//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Survival against all odds // by thesupernile //------------------------------// Twilight had been taking the day off. Months and months of reports where bad news turned to worse news was exhausting. It would've been overwhelming even without that last report. Visiting Fluttershy was third in her checklist of things to do on a relaxing day. She'd eventually found Fluttershy out the back of her cottage, feeding her army of fluffy or feathered or scaly animals. Fluttershy loved her animals. Every creature could have a home here. Here, they were loved. “How is the search going?” Fluttershy worried, “I hope those poor ponies are alright.” “Sadly not,” Twilight sighed, “just got the report from the guard. The search has been called off. No one survived.” “That's awful,” Fluttershy whispered, “are you sure they're not still in the forest somewhere?” Twilight explained, “They were attacked by timberwolves. That's what we think at least. With no bodies to confirm it we have no idea what really happened. But there are no more leads.” Silence made sadness intensify. Fluttershy turned back to her critters just in time to hear a scream. “Help!” Instantly, the two mares snapped their heads towards the sound. On the hilltop, a blue pegasus limped forwards. Both mares rushed to her aid. “Are you alright?” Fluttershy asked the mysterious mare, neither of them had seen her before, which was strange in a town so small as Ponyville. “Fluttershy look,” Twilight pointed to the mare's leg, which was soaked in blood. A kind of makeshift bandage made crimson wrapped her leg. Eliciting a short gasp, the half treated wound looked bad. That kind of blood loss couldn't be healthy. “Find the others…” the pegasus gasped before collapsing to the floor. Fluttershy immediately rushed forwards, desperate to the pony. “You poor thing,” she reassured her, pressing down on the bandage, “Twilight?” “I'll get help,” she decided, “or do you want me to risk teleporting her to hospital?” “We should be able to manage,” Fluttershy inspected the bandage, “the work is bad and I think this is a towel but we can save her.” Why would someone use a towel as a bandage? Didn't they know to bring a first aid kit with them? And what had caused the wound? There were too many questions with no answer. A flash of purple light and Twilight was gone, leaving Fluttershy alone with the injured pegasus. She was terribly malnourished. Ribs stuck out through her chest and her head looked like a skull. Sunken eyes and meagre muscles. Another few days and she'd probably die of starvation. “Angel, could you please get me some water?” Fluttershy asked the bunny beside her. A flash of mischievous disobedience flashed across his face. “I don't have time to argue, Angel,” Fluttershy added with a twinge of annoyance. The rabbit rushed off to assist her. While she waited, Fluttershy undressed the wound to administer a clean bandage. The wound was bad, but it had began to clot. It would probably need stitches but she shouldn't have to get her leg amputated. That was good news at the least. Wrapping the wound in spools of cotton bandages, Fluttershy worried for the poor pony. This pegasus’ life was in her hands and she wouldn't let the pegasus die. Placing pressure on the wound was hard. Ponies were harder to keep alive than bunnies and birds. For one, they were much bigger. And this wound was the worst she'd seen on a pony. Seemingly hours later, Angel returned with a bowl of water. The kind Fluttershy might use for birds or rabbits. Not exactly what she'd wanted but about what she'd expected. She would have to make do with it. Dribbling the water into the mare's mouth, lifesaving liquid entered her throat. Fluttershy was careful, only tipping a tiny fraction of the bowl into her mouth, waiting till it was swallowed, then tipping in a little more. She needed water and Fluttershy wanted to help. But drowning her wouldn't do anyone any favours. Twilight teleported back, purple light spilling into the corner of Fluttershy’s eyes. She looked just as worried as Fluttershy. “The ambulance is coming,” Twilight informed her, “they said five minutes.” “Do you think she'll be alright?” Fluttershy kept pressure up, stopping the blood escaping. “I hope so,” Twilight frowned, “have you seen her before?” “No. Have you?” Fluttershy looked over at her again. Her cutie mark didn't bring back any memories, even after she'd brushed off the mud that half covered it. “No idea…” Twilight paused, the pegasus was missing feathers on her wing. Not many and not enough to be a hindrance to flight, but they had the exact right hue. The same shade of blue. “Wait,” Twilight amended her previous words in disbelief, “this is… it's her.” “Who?” Fluttershy asked perplexed, “you alright Twilight? You look pale.” “I… the guard said…” Twilight mumbled, “she's the blue pegasus.” “Uhm. Yes. She is blue isn't she?,” Fluttershy awkwardly agreed, “so?” “She's one of the survivors Fluttershy,” Twilight explained at last, “one of the ponies we've been searching for.” “She is?” Fluttershy's thoughts flashed between happiness and immense sadness, “that would explain the malnutrition.” “Malnutrition…” Twilight repeated. They really needed to get this pony to hospital, before it was too late. As she spoke, their ambulance finally arrived. Pulled by a strong earth pony, it pulled up beside them. It was only a simple flat wooden carriage, just enough to get a pony to their local clinic. But a thing like this would save the pegasus’ life. The bumpy ride didn't really matter. Fluttershy and Twilight had to fly to keep up with the pony pulling the ambulance. Crowds of ponies parted for the strange pegasus bandaged and bloodied, riding frail on a wooden cart. Sirens blared as a precaution but ponies knew to move aside without it. Without medical attention, this pony might die but fortunately, the hospital wasn't far. Standing alone at the top of the hill, it resembled a country house. With two large wings extending slightly on either side and an abundance of windows for natural light. Bright red and adorned with a cross, the sign delegated it as a medical facility. For such a small town, the Ponyville hospital was large. It served as the main hospital for the area and it was the perfect place to save the blue pegasus. She was fortunate. They'd scarcely entered the building before a team of doctors were ready to take over. Transferring her from cart to hospital bed was as easy as basic telekinesis. Wheeling her through the green corridors wasn't any harder. Then she was in the operating room and it was out of their control. Twilight wanted to watch, make sure she'd be alright, but it was forbidden to without express consent, which the pegasus was in no place to give. Her heart ached for that pony. She had to survive. Someone had to have made it out of that nightmare. But that wasn't for her to change. She'd done everything she could. Only the doctors could save her now. Waiting in silence was unbearable. “Are you sure I can't see her?” Twilight asked desperately, “I'm just so worried about her.” “Immediate family only,” the nurse at the desk explained. Twilight sighed, “but this isn't an ordinary situation. We don't even know if she-” “Just because you're a Princess doesn't mean you have different rules. No ponies ‘cept for family.” “This has nothing to do with me being a Princess. I just want to help her,” Twilight complained. “Uh huh,” the nurse ignored her, “like I said, I don't make the rules. Complain to some pony else.” Deflated, Twilight returned to her nervous seat reluctantly. Fluttershy was even worse. If this pony didn't make it Twilight didn't know what Fluttershy would do. Probably lock herself in her cottage and never come out. It wouldn't be the first time she'd tried that one. At long last, a medical pony emerged from the corridor. “Twilight and Fluttershy?” She asked. Twilight immediately stepped up and was over. Fluttershy took a little longer, biting her hooves nervously. “Yes?” Twilight asked, “is she alright?” The nurse nodded, “Her condition is stable.” Both mares let out a relieved sigh. Someone had survived. They'd saved her. Finally someone had made it out alive. “What happened to her?” The nurse asked, “she looks starved.” “It's a long story.” The nurse looked at her for more explanation. Twilight quickly added, “it's a matter of the royal guard. We'll issue a statement later.” Sceptical, the nurse nodded and accepted their explanation. “Alright then,” she started walking, “follow me.” Through the sinuous labyrinth of halls, the pony led them to a small hospital room. Where, unconscious on the bed, lay the pegasus. Another wave of relief overcame them. She was alive. Sleeping peacefully, by the looks of things. Finally, the pony could rest safe. She was saved. When Isabel awoke to silent darkness she thought she was dead. There should have been something reassuring about that. Finally, her pain would be over. Except it wasn't. She could still feel the throbbing of her mangled leg. Could even death not end her suffering? She should just give up. Drift away to that place of painlessness. She almost did. Go back. Give up. Leave this place behind with all its pain and suffering. Be free of that endless ache of hunger. She almost did. Then she opened her eyes and she was safe. Only briefly, but enough to anchor her to life. They were closed just as quickly. She was under a blanket. Safe in bed. Was the past month all a dream? Of course it wasn't. Nothing that awful could ever be a dream. Even a nightmare couldn't rival it. It would always be there with her, like a tumour against the heart. Whenever she closed her eyes. Entrenched in her mind. The suffering couldn't leave her. A dull sound. Was that a voice? No one was out here in the wild. Not anymore. Aiden and Henry had left her after the attack. But the bed wasn't the wild. Could she have been saved? What angel has rescued her? She intended to thank her as soon as she found out. Another murmur. Did someone want her? Flickering eyelids blocked sight for moments at a time. Purple was what she saw. A purple pony. “Are you alright?” The voice said. It was that pony from before, she realised, as her memory of the hill came back to her. What was her name? “I'm Twilight, do you remember me?” Twilight. She didn't know it. But she recognised her. Where was the other one? She couldn't see her here. Maybe they'd gone home. Or gone to get more help. “What's your name?” Twilight smiled over her. Her imagination played tricks on her, likening that visage to an angel. At least the wings were accurate. She almost lied to her. Isabel was her name but the thought seemed as sickening as that history she longed to forget. A reminder of each of them. Phoebe. Emma. Oscar. Perhaps even Henry and Aiden. All of them were gone because of her. But she had to take that responsibility. It was hers to bear. “I… I'm…” she stammered. Should she tell the truth? What was her name but a reminder of a thing she no longer was. Everything before the beach seemed blurry. She wanted a new name so she could forget. But she shouldn't forget. Forgetting meant killing what was left of the others. So she told the truth. “Isabel,” she decided, “my name.” “Isabel?” Twilight gently spoke, “you're safe now. Don't worry.” Her bad decisions raced back at her. They should have stayed put on that beach. She shouldn't have convinced them. She could've saved everyone. Or perhaps not. Who knows what might have or might not have happened. “Do you want to tell us what happened?” Twilight asked her, “we have some idea but the details are foggy.” She didn't really, but it deserved to be told so she mumbled it quietly. Twilight had to listen close to hear it. Every detail. From the beach to the forest. From the rain to the rocky cliff. From the jungle to the blissful flight. She told her everything. Once she was done, she noticed the entry of the guard. How long had she been there? Isabel had no idea. Golden armour covered her body, shining slightly in the light passing through the window. “The ghost comes to life,” she noted. Isabel responded with confusion, “Ghost?” “My name’s Swirling Gale. I saw your message. The one you left on the beach,” she continued, “the guard had me tracking you down for the past month.” “Are any of them alive?” Isabel asked hopefully, “did you find anyone?” “No.” Isabel's hope vanished in an instant. Swirling added, “I know what you're going through Isabel. Losing someone is hard.” She'd used her name. Isabel. But when had she told her it? Twilight didn't have time to tell anyone. “How did you know my name?” She asked fearfully. “One of your friends lived long enough to speak a few words,” Swirling explained, “His name was Oscar, he wanted you to have these.” She passed her back the feathers. Isabel looked at them. Definitely hers, she decided, but not any more. They were Oscar's now. No matter what he had said. “He deserves to have them,” Isabel handed them back to Swirling, “I have plenty.” Swirling nodded and tucked them away. “Why feathers?” She asked, “pegasus feathers aren't worth anything.” Isabel almost laughed, “they don't have to be. It was all I could give.” With a silent nod, Swirling accepted the reasoning. She said getting up, “thank you for surviving. I'm not sure I could've taken failure. I'm sorry I didn't move faster. Catch up.” “It was my idea to keep moving,” Isabel whispered, “they died because of me.” “Be fair to yourself,” Swirling reassured her, “you made a decision with the information you had. Just because hindsight tells you it was wrong now doesn't mean it was then. There will always be a better and worse choice than the one you made. Who knows what would've happened if you stayed. It might have been better. It might not. “What I mean to say is: don't blame yourself for the decisions you made. It's not worth it.” Isabel nodded. “Do you have any family?” Swirling changed the subject, “someone to go back to?” Isabel shook her head, “I don't.” “Where are you going to go?” Swirling asked, “if you don't mind me asking.” She hadn't thought about that long. Could she tell them her past? Or would that make her seem crazy? Maybe she would one day. But they didn't need to know yet. “I think I'll stay here,” Isabel smiled, “start a new life. Do something flight related.” “Sounds like you have a plan,” Swirling smiled, reassured that Isabel would be alright, “tell me if you need anything. I'm sure the guard has some provision for helping survivors get back on their feet.” Isabel nodded again. After she had recovered, she would have a new chance at life. Being a pony wasn't even that bad once you were used to it. Especially when she could fly. She could make a life here. Be happy. Live for everyone she had lost. Her new life would be awesome.