Chapter six
Recovery

Author notes: hey hey guys and gals. Here is the new chapter. ain't got a lot to say right now so ill just let you read the chapter.

"hello rarity" nurse red heart said as rarity walked in carrying a vase of flowers.

"hello nurse red heart" she replied," how is he today"

"the same" she replied frowning," rarity I know I've said this many times before, but he lost a lot of blood and we don't know when he'll wake up"

"I know, but it doesn't hurt to ask" rarity said smiling," can I go in"

"of course" the white pony with the nurse hat waved rarity on through to the hallway. Rarity passed the already occupied rooms filled with sick and injured ponies. She reached the end of the hallway and entered the room on her left.

Lightning was laying on the hospital bed with bandages wrapped around his head and over his eye, he was still passed out from when he had received his new gash that the figure had given him.

"hello lightning dear" rarity said," I brought you new flowers. I still don't know what kind you like so I bought two of every kind they had" she lifted the dry flowers from her last visit and replaced them with the new ones.

"you look better today" she said to lightning hoping he would wake up and start talking to her. She sat down on the spare couch in the room and looked at lightning. As she was sitting a doctor pony walked in and said," hello miss rarity. I hope you don't mind but it's time to change his bandages"

" hello doctor and no I don't mind at all" she said smiling at the doctor.

" I see you brought your friend new flowers today" the doctor said as he pulled a pair of scissors from his lab coat," you always bring in the most wonderful flower arrangements"

Rarity blushed," oh it's nothing, just a special talent of mine"

"yes, a special talent indeed" he said as he went along cutting the bandages from lightning's head. As the doctor pulled the last layer of bandage from lightning's eye he examined his eye ," now how did this happen" he said scrunching his face up as he thought.

"what's the matter" rarity asked getting up from the couch.

"well the only possible explanation is that somehow blood entered his iris and discolored it, making it red" he said rubbing his chin with his hoof.

Rarity walked over to the doctor's side and looked at lightning, "let me see"

The doctor shrugged and he gently pushed lightning's eyelids up revealing that the one eye had turned from green to red. Rarity looked at the eye and them shook her head. The doctor released the eyelid gently and then began his examination of the long gash that had stitches covering it.

" well other than his iris turning red, everything seems to be normal" he said as he began to wrapped lightning's head with fresh bandages.

"but will his actual eye be fine" rarity asked as she moved to look out the window.

"but of course" the doctor said," his iris will just be red instead of green. There is nothing we can do about it"

"I understand doctor. Thank you for all your help" rarity said.

"it's my job miss rarity. You take care now" he said as he left the room.

Rarity stood at the window for next three minutes before she walked back to lightning and said," I have to go now, I'll see you tomorrow"

Rarity left the hospital and went back to her boutique to finish up on some dresses that had to be shipped out soon. The rest of rarity's was pretty normal for her. A couple of customers, a few sales, and mostly just working. She finally finished the last dress that had to be shipped tomorrow and she retired to her room.

The next day rarity woke to the rising sun," celestia, every time I look at that sunrise I am amazed at how you can do it" she said to herself.

Rarity got up and walked over to her mirror, she gasped at the sight of her lovely mane, "last night must have been horrible" she said not remembering any trouble sleeping. She grabbed a hair brush with her magic and started to comb out her mane. When she finished her brushing she went down to the kitchen and made herself breakfast. After she was done eating the small meal she had prepared herself, she went outside to take her usual walk.

Rarity took her time walking to the hospital to do her daily visit with lightning. It had been about four days since lightning had been carried to the hospital by rarity and fluttershy.

She entered the hospital and said hello to nurse redheart manning the front desk.

"oh rarity" she yelled out," great news sweetie"

"what is it" rarity asked politely.

"last night just around midnight, lightning runner woke up" the nurse said excited.

"really" rarity asked getting excited too, "can I"

"go,go,go" nurse redheart said pushing rarity down the hallway, "I know how you feel about him rarity"

"thank you" rarity said and ran off down the hallway.

When rarity burst through the door she saw the doctor removing the last bandages from lightning.

"okay lightning it looks like you don't need bandages anymore, but those stitches will need to be removed about three days from now" the doctor said.

"thanks" she heard lightning say, "can I have that mirror over there"

"yes but before you look I have to explain something" the doctor said.

Rarity picked up the mirror with her magic and levitated it over to lightning.

"ah rarity! I was expecting you anytime soon" the doctor said.

"hello doctor, don't you think it's best to let him see first" rarity said.

The doctor shrugged and said," I'll leave you two alone, I've already explained it to rarity"

Lightning took the mirror and looked at his eye,"w...what is this" he said as he saw that his iris had turned red.

" well the doctor guesses that somehow blood got into your iris and changed the color to red" rarity said. Lightning threw the mirror against the wall.

"lightning don't get mad" rarity said," you still look the same to me" she threw herself on top of him, "I was so worried about you"

Lightning jumped as rarity hugged him fiercely, he hesitated at first but then slowly hugged her back," thanks rarity. I know sometimes I'm difficult to be around" he smiled down at her," now, what time am I allowed to leave this boring place" he said changing the subject.

" hold on, I'll go ask the doctor" rarity said releasing her hug and walking out into the hallway. When she was out of his room lightning threw his head back against the pillow. He picked up a shard of glass from mirror he had thrown at the wall with his magic.

The shard floated over to him and he looked into the reflexive piece of glass staring at his newly colored eye," damn him. One day, one day I'm going to kill you, then I won't have you to worry about you in my life"

"good news" rarity said walking back in," the doctor said since your are awake and your eye seems t be fine, you can leave as soon as he gets the paperwork done. Oh and by the way, it was a little hard but I managed to keep your incident a secret from everypony except twilight, the princess, and of course the doctor and nurse redheart"

Lightning chuckled," thanks rarity, I don't really need everypony worrying about me"

"that's why I didn't say anything" rarity smiled," now come on let's get you out of that bed and get over to the lobby to sign the papers"

Lightning slowly got out of bed. He stretched his aching back and wings, he twisted his neck popping it, and then he picked up the flowers from the nightstand that rarity had brought him.

"I never leave a gift behind" he said to rarity.

After lightning had gone through the annoying business of signing through the many medical papers. He and rarity walked out of the hospital. They walked down the street, the ponies who looked hard enough at lightning gasped as they saw his new scar across his eye.

"come lightning I think you need some sweets in you" rarity said pulling him towards sugarcube corner as they walked past it.

"rarity I don't really want any sweets right now" he said as he was being dragged.

"nonsense anypony would be glad to get a sweet in them right now" she said still dragging him towards the door.

Lightning groaned as he was pulled inside," rarity how many times are you going to drag me into something" he said as he sat down at a table with rarity.

Rarity looked hurt," you mean you don't want to spend time with me"

Lightning flinched and stammered," no...n...no, I didn't mean that, I...I just" rarity hushed him, "don't worry lightning I'm just joking"

Lightning sighed and looked at two ponies sitting across from him. He looked around at the shop but then quickly turned his head back to the other pony sitting next to rarity," pinkie! When did you get here" he asked.

"I got here when I heard you come in" she said smiling," another two cupcakes? Be right back!" she zoomed back to the kitchen.

"she freaks me out sometimes" lightning said shaking his head. Rarity only had time to smile as pinkie zoomed back with two cupcakes.

"here ya go" she said setting down the cupcakes. As she was giving lightning his cupcake she looked at his eye," whoa! What happen to your eye! It's all different from the other one! Are you okay" she said bouncing around the table.

"it's...uh... It's nothing" he said.

"are you sure"

"If it's my eye, then I'm pretty sure that I know what I'm talking about"

"okey dokey" she bounced off leaving the two with their cupcakes. Rarity and lightning runner ate their cupcakes as she rambled on about the latest dresses she was making. Throughout most of the conversation lightning sat there bored out of his mind, looking at rarity as she paused a few times from her talking to take a small bite of her cupcake.

When she had taken the last small bite out of the dessert lightning quickly seized the opportunity," come rarity let's go" he said getting up. They said goodbye to pinkie who was putting freshly baked goods in the window and they walked outside.

"twilight said that she would like to see you when you woke up" rarity said as they walked through town.

"what for"

"I honestly don't know"

Lightning nodded," well let's get this over with then" they walked off to twilight's library.

They reached the tree and entered the door," twilight! Lightning is here" rarity yelled into the tree.

"oh good! Can you bring him up here" twilight yelled from upstairs.

Rarity and lightning walked upstairs. As they walked onto the second floor lightning saw twilight sitting next to princess celestia, it looked like they were going over some blueprints and papers. Celestia looked up and smiled at lightning, "please don't runaway this time"

Even though lightening wanted to fly off like he did last time, he willed himself to stay.

"if you don't mind rarity. We have to talk to lightning alone" twilight said looking up from the papers.

"but" rarity started before she was stopped by twilight," alone rarity"

Rarity slowly nodded and walked downstairs.

"now lightning runner, how are you" celestia began the soon to be long conversation.

It was about three hours that rarity had waited, during those three hours she decided to lay down and take a small nap as she waited for lightning to come down. As she slept on the extra couch against a wall in the library she dreamt about dress designs and to her surprise she dreamt about lightning also.

"hey rarity, rarity. Wake up" a voice said as she was being nudged. She opened her eyes to see a smiling lightning next to the couch, looking at her with his green and new red eyes.

She rubbed her eye with a hoof," lightning? How long was I waiting"

"oh I say about three and a half hours" lighting said," come on let's go"

As they walked out of the library rarity asked lightning," so what did you talk about in there"

Lightning hesitated for a bit," we uh...talked about how I need to uh... How I need to forget about my past"

Rarity looked at lightning sensing he was lying. Lightning just looked forward as they walked on.

When they reached lightning's house they went inside to find three fillies inside playing around with lightning's armor. The fillies were wearing the lightweight armor and were pretending to be what it seemed to be guards.

"children! Get out of that!" rarity said rushing over to help them out of the big armor.

"now children you should know better than to play with strangers things" rarity said as she pulled the last piece of armor off of the filly," say you're sorry"

The three fillies walked over to lightning," we're sorry" they said together.

"it's fine but next time you should ask" lightning said as he held the door open for them.

By now the sun was lowering behind the hills and the moon was rising," if you don't mind rarity I'm going to go to sleep" lightning said as he walked up stairs.

"that's okay. Um lightning" she asked.

He stopped and looked behind him," yeah"

"is it alright if I stay here tonight"

"it's fine with me" he said as he continued his walk up the stairs.

When lightning had gone to his room rarity began to pick up the stray pieces of armor. She placed neatly against the wall. She then began to do a little cleaning, she dusted the walls and counters in the kitchen. She then washed the dishes. When she was done with her little cleaning spree she retired to the guest room upstairs.

When lightning heard rarity close her door he silently opened his door and crept down to the living room. Lightning quickly strapped himself into his armor but as he was strapping on the last piece of armor he accidentally bumped into the wood pile near the stove sending logs thumping down onto the floor.

"lightning! What was that" rarity yelled from the guest room. Lightning could hear rarity's hoof steps as she ran to the stairs. He quickly got the barbed sword and his curved dagger and ran out the front door.

"lightning where are you going" rarity said as she saw his armored body go through the door. She raced after him out into the cold night. As her face hit the cold air she scanned the area in front of the house for any sign of lightning. When she saw that he wasn't near the house she ran off into to town to search for him.

Lightning watched from on top of his roof as rarity raced off,"phew, that was close" he flapped his wings and flew towards canterlot. He sped through the cold air, he could feel the wind enter through the joints of his armor and he could feel the air resistance that it created. He reached the glorious city only to fly over the many stores and few houses.

Lightning flew to where a large window was placed on the wall of the castle. He hovered just in front of the window as he used his magic to pull his curved dagger from its sheath. He then started to make the dagger draw a big enough circle that he could fit through. He kept the dagger circling on the glass until the glass pane popped out and he caught it with his hooves. Lightning sheathed the dagger and then flew the glass pane over to a ledge, he placed the glass down gently and he flew a few feet from the hole he made.

Lightning beat his wings against the air and folded them against his body as he dove through the hole. He instantly flapped his wings as soon as he was in the castle. He took in his surroundings and flew off down the hall.

When he reached the end of the long hallway, he dropped to the floor and strode over to the stone wall of the hall.

"now where is it" lightning said as he looked around the wall.

He noticed that a stone slab was sticking out a bit from the others," there you are" he whispered as he pressed the stone in.

A soft metallic clanking came from within the wall and a door slid to the side revealing a spiral staircase leading upwards.

"fancy that, she was right" he walked into the stairs case and began his walk up the stairs.

Lightning came to the end of the stair case, he saw a lever on the wall which he pulled down with his magic. The wall on the opposite side of the lever slid upwards with the same soft metallic clank. He walked into the room the secret door led to.

As lighting walked in he looked around and saw three ponies in the room. He looked closer and saw that it was princess celestia, princess Luna, and twilight standing in the room.

"so you came after all, I was having my doubts" celestia said turning to face him," did any guards see you"

Lightning walked closer his armor shining In the moonlight that came from the multiple windows in the room," nope, I came through the window" he said.

Twilight walked up to lightning," you know lightning, this is going to break rarity's heart"

" yeah, I know but only for a while"

"very well" celestia said walking up to the two," let's go over the plan again"

"right" lightning cleared his throat and then went through the various steps of the plan they had cooked up in the library.

Celestia nodded after he was finished," okay let's get this going" she stepped back from lightning as her horn glowed a flash of light appeared next to lightning and when the light subsided a exact copy of lightning runner was standing there, the only thing different was that it was missing the armor that lightning wore.

" illusion spell, one of my favorites" celestia said smiling.

Lightning then proceeded with taking his armor off and placing it on the copy. He strapped the sword and dagger to the copy, he looked at celestia," try not to damage the sword"

" I'll try not" she smiled," come lets go" she said to the copy. Celestia and the lightning copy walked out of the room leaving lightning, twilight, and Luna standing in there.

" remember twilight, don't tell rarity" lightning said," no matter how much this hurts her"

Twilight nodded but shuddered as a loud explosion ranged out from the hall outside the of the room they were in.

"quickly lightning" Luna said opening a door to the balcony," thou must leave"

"good luck" twilight said as lightning grabbed a cloak from a bench and ran outside.

" thanks, I'll need it" he said jumping off the ledge and off into the dark night.

Author notes: I have to say, that I felt that I rushed this chapter a bit and to me it feels like it was little cheesy. Meh I'll continue to write and improve XD

PEACE!