"Why am I doing this?" I asked as my chair was pushed by Fluttershy.

"You need to make some friends for the wedding!" She said.

"I figured you already had enough.." I said with a sigh.

"Everyone knows what I am, who is going to want to hang out with me?" I asked.

"I am getting sick of this side of you." Fluttershy said coming to a sudden halt, nearly throwing me from the chair. She walked in front and grabbed my chin, pulling it up to look her in the eyes.

"So LISTEN." She said with a slight hostility in her voice. My eyes widened in both shock and slight fear at the personality change.

"You are a good person. If you wanted to be alone all your life then.. Too bad." She said sternly, "But so long as I am your bride, you are going to meet new people. AND YOU ARE GOING TO LIKE IT!" She screamed. I was leaning back in my chair, staring into her eyes with my own dinner plate sized eyes.

"Got it?" She asked in a kinder tone. I nodded violently as she let go of my chin. "Good. Now let's continue." She said, returning to her original position and pushing me down the street. That's a side of her I haven't seen before... I am going to refrain from seeing it as much as possible.. I suppose I could go about trying to make friends. What's the harm in it? I could get laughed at? A bit too late for that.
---------------------------------------------

"Hey Fluttershy!" I yelled to her.

"Oh hello Red!" She said back as I approached her. I gave her a hug, smiling at seeing a familiar face for once.

"How has Dash been?" She asked.

"She's still asleep.. She's been in that coma for days." I said saddened.

"I'm sure she'll... Be fine.." Fluttershy said half heartedly.

"I'm sure your right. I just worry.." I said.

"Don't take this the wrong way.. I love that you care so much but... Why do you care so much?" She asked quizzically, "You don't even know her."

"Well.. I don't really know. Something about her just... Clicked." I said with a shrug.

"I know exactly what you mean.." She said, glancing over at Cecil with a smile. I looked over at him, my expression turning to confusion.

"What's wrong with him?" I said questioningly as I saw a look of half surprise half fear stuck on his face.

"Oh... We just had a long talk about meeting new people. He's just.. Nervous." She said.

"Okay..." I said.

"Sorry, but would you mind staying with him for awhile? I have to pick something up from home real quick." She said.

"Uh.. Sure?" I said reluctantly as she hurried off down the road. I walked over and wheeled him over to a bench, sitting down beside him.

"So..." I said. He blinked, snapping out of his daze.

"Oh.. Hey Red. When did you get here?" He asked.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." I laughed.

"Ghosts wouldn't compare.." He mumbled, shaking his head. "Anyways.. What's up?" He asked, stretching his arms.

"Nothing really.. Everything's been really slow lately.." I said, staring off towards the hospital.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I just... Can't sleep at night anymore. Things have been dull.." I replied.

"You're worried about her huh?" He asked, moving from his chair to the bench.

"I don't know why!" I said, scratching my head furiously. "I don't even know her.. But I can't stop thinking about her."

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" He asked.

"I don't know... I guess?" I said with a shrug.

"Well I think we have a case of it here." He said nudging me, a smile on his face.

"But I don't.. 'Love' her... I don't even know her. But when I saw her fall, it's like everything stopped. Nothing mattered at that moment, not me, not the people around me, just...Her." I said, "Maybe I do love her. Maybe there is such a thing as 'Love at first sight'. I don't know what to do.. "

Cecil gave a long sigh before turning to me, "“Well.. When we fall in love at a glance, the question we should ask ourselves is, What is it that we long for? Or maybe, What are we lacking so that we can turn life in the direction we want? Creativity? Confidence? Authority? Recklessness? Irresponsibility? Or even darkness? Maybe the lover is the outlaw in ourselves we don't quite have the nerve to claim. So do you want to know what I think you should do?" He said.

"What?" I asked, his words igniting a spark in me.

"Go to her. Be with her. Never leave her side. She quite literally 'Fell' into your life.. That's destiny if I've ever seen it." He said with a hand on my shoulder. I looked at him, thinking about everything that's happened since that day. I looked at him, a smile sneaking onto my face.

"Thank you Cecil." I said, pulling him into a hug.

"Ahg... Still... Recovering.." He said, patting me on the back. I pulled away, my hands on his shoulders as I stared at him.

"You're a good friend." I said. He raised his brows, a sparkle in his eyes as I said that. He smiled.

"What?" I asked. He seemed...Happier?

"No.. Thank you." Cecil said, standing up.

"Whoa easy.." I said, standing up and grabbing him.

"Nah... I think.. I'm feeling a little better." He said as I released him. He stood there for a moment.

"Yeah maybe I should sit down.." He said heavily as he stumbled forward slightly, sitting back into his chair. We both laughed. A good while passed as we talked.

"Actually you know.. I think I'm going to head to the hospital." I said.

"Yeah. I'm going to head back to the tower." He said with a chuckle.

"Shouldn't you be waiting here for Fluttershy?" He asked.

"It won't take long. I just need to grab a couple things. We were heading to the hospital anyways. I need an examination on the wound to see how it's healing. And Fluttershy was going to check on Dash, I'd imagine you're doing the same?" He said

"Yep. And thank you again, really." I said, giving him one hug before turning away.

"Hold on a moment.." He said, grabbing my arm.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There's something I have to tell you..." He said, a slight worry entering his voice.

"Is something the matter?" I asked. He paused, looking at me, then to the hospital. He placed his hands over his face and a muffled screamed was heard.

"What's wrong??" I asked in surprise. He took his hands away and looked up at me.

"I.. I can't tell you... DAMN IT!" He yelled.

"Why not?" I asked curiously.

"Just... Dash's accident... Might not have been an accident." He said hesitantly.

"What are you talking about? She was struck by lightning.." I said quizzicaly. He shook his head.

"Listen.. There might be someone who wants to hurt her. Just watch for a man in a red cloak alright? Don't tell anyone I told you, promise?" He said. I was trying to process what he was saying but..

"PROMISE!" He yelled, his grip on my arm becoming painful.

"I promise!" I grunted. He quickly turned around and started wheeling himself back to the tower. I turned and started walking to the hospital, thinking about what he said. It wasn't an accident? How.. I don't understand. I..

"SHIT!" I yelled as another person collided with me from the side. I grunted as I hit the ground. I looked up to see a red hooded figure speeding away from me.

"Hey you're..." I tried to say as someone tripped over my prone body.

"FUCK!" He yelled as he landed face first in the mud. He quickly got up and looked around.

"FUCK FUCK!" He screamed, as he searched the area. He glanced back at me, an angry look on his face as he stormed towards me.

"Hey wait a second.." I said as I stood up, backing away slowly.

"HE GOT AWAY BECAUSE OF YOU!" He yelled, pushing me backwards. I stumbled but caught my balance. I took a swing at him but he ducked under it, hitting me in the stomach. He pushed me to the ground as I tried to catch my breath.

"You're dead you little shit!" He said as he raised his leg to kick me.

"THAT'S ENOUGH PATRIC!" A man yelled. The attacker looked up, then back down to me, his leg still raised. He swung it down to stomp me. But before it made contact, a yellow glow surrounded the mans body and sent him flying back into the wall of one of the buildings. I turned my head to look at the stranger, who's horn was glowing with a yellow aura. I glanced back to Patric, who was on the floor, the air knocked out of him after colliding with the building.

"Sorry friend." The man said, extending a hand to me. I grabbed it and he pulled me up.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to regain my composure.

"Colin. Nice to meet you..?" He said awaiting a response.

"Red.. Nice to meet you Colin.. Who's your short tempered friend?" I asked. Immediately after I said that, I began to hear the soft ticking and grinding of gears. I turned to see Patric standing up, staring at me with an angered expression.

"SHORT TEMPERED?! I'LL SHOW YOU SHORT TEMPERED!" He yelled. He tore his shirt off, and two wings extended themselves.

"What the hell?!" I said as I saw his wings. One looked normal, matching the brown color of his fur. While the other.. Was of a bronze color, made of metal. I could hear a grinding sound as he lifted himself off the ground and shot like a bullet towards me. I ducked and he flew over my head and into Colin. Directly after collision, Colin's horn glowed, followed by a blinding yellow flash. I shielded my eyes. When I looked back... They were gone.

"Hey Red!" I heard Fluttershy shout to me. My head snapped to her, and back to where the other two were.

"Did you see.." I said pointing to the spot on the path.

"Where's Cecil?" She asked, looking around for him. I shook my head.

"Oh uh.. He went back to the tower to get something. Said something about meeting him at the hospital?" I said in a half dazed state.

"Oh.. Okay then. Would you mind walking with me? I would feel comfortable if I wasn't alone.." She said nervously.

"Oh.. Um... Of course!" I said hesitantly.

"Thank you!" She said in a happy tone, instantly calming down. "I mean... I really appreciate it."

"I was heading there anyway.. Might as well have some company." I said, slightly leaning back from the outburst. We walked to the hospital and to Dash's room. Her friends were already inside.

"Hey.. Im uh.. Just going to wait outside. Tell me if anything happens okay?" I said.

"Um.. Alright.. You sure you don't want to go in?" She asked curiously.

"No.. Not right now. I just need to think about things.." I said, taking a seat in an empty chair. Fluttershy walked in, and as the door opened I could hear her friends.. Crying? I saw Fluttershy disappear into the room. I stood up and started walking towards the door. I stared into the room through the glass window that stood in the center of the door. I could see Pinkie and Twilight crying. I was about to open the door and enter when..

"MMPH!" I screamed a muffled scream as a I was grabbed and a cloth was put around my mouth. My head turned enough to see a man in a red cloak with his arm around me. My eyes shot wide open as I tried to breathe, immediately feeling faint from the air I inhaled. I heard footsteps from Dash's room, then I passed out.

--------------------------------

"Let's go yall.. There's nothing more we can do." Applejack said, holding back her own tears.

"You're right.." I mumbled, wiping my tears away as I fell into her arms.

"It'll be alright Fluttershy.." Applejack said, the first of her tears finally freeing itself. I glanced over to Pinkie, who's hair was straightened and down to her side. She was crying into Rarity's shoulder. Pinkie moved over to Rainbow Dash's bed, crying profusely.

"Wake up... Please wake up.." She cried into Dash's arm as she knelt beside her.

"Come on girls.." Twilight sobbed, "There's no sense in mourning now.. We should probably.. Start planning the funeral soon."

I looked at the flat-lining ECG once more before shoving my face back into Applejack's shoulder. We all got up and walked out. I could see Red fast asleep in the chair.

"Let him rest.." Rarity said, "He's been awake for over a day. We can tell him.. Later." She said as tears streamed down her face.

-------------------------------
Pinkie's POV:

"I guess I should.. Get the balloons out of her room." I said as I pushed some of the hair out of my eyes. I walked back into the room, closing the door behind me. I walked in, my hair blocking most of my vision as I started untying the balloons.

"Pinkie!" Dash said. My eyes widened, my head snapped to Rainbow Dash, who was now sitting up.

"RAINBOW DASH!" I screamed. I ran over and clamped my arms around her, sobbing uncontrollably into her blue hospital gown.

"I... Pinkie.." She stammered before beginning to cry herself. Her arms wrapped around me as my hair absorbed her tears.

"I thought you were gone!" I said. I snapped back to reality, pulling away. "I have a surprise for you.."

------------------------------------------------

"Huh?!" I gasped as I snapped awake. Looking around for the hooded figure. He was gone.. My thoughts returned as my eyes shot to Dash's room. I jumped up and bolted in.

"Where is she?!" I asked in a panic.

"Red!" Twilight said, a smile on her face. "She woke up!"

A wave of happiness washed over me as I breathed a sigh of relief.

"She's in the bathroom." Twilight said, motioning to the door. I walked out and up to Rarity.

"How.. is she doing?" I asked.

"She seems fine... But she's been in there for a long time." Rarity said. The concern from earlier returned. I ran to the door and knocked.

"You okay in there?" I asked through the door.

"Yeah just a minute.." She quickly retorted. As soon as the door opened, I rushed forward, putting her into a hug.

"I'm glad you're okay.." I said as I held her tight. It was at that moment that I noticed her wing.

"Does.. It hurt?" I asked.

"Wh- What?" She asked hazily.

"Your wing." I said as I pulled away. "It's pretty burned, does it hurt?"

"Oh! Yeah uh... Its not that bad. I mean I am the toughest weather pony in all of Equestria! A little lightning isn't going to get me down!" She said as she extended her wings in a proud manner, only to collapse into me from the pain. I laughed a little, walking her back to the room where every one els was waiting, sitting her back down in the bed.

"So what can I call the hero who saved me? You obviously know my name already." She asked. I looked at her, a smile on my face.

"Red.. Just Red."