ADOR Chapter 14: Helpless
#14 of A Dash Of Recklessness
Red's POV:
"Rainbow Dash?!" I said in a panic. She was beginning to gasp for air. I jumped up and looked over the edge.
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" I screamed. The conductor of the ride looked up at me in confusion.
"SHE NEEDS TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL! GET US DOWN!" I yelled down to him. His eyes widened and he rushed to the controls, pulling levers and pushing buttons.
"It's not working!" He yelled, continuing to fiddle with the machinery. I was lost in a sea of horror, knowing we were stuck up here, helpless. I looked back at Dash, who was starting to look faint.
"Dash just... Just hold on! Please!" I said, kneeling down to her. She looked up at me, tears forming on her eyes as she gasped for air. I looked out to the sky, seeing shooting stars. I closed my eyes and prayed.
"Please... Someone help us." I said silently.
"Give her to me!" I heard a booming voice behind me say. I turned around to see..
"Princess Luna!" I said in astonishment.
"If you want her to live, hand her to me." She said again. I quickly picked her up and transferred her to Luna, who was hovering just outside the basket.
"I will take her to the hospital. Do not worry." She said, speeding away before I could say anything. I fell back into the seat, closing my eyes.
"Please... Please be alright." I said to myself.
TWO HOURS LATER: Red's POV
I rushed through the doors and into the hospital, running to the front desk.
"Where is she?" I said impatiently. The nurse pointed to the first room behind her. I sped past her and into the room, seeing Rainbow Dash lying down, asleep. I froze beside her, heart pounding. Doctor Cross walked in, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Is she...Okay?" I asked.
"I'm.. Afraid not." The doctor said.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked, fear brewing in my gut.
"The nerve's are degrading...faster than expected." Doctor Cross said.
"But.. I... What does that mean?" I said, looking him in the eyes.
"It means that.. We don't know how long she has left." He said with great sadness in his eyes.
"You.... You said.." I stuttered.
"I know what I said. But I never expected this.." He said, turning away from me. "She.. She probably won't survive the night."
He walked to the door and turned to me, "I know this is sudden... No one expected this. She should be waking up any time now. You should think... About saying goodbye." He said, leaving the room and shutting the door. I was speechless.. I approached Dash and stroked her hair. I fell to my knees, my head falling to the bed.
"Please...God please don't do this.." I cried, bursting into tears.
"Don't go.. Please don't leave...Please god don't leave me..." I said between sobs. I sat there holding her hand, weeping into the sheets on the bed.
"Dash... I'm so sorry.. I could have...I should have done more." I said, the last vestiges of my sanity breaking down. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
"Sorry about what?" I heard her say weakly. My eyes snapped open as I looked up at her. She was smiling. I put her into a hug, holding her so tight I thought I might choke her.
"It's good to see you too Red.." She said, returning the hug.
"I love you more than anything in this world Rainbow Dash." I said quickly.
"I know that.. Where's all this coming from?" She said groggily. It was then that I realized they hadn't told her. More tears began to well up in my eyes as I fell into her. She held my head to her chest as I wept.
"It's okay Red. I'm here.. We still got a week remember?" She said smiling. "No tears now."
I looked up at her, wanting to scream. I wanted to tear this whole room apart. It wasn't fair. NONE OF IT WAS FAIR! My train of thought was interrupted by a knock at the door. Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and the others entered the room, gathering around Rainbow Dash.
"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked. I could see dried tears on her face, on all of their faces. They must have heard the news too. I had never seen Applejack cry, but you could tell her face had seen tears from the way her eyes looked, swollen and red. All six of them were a mess, Spike included.
"Yeah.." Rainbow Dash said, "They gave me some medicine to help stop the pain, I fell asleep right after it though.."
"That's good.." Rarity said, sniffling as she wiped away some of the eye liner that was running down her face.
"Hey guys.." Dash said.
"Yeah Dash? What did you need?" I asked
"I'm kind of tired.. I think I'm going to go to sleep for a bit.." She said. A fresh batch of tears finding its way out as I began to sob lightly, hearing the others do the same.
"Do you think.." I started to say, holding back more tears. "You could stay awake a bit longer?"
"I really want to sleep.." She said with an innocent smile. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Celestia should be raising the sun soon, you should go see it. Don't let me stop you from enjoying yourself."
It was at that point that Pinkie broke down and started crying into Twilight's shoulder.
"Alright.." I nodded, giving her hand a squeeze before she closed her eyes. I stood up and looked at the others. We all stood there watching her sleep, never leaving her side. Occasionally letting out a sob that couldn't be held back anymore. It was then that... I saw something. There was a letter on the stand next to the bed. I picked it up and looked at the name on the envelope, dictating who it was from.
"Who's Zecora?" I asked, turning to the group. Twilight took the envelope from my hand and looked at it.
"Zecora is a zebra who lives in the Everfree forest. She's a friend.." Twilight said, opening the letter. Her eyes went wide as she read it, snapping her head up to me.
"What does it say?" I asked.
She started reading it, "Dear my friend Rainbow Dash, A condition I heard you wish to surpass. A concoction I have found and made, come quickly if you wish my aid. My time I ask you do not waste, so please come to me with haste."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. There's a chance we could save her! Everyone in the room lit up with hope filling their eyes.
"She's all the way in the Everfree forest.. It could take us all night to get there and back..." I said.
"Not if I can help it.. Hold on Red." Twilight said, reaching out and grabbing me. There was a purple flash of light. We were no longer standing in the hospital. It was just me and Twilight, standing outside a house in the middle of a swamp-ish area. I looked over to Twilight, who looked extremely tired.
"That took a lot out of me... Usually it would be fine, but the distance was too much..." She said, panting. "Go get the potion, hurry."
I rushed to the door and knocked, a few seconds later the door opened, and a hooded figure answered it, looking me up and down.
"Who be tresspassin on my land? Begone, go, you must disband!" She said, about to close the door before I shoved it open.
"Please wait, Twilight Sparkle is here with me. I'm Rainbow Dash's husband." I said quickly.
"Ah yes you simply gave me fright, but late you are to have come this night." She said, walking inside.
"A warning I must give and am not sarcastic, this potion will not work if used with magic." She said, looking at Twilight.
"Oh no.." Twilight said, looking at me. "That means I can't teleport us back."
"I guess we'll just have to do it the old fashioned way." I said. Zecora put the portion in a small sack, which I slung over my shoulder.
"Thank you Zecora, I owe you more than one." I said dashing out of the building with Twilight following shortly behind me.
TEN MINUTES LATER: Red's POV
"Come on Twilight!" I yelled back, a good 20 feet ahead of her.
"I'm not... The most... ATHLETIC TYPE!" She yelled between gasps for air.
We ran down the path, occasionally stopping for Twilight to point me. I wasn't as familiar with Everfree as Twilight was.
"I don't remember that rock.." Twilight said, starting to sound worried.
"We can't be lost now.. just... just keep moving!" I said, keeping my pace.
"Red stop!" She shouted
"We can't stop now!" I yelled back.
"RED!" She screamed, forcing me to look back. My eyes widened in shock as my feet could no longer move. Twilight was trapped in an enormous spider web.
"Red cut me out of here.." She said frantically, looking around.
"With what?!" I asked, searching for something sharp. "Can't you use your magic?" I asked. Her eyes lit up.
"Oh right!" She said. The web began to glow with a purple hue. She tried to pull it down, but she couldn't move it.
"Can't you teleport out?" I asked, trying to think of ideas.
"I don't know.. The last teleport took a lot out of me, but I'll try." She said as her horn began to glow. There was a flash of light that forced me to cover my eyes. When I looked back, she was still in the web.
"It didn't work?" I said, looking the web up and down.
"I don't know why it didn't... The web must not be effected by magic." She said, starting to sound more worried.
"But that doesn't explain why YOU didn't teleport out." I said, trying to understand.
"I don't know! I'm trying okay?" She said angrily. It was then that something dawned on me.. I looked at the satchel with the potion in it. I looked up at Twilight, then out in the jungle. Rainbow Dash doesn't have very long...
"I'm sorry Twilight..." I said.
"Red... What are you.." I said as he sprinted off into the jungle. "RED WAIT! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME HERE!"
Panic started to sink in as I heard rustling nearby. I looked around with what little freedom I had. Then my heart dropped. The web was shaking... As if something was walking on it. I looked up and screamed, as a spider twice my size was crawling towards me, fangs extended.
"RED!!" I screamed, beginning to tear up.
"SOMEONE HELP ME!" I yelled hopelessly as the spider inched its way down to me. I closed my eyes and waited for the end, knowing there was nothing I could do. Then the movement stopped. I looked up at the spider, who was focused on something els. Immediately a rock came flying out of the jungle and hit the spider in the head. It squealed, looking around for the attacker.
"RAHHHHHH!" I heard a familiar voice yell. Red charged out of the tree's with a spear in hand, the tip made from a sharpened rock, fastened at the end of a sturdy looking stick. The spider jumped off the web and charged toward Red. Red lured it away into the forest. I was alone.. But at least I wasn't in danger of getting eaten. I struggled more to get free, but to no avail. Then I heard a noise behind me, I struggled to turn my head but was stuck in place by the webbing. I heard foot steps closing in on me. My eyes widened as I tugged at the web, fearing of what kind of horrid creature could be coming toward me. I heard something that I had not expected. Behind me was the sound of metal grinding against leather. Not three seconds later, a dagger was thrust through the webbing, next to my head. I stared at the long metal weapon as it moved down, cutting me free from the web. I fell to the ground, spinning around to meet my liberator. Only to catch a glimpse of a hooded figure sprinting into the trees.
"Wait!" I yelled, "Who are.."
It was gone.. I looked down, and noticed that whoever it was left his dagger. I picked it up and looked it up and down. There was a symbol etched into the metal. It was a star with a crescent moon whirling around it. It looked so familiar, I know I've seen it before... I was snapped out of my thoughts by a sudden scream.
"RED!" I yelled, sprinting into the forest in the direction of the shout. I peek through some bushes to see the spider sitting still, Red lying on the ground in front of it. I ran toward the spider and plunged the dagger into its thorax. To my surprise, it didn't react at all. I pulled it out and stabbed it again, no reaction. It was then that I realized.. It was dead. I walked around to the front, to see the spear Red had pierced through its head. I looked down at Red, who was panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face.
"Red! Are you okay?" I asked, kneeling down to his level.
"I've been better.." He said as I helped him sit up, now leaning against the trunk of a tree.
"Come on, we have to get back to the hospital, let's go!" I said taking about 10 steps before noticing he wasn't following me.
"I don't think I'm going anywhere.." He said.
"What do you.." I said before seeing a blood stain on his right pant leg. I approached it, slowly pulling it up. I saw two small holes which looked like fang marks.
"Oh my god..." I said fearfully.
"I would move... But I can't really feel my legs." He said looking up to me.
I grabbed him and tried to teleport us, but I was too weak. I didn't have the strength to get us out..
"Your going to need this." He said, handing me the satchel on his back.
"Red you cant be serious.." I tried to say.
"Listen, I can feel the venom. I'm not getting any better. Just take it and go.. It'll make me happy knowing I'll have saved 'Two' people's lives tonight." He said, giving me a weak smile.
"Red...You could die.." I said, on the verge of sobbing as tears filled my eyes.
"Hey hey... Come on now." He said with a gentle and caring voice, wiping the tears off my face. "Go be the hero Twilight. There's a friend that needs you."
"You can't expect me to just leave you here Red!" I said, "I can't just let you die here!"
"Twilight listen to me. I wake up every morning next to Rainbow Dash, knowing she might not wake up the next day. Each night I close my eyes, a little part of me dies. I can't keep going on knowing she might not be there when I wake up. But tonight I was given hope. And you are the only thing keeping it alive. If she dies, so will I. Maybe not immediately, maybe not with the same blinding rush of pain, but it would happen. I can't live without a heart. SO GO!" He yelled, pushing me back.
"SAVE HER! GOD DAMNIT SAVE HER!" Red yelled, tears streaming down his face. I wanted to cry. I wanted to just fall to the ground and curl up in a ball. I didn't want to leave him, but I knew what he said was true. I need to get this back to the hospital to save Rainbow Dash. I closed my eyes, having made my decision.
"You're not afraid to die?" I said, looking out into the forest.
"I've been dead for a long time.." He started to say, "I started living when I met Rainbow Dash. No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they'd die for. And I'd die for her."
I squeezed the satchel, holding it tight.
"Goodbye.." I said. I waited for a response, looking back at him. His eyes were closed...My emotions skyrocketed as I saw him fade from conciseness. I wiped my face, clearing the tears from my eyes and ran into the forest.
Pain was spreading like a disease. Flowing up my leg like a raging river. My vision faded to black, the sound around me waning as everything faded to black.
"Goodbye.." I heard, snapping me back to reality for a moment. My eyes shot open, the spider still dead in front of me. Twilight was gone. The pain now reaching my chest as I clenched my fists, wanting to scream. I blacked out again. I opened my eyes again, a small bit of life left in me, reaching out. What I saw surprised me. The hooded figure from earlier...
"You...You dropped your spear." I said, motioning to the dead spider, who was impaled on it. He walked towards me, his face concealed in the shadowy contents of his hood.
"Are... Are you Death?" I asked. Even in the black void of his cloak, I could make out a smile. My vision faded once again as I heard a small cackle from the hooded man.
"It kills me sometimes, how people die." I heard an elderly stricken voice say, followed by a sharp pain in my arm. I was forced back to reality. I looked down at my arm to see the man sticking a needle in me. The pain from the venom, which had moved to my arms, began to withdraw slowly. I looked up at him to notice he wasn't wearing a hood. Only what looked like a hood in the darkness that he was standing in. He was wearing a large hat, which blocked out the light of the moon from his face. A large cloak around him, as blue as the night sky alit by the moon. There was a crescent moon on his cloak, followed by many stars twisting around it. I could make out a long beard jutting out into the light as he took the needle out.
"You....why?" I said, realizing he had given me an antidote.
"Let's say Death has a heart." He said, turning and walking away.
"Wait! Who...Who are you?" I asked.
"Star." He said, disappearing into the forest. I stood up, still feeling weak, and hobbled forward. I stepped on something.. I looked down to see a rolled up piece of paper. I bent over and read it. It was a map.. With a red X on it. This must be where I am.. But how did.. I looked up into the forest, a smile appearing on my face.
"Thank you..." I said, before limping off into the forest.
"Damnit! Damnit damnit!" I said to myself. I looked at the pouch Red gave me, and up at the endless forest that laid in wait in front of me. I heard a noise, causing me to spin around. I saw the hooded figure from earlier, staring at me..
"Who.. Who are you." I said, brandishing the knife, my hand shaking. He just stood there, watching me.
"You cut me down... Why? And why did you leave your knife?" I asked, fear in my voice. He turned and bolt in the opposite direction.
"WAIT!" I yelled, running after him. I was faster than him. I inched closer and closer to him, reaching out to grab him as I neared his shadowy figure. My hand grabbed his cloak as I tripped on a rock. I fell to the ground, tearing his cloak off as he sprinted out of sight. I got up and looked around. Wait... I was on the path. I know where I am! He lead me here... Who is he? I looked down at the cloak, seeing the pattern of stars billowing around like a blanket across it, a crescent moon pasted on one side of it. It seemed so familiar... I know I've seen this before. I didn't have time to think about it. I shook my head and barreled down the path and out of the forest.
"I'm coming Rainbow Dash!" I said.
I followed the map out of the forest, finally seeing Ponyville near the end of my line of sight. A smile slid on to my face as a wave of happiness flooded over me. I fell to my knees, laughing. I made my way down the road, entering town square. I got many looks and gasps from people. I was pretty bruised and beaten up, not to mention the blood stain on my pant leg. I saw the hospital in sight. I saw someone coming out of the hospital.. It was Twilight!
"Twilight!" I yelled. She looked up, tears staining her face. She lit up when she saw me, surprise turning into happiness.
"RED!" She yelled, nearly tackling me to the ground with a hug.
"Your... But how?" She asked in disbelief.
"Let's just say.. Death has a heart." I said with a smile.
"What about Dash, can I see her?" I asked. Her smile turned into a frown as tears started to build up in her eyes.
"Red... She..." She said, looking up at me. My heart sank as I looked up. I started running with what strength I had left to the building.
"Red wait!" I heard her say as I burst through the door and down the hall. I opened the door and ran in, to see Spike, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, standing around the bed, crying. I heard a long monotone buzzing sound. I looked at the ECG, to see it flat lining...