Chapter11: Revival

It was a cold night outside the base when Firestorm awoke from his coma. The first pony he saw was a nurse who immediately left the room when she noticed him stirring. A few moments later Firebolt entered the room and stepped towards the bed, though he made sure to keep a safe distance to it. "Thank godness, you're awake. We've already feared the worst."

"You!" Firestorm exclaimed, failing to hide his fury. "Come closer."

Firebolt stepped two steps forward.

"I said, closer."

The golden stallion stepped up to the edge of the bed and smiled. "I'm-" He began, but Firestorm cut him off as he punched him right into the face. As the hoof hit his face he bit his tongue and tasted the flavour of his own blood. He slugged it down but a few drops dripped through his lips and dropped upon the bed. Firebolt had expected a reaction like this – only not so powerful. He spat out the remaining blood and chuckled dryly. "I suppose I deserved it. But could you let me finish next time before you punch me? I was going to tell you that I'm glad that I rescued you in time."

"You rescued me?" Firestorm aske – the anger in his voice was now mixed with confusion. "No, No, No. You are the pony who killed me almost!"

"Let me explain." Firebolt answered calmly. "Apocalypse took control over my body when I was unconscious. He used me to weaken you. I tried to stop him but he imprisoned my mind within my own body. There was nothing I could do but watch."

Firestorm tried again to punch him but, this time, he missed. Flailing with his forelimbs he tried to regain his balance. "Do you need any help?" Firebolt asked, grinning over the antics of the other stallion.

"Don't bother!" he shot back, again striking out at the stallion. "Tell me what happened to Rainbow."

"I will, but only if you accept my apology first."

"If she survived I may consider that, if not, I'll hold you responsible for her death and kill you." He answered scowling.

"Fair enough, I think. You'll be glad to hear that she's alive but her condition is rather bad." Firebolt said.

Firestorm let the information sink in, his eyes cast downward as he did so. After a few moments of uneasy silence he spoke again. "Apology temporarily accepted. So tell me, how come that you were able to rescue us?" Firestorm asked, truly curious.

"Don't you remember that Apocalypse left my body to finish you off?"

"No, not really." He answered.

"Well. I woke up the moment Apocalypse was about to kill you. I lunged at him, rammed my horn into his flank and created a plasmaball inside his body. It's a quite an unpleasant death." Firebolt told his wounded friend. "After this, I was going to save you but you turned down my help. The only thing you managed to get out before you went unconscious was Rainbow's name. I went searching for her and brought her to the medical station. After that I did the same with you."

"Where is she now?!" Firestorm asked worriedly.

"She's in the room next to you. But she's still in a coma." He answered calm.

"Can I see her?"

"The doctor said you have to stay in bed for at least two more days." The stallion said hortatively. "But if she'll wake up in this period I'm sure that they will make an exception." He added chuckling.

A few weeks later Firestorm waited in Rainbow Dash's room for her to wake up. As he noticed the slow movements of her eyes he grabbed her hoof. "She's waking up." He called out and two nurses entered the room. He bent down and whispered in hear ear, "I missed you."

She opened her eyes slowly and smiled as she saw the stallion next to her. "W-Where am I?" she asked.

"You're at the medical station." He answered in a soothing voice. "There's somepony who wants to talk to you. But, please, don't freak out"

"So, who is it?"

Firestorm stepped aside and allowed Firebolt into Rainbow's field of vision. As soon as the polychromatic Pegasus saw the golden stallion she screamed, "What is this backstabber doing here?"

"Easy now. He's the pony who saved your live." Firestorm tried to calm her.

"No! He's the one who attacked us!" She screamed in panic.

"Let him explain." He soothed her. "He's not the evil one."

"Not the evil one?!" She asked incredulously. "He lured us to come here and when we felt save he deviously attacked us!"

"It wasn't really me who attacked you. Look. Apocalypse took control of my body to take revenge on Firestorm."

"And you idiot actually believe this story?" She asked Firestorm. "Do you really trust him just like that?"

"I can understand that you're angry. But why do you think both of you are still alive? Apocalypse was going to finish you off." Firebolt explained. "I killed him before he could do it."

"Get him out!" Rainbow hissed.

"You better leave now." Firestorm said to Firebolt who nodded and turned away without another word.

"You shouldn't trust him." She mumbled as the stallion had left the room.

"Dashie, listen! I believe him because I saw the remains of Apocalypse's body." Firestorm reasoned. "Can you tell me why we're still alive if he really wanted to kill us?"

"I-I can't, but…"

"No buts." He interrupted her. "He's our friend, not our foe."

"Why hasn't he resisted Apocalypse?" She asked.

"He tried to but Apocalypse was too strong." Firestorm answered. "He's really sorry for what Apocalypse has done but it really isn't his fault. True, he can't make it undone, but he's trying his best to make up for it."

Firestorm went to the door and calling the stallion back in. Firebolt trotted to the bed, smiling genuinely. "I'm Sorry." He apologized, his tone nothing but sincere. He got ready to leave as the mare hindered him. "Wait!" She said a bit smiling. "Come closer to me."

The stallion got closer to her and Rainbow hold him with one hoof while she cuffed him with the other. "That was for almost killing me." The mare cuffed him again. "And that was for almost killing Firestorm." She released him and began to giggle.

"I might deserve it." Firebolt smiled and left the room to let the two ponies to themselves.

"I hope he isn't offended." She smiled and groaned as she tried to turn to Firestorm.

"I'm sure he isn't." Firestorm said softly.

The End