Author’s Note: Yes I know it’s a short chapter...

Chapter 21: The Long Walk

Fluttershy slowly helps Dusk get back on his hooves, as he painfully climbs onto Fluttershy’s back. When he gets on, he quietly tells her something.

“Shy... I need... you... to walk.. if you run... it’ll... be... too painful.”

“OK Dusk, I-I’ll try to be careful.”

Dusk notices that Fluttershy was quietly crying which didn’t surprise Dusk too much. The only thing he could do, without causing even more pain, is to gently stroke her soft pink mane.

'Of course she would be upset right now, she was about to get...raped (As much as I hate to say it) by a group of stallions, and she watched as I was beaten, bruised and stabbed to protect her. Now she has to carry me to the hospital because I can’t walk without falling to the ground.’

Dusk decides to talk to her about something, knowing of the pain it’ll cause him.

“Shy, why’d... you go to... the Sugarcube... Corner?”

She is surprised that Dusk had asked her that. “Umm... I went there because I wanted to buy you some cupcakes, to surprise you, and to make you a little happier.”

“Why would... I... need a gift... if I... have you... by my side...” Dusk lets out what vaguely sounds like a chuckle. “That was... *coughing fit* so cheezy.”

Despite the situation, Dusk still tries to make her happier. It’s part of his nature, to try and make things less sad for Fluttershy.

“I-I think that you should stop talking Dusk... I think that it’s making you worse.”

He doesn’t respond, and just starts lightly stroking her mane again.

----------

The pain is getting much worse for Dusk. The cuts on his back, still have blood dripping from them, and were stinging Dusk. All of the bruises that he had earned in the fight against the large pegasus, began to really hurt, in the areas affected but his knife wound was by far, his most painful wound. The knife is still in his side, as both Dusk and Fluttershy knew that removing the knife now would make him die of blood loss. The knife itself, is cutting into more and more of his  muscle, and a small trickle of blood would fall down his coat. His breathing had become shaky and ragged once again.

He and Fluttershy were about 10 minutes from the hospital, and unfortunately for the two, nopony could help them, as they were all in their houses in the centre of town, sleeping under the cold light of Luna’s moon. Fluttershy couldn’t ask for any help, because it would of wasted too much time.

Dusk’s vision began to darken again, he could see growing black dots, which are starting to cloud his vision and it was getting harder for him to stay awake. He needed to tell her about his condition, before he fell unconscious.

“S-S-Shy, I-I... t-think that *extremely ragged breath* I-I... need a s-small... rest.” Fluttershy feels Dusk going limp on her back, and she begins to tear up.

“No... NO DUSK, PLEASE WAKE UP!” She screams at the unconscious stallion on her back.

She runs in pure desperation towards the nearby Ponyville hospital, with tears running down her face. She didn't want him to die, especially not after all he has done for her.

---------- (About one hour later)

Point of View: Fluttershy

Fluttershy was sitting, alone, in the hospital waiting room, waiting for anypony to tell her Dusk’s condition. She couldn’t cry anymore, as she had used up all of her tears. She looks like a wreck, her mane is ruffled and messy, her eyes were quite bloodshot, from crying earlier, and she had bags under her eyes, from lack of sleep. There is also a very noticeable amount of blood across the sides of her body.

She waits long into the night... Next Chapter: Chapter 22: Recovery Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 20 Minutes