Before I could take us all home, I had to ensure the past remained unaffected or I'd just wind up in another terrible future. To that end, I traveled back to Rainbow's race, intending to sit idly by in an inconspicuous spot while she did what she had to do.

The plan fell apart in an instant.

The moment we were all out of the portal, a ragged scream ripped through the air from somewhere next to me. It was so loud, I was afraid I'd go deaf from the noise—to say nothing of all the pegasi that were no doubt flying nearby.

It was a sort of warbling, echoing cry that seemed to twist and warp as it went on, and the air practically vibrated from the force. Before I could make any sense of it, something solid and very, very hot smashed into my barrel.

I let out an agonized scream of my own as I felt several things within me snap, a sensation that was quickly followed by searing pain all the way across my right side.

The next few moments were a blur of pain, confusion, screaming, and motion. I was fairly sure whatever hit me sent me flying off in some kind of direction, but I was too stunned, my mind too focused on the burning sensation in my possibly broken ribs to pay that any attention.

A whole new feeling of terror gripped me as I felt something tightly wrap around my throat and cut off my oxygen. I thought I could hear Spike shouting something from somewhere above me, but I was more or less losing my mind at this point, as well as my vision from the lack of air in my lungs.

Things were getting very hazy, and the only thing I could hear anymore was the howl of the air as it whipped past me. In the distant part of my mind, I was vaguely aware that I was falling, and the thought was enough to spur me into finally using my magic.

The problem with this was that I was dazed, confused, choking, and in an incredible amount of pain. That awful alien cry from high above didn't help my concentration either.

Then something wrapped itself around my barrel and I was suddenly yanked upwards, or at least, I think that was the case. By this point, I didn't actually know which way was up anymore.

Either way, the thing that wrapped around me squeezed with enough force to cause my broken ribs to puncture through something else. I would've gasped in shock, but I didn't have the air do so anymore. Then I tasted copper, thick and warm in my mouth.

The vice grip around my throat didn't let up for a moment, and now, on top of that, I was choking on that liquid copper. I could feel it pushing its way past whatever was trying to strangle me and filling my throat and mouth.

My pointless croaking as I tried to suck oxygen into my body turned to choked gurgles. Thankfully I hadn't felt any additional pain yet, and it looked like I was going to pass out before I got the chance.

Not once during the many adventures I went on with my friends had I ever been anywhere close to this injured. For one heart stopping second, my hazy confusion gave way and panic completely overtook my senses as a single thought rose to the surface.

I'm going to die.

Then, just like that, both the thought and the panic were buried under the haze of lightheadedness once more. It was all too much, and at this point I just wanted it all to stop. My earlier fear of death was replaced by the far more intense desire to end the madness of my current situation.

Then, mercifully, I could feel myself slipping away.

The whirlwind of noise, pain, and confusion had faded to a dull roar, and my vision was nearly gone when I heard the tell-tale roar of magic.

It was distant at first, but got louder and closer by the second. The sound was strange in my ears, and I wondered why until I realized I wasn't the one that had cast the spell.

My own magic sparked and faded with a pop, and a sharp jolt of pain in my horn was the last thing I felt before the darkness closed in and I was gone.

Next Chapter: Here's to Good Health Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 24 Minutes