The Heights of Competition(Closed)

[SteelEagle]

 

The most important part of taking care of a crisis injury was ensuring that the patient was stable and not in a panic. You didn't want them to freak out or cause themselves additional problems. This was why Applejack was so calm- not for herself, but for Rainbow. She needed that rock of stability in the storm of pain to fall against and allow herself to calm. Internally, Applejack was far more worried. The injuries could be bad, real bad, and the weather was getting worse outside. It would be a long trek in terrible conditions if she had to pull her friend back to Ponyville. So that meant she had to stabilize Rainbow here and wait for conditions to improve. That would be very difficult under the best of circumstances but now was a more dire prospect. Applejack sighed, and refocused.

She inspected the wing. Looked like a hairline fracture along the metacarpals, judging by the way the muscles were working under her hoof. Not good, but not the worst thing ever. No, the much worse injury was the compound fractures of the radius and ulna. She didn't even need to feel them- she could see them jutting out internally. Applejack did her best to shield that sight from Rainbow Dash subtly. That was double bad news. It hurt a lot now but if it wasn't set right, she wouldn't be flying right ever again. And that was the best case scenario. Assuming it cut her up something fierce, she was probably bleeding. Blood flow to the wings wasn't a life or death matter on its own, but the wing could perish a lot faster than a leg could. Blood flow stops, wing dies, starts to decay faster than most other things. So the worst case scenario? Dash had taken her last flight...if Applejack didn't act fast.

Not that she would cause her friend to panic and say that. “It ain't good at all, but of course you'll heal up pony girl. Just need to act fast on it, okay? You broke yer wings somethin' fierce, at least two major ones and it looks like a third lesser one. Ah'm gonna need- and Ah'll need ya to stay strong for me, okay?- Ah'm gonna need to head in there and take a look and fix what needs some fixin'. Ah'm gonna need ta open yer wing up. If Ah don't, you can get hurt real bad, Sugarcube. Just trust me- do what Ah say, you'll be back up the air real soon,” Applejack promised, standing up and heading outside.

It allowed her time to think. Rainbow had hurt herself trying to catch up to her! What was that nutty pegasus thinking? She couldn't have caught up to Applejack, not in a million years. This was Applejack's fault. How stupid was she to try and dash Rainbow's sense of superiority immediately, and on such uneven ground? She didn't have much time to think, however. The weather was getting even worse. Dash's tent was now starting to flap violently, parts of it even getting picked up. Applejack had to brace herself as she marched on, grabbing everything and anything she could and hauling back into her tent. Food, firewood, stuff to make a fire, blankets- anything that wasn't a lost cause. After several minutes, she stumbled back in with the last of her items. The tent was now stuffed- multiple saddlebags, wood, and various other materials.

“Alright, tha storm is getting real fierce. Winds gotta be, heck, fifty, sixty hoovelengths an hour?” She asked incredulously. Of all the times to take a vacation, it had to be in the middle of a serious storm. “We're not headin' back out until its clear, got it?” She mumbled, grabbing one of the pieces of firewood. She removed the bark coating and shook it off. Then she put the log into the ground and stomped on it two, three times until it pierced the bottom of the tent and staked itself into the ground. Then she carefully hollowed it out, put a flammable piece back in, and took two small sticks. She rubbed them together for a minute and soon a fire started. She rammed the bark coating back on, and the fire was now contained on the log itself. She then unfurled a bunch of small tools, some first aid and some for knitting and whatnot. She poured a large mug of cider and placed it next to Rainbow Dash's wing.

She then grabbed a small bit of wood and moved towards Rainbow's front. “Messy filly,” she said with a chuckle, cleaning off her face gently and then offering her a piece of wood. “It may help ta bite down on this. Want this or some more cider, Sugarcube?”
 

[RainbowFoxxy]

 

Dash tried to watch through the corner of her eye as her friend brought in all the supplies she could. AJ was so good at getting stuff done and it made Dash feel good knowing her friend was looking out for her. It could have been so much worse. It was terrible that she was hurt this badly but of all the ponies to be stranded with, she never would have chosen anypony else.
 
Once everything was in AJ closed up the tent. It was pretty chilly in the tent and Rainbow's body shook with a strong shiver. She wasn't sure if it was all because of the injuries or maybe she was going into shock. Rainbow tried to make herself focus. It wouldn't do any good to go into shock. She knew enough about medical stuff to know that would be really bad. No, she was tough! She was Rainbow Dash! She wasn't going to let these little injuries get in her way!
 
AJ cleaned her muzzle off for her and Rainbow almost managed a smile. Only AJ would be able to get away with seeing Rainbow in this state.
 
“It may help ta bite down on this. Want this or some more cider, Sugarcube?”
 
Oh no, she was going to have to set her wing! Suddenly Rainbow wished she had passed out. "Are you sure we have to do this? Maybe we can wait until we get back to Ponyville?" Rainbow found herself weakly pleading. She knew what had to be done and she knew AJ would do the best she could. "I guess let's just get this done ok?" She moved her muzzle just a bit so she could look AJ in the eye. The farm mare was standing close by Rainbow. "I need to tell you something AJ...could you come down here closer to me for a sec?" The words came out weakly and her eyes were shining with tears.

[SteelEagle]

 

Rainbow Dash was taking events well. Well enough, anyway. It was a hard thing to prepare yourself up. Applejack placed one of her scalpels over the flame to allow it to heat up, making the upcoming- well, call it what it was- surgery easier. She would have to open up the wing and inspect the fractures, and see to it that the wound was cleared. Then ensure that the bone was aligned, repeat for all three. Suture her up, set the wing. It would take maybe an hour and it would hurt. Applejack wassure at some point Dash would pass out, the only question was when. It was going to be tough. If she messed up- well, there was a lot of muscle, a lot of blood, a lot of danger. It would be important that Rainbow remain calm and still. If all went well, the trip home would be better. After this was done, she could take a look at the mare's hoof.

“It has to be done now, Sugarcube. Even if Ah could take you on mah back and gallop ta tha nearest hospital as fast as Ah've ever galloped 'for, by tha time Ah got there, they'd hafta take yer wing. An' Ah'm not gonna have that happen. Ah need ta get into yer wing and see what needs ta be done, then set it yer fractures, clean ya up, set it up, sew you up, and watch you. Just gotta get everythin' ready-” she said as she turned to her scalpel. Yep, good and hot. She picked it up, waited a second, and dipped the hot blade into the alcoholic cider. It give an audible hiss as steam rose, and Applejack sighed. It was time to get to the bloody work- and then Rainbow spoke. “Yeah, what is it pony girl?” She asked, making sure to get in close to comfort the hurt and tearing up pegasus.

[RainbowFoxxy]

 

Rainbow moved her head a little more as her friend came down closer to her level. It was almost like this wasn't happening. This was the furthest from her normal self that Rainbow had ever been. A crumpled mess on the floor, not even able to stand up much less show off to anypony. Her whole body was filled with pain and swirling with the effects of the cider. The drink did help her a little but it also made her feel even more helpless. She figured now was a good time to just be honest. Wasn't that like the biggest thing in Equestria to AJ anyway? There was something that just felt good about saying the truth. Rainbow figured she would try it out since the pain of putting herself in an awkward situation was the least of her concerns right now.

 

She took in a breath as AJ came near. The sweet smell of the farm always lingered about her friend. Rainbow had always liked the way AJ smelled. Something about it just filled her with life and energy. Well, usually it did. Right now it served to slow her heart a little and help her relax. She knew she needed to stay clam. AJ was going to help her.

 

"AJ...I...I..." A tear rolled down her cheek and soaked into the dry fabric she was resting on. "I've always wanted to tell you...well, we're all friends of course...you and me, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Twilight, Rarity...but you're my best friend. You always have been." She turned her head to catch her friend in the eye. "I trust you AJ, more than anypony else. You make me feel alive when I'm with you..." She took a breath and a sip of cider. "I love you Applejack." Of course it was normal for friends to say to loved each other but the way it made Rainbow's heart flutter was more than just the love of friends. She didn't say that but she did stretch her neck out for a moment to plant a weak kiss on her best friend's muzzle. "Thank you for taking care of me." The words came softly as Rainbow lay her head back down and closed her eyes.

 

She knew what AJ was going to have to do to save the wing. She just hoped she would pass out before too long. She also knew that whatever happened, AJ would be there for her.

[SteelEagle]

 

Applejack felt awkward long before the revelation hit her. This was the least like Rainbow Dash the pegasus had ever been. A mess. Not shocking to an extent, as Rainbow was always a glass cannon emotionally. So full of fire and excitement, energy and possibility, but equally weighed down by explosive bouts of self-doubt and sadness. Could she get over this one, though? A pegasus' wings were probably the single most important part of their body. Like a unicorn's horn. Losing it just didn't hurt, just didn't effect what they could do, it was a humiliation. But Rainbow Dash had a strength about her normally that made this all worse. Applejack felt awkward because nothing was worse than a great friend brought low, and more importantly, brought low with you being the only way they could rise above.

And then she started speaking. Choking, sobbing words spilled out, a mix of panic, drunken vulnerability, and sincerity mixing into something truly outrageous. The path of their friendship had always been unusual, even in the context of their wider friendships with the rest of the group. The others each had their spheres of personality that Applejack had always chalked up to some great celestial convergence, even more than the Elements of Harmony. But RD and herself were different all together. They were both highly competitive athletes, tip top shape-types with a love of winning and a greater love of seeing the other succeed. It had always struck her that she was lucky to have a friend like Rainbow, and she had been lucky enough to believe that this love was returned.

And was it ever, far more than she could have imagined. The words were accompanied by a kiss, which worked in tandem to shock her. Was it just the cider talking, that weakened sense of vulnerability between her injury and her love of drink that brought them out? Oddly phrased and delivered meaning of loving a friend, maybe. But no, Applejack couldn't lie to herself. She knew what it meant. It wasn't that difficult to see really, and it had always lingered on the edges of her understanding. Rainbow Dash loved her in the classical definition and by Celestia was she good at hiding it to most. But she always was flitting about the farm, responsive to Applejack's requests, and absolutely enamored (in her own way) with what Applejack did.

If only she could return the favor. It wasn't the admission of love that made Applejack feel awkward, but the realization that this was a one-way street and it had always been, and always would be, that way. Rainbow was AJ's best friend no doubt, but that was the end of the line. She loved Carrot Fields. Wanted a family, wanted to make him part of the fold. Rainbow's admission didn't change any of that. All it did was ensure that Applejack felt a little awkward, and ensured she had to try even harder to pull her friend through it.

Applejack sighed, gulping away a sense of worry as she gently patted Rainbow's mane. “Ah know, Sugarcube. Ah know,” she gulped again, wiping sweat from her brow which had no reason to be there. Rainbow assumed the position and Applejack took a deep breath. She made sure that Rainbow was set. And then she started. “Alright, Ah'm gonna cut right above the breakage right...now...”

And with that, Applejack began.

[RainbowFoxxy]

 

Rainbow lay her head down as Applejack's words echoed in her ears.

 

“Ah know, Sugarcube. Ah know,” 

 

She knew. Rainbow had made her feelings known in lots of ways before this day. She just hadn't ever said it out loud. She had never been so vulnerable in her entire life. She had never thought she could be as vulnerable as she was this very second. Not only was her body crippled and broken, but she had laid her heart bare to her closest friend. It felt really weird. If it had been anypony besides AJ with her, she wouldn't have been able to stand the situation. But it was AJ. The same pony who had always been there for her. The pony who understood Rainbow probably better than Rainbow understood herself. 

 

“Ah know, Sugarcube. Ah know,” 

 

Of course she knew, and Rainbow knew how she would respond. Dash knew about Carrot Fields. She knew her best friend had given her heart to a stallion. But she had fantasized so many times about what would happen when she admitted her love. How AJ would respond. How they would fall deeply in love, travel Equestria together, follow their dreams, and probably even have fillies of their own. It was all so perfect. She could feel AJ's muzzle as she kissed her back, long and soft. Her sweet smelling mane swirling around them...

 

“Ah know, Sugarcube. Ah know,” 

 

It wasn't to be, and Rainbow had known it wouldn't be. She had to say it though, she had to tell the farm mare how she really felt and now she had. And now those words would echo and echo and echo. She knew her love would be unrequited and the feeling burned deep and hollow in her heart as she lay broken on the cold floor of the tent with the rain falling cold outside. But AJ hadn't broken her heart, far from it. She knew, she had always known and she had always always always been the best of friends that Rainbow could ever ask for. That was enough. Enough to have AJ in her life, as a best friend, competitor, confidant. Eventually Rainbow would find love of her own and until then she would have the best of friends.

 

“Alright, Ah'm gonna cut right above the breakage right...now...”

 

Rainbow didn't feel the sear at first, her mind was consumed by her heart. But then the pain began to build. The nerves in her wings were some of the most sensitive in her body. Her whole body dealt with the pain in waves while AJ did her level best to save her friend's precious wing. It only took a few moment before Rainbow feel into thankful unconsciousness... 

[SteelEagle]

 

It didn't take long for Rainbow to fall into unconsciousness, a blissful development compared to the pain that she could have felt. Applejack didn't know what wings felt like and she didn't know how those muscles worked against your body, but she did know bones and she knew that this surgery was tough. Had Applejack not done similar things in the field as part of Task Force Suntrot, Rainbow would be in serious danger. Not that she wasn't already. As Applejack slowly cut her way in, being sure to avoid any intact muscle groups and veins, all she could do was focus. All it would take is one bad cut to cause a whole host of other issues. It was good that Rainbow was out cold because it was something that Applejack was more than sure she wouldn't want to see.

First part was the most difficult. She made incisions big enough for her hooves, and then made sure to not cause too great a blood loss. That was why she was heating up her blades- cauterizing what she could for the moment. She didn't have any better methods and while the cauterizing would present other problems down the road, it wasn't anything a hospital couldn't take care of. After a few minutes of careful work, she got to the broken bone. It wasn't pretty, but she set it internally with her very own hooves as gently as she could. After making sure it wasn't going to pop any longer, Applejack went about sealing her entry and making sure nothing had been popped or cut open by accident on her way out. She did so, then bandaged and set the wing.

 

She then took out a bunch of cider and cleaned off her hooves, or at leas as much as she could, breathing heavily. Okay. Now for the hoof. This was a lot easier. She cut into the pad of the hoof a little and then worked her way to where the crack in the wall was. She set it and came back out in a procedure that was far less intense. Still though, by the time it was all done Applejack was exhausted. Her hooves were shaking. Blood was on her hooves, the ground, on Rainbow. She tried washing her hooves- no, no luck. Resigned, she sat down and poured a few cups of cider. She put Rainbow's hoof up on the collected bedding, and then made sure to gingerly stretch her wing. It would have to remain out like that- curled up it couldn't heal.

And so, mentally spent, Applejack curled up and sipped her cider, face buried in her hat as she alternated between being worried, confused, scared, and relieved, often all at the same time.

[RainbowFoxxy]

 

Rainbow Dash was fighting for her life. She tried to fly but the air seemed to be full of some sort of red...mist? She flapped as hard as she could, fighting to keep herself airborne. Something was attacking her! Black shapes that resembled bird dove down at her pecking, scratching, clawing at her body. She struck out with her hooves. She flailed her sharp from hooves at the birds, trying to warn them off. A bird flew forward, pecking her hard right where her hoof joined her leg. The mare kept on fighting! She kicked, bit, and lashed out at the birds while fighting to keep herself in the air. She flapped her wings until the muscles felt like they were on fire. 

 

Her energy was draining fast! She couldn't keep up the fight much longer! Rainbow's wings moved slower and slower and she began to drop through the red mist...

 

"Uuuhhhhh...." The mare's eyelids fluttered. Her head throbbing was the first thing she felt. Then other sensations met her. Her wing ached horrendously. She tried to shift herself a little and stopped. It just hurt too much. Her hoof was lifted up. She decided not to fight it. Slowly realization dawned on her. The fall, AJ's tent, the cider, her wing... Rainbow spit a stick out of her muzzle. Her teeth had ground grooves into it.

 

She sniffed and turned her head a little bit. There was her friend! 

 

"Applejack?"

 

Rainbow shivered. She could hear rain still falling outside the tent. She shivered again. 

[SteelEagle]

 

Applejack had downed some mugs of cider, her breathing slow and even as she contemplated the ruination of their vacation. It was absolutely ironic that the very competitiveness that brought them together, made them friends, probably drove Rainbow's innards mad with desire, and allowed them to achieve so much led them to this point. That injury wasn't the result of some freak accident alone but rather the cruel hand of fate and the evening of some cosmic karma combining to ruin Rainbow. Life could be rather mean that way sometimes. But they'd get through this. They'd beaten all sorts of nasties together. Some wound wasn't going to take either one of them down and life was being silly thinking otherwise.
 

After a while Rainbow started to stir from her pain inflicted nap, and not a moment too soon. That wooden rod was getting one heck of a workout and Applejack wasn't sure if she was going to have to switch it out. She tried to move and failed, which was good. She wasn't gonna go ahead and do anything too rash. Applejack poured a mug and crawled over to her friend, raising the pegasus' head and pouring it down the throat a little. “Yer doin' just fine, Rainbow. Yer wing should be settin and yer hoof will heal in time,” Applejack moved closer, laying out so she could get a good look at her friend, crossing Rainbow's T. This allowed Rainbow to lay her head on Applejack's chest of she wanted for warmth.

“Are ya comfortable, sugarcube?” She asked, trying to drown out the wind and the rain outside. It was bad out there and it was gonna remain so, she could tell. “Anything Ah could do? Ah wish Ah had more Ah could do, but this is tha best accommodations in all of Rainbow Falls at tha moment,” she laughed a little, trying to ease the tension.

[RainbowFoxxy]

 

 

Rainbow felt sudden relief wash over her as AJ crawled over to her side. She lay her head gratefully on her friend's chest, nestling herself the best she could into the warmth Applejack so freely gave. Of course Dash wanted the warmth AJ offered, it helped her heal. It helped her heart. She was strong when AJ was around, she always would be. 

 

Dash groaned quietly as she tried to move just a little bit to get herself as comfortable as she could. There was a level discomfort moving through her body. Her wing was aching and her hoof was throbbing. But just having her head on AJ's chest made the feelings subside and of course the cider helped too. 

 

but this is tha best accommodations in all of Rainbow Falls at tha moment,

 

"Hehe...ya, you've fixed things up really nice for me AJ..."  She swallowed lightly. "Best camp site ever." She tried to chime in on the humor. Humor had always been a valuable part of their friendship, yet another facet she just couldn't live without. 

 

As she lay there, Rainbow continued to think over the life changing events that had all occurred in the past few hours. Not only had she injured herself, maybe even permanently, but she had also finally had the guts to declare her love. It was received exactly as she knew it would be. Unrequited but dressed in a huge amount of friendship to cover the hurt. AJ was so dang good at covering over hurt! In the good way. Not in the mask it and deal with it later, but in the way where healing could set it.

 

"You've done a lot AJ...you've done a lot..." She could feel herself slipping back into unconsciousness. "Make the rain stop ok? We gotta finish our vacation together." Her eyelids fluttered.

[SteelEagle]

 

Applejack allowed Rainbow to rest, having given her friend the option. Maybe it was her half inebriated state or just a fact of life when you were dealing with the most getting alongingest pony in all of Ponyville, maybe even Equestria, but she thought nothing better could be done to comfort her. Who knows, maybe somepony would call it cruel in some way even if Applejack didn't look at it that way. Rainbow had feelings that Applejack was...fine enough with, and if a little bit of contact helped relax her after such a serious injury than who was she to say no? She allowed her friend to lay her head on AJ's chest while Applejack went ahead and just continued to drink cider, idly stroking her friend's mane to keep her all calm. It worked on Apple Bloom as a filly and it would work on Rainbow now- it was simply just very comfortable!

Rainbow's sense of humor was still intact, which was nice. You didn't want what made a pony special to evaporate, no matter the cause. So here Applejack was suppressing a laugh when she whispered back, “well, Ah wouldn't go ahead and say that, RD. We both know that'd be a lie,” Applejack snorted, some of her hard cider coming back with a convulsing cough- wrong pipe! Not fun. She shook her head and allowed it to drain, soon back in the same exact position for RD. Before too long her friend started to go, giving some parting words of encouragement- “Thanks, Sugarcube. Jus' rest,” Applejack responded, noting the time when RD went back out. And it wasn't long after with a combination of tired anxiousness and adrenaline leaving her and the cider put Applejack out too, curled around RD so she could remain with head, wing, and hoof up.