Post by The Wastelander on Aug 22, 2015 7:16:47 GMT
Spring Serenade approached the little rest stop at a leisurely pace, giving herself time to mull over the events of the other day. The empty home that she and Autumn had come back to still left her worried for their nameless friend's disappearance. There wasn't much else she could do but hope she'd run into him again.. Her feelings on the other hoof however, had her confident her sister would begin to heal, and forgive. Spring had decided to give her the space she needed for that and get back to what she usually did: travel and offer herself as a healer to anypony who needed it. The first place she always liked to start at was the Rusty Shoe, her current destination- it was a moderately busy crossroads, and there were always ponies that could do with a bit of help. The family that owned the place had their own medic, but there was really only so much they could do. Spring looked forward to getting back to her self-assigned job again, if only to finally focus on something progressive that didn't involve any of her recent or past follies.
Crystal Sprocket frantically limped through the brush and tall grass. Her breath coming in fast staccato sounds and her eyes barely open from exhaustion and injury. Her lips were indeed parched as well, and though she seemed hot and sweaty she made no move to remove the grey cloak that covered her. It was tied under her and at her throat so that it was closed completely, no way to peek under it without untying it. Her ebony grey-ish fur was bared in places, and blood tinged the ends of obvious cuts and wounds. Bruises and lacerations weren't quite that obvious all over her body, but they were there. Her eye was obviously swollen. Behind her there was a makeshift wooden cart. It didn't look like it'd been easy to pull anywhere, much less across the wastes of Equestria. Where had she come from? Every step of her hooves made her wince and grimace in pain. She had not been treated well by somepony. Somepony had hurt her very badly indeed. Blood dripped lightly down her muzzle, little droplets on on the ground. As she neared the small town she'd seen days previous, she breathed a soft sigh of relief. Perhaps it would be barely inhabited. She might be able to sneak in and sneak out without being noticed. She'd been this injured for quite some time by the look of the wounds. She had taken a lot of time to get here. One of the old train cars before her she finally could move no further. She collapsed onto her forelegs, unable to move much further. That was before she'd seen the other pony before her. She made a gasping frightened breath and frantically began trying to right herself. Trying to get away from being spotted. She wasn't a very good sneaky person it would appear.
Spring Serenade noted that the Shoe didn't seem to be all that busy today, other than a few milling around the tables at the opposite end. She put a hoof to her chin in thought. If she couldn't find anypony in need, then she could always move on.. although she supposed she should check the infirmary car first. Scarcely had she begun to move in its direction when she heard the gasp, and soon spotted a cloaked mare nearby with her cart. It wasn't so much that she'd been out of her peripheral vision as it'd been her mane preventing her from noticing her arrival right away. And she was shocked at the state of her. "Oh Equestria!" Spring gasped and started towards her with concern. "What has happened to you? Please, let me assist."
Crystal Sprocket her fear was definitely evident, her muscles trying really hard underneath that grey cloak to move her body into a state of being able to run. She seemed to be very heavily frightened indeed of her presence, she spoke not a word, she seemed to be mouthing words. Some of them not very nice at all actually, but she couldn't seem to make the words with a voice. Either that or she was trying to be really, really quiet. Though if that was so she was doing a horrible job of it considering her hooves and the wooden cart rattling violently as she attempted to turn the oblong shaped wheels. It was very much so a rush job, not something that a Master craftspony had built. Her eyes were the most horrifying thing of all, if one had any kindness to spare that was. They were set in absolute terror, like her worst nightmare was flying before her eyes. As the other pony spoke, she could tell she was close. Her horn beginning to glow very brightly it was all she could do as there was no way she could move quickly at this point. She was attempting to throw up a shield, although she'd never get there, just as soon as she had attempted to use her magic, it had been just as quickly extinguished. Her strength just wasn't there, she would've groaned if she could make the noise. Instead she just lay there weakly, awaiting whatever her fate may be. After all maybe she deserved to die, she'd heard the stories just like everyone else had. Maybe this stranger would be merciful and do it quickly. The cart had blacksmithing equipment inside of it, a bellows, a few strange looking crystal gears and a crystal box. It was a weird set up to be sure, but it was what was around her neck that was the strangest thing. A crystal, that resembled and felt like metal. It was the oddest thing there indeed, tears were already streaming down her muzzle by the time anypony could reach her.
Spring Serenade slowed her approach upon seeing how the battered pony struggled and shook. The fear she could see in those eyes! She couldn't fathom what she could have possibly gone through to look, and act, like this. Her ears pinned back against her brown mane at the possibilities. She took a few, hesitant steps closer around where she could be seen more clearly and slowly bent down one foreknee, opting to speak in a low and soothing tone- her earlier approach must have been rather alarming. "At ease, stranger. I mean you no harm. I am a healer, I can help. Do not push your body, you must have been through quite enough as it is, from the look of it." Spring murmured gently. "I promise you that you will be safe here. Relax."
Crystal Sprocket she cried silently. As though she'd cried so much that her voice had just disappeared. Though it was more likely at this point that she just didn't have one. She had no weapons on her, not a one. She seemed more or less defenseless. Her eyes shown in defeat, what horrible fate could await her now. She'd already seen the horrors of the wastes. The nomads generosity was only outweighed by their cruelty and her body and mind bore the brunt of those attacks. Her eyes would open briefly to look at the other, she didn't say anything. Instead her horn began to dimly glow, she tried to move a stick closer towards her. It wasn't big enough to do any damage to anypony. It was just large enough to maybe play fetch with a small dog or an even tinier dragon. With it she drew in the dirt within view, "Please. Don't Hurt. Crystal Sprocket. Blacksmith" Those were the only words she managed before her horn quit glowing and her eyes fluttered closed. The bottom strap on the grey cloak had come loose during her struggles. It had not however revealed what was underneath it, only her Cutie Mark. Her Cutie Mark resembled two gears of golden color pressed together, and a sword atop them both of silver and gold. There were small, tiny puddles of blood under her in a few spots. She'd been gravely injured by whatever had done this. Although, on her underbelly, quite obvious even against the dark ebon skin, was a contusion of varying colors, in the middle of it was the shape of a hoof. Another pony had very obviously done this to her.
Spring Serenade had fallen silent after her murmuring and merely wait patiently for the other to answer, or even react to it. She was beginning to think that the poor pony was too frightened or hurt to even speak, but she did take note of the soft glow of magic. The unicorn watched as words were etched into the dull earth, and she leaned forward slightly to read them. She withdrew once she had and noted in that time that the mare seemed to have finally collapsed. Spring slowly straightened back up, taking in the tales of pain that had been scrawled across what little flesh she could see, and the cutie mark. It was unlike what she normally saw, but currently not of her concern. "If you can hear me, I will take you to the infirmary. Fear not." Spring said as her horn lit with a faded blue light. She used her magic to release Crystal from the cart's hitching, and the magic field spread to levitate her from the dirty ground. Spring carried her to the infirmary car, where she could lay her gently upon the only vacant bed within. She began to pull out a sterilized needle, thread, and rolls of bandages- she would need them to tend to her wounds.
Crystal Sprocket was unconscious upon the bed, her body was very much so beaten and broken. She was as close to death as she'd ever been. The incident that happened before was still on her memory, a soft sweat had broken out across her brow. Perhaps she was fevered, perhaps it was merely just the nightmare of reliving what she had gone through. She might have even gotten a little dose of the Wasteland Winds whilst she was out there... One could tell she'd taken the less beaten path. Her coat was dirty and dingy in places she'd likely not have been if she'd stuck to the well traveled paths. Her heartbeat was even somewhat sluggish and her breathing came a bit deep and shallow. The string that kept the bottom of her cloak tied about her torso had come lose, though one could see there was something lumped up under it now that she was laying upon the bed. One could remove it with her being unconscious, she'd have no chance of fighting it. Her tail didn't even twitch, she laid there limp blood pooling upon the bed.. apparently she'd torn something open further than she'd anticipated by trying to panic. She was ready for treatment but if she'd survive would depend on how good the stranger was at healing.
Spring Serenade's slender horn remained glowing with magic as she looked down at her new patient, her brow furrowed with worry. She'd never seen anypony beaten up so badly, and still alive. Perhaps once she was awake and well again she'd ask for her story, but for now she had to treat her. The sudden spreading spill of blood on the gray-white sheets was not looking good. The mare inhaled deeply and set to work, first untying and removing the dark cloak that Crystal wore. The strange lump that was beneath was soon explained, and it threw Spring, who gasped at the sight, off for a moment. Was.. Was she an alicorn? Her eyes didn't seem to be lying to her, but she had to regain her composure. She'd worry about that detail later, she had somepony to take care of right now. Spring spread her magic across Crystal's body, beginning first with a pain-numbing spell. It would make things easier. Now that that was done, she set about using spells to try to knit together and heal the worst of her wounds, and to try to stop the bleeding before she lost too much blood.
Crystal Sprocket's body was torn up in a lot of places. Her wings though were oddly intact. As though the ponies who beat her hadn't wanted to touch them. Her horn pulsated faintly as the pain spell hit her body, her muscles relaxing and her body responding to it favorably. Her heartbeat seemed to become sluggish for a moment or two and then would return to normal. Her horn pulsing with the beat her of her heart, it seemed to be going well so far. Though the bleeding continued unimpeded it wasn't as bad as before when her muscles were tightened around the injuries by mere instinct. She did seem at first glace to have a badly broken rib or two... fractures in her hip and in her right foreleg. Bruises and contusions everywhere. She was cut up in several places especially underneath one of her wings. She had been brutalized. The cloak that had been pulled off of her had blood spots and all manner of dust and dirt on the underside, apparently she'd switched sides when one got too dirty. Her face even relaxed slightly, a smile spreading across her muzzle as though she were now dreaming rather than unconscious.
Spring Serenade cast the cloak a brief glance before she levitated it up and over one of the bars that held the curtains around the bed. It would have to be washed.. somehow. She turned her attention back to Crystal, gently pushing her wings up and out of the way of her sides so she could take a better look. The blood seemed to have lessened some, so her spell at least helped with the job- but that was where she could use bandages. Spring turned away briefly to retrieve a canteen of clean, purified water from her bags- this she would use to clean out the poor pony's wounds before she could even begin anything else.
Crystal Sprocket her body would twitch lightly at some points as though she were trying to move in whatever she was dreaming. Though she was still sweating as though it were very hot within the car. Her body shaking at some points as though she were cold, though she didn't seem to be. Her eyes would not open, not yet. Even as her wounds were cleaned she did not move, it was as if she did not even notice. Likely in part due to the numbing spell Spring was using upon her. Her body only responded to the internal nightmare that was going on inside her mind right now. She merely could wait for whatever further treatment that Spring could give. Though her coat washed clean around the wounds, some of them seemed to be infected and would likely need some form of medication to get better.
Scootaloo had been snooping around the quieter parts of the Shoe, mostly out of boredom. Her worthless zombie brother was nowhere to be found, again. He'd probably run off with some scarlet mare, knowing him. Noises from the infirmary had caught her attention from outside it, and so she'd opted to all but barge right in - not exactly a pony of stealth - and smile widely at the first figure she saw. "Hiiii-" she started cheerfully toward the purple unicorn, before catching sight of what was resting on the bed. "WHAT THE FUCK?!" she exclaimed, the sweet greeting facade being trampled flat by her usual brash tone. Well that had lasted all of two seconds. Being very much a typical wastelander, the pegasus backed up real fast, her ass smacking into the table in the corner and causing her to jump. "D-does the Family know you're keeping a killing machine in here?" she spat in an accusatory tone toward the medic.
Spring Serenade frowned down at some of the wounds, momentarily still as she pondered how to treat them. She didn't think she had a spell in her repertoire to deal with infections.. but hopefully one of the merchants that passed through the Shoe would have something useful. She nodded to herself once she made that mental goal and levitated up her needle and thread- both sterile, of course. Spring began to carefully sew the worst of the wounds closed, so focused on her task she almost didn't hear the train car's door open. It wasn't until she heard the greeting, and the following outburst, that she nearly dropped her tools in her fright. Spring whirled to behold the pegasus at the door- they looked a.. familiar, to her. She must have seen them before, probably that foul-mouthed pegasus she met who had been so unimpressed with her travels. Her face darkened at once. "Killing machine? She is no more a killing machine than any other wastelander, why, look at the state of her! When she came to this waystation, she was near death, and I would be damned if I let anypony die. My job is saving lives, and that is what I am going to do no matter what!" The unicorn stomped her hoof upon the wooden floorboards, and gave the newcomer a look of I just dare you to try me. Regardless of what the pegasus's response was, she would turn back to her injured patient so she could finish stitching up her wounds. Spring would exert a healing spell upon them once she was done to aid the process and promptly bandaged what she'd tended to.
Crystal Sprocket her eyes would flutter open slightly as her wounds were being tended. She would then return to unconsciousness, her fever making her somewhat delerious. Those green eyes would be distinguishable for a moment, but her horn pulsed in time with her heartbeat, which was slow, but getting more stable as time passed. It was as though not being in pain alone was enough to keep her alive. Her body though was in sad beaten shape. Every square inch of her just about was bruised and she had a few broken ribs. Obvious fractures on her right foreleg and her hips. She had been completely brutalized. Her Cutie Mark even had a cut right through it that had become obvious when it was rinsed, it had been caked with dirt and mud from her travels. How far had she come from?
Scootaloo's ears pinned back immediately as the medic snapped back in defense of the... thing! Unheard of! "The fuckin' state of her?" she retorted, "I'd state somepony fucked up and didn't finish their job." Harsh? Possibly. In her mind however it was completely justified, as it was in the minds of most. "So you're gonna help her get better, and then what? She's one of them. The ones that caused the fuckin' wasteland we live in, in the first place! What's to say she won't just kill us all for your trouble?" Not a direct challenge - Scoots didn't fancy being barred from the Shoe's grounds over a brawl with an ignorant-ass unicorn - but a strong disapproval of her sanctimonious deeds nonetheless. "And if she does, believe you me mare I will remember your dumbass face in the afterlife." Such an angry horse.
Spring Serenade cleaned and bandaged the smaller cuts, one ear cocked in the pegasus's direction while she worked. Her teeth were slightly bared in her growing anger, but she wouldn't let one wastelander's thoughts keep her from doing her job. Her horn adopted a slightly brighter glow as she began to perform another spell- one that would help her search for internal injuries. While she did that, she deigned to answer; it was a small struggle to keep her voice calm and level. "That is something that will never come to pass. Pray tell, have you never questioned the tales other ponies tell about the past? That perhaps the war was caused by normal ponies? And to absolve themselves of their sins they spun those ridiculous tales to blame it on an other?" Spring said huffily. She would leave that up to the pegasus to chew on while she put her focus back into her patient, where she could actually discover the broken bones within.
Crystal Sprocket her eyes would flutter open yet again, and this time they stayed open. Locked in fear, though her breathing stayed slow and calm, her heartbeat increased though. She had apparently heard the argument, or the very tail end of it... she swallowed visually. She couldn't speak but she did try her mouth trying to form words, but it was as if she had no voicebox. Tears began to pour down her cheeks, in silent begging for her life. It was what was still around her neck that was interesting though to those that didn't care one way or the other for her survival. Around her neck was a round piece of crystal, though it did not resemble crystal.... it was.. metal? It could be crystal too though, she tried to move a bit and realized her extremities were numb. She couldn't go anywhere, she couldn't even flex her newly materialized wings. She frantically searched about for something to write with, as though she wanted to communicate deeply. Her horn however still pulsed in time with her rapidly accelerating heartbeat she was just completely frightened. Could one die of fright?
Scootaloo canted her head to one side incredulously at this brand new concept that for whatever reason hadn't once been suggested to her before this very moment. A less devout wastelander might have been swayed, but Scoots was going to need more than that to turn from long-held beliefs. "If that shit's true, then why do all the books show black-furred demons exactly like that one in them?" Her tone was a little quieter now, but no less on-edge. She was still in a small space with hellspawn after all. "Hasn't been a fuckin' printing press in 200 years, last I checked. It's not like the war ended and then all the survivors went 'well shit we gotta cover this up somehow'." Before she could debate the theory any more, the devil roused. Scoots adopted a combative stance immediately, falling into a watchful silence. It took a moment or two, but she finally seemed to notice the other's cowed body language. Huh... Not exactly how she would have expected a demon to act. She slowly let her stance return to a more neutral one at this revelation, though her fur and feathers were still bristling in uncertainty. "What even happened to her?" she asked finally. D'aw Scoots, feeling a pang of basic pony decency there? "Did she run into a Whytael?"
Spring Serenade's gaze flicked up to the alicorn's face when she began to move, and leaned over to murmur comfort. "All is well. Be still, I am still tending to you." She offered Crystal a faint smile of reassurance before she withdrew- her eyes were caught by what she wore around her neck, and her brow furrowed in puzzlement. How interesting. It only added to the questions she would have to ask for her later, but the more important things came first. Her ear flicked back towards the pegasus and her frown reappeared, but she said nothing. Her concentration was already diverted back to Crystal's battered body- starting with the ribs. Spring's eyes slipped close as she did what she had before with a broken bone: she felt over the ribs using only her magic and began to slowly move them back into place. A healing spell would be added to the mix once that had been accomplished, to boost their healing. "I do not believe so. She was quite frightened of me upon meeting." Spring finally responded, albeit distractedly. A roll of bandages floated up, as did the alicorn once she was levitated in Spring's magic, and she began to bind her chest. "I do believe she must have been set upon by others. A Whytael would have finished her."
Crystal Sprocket her eyes would begin to calm along with her heartbeat. Apparently they hadn't killed her yet, she looked between the two of them. She still couldn't move, her eyes were the only things searching, she was still numb. Her forelegs were twitching lightly as though the moving of the bones within her was triggering nerves. However she couldn't feel it, her body floated up, and she was more than surprised as she was levitated by the fact that she didn't even feel that. She blinked lightly and then looked down, she mouthed the word, 'Mute' Her tongue making clicking noises, hoping that one of them would be able to understand what she was trying to tell them. She would need something to write with to communicate.
Scootaloo still wasn't convinced the beast wouldn't just shake off the facade of injury and leap up to devour them at any moment, but as long as she seemed at least neutral Scoots figured no harm in investigating the peculiar being. Future reference and all that. The mouthing swiftly caught the pegasus' eye, and she squinted as she attempted to make it out. "What?" She looked toward Spring, evidently not understanding shit. Could the demon not speak? Even if she could, did demons even speak pony? She did not know.
Spring Serenade tied off the binding, not too tightly, and gently lowered the mare back onto the bed. The sheets beneath would definitely have to be cleaned or replaced at some point, from the look of the blood that had settled there. Her attention was drawn to Crystal's moving lips by the pegasus, her eyes flicking to her first before they went to the alicorn's face. She focused on them, and tried to mouth what it looked like she was saying. M-..yoo.. t? ... Mute? Was that what she was saying? It probably should have been obvious to her before, as she uttered not a word the entire time, but she had thought it had been from shock. ".. Mute?" Spring echoed her thoughts with a flick of her tail. "While you are standing around, perhaps you might find some writing utensils." Spring addressed the pegasus, and bent back to the task at hand to next work on her foreleg as she'd done her ribs.
Crystal Sprocket her eyes flit back and forth, and then blink in surprise, as she is once again lowered. She smiled brightly as her word was understood. Though it took a minute, writing would definitely be faster. Whilst she was mute, her hearing was insanely good as was her sense of smell and taste. Everything else had increased as she could not speak. She was highly observant as well. She noticed very quickly the bristled feathers of the pegasus and the combative and standoff-ish behavior. Her eyes recoiled away from them because of this. As Spring started attempting to mend her foreleg she smiled softly, trying to glance down at her wings, her head would move now, but it was somewhat sluggish and inaccurate. Her heartbeat had slowed down a lot and her horn wasn't pusling with it's beat anymore. Though she was still sweating, she did have a fever... so the infection was still there, though if she got through that then she'd be fine hopefully. She wondered briefly about her cart, hoping that her blacksmithing tools were still in it. Her eyes took on a somewhat distant approach as though she were remembering something.
Scootaloo snorted as the medic had the audacity to tell her to do something. "What the fuck are 'writing utensils'," she snorted. Unicorns and their bullshit fancy words. After pondering it a bit more though, her brain managed to simplify it down to what was being requested. "Fuck, if you want paper you should just use the word. I'm not one of those egghead types. I'm a fucking mechanic." Rant rant rant. Regardless of the fact that being ordered around by this bitch made Scoots want to kick her teeth in even more, she'd relent and start to search around for paper. And one of those... uhh. What were they? The little things that made the lines on the paper. Yeah. A short time later she'd return to the unicorn's side and drop the needed implements on the bed near the demon. She wasn't getting any closer than that. "Here, I guess," she spoke directly to the alicorn before moving back again.
Spring Serenade's head twitched a little towards the pegasus at her outburst, but she left her to do as she'd been told. She started to apply her magic to the alicorn's front leg, pausing long enough to show the mechanic a kindness. "Thank you for your help." She'd utter gently and turned back to her work. Her magic felt over the bones of the foreleg that had made itself known to her, and she began to set them right. Her healing spell would be cast upon the bones once they were set, although now she needed something to splint it with. Hmm.. Spring cast about for something, and settled upon one of the loose floorboards by the wall. Why not, right? She snapped it in half down the length of it and set the pieces against her leg, before she bound it too in gauze. "We are almost done."
Crystal Sprocket her eyes widened as the paper and pencil were offered to her. She nodded a thank you and then smiled, her horn glowed brightly this time, as though it were a shining star in the night sky. The paper and pencil would levitate as she then wrote upon it the words, 'I am Crystal Sprocket. I am a blacksmith... the nomads attacked me. Thank you for saving me. Even though I'm.....' as she wrote those words her face fell a bit. Sadness taking her slightly. She was different now. No one would, if they found out what she was, offer her a kindness again. This was an exception. Most would do exactly what the others had done to her. Attempt to run her off or kill her. She had nearly died the first time, she might not survive the second. Her eyes held tears for that moment as she thought about it.
Scootaloo, unfortunately, could only stare a little blankly at the paper with the lines on it. Not being an egghead included a distinct lack of literacy. Hopefully the medic would be more useful on that front, or else attempts at communication were gonna be pretty awkward. She peered toward the unicorn with a questioning look, hoping to express as much without having to admit aloud that she couldn't read.
Spring Serenade took a deep breath and let it out slowly once she was finished with the alicorn's foreleg. The numbing and healing spells were starting to take their tolls on her. The mare gave herself a shake and glanced over at the paper while Crystal wrote, but it seemed her writing came to a stop. She frowned again and put a hoof on her shoulder, but she didn't try to read what had been written there yet. Not until Crystal was finished. Spring turned her attention back to what was, or might be, left to do. She used her magic to do another slow sweep to discover what was left to tend to.
Crystal Sprocket wouldn't let anymore tears drop down her muzzle. She'd cried enough already today. Her misfortune was only what had happened until now, perhaps it would be different here. She knew the stories as well as anyone. She looked up at her cloak, her horn glowing as she covered her wings with it, attempting to look as normal as possible. After all the piece of crystallized metal on her neck was her pride and joy, not the wings that had come with making it. She wanted to change Equestria, to make things better for everyone. Better metal, better protection, better armor, better weapons to defend themselves. Her face seemed momentarily more determined. She wrote upon the paper with the pencil once again, 'Is my cart still outside?'
Scootaloo sat down by the far wall and continued to watch the other two. There was nothing to say since a translation had yet to be offered to the poor mechanic.
Spring Serenade could only find one thing left, but she spared it a little longer to turn her attention to the paper. She glanced to the pegasus briefly, clearing her throat, and read aloud what had been written on the paper- it was for her benefit, so it didn't seem like the two of them were keeping secrets. "Your cart is still outside, and I am sure it is safe. Once I have finished mending your hip I will see to it, and seek out one of the merchants for medicine." Spring answered at last with a flick of her tail. She gave Crystal another reassuring smile and turned to tend to her hip, repeating her bone-setting process for the third and last time that day.
Crystal Sprocket frantically limped through the brush and tall grass. Her breath coming in fast staccato sounds and her eyes barely open from exhaustion and injury. Her lips were indeed parched as well, and though she seemed hot and sweaty she made no move to remove the grey cloak that covered her. It was tied under her and at her throat so that it was closed completely, no way to peek under it without untying it. Her ebony grey-ish fur was bared in places, and blood tinged the ends of obvious cuts and wounds. Bruises and lacerations weren't quite that obvious all over her body, but they were there. Her eye was obviously swollen. Behind her there was a makeshift wooden cart. It didn't look like it'd been easy to pull anywhere, much less across the wastes of Equestria. Where had she come from? Every step of her hooves made her wince and grimace in pain. She had not been treated well by somepony. Somepony had hurt her very badly indeed. Blood dripped lightly down her muzzle, little droplets on on the ground. As she neared the small town she'd seen days previous, she breathed a soft sigh of relief. Perhaps it would be barely inhabited. She might be able to sneak in and sneak out without being noticed. She'd been this injured for quite some time by the look of the wounds. She had taken a lot of time to get here. One of the old train cars before her she finally could move no further. She collapsed onto her forelegs, unable to move much further. That was before she'd seen the other pony before her. She made a gasping frightened breath and frantically began trying to right herself. Trying to get away from being spotted. She wasn't a very good sneaky person it would appear.
Spring Serenade noted that the Shoe didn't seem to be all that busy today, other than a few milling around the tables at the opposite end. She put a hoof to her chin in thought. If she couldn't find anypony in need, then she could always move on.. although she supposed she should check the infirmary car first. Scarcely had she begun to move in its direction when she heard the gasp, and soon spotted a cloaked mare nearby with her cart. It wasn't so much that she'd been out of her peripheral vision as it'd been her mane preventing her from noticing her arrival right away. And she was shocked at the state of her. "Oh Equestria!" Spring gasped and started towards her with concern. "What has happened to you? Please, let me assist."
Crystal Sprocket her fear was definitely evident, her muscles trying really hard underneath that grey cloak to move her body into a state of being able to run. She seemed to be very heavily frightened indeed of her presence, she spoke not a word, she seemed to be mouthing words. Some of them not very nice at all actually, but she couldn't seem to make the words with a voice. Either that or she was trying to be really, really quiet. Though if that was so she was doing a horrible job of it considering her hooves and the wooden cart rattling violently as she attempted to turn the oblong shaped wheels. It was very much so a rush job, not something that a Master craftspony had built. Her eyes were the most horrifying thing of all, if one had any kindness to spare that was. They were set in absolute terror, like her worst nightmare was flying before her eyes. As the other pony spoke, she could tell she was close. Her horn beginning to glow very brightly it was all she could do as there was no way she could move quickly at this point. She was attempting to throw up a shield, although she'd never get there, just as soon as she had attempted to use her magic, it had been just as quickly extinguished. Her strength just wasn't there, she would've groaned if she could make the noise. Instead she just lay there weakly, awaiting whatever her fate may be. After all maybe she deserved to die, she'd heard the stories just like everyone else had. Maybe this stranger would be merciful and do it quickly. The cart had blacksmithing equipment inside of it, a bellows, a few strange looking crystal gears and a crystal box. It was a weird set up to be sure, but it was what was around her neck that was the strangest thing. A crystal, that resembled and felt like metal. It was the oddest thing there indeed, tears were already streaming down her muzzle by the time anypony could reach her.
Spring Serenade slowed her approach upon seeing how the battered pony struggled and shook. The fear she could see in those eyes! She couldn't fathom what she could have possibly gone through to look, and act, like this. Her ears pinned back against her brown mane at the possibilities. She took a few, hesitant steps closer around where she could be seen more clearly and slowly bent down one foreknee, opting to speak in a low and soothing tone- her earlier approach must have been rather alarming. "At ease, stranger. I mean you no harm. I am a healer, I can help. Do not push your body, you must have been through quite enough as it is, from the look of it." Spring murmured gently. "I promise you that you will be safe here. Relax."
Crystal Sprocket she cried silently. As though she'd cried so much that her voice had just disappeared. Though it was more likely at this point that she just didn't have one. She had no weapons on her, not a one. She seemed more or less defenseless. Her eyes shown in defeat, what horrible fate could await her now. She'd already seen the horrors of the wastes. The nomads generosity was only outweighed by their cruelty and her body and mind bore the brunt of those attacks. Her eyes would open briefly to look at the other, she didn't say anything. Instead her horn began to dimly glow, she tried to move a stick closer towards her. It wasn't big enough to do any damage to anypony. It was just large enough to maybe play fetch with a small dog or an even tinier dragon. With it she drew in the dirt within view, "Please. Don't Hurt. Crystal Sprocket. Blacksmith" Those were the only words she managed before her horn quit glowing and her eyes fluttered closed. The bottom strap on the grey cloak had come loose during her struggles. It had not however revealed what was underneath it, only her Cutie Mark. Her Cutie Mark resembled two gears of golden color pressed together, and a sword atop them both of silver and gold. There were small, tiny puddles of blood under her in a few spots. She'd been gravely injured by whatever had done this. Although, on her underbelly, quite obvious even against the dark ebon skin, was a contusion of varying colors, in the middle of it was the shape of a hoof. Another pony had very obviously done this to her.
Spring Serenade had fallen silent after her murmuring and merely wait patiently for the other to answer, or even react to it. She was beginning to think that the poor pony was too frightened or hurt to even speak, but she did take note of the soft glow of magic. The unicorn watched as words were etched into the dull earth, and she leaned forward slightly to read them. She withdrew once she had and noted in that time that the mare seemed to have finally collapsed. Spring slowly straightened back up, taking in the tales of pain that had been scrawled across what little flesh she could see, and the cutie mark. It was unlike what she normally saw, but currently not of her concern. "If you can hear me, I will take you to the infirmary. Fear not." Spring said as her horn lit with a faded blue light. She used her magic to release Crystal from the cart's hitching, and the magic field spread to levitate her from the dirty ground. Spring carried her to the infirmary car, where she could lay her gently upon the only vacant bed within. She began to pull out a sterilized needle, thread, and rolls of bandages- she would need them to tend to her wounds.
Crystal Sprocket was unconscious upon the bed, her body was very much so beaten and broken. She was as close to death as she'd ever been. The incident that happened before was still on her memory, a soft sweat had broken out across her brow. Perhaps she was fevered, perhaps it was merely just the nightmare of reliving what she had gone through. She might have even gotten a little dose of the Wasteland Winds whilst she was out there... One could tell she'd taken the less beaten path. Her coat was dirty and dingy in places she'd likely not have been if she'd stuck to the well traveled paths. Her heartbeat was even somewhat sluggish and her breathing came a bit deep and shallow. The string that kept the bottom of her cloak tied about her torso had come lose, though one could see there was something lumped up under it now that she was laying upon the bed. One could remove it with her being unconscious, she'd have no chance of fighting it. Her tail didn't even twitch, she laid there limp blood pooling upon the bed.. apparently she'd torn something open further than she'd anticipated by trying to panic. She was ready for treatment but if she'd survive would depend on how good the stranger was at healing.
Spring Serenade's slender horn remained glowing with magic as she looked down at her new patient, her brow furrowed with worry. She'd never seen anypony beaten up so badly, and still alive. Perhaps once she was awake and well again she'd ask for her story, but for now she had to treat her. The sudden spreading spill of blood on the gray-white sheets was not looking good. The mare inhaled deeply and set to work, first untying and removing the dark cloak that Crystal wore. The strange lump that was beneath was soon explained, and it threw Spring, who gasped at the sight, off for a moment. Was.. Was she an alicorn? Her eyes didn't seem to be lying to her, but she had to regain her composure. She'd worry about that detail later, she had somepony to take care of right now. Spring spread her magic across Crystal's body, beginning first with a pain-numbing spell. It would make things easier. Now that that was done, she set about using spells to try to knit together and heal the worst of her wounds, and to try to stop the bleeding before she lost too much blood.
Crystal Sprocket's body was torn up in a lot of places. Her wings though were oddly intact. As though the ponies who beat her hadn't wanted to touch them. Her horn pulsated faintly as the pain spell hit her body, her muscles relaxing and her body responding to it favorably. Her heartbeat seemed to become sluggish for a moment or two and then would return to normal. Her horn pulsing with the beat her of her heart, it seemed to be going well so far. Though the bleeding continued unimpeded it wasn't as bad as before when her muscles were tightened around the injuries by mere instinct. She did seem at first glace to have a badly broken rib or two... fractures in her hip and in her right foreleg. Bruises and contusions everywhere. She was cut up in several places especially underneath one of her wings. She had been brutalized. The cloak that had been pulled off of her had blood spots and all manner of dust and dirt on the underside, apparently she'd switched sides when one got too dirty. Her face even relaxed slightly, a smile spreading across her muzzle as though she were now dreaming rather than unconscious.
Spring Serenade cast the cloak a brief glance before she levitated it up and over one of the bars that held the curtains around the bed. It would have to be washed.. somehow. She turned her attention back to Crystal, gently pushing her wings up and out of the way of her sides so she could take a better look. The blood seemed to have lessened some, so her spell at least helped with the job- but that was where she could use bandages. Spring turned away briefly to retrieve a canteen of clean, purified water from her bags- this she would use to clean out the poor pony's wounds before she could even begin anything else.
Crystal Sprocket her body would twitch lightly at some points as though she were trying to move in whatever she was dreaming. Though she was still sweating as though it were very hot within the car. Her body shaking at some points as though she were cold, though she didn't seem to be. Her eyes would not open, not yet. Even as her wounds were cleaned she did not move, it was as if she did not even notice. Likely in part due to the numbing spell Spring was using upon her. Her body only responded to the internal nightmare that was going on inside her mind right now. She merely could wait for whatever further treatment that Spring could give. Though her coat washed clean around the wounds, some of them seemed to be infected and would likely need some form of medication to get better.
Scootaloo had been snooping around the quieter parts of the Shoe, mostly out of boredom. Her worthless zombie brother was nowhere to be found, again. He'd probably run off with some scarlet mare, knowing him. Noises from the infirmary had caught her attention from outside it, and so she'd opted to all but barge right in - not exactly a pony of stealth - and smile widely at the first figure she saw. "Hiiii-" she started cheerfully toward the purple unicorn, before catching sight of what was resting on the bed. "WHAT THE FUCK?!" she exclaimed, the sweet greeting facade being trampled flat by her usual brash tone. Well that had lasted all of two seconds. Being very much a typical wastelander, the pegasus backed up real fast, her ass smacking into the table in the corner and causing her to jump. "D-does the Family know you're keeping a killing machine in here?" she spat in an accusatory tone toward the medic.
Spring Serenade frowned down at some of the wounds, momentarily still as she pondered how to treat them. She didn't think she had a spell in her repertoire to deal with infections.. but hopefully one of the merchants that passed through the Shoe would have something useful. She nodded to herself once she made that mental goal and levitated up her needle and thread- both sterile, of course. Spring began to carefully sew the worst of the wounds closed, so focused on her task she almost didn't hear the train car's door open. It wasn't until she heard the greeting, and the following outburst, that she nearly dropped her tools in her fright. Spring whirled to behold the pegasus at the door- they looked a.. familiar, to her. She must have seen them before, probably that foul-mouthed pegasus she met who had been so unimpressed with her travels. Her face darkened at once. "Killing machine? She is no more a killing machine than any other wastelander, why, look at the state of her! When she came to this waystation, she was near death, and I would be damned if I let anypony die. My job is saving lives, and that is what I am going to do no matter what!" The unicorn stomped her hoof upon the wooden floorboards, and gave the newcomer a look of I just dare you to try me. Regardless of what the pegasus's response was, she would turn back to her injured patient so she could finish stitching up her wounds. Spring would exert a healing spell upon them once she was done to aid the process and promptly bandaged what she'd tended to.
Crystal Sprocket her eyes would flutter open slightly as her wounds were being tended. She would then return to unconsciousness, her fever making her somewhat delerious. Those green eyes would be distinguishable for a moment, but her horn pulsed in time with her heartbeat, which was slow, but getting more stable as time passed. It was as though not being in pain alone was enough to keep her alive. Her body though was in sad beaten shape. Every square inch of her just about was bruised and she had a few broken ribs. Obvious fractures on her right foreleg and her hips. She had been completely brutalized. Her Cutie Mark even had a cut right through it that had become obvious when it was rinsed, it had been caked with dirt and mud from her travels. How far had she come from?
Scootaloo's ears pinned back immediately as the medic snapped back in defense of the... thing! Unheard of! "The fuckin' state of her?" she retorted, "I'd state somepony fucked up and didn't finish their job." Harsh? Possibly. In her mind however it was completely justified, as it was in the minds of most. "So you're gonna help her get better, and then what? She's one of them. The ones that caused the fuckin' wasteland we live in, in the first place! What's to say she won't just kill us all for your trouble?" Not a direct challenge - Scoots didn't fancy being barred from the Shoe's grounds over a brawl with an ignorant-ass unicorn - but a strong disapproval of her sanctimonious deeds nonetheless. "And if she does, believe you me mare I will remember your dumbass face in the afterlife." Such an angry horse.
Spring Serenade cleaned and bandaged the smaller cuts, one ear cocked in the pegasus's direction while she worked. Her teeth were slightly bared in her growing anger, but she wouldn't let one wastelander's thoughts keep her from doing her job. Her horn adopted a slightly brighter glow as she began to perform another spell- one that would help her search for internal injuries. While she did that, she deigned to answer; it was a small struggle to keep her voice calm and level. "That is something that will never come to pass. Pray tell, have you never questioned the tales other ponies tell about the past? That perhaps the war was caused by normal ponies? And to absolve themselves of their sins they spun those ridiculous tales to blame it on an other?" Spring said huffily. She would leave that up to the pegasus to chew on while she put her focus back into her patient, where she could actually discover the broken bones within.
Crystal Sprocket her eyes would flutter open yet again, and this time they stayed open. Locked in fear, though her breathing stayed slow and calm, her heartbeat increased though. She had apparently heard the argument, or the very tail end of it... she swallowed visually. She couldn't speak but she did try her mouth trying to form words, but it was as if she had no voicebox. Tears began to pour down her cheeks, in silent begging for her life. It was what was still around her neck that was interesting though to those that didn't care one way or the other for her survival. Around her neck was a round piece of crystal, though it did not resemble crystal.... it was.. metal? It could be crystal too though, she tried to move a bit and realized her extremities were numb. She couldn't go anywhere, she couldn't even flex her newly materialized wings. She frantically searched about for something to write with, as though she wanted to communicate deeply. Her horn however still pulsed in time with her rapidly accelerating heartbeat she was just completely frightened. Could one die of fright?
Scootaloo canted her head to one side incredulously at this brand new concept that for whatever reason hadn't once been suggested to her before this very moment. A less devout wastelander might have been swayed, but Scoots was going to need more than that to turn from long-held beliefs. "If that shit's true, then why do all the books show black-furred demons exactly like that one in them?" Her tone was a little quieter now, but no less on-edge. She was still in a small space with hellspawn after all. "Hasn't been a fuckin' printing press in 200 years, last I checked. It's not like the war ended and then all the survivors went 'well shit we gotta cover this up somehow'." Before she could debate the theory any more, the devil roused. Scoots adopted a combative stance immediately, falling into a watchful silence. It took a moment or two, but she finally seemed to notice the other's cowed body language. Huh... Not exactly how she would have expected a demon to act. She slowly let her stance return to a more neutral one at this revelation, though her fur and feathers were still bristling in uncertainty. "What even happened to her?" she asked finally. D'aw Scoots, feeling a pang of basic pony decency there? "Did she run into a Whytael?"
Spring Serenade's gaze flicked up to the alicorn's face when she began to move, and leaned over to murmur comfort. "All is well. Be still, I am still tending to you." She offered Crystal a faint smile of reassurance before she withdrew- her eyes were caught by what she wore around her neck, and her brow furrowed in puzzlement. How interesting. It only added to the questions she would have to ask for her later, but the more important things came first. Her ear flicked back towards the pegasus and her frown reappeared, but she said nothing. Her concentration was already diverted back to Crystal's battered body- starting with the ribs. Spring's eyes slipped close as she did what she had before with a broken bone: she felt over the ribs using only her magic and began to slowly move them back into place. A healing spell would be added to the mix once that had been accomplished, to boost their healing. "I do not believe so. She was quite frightened of me upon meeting." Spring finally responded, albeit distractedly. A roll of bandages floated up, as did the alicorn once she was levitated in Spring's magic, and she began to bind her chest. "I do believe she must have been set upon by others. A Whytael would have finished her."
Crystal Sprocket her eyes would begin to calm along with her heartbeat. Apparently they hadn't killed her yet, she looked between the two of them. She still couldn't move, her eyes were the only things searching, she was still numb. Her forelegs were twitching lightly as though the moving of the bones within her was triggering nerves. However she couldn't feel it, her body floated up, and she was more than surprised as she was levitated by the fact that she didn't even feel that. She blinked lightly and then looked down, she mouthed the word, 'Mute' Her tongue making clicking noises, hoping that one of them would be able to understand what she was trying to tell them. She would need something to write with to communicate.
Scootaloo still wasn't convinced the beast wouldn't just shake off the facade of injury and leap up to devour them at any moment, but as long as she seemed at least neutral Scoots figured no harm in investigating the peculiar being. Future reference and all that. The mouthing swiftly caught the pegasus' eye, and she squinted as she attempted to make it out. "What?" She looked toward Spring, evidently not understanding shit. Could the demon not speak? Even if she could, did demons even speak pony? She did not know.
Spring Serenade tied off the binding, not too tightly, and gently lowered the mare back onto the bed. The sheets beneath would definitely have to be cleaned or replaced at some point, from the look of the blood that had settled there. Her attention was drawn to Crystal's moving lips by the pegasus, her eyes flicking to her first before they went to the alicorn's face. She focused on them, and tried to mouth what it looked like she was saying. M-..yoo.. t? ... Mute? Was that what she was saying? It probably should have been obvious to her before, as she uttered not a word the entire time, but she had thought it had been from shock. ".. Mute?" Spring echoed her thoughts with a flick of her tail. "While you are standing around, perhaps you might find some writing utensils." Spring addressed the pegasus, and bent back to the task at hand to next work on her foreleg as she'd done her ribs.
Crystal Sprocket her eyes flit back and forth, and then blink in surprise, as she is once again lowered. She smiled brightly as her word was understood. Though it took a minute, writing would definitely be faster. Whilst she was mute, her hearing was insanely good as was her sense of smell and taste. Everything else had increased as she could not speak. She was highly observant as well. She noticed very quickly the bristled feathers of the pegasus and the combative and standoff-ish behavior. Her eyes recoiled away from them because of this. As Spring started attempting to mend her foreleg she smiled softly, trying to glance down at her wings, her head would move now, but it was somewhat sluggish and inaccurate. Her heartbeat had slowed down a lot and her horn wasn't pusling with it's beat anymore. Though she was still sweating, she did have a fever... so the infection was still there, though if she got through that then she'd be fine hopefully. She wondered briefly about her cart, hoping that her blacksmithing tools were still in it. Her eyes took on a somewhat distant approach as though she were remembering something.
Scootaloo snorted as the medic had the audacity to tell her to do something. "What the fuck are 'writing utensils'," she snorted. Unicorns and their bullshit fancy words. After pondering it a bit more though, her brain managed to simplify it down to what was being requested. "Fuck, if you want paper you should just use the word. I'm not one of those egghead types. I'm a fucking mechanic." Rant rant rant. Regardless of the fact that being ordered around by this bitch made Scoots want to kick her teeth in even more, she'd relent and start to search around for paper. And one of those... uhh. What were they? The little things that made the lines on the paper. Yeah. A short time later she'd return to the unicorn's side and drop the needed implements on the bed near the demon. She wasn't getting any closer than that. "Here, I guess," she spoke directly to the alicorn before moving back again.
Spring Serenade's head twitched a little towards the pegasus at her outburst, but she left her to do as she'd been told. She started to apply her magic to the alicorn's front leg, pausing long enough to show the mechanic a kindness. "Thank you for your help." She'd utter gently and turned back to her work. Her magic felt over the bones of the foreleg that had made itself known to her, and she began to set them right. Her healing spell would be cast upon the bones once they were set, although now she needed something to splint it with. Hmm.. Spring cast about for something, and settled upon one of the loose floorboards by the wall. Why not, right? She snapped it in half down the length of it and set the pieces against her leg, before she bound it too in gauze. "We are almost done."
Crystal Sprocket her eyes widened as the paper and pencil were offered to her. She nodded a thank you and then smiled, her horn glowed brightly this time, as though it were a shining star in the night sky. The paper and pencil would levitate as she then wrote upon it the words, 'I am Crystal Sprocket. I am a blacksmith... the nomads attacked me. Thank you for saving me. Even though I'm.....' as she wrote those words her face fell a bit. Sadness taking her slightly. She was different now. No one would, if they found out what she was, offer her a kindness again. This was an exception. Most would do exactly what the others had done to her. Attempt to run her off or kill her. She had nearly died the first time, she might not survive the second. Her eyes held tears for that moment as she thought about it.
Scootaloo, unfortunately, could only stare a little blankly at the paper with the lines on it. Not being an egghead included a distinct lack of literacy. Hopefully the medic would be more useful on that front, or else attempts at communication were gonna be pretty awkward. She peered toward the unicorn with a questioning look, hoping to express as much without having to admit aloud that she couldn't read.
Spring Serenade took a deep breath and let it out slowly once she was finished with the alicorn's foreleg. The numbing and healing spells were starting to take their tolls on her. The mare gave herself a shake and glanced over at the paper while Crystal wrote, but it seemed her writing came to a stop. She frowned again and put a hoof on her shoulder, but she didn't try to read what had been written there yet. Not until Crystal was finished. Spring turned her attention back to what was, or might be, left to do. She used her magic to do another slow sweep to discover what was left to tend to.
Crystal Sprocket wouldn't let anymore tears drop down her muzzle. She'd cried enough already today. Her misfortune was only what had happened until now, perhaps it would be different here. She knew the stories as well as anyone. She looked up at her cloak, her horn glowing as she covered her wings with it, attempting to look as normal as possible. After all the piece of crystallized metal on her neck was her pride and joy, not the wings that had come with making it. She wanted to change Equestria, to make things better for everyone. Better metal, better protection, better armor, better weapons to defend themselves. Her face seemed momentarily more determined. She wrote upon the paper with the pencil once again, 'Is my cart still outside?'
Scootaloo sat down by the far wall and continued to watch the other two. There was nothing to say since a translation had yet to be offered to the poor mechanic.
Spring Serenade could only find one thing left, but she spared it a little longer to turn her attention to the paper. She glanced to the pegasus briefly, clearing her throat, and read aloud what had been written on the paper- it was for her benefit, so it didn't seem like the two of them were keeping secrets. "Your cart is still outside, and I am sure it is safe. Once I have finished mending your hip I will see to it, and seek out one of the merchants for medicine." Spring answered at last with a flick of her tail. She gave Crystal another reassuring smile and turned to tend to her hip, repeating her bone-setting process for the third and last time that day.
To be continued.