Ponies bleed red, like people [Action/Open] [Event]

[elementofloyalty]

[A rat-a-tat of gunfire down by the quad precedes a bright blue pony running into the lobby. Or rather, half-running, half-flapping, because she pumps her wings furiously, enough to lift her raggedly off the ground every few steps or so, like a short leap. Why so weak? Perhaps the long streak of bright red matting her fur beneath her right wing is a clue.]

[She'd cast a Cure spell and mended the damage -- wisely, given where she'd been struck. But paramagic can't actually expel the bullet that's lodged in her joint, making every wingbeat agony and yanking a small yelp of pain out of her.]

[For once, Rainbow Dash isn't bragging, or putting on a strong front, or taking on impossible odds. She's hurt and terrified and wants to get somewhere safe. But right now, those seem in very short supply.]

[She stares mournfully at the upper walkway, then grits her teeth, shuts her eyes, and leaps into the air. Her wings thrust her raggedly forward, just enough to wrap her hooves around the railing. With a herculean effort, she pulls herself up and over, flopping bonelessly to the floor with a shriek of pain. Then she just lies there, gasping.]

[Somehow this adventure had suddenly stopped being cool.]

Comments

[mirage_diver]

[Locke had dealt with worse than what this attack was, and despite himself, he actually felt more at home here with machinegun fire and enemy troops and keeping a low cover, sneaking around. It felt... somewhat reminiscent of the occupation of South Figaro, oddly enough.

But then he sees a fellow cadet pull herself up over the railing on the walkway he's hiding on, then collapsing against the floor - obviously hurt, but not bleeding out, thankfully. He takes a minute to wait for the coast to clear, before slipping over, trying to keep himself out of view of the lower level as much as possible, whispering loudly.]

Hey...! What's hurt...?

[It's obvious she's hurt, but he can't see the wound from this angle, and is naturally oblivious to the extruciating pain Dash is in.]

[elementofloyalty]

Wing...

[She lifts her wing very slowly, revealing the spattered blood beneath it. The injury is mostly healed externally, thanks to the paramagic, so it looks worse than it is... but still.]

[mirage_diver]

[...oddly, he hadn't pegged the pony as a girl. And hearing her voice does change his demeanor subtly, though he manages to keep from projecting a little too much on he. Regardless, this is someone who, however they were beforehand, was legitimately in need of help - help he couldn't give.]

Ach.. looks nasty... you think you can walk? We need to get you to the infirmary or find a medic... I think I know a fairly safe path, if you're willing to trust me...

[elementofloyalty]

[She gets her feet under her, then straightens on wobbly legs. She isn't hurt and nothing's stopping her from moving, she's just in a state of shock. (Not medical, psychological.) For once, she's not enjoying the adrenaline.]

I used Cure on it once, but... I can barely fly.

[mirage_diver]

[Locke nods. He can definitely tell that, at least, it's her first time in an actual war.]

Luckily this place is built so that most of it can be reached on foot. We just... need to keep low, try to stay out of sight. Don't worry too much, I'll keep you safe.

[And, doing his best to distract the pony from the trauma of the moment..]

Don't think I've actually seen you around. You look kind of like Instructor Do. You her kid sister or something?

[elementofloyalty]

[Despite her pain and misery, that startles a rough laugh out of Rainbow.]

Thanks, but no. We're not related. She's an awesome adventurer.

[mirage_diver]

[That causes a smirk in reply.]

I'm not seeing how that shows you two aren't related. If anything, it's another similarity.

[Yeah, he's mostly just trying to boost her spirit here, but if he knew Rainbow better, he'd probably say the same thing.

Warily, Locke peeks over the edge of the walkway, spotting Galbadian soldiers down below and quickly ducking back out of view. Not safe yet... damn.]

I dunno how many classrooms are secure, but I'd figure getting AWAY from that giant stab-wound in Garden would lead to safer areas, so...

[rewritethis]

Dash!

[Someone heard that shriek - someone now rushing down the walkway at full pelt, boots hammering on the floor, any pretense of caution thrown to the wind. He's wrong. He must be wrong. Screaming can sound like anyone, can't it? And there's no shortage of girls around here, right? It'll be one of them... he'll give them a hand, pull them to safety or something, then go right back to concentrating on not getting killed...

It isn't. And just for a second - despite knowing firsthand what an easy target he tends to make even without the glint of exposed steel giving his position away, knowing that what she needs is help - his breath catches, and he stops dead.]

[elementofloyalty]

Yeah... trust me. She would've beaten them all easily. Never broken a sweat. Not run away...

[This isn't a good time for Rainbow to sink into a fit of depression, but to be fair, it's well-aided and abetted by the physical trauma.]

[elementofloyalty]

Ed!

[There's much more pathetic relief in her voice than she'd ever intend to show, but her control's not the best right now. She at least brings her feet underneath her, though she doesn't dare to get up yet, and looks up at him.]

[Silence for a moment, as she tries to figure out what to say -- that she's all right, that she's having trouble flying, that there are people invading...]

You're not supposed to see me... looking this uncool.

[mirage_diver]

[If Locke knew the situation he'd be quick to point out that Daring was fictional. As it is...]

We're still cadets, she's fully trained. And trust me, I've been in situations like this before. A single person can't take on a whole army... and if you hadn't run, you probably would've been dead by now. I... kinda get the feeling you don't have to deal with guns where you came from...?

[Sigh.] Anyway, you've gotta learn when a fight is too big... and running away doesn't mean you can't come back and strike from another angle.

[rewritethis]

[His expression unfreezes, some of the colour returning to his face. If that's the first thing she can think of to say, she probably isn't about to keel over just yet. Although now he has a better view of it, sheesh, that's a lot more blood than it looked like from a distance...

Well, if she isn't up to looking cool right now, he'll just have to work overtime. He crouches down next to her and tries to sound more focused than he's currently feeling.] I've seen worse. What happened?

[elementofloyalty]

I didn't even have a chance to DO anything! They just... charged in and started shooting.

[Her speed and agility are the only reason she'd taken just one hit. She slows to a stop, then, looking back at her wing with a frown.]

The magic should have healed it. Why does it still hurt so much?

[elementofloyalty]

I got shot. [She eases herself to her feet, though it's wobbly and tentative from sheer shock. Then, with her teeth gritted against the pain, she lifts her wing to show him the huge smear of blood on her side, and the mostly-healed injury.]

I cast a Cure on it, but... it still hurts for some reason.

[rewritethis]

[He makes a pretty good attempt at a wry smile.] The one thing you'd figure magic would be good for, huh? [Can't blame him for wanting to lighten the mood. It might not be solely for her benefit, though.

Following her lead, he gets to his own feet and glances down, leaning over the railing on tiptoe for a better view. There's no shortage of troops below them, but for the time being, none of them seem to be looking up. That's the best he can say, both about the situation and the scenery.]

But if it's not the place or the people they want...

[No, not worth contemplating until later. He takes a step back and looks at her.] Anyway, there's gotta be a medic left somewhere in here. You can walk, right?

[elementofloyalty]

Can they help it? I mean... I don't know why it hurts. I thought the magic would heal me...

[The idea that a bullet might lodge has never occurred to her. Her question hints at how much fear she actually is feeling, deep inside.]

I shouldn't take you away from this, though! You're gonna be needed!

[rewritethis]

Needed for what? Whatever these people are looking for, it's not me. No reason for me to stick around if things start looking any worse. [His smile has turned a little uneasy - but it's true, isn't it? He's been a stray dog for a while. If it turns out the most pragmatic course of action is to run, he'll run.

But that's for later, when he doesn't have anything else important to do.]

Come on. You need to lean on something?

[elementofloyalty]

[All his comment earns is a dirty look, as Rainbow takes two steps away -- nearly falling on her flank as she does, but that isn't the point.]

Edward Elric! You can fight! That's a perfectly good reason for you to stick around! There are people here who could could hurt if you don't help them!

[rewritethis]

[A hint of consternation flickers across his face as she sways - he almost steps forward - but it doesn't supplant the impatience that was already there.] What, and you're not hurt? As if. [He holds out his hand, though it's largely a symbolic gesture - both for the obvious reason and because his blade is out on the end of it.] Cut the crap and just get over here. We'll find someone. Worst-case scenario is, they'll know more about what a damn Cure spell physically does than me.

[elementofloyalty]

It isn't -- I'm fine. [She flicks her tail, which obviously doesn't hurt. At least something doesn't.] At least I'm not in danger of getting hurt worse so long as they get down there. What about the other cadets? They need someone strong and capable!

[Big words, Dash, ones that she isn't really speaking about as she's saying them.]

[rewritethis]

[Rainbow, claiming to be fine despite blatant and overwhelming evidence to the contrary is his shtick, thanks.]

Yeah? Well, I guess I can understand it slipping your mind under the circumstances, but just as a reminder? [He leans over.] People have legs! [...though ears are probably the more relevant body part at that volume.] What's to stop them coming up here? Do you want to get shot again? How about I do that for you, save you some time - let you use it to get off your sorry ass and go find a damn medic, like anyone sane would want?

[He doesn't even let up to bask in the apparent compliment. That's how frustrated he is!]

[elementofloyalty]

[She lifts her head, spreads her wings reflexively to make her point with pegasus style -- and the sudden shock of pain rushing through her body makes her stagger, though she doesn't collapse. Halfway collapse maybe.]

[Her anger breaks and shows the pain and fear beneath. She looks back to Ed.]

Okay, how about this... we go to the infirmary, and once they fix me up, we go out there and help people together. Okay?

[graynbowdash]

(Daring has been busy running around, trying to keep as many cadets and others safe as she can. As much as she'd like to go and give the attackers hell, there were comrades to worry about and she sure wasn't going to leave them behind.

She's dashing through the halls in a rush, but the shriek of pain definitely catches her attention. Wasting no time, Daring rushes on over to the source, horrified at the sight, but wasting no time in rushing to her aid.)

Rainbow! What happened to you?

(Yeah, time to check over the pegasus for injuries. The bullet wound is apparent, but if there are any others to worry about, she wants to know.)

[rewritethis]

[This time he does hurriedly step forward, holding his arms out by instinct, but he relaxes a little when she seems to catch herself in time. Yeah, he's not really sure what he was planning to do there. Being capable and being capable of carrying a pony aren't quite the same thing.

He manages half of a smile again.] If there's anyone left out there to help. Just - don't be an idiot about it, okay? War's not something that only happens to other people, you know. [Then he turns.] This way.

[scatterflower]

Rainbow Dash!

*Chika's eyes widen when she sees here roommate fly over and collapse like that, and before she can even think about it, she's charging over to the flying pony.*

Come on, we need to get you out of here.

*Sure, usually moving hurt people was bad, but not when they were getting shot at.*

Piyomon! Do you see any of them near us?

Not yet.

*Piyomon's looking over in the direction that Rainbow Dash came from, glaring down at it.*

But if they do show up... what are we going to do? You're no where near strong enough yet to fight effectively against them...

We'll worry about that later.

*She looked back down towards Rainbow Dash.*

Hey, do you think you'll be able to stand and walk to the infirmary?