straight face, no longer smiling.
Flame felt confused, "what warning, you never told me anything…" he said, but Red Star looked at him intently, "oh but I did, remember back in PonyVille, I told you things were going to get worse for you, but you didn't listen, and it looks like I was right" he said gesturing to the bandages, Flame thought for a moment, and then realized he was right, he did remember something like that, "wait, so you knew this was going to happen, you knew some assassin was going to try and kill Shining Armor, why didn't you tell me that" he said with disbelief in his voice.
A stern look appeared on Red Star's face, "it wouldn't matter if I told you or not, it couldn't be stopped" he said as he walked over to the window and looked out, into the storming night, "what are you talking about, I could have done something about it, I could have stopped the speech before it happened, if you had information about that, you should have gone to the Princess's, they could have stopped it" Flame said, Red Star gave off a light chuckle.
"Oh Flame, sometimes you are so ignorant, still thinking that the Princess's can stop every bad thing, but even the Princess's won't be able to stop what is coming" he said still looking at the raging storm, Flame couldn't understand what he meant, "I'm not sure I understand" Flame said, Red Star didn't turn to him, "everything happens for a reason, you of all ponies should know that, everything is planned out by fate, every step we take in our lives, every choice, every action, it's all planned out, fate has known every choice you've made, and every choice you will make, from the moment your born, to the moment you will die" he said finally turning to him.
Flame just listened in amazement, but he still couldn't understand something, "how is it you know all this, how is it that you knew that this is going to happen?" Flame asked, Red Star looked away for a minute, the briefest glimmer of sadness in his eyes, and then it was gone, and he looked back up at Flame with a small smile, "I…have my ways, which brings me to the other reason as to why I'm here" he said walking up to the bed, and look of seriousness on his face, making Flame tense up.
"I'm here to warn you yet again, if you think things are bad now, there only going to get worse, something's coming Flame, something that will affect you on a personal level, something that can't be stopped" he said, staring Flame in the eyes, Flame felt his throat dry up, but he found the words to speak, "I'm not sure, I understand what you mean" he said, Red Star turned and walked back to the window and stared out once again, "it's amazing, how you ponies live your lives, completely unaware of how things can be taken away from you in an instant, and your left wondering, how it all went so wrong, it's fate, fate plans every step of our journey, from the cradle to the grave, I've been around for quite some time, I've watched you all, change in many ways, thinking you know so much about the world, yet still completely clueless, there's a storm coming, not like this one, but something bigger, something even the Princess's won't be able to stop, and it's going to make you question, everything you know about the world" he said, and they both fell silent.
Flame couldn't find the words to respond, just then the clock chimed, and Red Star turned and started making his way to the door, but Flame stopped him, "wait!" he said, Red Star stopped at the door, but didn't turn around, so Flame continued, "why bother telling me this, if you said there's no way to stop it?" he asked, Red Star sighed and looked back at him and took a few steps toward the bed, "I just wanted to let you know, so you can expect it, the world works in mysterious ways, and for reasons even I can't explain, fate seems to have a particular interest in you Flame, all will be revealed to you in time" he said as a flash of lightning filled the room, and suddenly the bed side lamps went out and the room filled with darkness, and just seconds later they came back on, and Flame looked around the room, and mush to his shock, he was alone.
He looked around, the doctor's cloak on the ground was gone, there was no sign that there was another pony in the room with him, he was alone, Flame couldn't understand, the lights were only out for a few seconds, there's no way he could have left that quickly, but yet he was entirely alone.
Flame looked at the clock, and it was well past midnight, he had thousands of thoughts swirling through his mind, but he still needed sleep, he gave off a heavy yawn, he would think more about it tomorrow, he turned and lay down on his side, and slowly closed his eyes and drifted off into sleep.
A/N: well there you have it; this was an interesting chapter, see you all next time, hope you all enjoyed.