Fluttershy was frozen in fear, her green blue eyes locked on the cyan Pegasus and the pink earth pony. Rainbow Dash had wrapped her forelegs tightly around Pinkie and used her uninjured wing as a rutter to turn herself mid-air.

"She's..... NO!!" Fluttershy yelled out.

Applejack strained her eyes to watch her two friends fall. "That crazy...!"

Dash had placed herself below the pink mare, and wrapped both her wings around her in an attempt to cushion her from the inevitable impact. Tucking her head down toward Pinkie, Dash gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead before bracing for impact.

"THEY'RE GOING TO CRASH!" Fluttershy screamed out. Without another thought Fluttershy began rushing toward the falling forms. Applejack clung tightly to Fluttershy, afraid that if she loosened her grip just a little bit she would fly off.

"WOULD Y'ALL SLOW TH' HAY DOWN?" Applejack hollered, squeezing her eyes shut.

"RAINBOW DASH IS GOING TO TAKE THE FALL! IF I DON'T HURRY SHE'LL DIE!!" Came the frantic reply, tears streaming from Fluttershy's eyes. "I AM NOT GOING TO BE WEAK AND HELPLESS WHEN MY BEST FRIEND NEEDS ME!!!"

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie disappeared behind the treeline causing panic to rise within Fluttershy’s chest. With a final burst of adrenaline, she bolted to the treeline. She dodged and weaved around several trees before a loud crash was heard up ahead. Her heart sinking, Fluttershy rushed toward the sound.

"Rainbow.....? Pinkie......?" Fluttershy quietly asked, her ears scrambling to pick up any sound.

Applejack watched in silence, biting her lower lip. Please let them be okay, she thought, jumping off Fluttershy's back to search the ground easier. Don't let them be dead...

The orange earth pony skidded to a sudden stop, her heart felt as if it stopped beating.

In the center of a clearing, was the broken body of Dash with Pinkie clinging desperately to her, tears streaming down her face like waterfalls.

“FLUTTERSHA! AH FOUND 'EM!” Applejack galloped over to the two prone figures, dread in her heart. Fluttershy swooped in soon after, tears of worry fresh in her eyes.

Fluttershy raced over, her eyes wide. She felt sadness clench her heart upon seeing her friends, skidding to a sudden halt.

"No no no, Dashie wake up....." Came Pinkie's voice, it's usual hyper tone replaced with soft shakiness. "Please Dashie don't..... This isn't a funny joke okay.....? Please....."

Fluttershy slowly trotted over to the two fallen mares, “Pinkie, I need to see if Rainbow is ok...I need you to get-”

“NO!” Pinkie gripped Dash tighter, an agonizing sob escaping her throat, “I can’t leave Dashie’s side! She needs me!”

Applejack moved next to Pinkie and gently stroked the frantic mare’s mane, “We need you to move in order to help Rainbow Dash, Pinkie.”

Pinkie felt tears well up in her eyes, a fresh round. "No..!! Please don't..... Please don't make me!" She begged, absently stroking her partner’s cheek. "I.... I don't want...."

Applejack hugged the pink mare in silent understanding. "Ah know, Sugarcube... It'll just be a few minutes, understood...?"

"Please don't make me....."

An unnoticeable movement alerted Fluttershy. She looked past Pinkie, her trained eyes trailing over Dash's body, looking for any sign the battered mare was still alive. A slight rising of Rainbow Dash's chest made the yellow pegasus’ eyes grow wide.

“Please Pinkie! Just for a moment.” A caring yet stern stare fixed itself on Fluttershy’s face. Trembling, Pinkie complied to Fluttershy’s wishes. She buried herself in Applejack’s strong embrace, attempting to obtain as much comfort as she could.

Fluttershy grabbed the saddlebag that she had obtained from one of the fallen military pegasi and searched for a flask of water. Carefully grabbing the flask, she tipped a little into Dash’s mouth and rubbed her throat in order to get her to swallow. A small cough from the cyan mare, brought relief to the yellow pegasus.

"DASHIE!!"

"Shhh...." Fluttershy soothed, smiling kindly to Pinkie. "Hold on a moment."

The yellow Pegasus searched the bag further, pulling out bandages. She paused, then looked at Pinkie. "I-I um..... I need to take her armor off to bandage her up.... If..... If that's okay with you I mean....."

Pinkie nodded quickly, eyeing the broken pegasus with hopeful eyes.

Smiling reassuringly at Pinkie, Fluttershy began carefully removing the weapons and armor from Dash. Eventually, Dash’s bloody body came into view, making the ponies around her cringe in horror.

“I had no idea she was hiding so much...pain...” Fluttershy stuttered out as she critically analyzed the wounds.

Fluttershy began on the most serious injury, Her stomach gashes. They had torn open and were bleeding heavily. In a rush, Fluttershy began stitching the wounds together with an expert hoof before immediately applying pressure to the wounds to stop the bleeding.

Pinkie pulled away from her friend, only to lay as close to Dash without getting in Fluttershy's way. She gently kissed the cyan mare's ear, quietly whispering to the unconscious mare.

"Fluttershy's fixing you right up now!" She explained, keeping her voice as soft as she could. "Sorry it's so cold... I'll make it up to you as soon as I can, okay...? I promise!!"

Wrapping the bandages tightly around the cyan mare’s middle, Fluttershy tied them off quickly before moving down to her broken hind-leg. She removed the tattered bandages and broken splint and reset the bones in the leg. Grabbing two strong splints she carefully set them on either side of the leg before wrapping them tightly.

Fluttershy carefully prodded Dash’s rib cage, checking for broken ribs. She felt several small fractures but none were life-threatening. She carefully wrapped her chest with soft materials in order to protect the fragile bones.

"She sure knows what she's doing, Dashie! You were such a smart pony in being friends with her, even if.... I was jealous of her a bit...." If Fluttershy or Applejack heard the quiet rambling, neither of them said a word. Both kept quiet, Fluttershy finishing her check over and Applejack watching, her green eyes surveying the area.

Fluttershy carefully re-bandaged the large gash on Dash’s face. She carefully arranged the bandages so Dash could see from her right eye while her wound stayed covered..

"It's a lucky thing having a medic pony as a friend, like my Granny Pie always said. She would love you, Dashie. She always said blue was such a pretty colour..."

If Rainbow Dash heard any of the pink mare's words, it didn't show on her face.

"Fluttersha? Her wings?" Applejack asked, looking at the medic.

"O-Oh yes! Right! She needs those fixed!! I need.... To flip her over gently...."

"Did you hear that, Dashie? We need to flip you over, so I'm gonna hold you all nice and snuggly so Fluttershy can fix your wings...." Pinkie moved so she would hold all the weight of the cyan pony as she helped Fluttershy roll her onto her tummy. Pinkie gently nuzzled Dash’s cheek.

Fluttershy used Dash’s wing blade to cut the arrow head off before gently pulling it out of the wing. Gently feeling the wing, she found it broke at the joint. After another set of stitches for the cyan mare a pair of splints were carefully placed on either side of the outstretched wing, Bandaging the wing carefully, Fluttershy had to wrap around the chest and opposite foreleg in order to keep the wing in place.

Moving to the other wing, Fluttershy found it to have been dislocated. After careful maneuvering a wet popping noise was heard as Fluttershy pushed the ball joint back in place. Careful wrapping around the base of the wing soon followed.

All through this Pinkie kept up her constant rambling, whispering softly. "Ooohhh, Fluttershy's all talented and scary with those needles! Well I for one know who to call when I get all hurt! She'll have me fixed in a Pinkie Cinch! Or maybe it's a Fluttershy Cinch since she'll be fixing me up? I'd rather it be a Dashie Cinch. See? Your name makes everything prettier..."

The pink mare sighed quietly, placing a gentle kiss on Rainbow's cheek. "Please wake up, Dashie... I'm..... Really scared without you...."

Fluttershy ran a careful hoof down Dash’s spine, checking for any abnormalities. Aside from minor bruising everything seemed to be ok.

“Thank goodness you landed in the snow...” Fluttershy muttered to herself quietly.

Applejack moved closer to the pink mare quietly muttering to her lover. “We need ta go sugarcube, before they try ‘n’ find us or somethin...”

Fluttershy frowned, looking at Applejack. "She..... Needs to stay motionless!"

"The ice cave."

Two pairs of eyes locked onto Pinkie with confusion.

"The what now?" Applejack asked.

"The ice cave. Dashie can be safe there..... I can get her there no problem. She won't even know she moved...."

***

Darkness. That's all the Pegasus could see. It went on for ages, never ending, as if it was limitless.

it wasn't silent, she noted, closing her eyes. Well at least she thought they were closed... It was hard to tell in the darkness.

But no. It was far from silent.

She could hear the quiet whispers of a pony echo around her, the softness in the voice pulling a content smile on her face.

I can listen to that voice forever.... She decided, floating in the void of darkness. Forever.

It might as well be forever, she realized.

"He-..... Hello?" She called out, shocked to hear her voice sound so shaky. That's my voice?

"Is anypony here...?"

Silence.

I don't... Think this is right... The mare frowned, somehow finding footing as she lifted herself onto trembling limbs. She backed away, her magenta eyes glancing all around.

Darkness.

"Where am I?!" She demanded.

Silence.

The quiet voice started again. The mare looked all over, suddenly eager to find the source.

"...See? Your name makes everything prettier..."

The mare froze. That voice!

"Keep talking!! Please!!" She cried out, running forward as fast as she could.

That's right! That voice! The mare thought, skidding to a halt. She looked around, surprised to see the darkness wasn't so dark anymore. That's.... The only voice I'll EVER answer to...

"Please wake up, Dashie... I'm..... Really scared without you...."

Her voice is so sad....

"I'm coming, Pinkie!!" The mare yelled out, squeezing her eyes shut as if it would increase her voices volume. "I promise!!"

Darkness greeted her again.

***

The three mares stumbled into the cave. Applejack carrying the armor and weapons, Fluttershy carrying medical supplies, and Pinkie carefully carrying Rainbow Dash. Finding a dry spot in the cave, Applejack rushed out and gathered several large leaves to build a makeshift bed for the severely injured pony.

Laying Dash carefully down on the bed of leaves, Fluttershy pulled out a rough brown blanket from the saddlebags she carried. Smiling at Pinkie, who was carefully stroking Rainbow’s mane, she carefully draped the blanket over the prone figure.

"She just needs rest..." Fluttershy hummed, looking at the worried pink mare. "I.... You should get some too."

"Ah reckon we all need th'rest..." Applejack sighed, looking at the opening of the cave with worry. "But y'all need it th'most. Ah'll stand guard an' make sure none of them Pegasi show up, all right?"

Pinkie wordlessly nodded her head, diving under the blanket herself to rest comfortably beside Dash. She kissed the broken mare’s cheek, quietly singing a song in her ear.

"Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head..."

***

"...Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed..."

Tears streamed down her face.

"Don't sound so sad...!"

She looked around in her darkness, a prison, in desperation.

"Let me out!" She screamed, flaring her wings.

Silence.

"She NEEDS me! Can't you hear her?!"

Darkness.

"She's BROKEN without me!"

Emptiness.

"I'm..... I'm lost without her....."

***

Pinkie soon fell asleep. She had curled into Dash as much as she could, gently clinging to the cyan mare as if her life depended on it.

Fluttershy finally relaxed as the adrenaline that had been rushing through her slowly ebbed away.

Applejack stood at the mouth of the cave, determination set firmly on her face. She had spotted several pegasi flying above but none seemed to attempt to search the forest.

One of the pegasi groups held a figure that seemed to be laughing. Twitching her ears slightly Applejack heard the cruel sound flowing from the pegasi’s lips. Growling in anger, Applejack pawed at the ground aggressively as she carefully watched the group disappear. She would never forgive Hurricane for what she had done.

The night carried on. Applejack felt her mind wander, her eyes searching the sky in silence. It'll be a miracle if Rainbow survives..... She thought, her mind drifting to darker subjects. Ah hope Pinkie knows that...

***

I'm not....

Giving in!

The mare flew skywards, feeling wind ruffle and play with her mane. There's wind here?

"I'm not leaving her side!" She declared to the darkness, her voice ringing loudly in her ears, echoing in the cold prison.

She shrugged off the sadness she felt that seemed to attack her, favouring instead for the joy she pushed to the front of her mind.

"I'm not going to die!" She screamed, pushing all emotions away, favouring the ones that spoke fondly of the pink mare she knew was by her side.

"PINKIE PIE!!"

***

"P..... Pin...."

Applejack spun her head around, green eyes growing wide.

Rushing into the cave, Applejack began prodding Pinkie urgently, “Sugarcube! Ah think Rainbow’s wakin' up!”

Pinkie seemed to wake up in an instant. “Dashie! Dashie wake up Dashie!” Hopeful tears sprung from the pink mare’s eyes.

Fluttershy was shaken awake by the frantic orange mare, “Rainbow’s wakin up sugarcube!” Fluttershy sprung into the air like a shot and rushed over to Dash immediately.

“Oh please oh please oh please oh please!” Fluttershy seemed to mutter to herself as she fluttered anxiously above the cyan mare.

“P-Pinkie...” Dry cyan lips managed to croak out the pink pony’s name.

***
I won't give up!! I'll NEVER GIVE UP!

Flying faster then before, fast enough that she felt the sound barrier, she pushed herself even further.

Never give up.

NEVER GIVE UP!

She felt the explosion of the sound barrier giving way to her. She felt the unconsciousness fade.

***

Magenta eyes opened slowly at first, then rapidly. She looked up at the ceiling of the cave, feeling short on breath. None of it mattered.

"P-Pinkie Pie.....?!" She whimpered, attempting to sit up. "Where....."

"Dashie!!" A relieved voice cheered.

Forelegs were suddenly around her, squeezing her gently. Rainbow Dash coughed violently, slightly shocked.

"Pinkie!! She needs to heal before you hug her so tight!" Applejack warned with a mixture of awe and concern in her voice.

"Sorry!!" Pinkie apologized, dropping her forelegs. Her cyan eyes were wide, the joy clearly displayed all over her far. "Dashie!!!"

Rainbow's mind felt fuzzy. Really fuzzy. "What...... Where am.....?"

"You got really sliced up..." Fluttershy explained, her voice softly soothing Dash. "Really sliced up.... I'm...... I'm surprised you're awake...."

Dash felt a snort was appropriate. "....C'mon... You thought.... I'd never wake up again?" She looked around at her friends, chuckling quietly. "Y-... Yeah right! Nothing can st-... Stop me!"

"I was so worried about you, Dashie..."

Rainbow glanced at her partner, her magenta eyes softening. "I.... I know..... I heard you....."

“You... You did...? How?”

“It was like in a dream... all around me was darkness a-... and silence. I didn’t know if... I would get out or not...” Her eyes shifted over to Pinkie Pie, who still couldn’t believe that Dash was awake again... talking. Dash smiled softly, “But... then I heard a pony’s... voice in my ears... and all around me.”

Applejack and Fluttershy exchanged confused looks, yet the pink earth pony still stared into Dash’s beautiful magenta eyes; tears still flowed from her face, but now they were tears of happiness. Tears of relief and silent appreciation for having her Dashie back.

“... she was calling to me... Just me and nopony else...”

Applejack’s ears perked. A noise from outside, and she went to check; Fluttershy followed as well, but Pinkie stayed and sat next to Dash. She couldn’t bring herself to speak; a phenomenal sight in Dash’s eyes. She would have to remind her of that when she was all better.

“I think she’s the pony that kept me going... kept me wanting to get out of there...”

Pinkie lay down on her stomach and wiggled her way closer to the cyan mare, curling her tail around Dash’s. This was enough for Dash to know that Pinkie was happy to see her and hear what said next.

“... I don’t think I would have gotten out... without you Pinkie...” A tired smile worked its way onto Pinkie’s face, and fresh tears welled up in her cyan eyes. Dash smiled back and nuzzled Pinkie’s cheek gently, the pink pony returning it quickly.

I... saved Dashie? “But... But how?”

Dash blinked. She remembered what had happened when asleep, but she’d prefer to not have to speak of it out loud, “Ugh, don’t make me say it... it’s soo... cliche... and sappy.”

“Okay Dashie, I understand...” Pinkie smiled and snuggled closer, but that smile quickly twisted into her evilest Pinkie Pie smirk, “... you know, you’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”

“Am not!”

Pinkie giggled and wrapped her right hoof over Dash’s back, sending a twinge of pain shooting through her injured shoulder. She cringed slightly before relaxing into the embrace with the pegasus, “See? Cute.”

Another groan and Dash noticed the pained look beneath Pinkie’s sweet smile, “Pinkie... are you okay? You... You looked.....” She shut her eyes tight, and she remembered the flash of pain that washed across the pink pony’s face.

But Pinkie only softened her smile and nodded, “Hurricane cut me in the shoulder when I was thinking of something... it was my fault it happened.”

Dash stared at the injury on Pinkie’s shoulder to the bandage on her chest; her heart twisted in pain at seeing her so beaten up because of her. She lowered her head down to look at her hooves; but she felt her head being lifted up again by a tender pink hoof.

“It was MY fault Dashie... I wasn’t paying attention... I didn’t blame you and I still don’t...”

A sound from outside entered the cave, but she ignored it.

“... you were hurt and Hurricane was stepping on you and I didn’t know what else to do...” Pinkie swallowed, and let her fear wash away again. “... I wanted to protect you... so I lead her away so Fluttershy and Applejack could help you...”

She lowered her hoof and looked into the cave, “You always said... you’d keep me safe, if anything happened to us; but... when... you were on the ground... I couldn’t, and Hurricane...”

“But you did protect me... you... saved me from Hurricane... remember?”

“That... was already too late Dash... I wanted... to rescue you, and be the pony to comfort you... instead of me being the pony that needs it.”

She smiled back at Dash, “I lead her away so I could... be the hero; rescue everypony and let you be safe... and you still saved me from all of that... I knew I couldn’t win, but I just wanted to give you enough time... and show you I could be strong too... I just wanted you to know...”

Dash placed a hoof on Pinkie’s cheek and hugged her neck tightly, swallowing her pride and the intense pain she now felt in her wings, “You are my hero Pinkie... a long time ago, I almost died...from a stupid blizzard...”

Dash’s ears drooped in embarassment and she nuzzled into Pinkie’s fluffy mane, “But...you were there...and you took me in and saved me...even when I was being a jerk to you...you saved my life...in more ways than one Pinkie...”

“What do you mean Dashie?” Pinkie softly muttered, trembling from raw emotion.

“You showed me that there is more to a pony than how they look...you loved me for who I was....not because I was some big shot...you showed me that all I ever truly needed...was somepony that loved me.” Dash managed to choke out the remaining words, a bright blush crossing her face.

Rainbow Dash hated being sappy. It wasn't something she was used to. But...

The look on Pinkie's face though....

"Dashie...." The pink mare muttered, rubbing her eyes free of tears.

Dash looked at her, a feeling of contentment washing over her. The expression on Pinkie's face was completely worth it. “I love you Pinkie; and I’m sorry for not realising that sooner...”

“Dashie....?” Pinkie pulled back; confusion on her face mixed with a slight fear at Dash’s words.

“You were there that day Pinks... that day when all the tribes gathered... and...” She recalled having the pink pony crash into her from Princess Platinum, and blushed at remembering how bright Pinkie’s cyan eyes were that day, “... and I couldn’t take my eyes off you...”

Then Pinkie did something Dash had never thought possible to happen to such a bouncy energetic pony like her. She actually seemed... embarrassed.

“You were just... so different from all the other earth ponies and unicorns...” Dash continued, unable to stop herself, knowing that she had to say this and just let it flow out of her, “... those eyes, still had so much happiness to them even... after all that stuff..... hehe, but now that I think about it...” Dash paused, finding something she had no hesitance to speak.

Pinkie raised her eyebrows and waited for Dash to continue, ears perked in complete interest in what the cyan mare had to say.

“... I think... the look on Platinum’s face was when you had me... and... how you didn’t even... mean to do it too. You’re just a crazy pony sometimes Pinkie...” Rainbow placed a hoof over Pinkie’s tenderly, and smiled softly at the blushing pony, “... and I wouldn’t change anything about you... even if there was anything.”

And suddenly, Pinkie was smiling back at her, but there was something different about it than the other times she made that smile. Maybe a little around the edges, Dash imagined.

Pinkie brought her other hoof over Dash’s; keeping that confusing grin on her face when she said, “That’s really cheesy Dashie.”

“Uh...” Was all Dash managed.

“I mean REALLY cheesy... like, maybe the third cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard? Or maybe it would be the second... hm, I’m not sure; but it’s up there.”

“H-Hey, you... you can’t be serious... how-how many cheesy things have you heard from other ponies? You... You can’t say mine was... and what you said before... uh...” Pinkie was grinning at her. A huge smile only she could manage, and there it was... and Dash hated it deeply.

All Pinkie did was smile back at her, and the pegasus soon found herself smiling too. It was somewhat annoying how Pinkie could cause her to panic so easily, but the look on that beautiful pink face always calmed her down again.

It didn’t stop her from groaning in irritated defeat at being caught so nervous. She turned away, still unable to wipe that smile from her lips and getting more upset because of it.

“Now Dashie, I was just foalin’. You know that right?” Pinkie giggled softly as she observed the irritated cyan mare.

A soft grunt was her answer.

“Come on Rainbow Dash, you know you can’t stay mad at me for looong... Dashie...” She began to tickle Dash’s sides playfully, getting stifled giggles in response from the mare.

“N-No! St-Stop... he he, just... leave me ah, alone...” Dash held back laughter as she tried to squirm away from the pink mare’s prodding hooves.

“Not until you’re happy again.” A soft smile settled on Pinkie’s face. A smile only Pinkie Pie could give her...

“Rainbow Dash! Pinkie Pie!”

Pinkie jumped slightly, and felt her chest twist in pain; she had stopped tickling Dash and looked behind her at the approaching ponies.

Dash gasped for breath at the onslaught of tickles and turned in the same direction, only to notice a new pony; and she recognized her immediately. “Pansy!” She stood up quickly, and cringed at the wounds she had sustained before being able to talk, “What are you doing here?!”

Pansy’s wings spread in shock at the sight. A low growl rumbled its way from Pinkie’s throat as she eyed the pegasi’s spread wings in annoyance. She scooted closer to Dash and rested a possessive hoof on Dash’s flank.

“It’s okay Rainbow. She’s not going to hurt us; she came to help.” Fluttershy spoke quickly while gesturing toward the pegasus. Pansy nodded timidly and held out a first-aid kit. A small blush settled on her face; this was the first time she ever seen Dash without her armor. A small part of her felt as if she was intruding on a private moment.

“How do I know I can trust her?” Dash growled in annoyance as she subconsciously placed herself between Pansy and Pinkie Pie.

Applejack stepped forward, feeling frustrated at Dash for her not trusting the nervous pegasus, “She brought us a buncha supplies fer any injury we mighta got durin’ this whole mess. Pinkie, can’tcha say anything teh make ‘er believe she’s on our side?”

Pinkie looked at Applejack and Fluttershy, serious expressions on each of their faces. Her worried cyan eyes drifted over to the pegasus before they fell on Dash’s splinted wing, and felt her stomach knot with regret.

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. She wanted... she didn’t know, but she knew she didn’t want this; not after what she had done to the pegasus before.

Rainbow looked down at the mare and saw her look away, shutting her eyes tightly.

Pinkie Pie’s tears were falling freely now, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at anything; afraid to see Dash’s expression. If I hadn’t said to leave... she would never have been like this... It’s all... Warm hooves wrapped around her suddenly, and she gasped, opening her eyes once again to see Dash hugging her quietly.

“You were right you know?” Dash whispered in Pinkie’s ear.

“Huh...?”

“When you said killing Hurricane would be bad... I agreed with you... so... When you said you don’t blame me for what happened to you out there, whether it was me or not that did it... I don’t blame you for... this either.” Dash tightened her embrace around the pink mare, gently stroking her mane.

A surge of emotions assaulted the pink mare, reducing her to heart-wrenching sobs. She clung to Dash and spilled out apology after apology over what happened. How she was afraid she would never see her again. How she thought she lost her....

Dash held Pinkie throughout the entire exchange. Holding the pink mare tight against her as she whispered calm reassurances in her ears. Her injured wings twinged in protest as she reflexively attempted to wrap them around the sobbing mare.

A few minutes went by before Pinkie had calmed down. She huddled close to Dash, refusing to break the embrace.

Gently kissing Pinkie’s forehead, Dash turned her attention to the three mares that had witnessed the entire exchange.

The first aid kit lay discarded on the floor, and appeared to have laid their for several minutes. Pansy’s jaw nearly touched the floor. She had never seen such a thing before. Rainbow Dash, tough, second in command Rainbow Dash, just comforted and hugged another pony. The fact that it wasn’t a pegasus made it even more shocking.

“Um...do you need to lay down for a little while, Pansy?” Fluttershy gently prodded the frozen mare, concerned.

Shaking her head, Pansy smiled apologetically at Fluttershy before returning her gaze toward the two mares huddled together in a close embrace.

“I have no reason to harm you or your friends, Lieutenant General Dash.” A kind expression settled on Pansy’s face. “If it makes you feel better, I will remove all of my weapons before I approach you and your...lover.”

Dash’s hardened expression softened slightly, “Call me Rainbow Dash. I am no longer a Lieutenant General. I am undeserving of such a title.”

Pansy shook her head vehemently, “No. You would have been a great leader. A leader our tribe really needed....” A saddened expression crossed Pansy’s face as she carefully removed her weapons and set them on the cave floor.

Dash bit back a bitter laugh, “You mean your tribe.” Glancing up at Pansy a small smile crossed her face. “Thanks...for the help, Pansy.”

Pansy flushed in surprise. Gratitude was a rare thing she experienced, especially working with Commander Hurricane. Grinning, she rushed forward, grabbed the first-aid kit, and practically flew over to Dash.

Pinkie securely wrapped her hooves around Dash as she watched Pansy approach. Her eyes trained on Pansy. She was suspicious of the other mare’s intentions.

Dash chuckled to herself. It seems Pinkie interprets flared wings as a sign of attraction if the pony isn’t angry. Someday I will tell her that it doesn’t always mean that... but right now though... Gently nuzzling the pink mare, Dash turned to face Pansy with a confident grin. I can live with this...

“No matter how painful this will be, I can take it!” Dash stated confidently as she pulled away from Pinkie slowly and laid down so Pansy could easily inspect her wounds.

Pansy rushed forward and began carefully unwrapping the bandages around Dash’s middle, wincing at the amount of blood that had soaked into the bandages.

Pinkie watched Pansy with a frown. "How did... Hurricane even find out...?"

"Airman Derpy Hooves made a comment that bugged Commander Hurricane... So she questioned her further and.... She decided to give Lieu- Rainbow Dash three days to 'recover' fully from her..... Uhm......" Pansy frowned, unsure of how to label the cyan mare’s story.

"My fib? The excuse I made up to explain why I was gone?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"... Yes. She followed you after that and..... Came back in a furious fit...." Pansy shuttered at the memory.

Pinkie sighed, leaning gently into her partner. "I'm sorry......"

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Nu uh, Pinks. It's my fault.... I wasn't careful enough when Derpy had to come with us....." She looked at the group of ponies gathered around, feeling a relaxed grin spread across her face. "Heh.... Too bad. If I had just been more careful I could have been the coolest leader the pegasi ever had!"

Pansy nodded her head, an amused smile crossing her face. “You may have been the leader the tribe needed...” She sighed, pulling out a bottle of hoof-made disinfectant. “This may sting a bit...”

Pansy carefully poured the liquid over the hastily stitched wounds, electing a sharp hiss of pain from the cyan mare. The liquid began foaming around the injury sites, working to kill any bacteria that could cause infection.

Gently placing soft gauze against the cleaned injuries on the cyan pony’s tummy, Pansy began carefully re-wrapping the wound with fresh bandages. Pansy quickly and carefully repeated the process on Dash’s stitched wing and deep gashes on her face and chest.

“Did this pink mare receive any kind of disinfectant?” Turning to face Fluttershy, Pansy was met with a quick nod of confirmation.

“There was just enough left when I bandaged Pinkie.”

Pansy frowned slightly, “Dash may get an infection. Many of these wounds seem several hours old...Repeated reopening of the wounds, plus all the dirty substances they came in contact with....I’m not sure if I have any medicine with me that can combat infection.”

“Y-you mean...Dashie might still die?” Pinkie whimpered out softly. Her hooves wrapping around Dash’s neck in a tight yet careful embrace, fear and worry radiating from her.

A gentle nuzzle broke Pinkie from the trance, “No way, Pinkie. I’m to awesome to let an infection kill me.”

Pinkie looked at Dash worried. "You might....I-I can’t..."

"Make sure Pinkie gets healed, if you can. My injuries are nothing compared to hers. Her life's more important." Rainbow quietly explained,steadfastly ignoring the sudden tremble coming from the pink mare holding her in a terrified embrace, "I don't care about my life... It's hers I want to keep safe....."

Pansy frowned. Turning to look at Fluttershy, she spoke softly. "You're the medical expert...."

“W-we won’t know for sure if she has an infection right away...I will have to watch her closely... I was...afraid this would happen...” Fluttershy turned to Applejack with a serious expression. “Applejack, could you bring any medicine from your tribe that will be useful against infections?”

Applejack nodded sharply, “Ah will bring all ah can, Fluttersha.” Turning quickly, Applejack galloped out of the cave and toward her home.

Fluttershy returned her attention to Pansy, “I need to search for medicinal herbs and plants...Just to be safe...Will you stay here for a little while longer?”

Fluttershy’s eyebrows knitted together in concern yet her eyes remained hopeful.

Pansy smiled kindly, “Of course I will.”

Fluttershy softly smiled in return, “Thank you.” She rushed out of the cave as fast as her wings could take her.

“Dashie...I...” A gentle hoof rested against Pinkie’s trembling mouth.

Dash’s eyes glowed with affection and warmth, “I Pinkie Pie promise you, I will survive this.”

Pinkie gulped heavily and nodded weakly, sniffling feebly. Dash lifted her hoof up and gently wiped away the sobbing earth pony’s tears, smiling back softly at Pinkie as she pulled her in for a hug.

Pinkie Pie wrapped her own hooves across the pegasus’ back and clenched her teeth together to stop the flow of tears. “A-and nopony b-breaks a Pinkie promise.”

Dash chuckled and pulled the earth pony tighter into the embrace. “... not if Fluttershy’s here with us... she’s never let a pony down before... and it’s me you’re talking about... i won’t let you down Pinks, okay?”

Pinkie nodded silently into Dash’s shoulder and smiled softly.