The minutes dragged by one by one; gradually adding up to hours as the constant tick-tock of the clock counted off the intervening seconds. For Rainbow each and every one of them felt like a lifetime as she lay huddled in her bed. Her tears had long since dried up, her body refusing to shed more but her mind still lost and saddened. How could all of this have happened? What had she done to deserve this?
In Rainbow’s mind scenario after scenario played out one after another. Each one was different but they were all the same. Rainbow had always been a head strong pony. She knew what she wanted and she knew how to get it. She would breach any problem and forge a path that she knew she deserved. She was a winner, a pony destined for greatness. But this time something had happened that she was unaccustomed to; she had lost.
She had lost her respect, her dignity, her reputation…but most of all she had lost her friends. The way Twilight had looked at her before leaving still haunted her every time she closed her eyes. It had been like the look you might give an injured animal found on the road; a look of pity and sadness. She had lost Twilight’s respect…
…so what?! Rainbow’s brow furrowed and a building growl started to slip from between her clenched teeth. What did she know about anything?! That egghead sat in her library even now as a Princess. She didn’t know the first thing about how she was feeling! And the others? They were just shocked, driven along by Twilight’s stupid notions. She was destined to be a Wonderbolt, something her entire life had been heading towards; how could they understand something that big?
She rolled onto her back, straightening her covers as she did. No her way was the only way. Her friends would understand in time…and if they didn’t they didn’t deserve to be her friend!
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The morning came all too quickly for Rainbow. Between sobbing and struggling with her internal monologue there hadn’t been much time left to sleep. But that didn’t matter, she was feeling much better now and ready to take on the day once again. She rubbed her tired eyes, trying her best to make them focus. She wasn’t having much luck.
A sudden knock on the door snapped her to attention quicker than a mug of coffee. Who was it? One of her friends? Had they come to apologise? Unlikely. She didn’t get much time to debate the issue though as the handle twisted and the face of Nurse Redheart peeked round the door frame. Upon seeing that Rainbow was awake she gave a small smile and opened the door.
“Good morning Miss Dash,” she announced cheerfully as she walked into the room and headed towards the window, “Did you sleep well?”
“Uh…not really…” replied Rainbow in a mumbled tone.
“Well I suppose that’s unsurprising,” continued Redheart as she raised a hoof and opened the curtains flooding the room with the morning rays of the sun, “After all, first pregnancies can be terribly hard on the body.”
Rainbow didn’t reply and instead just shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness that was assaulting her sleepy form. She grumbled to herself as Redheart approached the monitoring equipment set up next to her bed. For a moment she stood and examined the readouts, nodding to herself occasionally as she skimmed over the figures and charts.
“Well this all looks in order,” she commented before turning to Rainbow, “Your vitals are all stable once again. Are you still in any pain?”
“No…” replied Rainbow without looking at her.
“Any other symptoms at all? Nausea, cramps?”
Rainbow shook her head. Redheart nodded to herself and tore the print off from the machine.
“Very well,” she started as she folded the readouts between her hooves, “I’ll deliver these to the doctor for a final check but I would think you’ll be free to leave by midday.”
She made a move to leave, a sharp cough from Rainbow causing her to look round.
“How long?” asked Rainbow, “How long until I can abort.”
Redheart sighed, she was becoming tired of answering this question, “No more than a week.”
Her voice was factual and cold. Rainbow knew she didn’t approve of the decision she was making and Redheart had grown tired of hiding her opinion. For a moment the two ponies looked at each other, a wave of disgust and anger passing between them before Rainbow finally rolled over and pulled the blanket over herself.
“Good…” she mumbled.
---------------------------------
As Rainbow finally left the hospital she could help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. She hated hospital, full of the sick and injured; two things that Rainbow tried to avoid whenever possible. As Redheart stood at the entrance waving Rainbow didn’t even look back. Her head was held low, a dejected look of acceptance plastered across her face. Despite her relief at being allowed to leave Doctor Stable hadn’t let her go with a number of set instructions; instructions that currently floated through Rainbow’s mind like a dark cloud.
“No flying…” she muttered to herself, “…no flying until after the procedure.”
She couldn’t believe it. She’d even been forbidden from flying up to her own cloudhouse. Rainbow continued to grumble as she slowly made her way towards Ponyville. What was she going to do now? She doubted heavily that any of her friends would want to even see her never mind offer her a bed to sleep in. Possibly Fluttershy but the mental image of the pegasus’ face the previous afternoon still haunted her vision. Applejack would likely buck her into the nearest pigsty. Pinkie already occupied the spare room at Sugarcube Corner and she didn’t even want to see Twilight after what had happened the previous day.
It seemed there was only one friend she might have a chance with, Rarity. She was sure the unicorn would have some choice words to give her and some heavily opinionated opinions but she always did what she could for everypony she knew. Rainbow sighed once again but quickly pulled her head up and tried her best to look like her confident normal self. Things could always be worse.
The trip to the centre of Ponyville didn’t take long and luckily the town appeared quiet. Market day was tomorrow and most ponies were occupied with their area of work. That said Rainbow could help but notice a few glances coming her way. Most noticeably from Rose and Daisy as they stood chatting at the flower stall. They both stopped to look at her, Rainbow giving them both a snort as she caught their glance. The pair quickly went back to their chatter but Rainbow knew that the conversation topic had changed. They knew…she wondered how many other ponies in town knew.
As she approached Carousel Boutique she could make out a shape moving back and forth behind the net curtains that hung in the window. The faint glow of magic hung in the air signifying it was most likely the unicorn herself, most likely working on her latest outfit. For a moment Rainbow hesitated outside the door, her hoof poised just inches from the handle. What was she going to say? How was Rarity going to act after the events of the previous day?
For a brief moment a flash of guilt ran through Rainbow’s mind. She was the Element of Loyalty! She never abandoned her friends and could always be there when you needed her the most. Despite her ambitions she had never put her own heart’s desire above that of the ponies around her…and yet…
No!
This was totally different and nothing they could say would make her change her mind. With renewed vigour she pushed her hoof forward, opening the door and stepping into the boutique.
“Welcome to Carousel Bouti…oh, hello Rainbow,” announced a rather cheerful Rarity before her tone flattened, “How are you?”
She kept her mannerism but Rainbow could pick out the undertone of disdain in Rarity’s word.
“I’m fine…” replied Rainbow, trying to keep the resentment from her voice.
“Good good,” replied Rarity as she turned back to her earlier tasks, “They let you out of the hospital then?”
“Yeah, doc said I was free to leave.”
“And what can I do for you?”
“They said I wasn’t allowed to fly so I was wondering if you have any spare rooms I could use for a few days.”
Rarity didn’t answer at first; the unicorn seemingly more interested in adding another layer or ribbon to the dress she was working on. As her magic reached out and started to pluck various other items off a nearby shelf Rainbow began to wonder if she was just being ignored or if Rarity had just not heard her. She was about to speak when the unicorn sharply cut the air.
“Yes I have a spare room upstairs,” her tone carried no hint of interest, “Third door on the right at the top of the stairs. I take it you’re probably hungry…hospital food is never very appetising.”
“Uh…yeah, I’m a little hungry,” replied Rainbow in a slightly unsure tone.
There was a moment of silence between the pair. Rainbow couldn’t help but just stand there, her gaze fixed on the back of Rarity’s head as she weaved her fashion magic into her latest creation. Rainbow was quite used to Rarity expressing her opinions. The white unicorn was well known as a drama queen, prone to bouts of whining and complaining about the smallest inconvenience. She had not said a word since yesterday about Rainbow’s situation but the Pegasus could tell there was a storm brewing under the surface.
“Rarity…I…” she started as she lightly kicked the floor with a hoof.
“Not another word,” interrupted Rarity fiercely as she spun to face the blue Pegasus, “I know what you’re going to say and I don’t want to get into it.”
Her magic had faded, the items she was holding aloft clattering to the floor around her as she bore a solid glare through the glasses she was wearing.
“I’ve known you long enough to know that anything I say is just going to ping off that ignorant stubborn shell you carry around like a bad smell!”
Rarity stepped forwards, each word bringing her closer and closer until her nose was almost touching Rainbow’s.
“So instead I’ll offer you the hospitality I’d give any of my friends…but mark my words, you’re making a big mistake and I hope you don’t live to regret it. Now, why don’t you go and make yourself comfortable upstairs and I’ll fix us both something to eat…I need a lunch break anyway.”
With that Rarity turned quickly and headed towards the back of the boutique. As she did her magic flared into life once more and the sign on the door flipped from ‘Open’ to ‘Closed’ with an audible slap. Rainbow stood in shocked silence for a moment, she had expected Rarity to say something but more along the lines of constant whining and criticism. A big mistake? Is that what Rarity thought?
After a moment she shook her head and began a slow walk towards the stairs that led up to the next floor of the boutique. Each step felt like a summit climb as if each of her hooves were encased in lead but eventually she arrived on the upper floor. It was quiet, a little too quiet for her liking. Her thoughts reverberated off the decorated walls like a pea in a drum.
A mistake…
Was it a mistake?
No! The only mistake was letting it happen in the first place! How had it even happened?! She raised a hoof to her head, pressing hard against her temple as if trying to force the answer to surface. And yet for all her effort she couldn’t remember a thing; it was like part of her life had gone missing…a very important part. Why couldn’t she remember? Why?!
A pain erupted in the side of her head forcing her to remove her hoof. A visible line had been formed in the side of her temple where she had been pressing. She gave a small groan and then let loose a yawn. The last few days had been so trying on her and her schedule had been completely throw into disarray…she had missed at least six of her normal naps.
Counting the doors on the right side of the corridor she pushed open the third one to find the spare room. A few boxes stood stacked up in a corner of the room and a shelf was packed with various books and objects but overall the room was tidy and well maintained for a spare room. The bed was well suited to the boutique as well. Although it was only a single due to the size of the room it was neatly made with frilly sheets and pastel shaded quilts.
Rainbow gave a sigh as she headed towards it and pulled back the covers. She tended to prefer her cloud bed, regardless of how soft a regular bed was it never compared to the complete unimaginable comfort of clouds. Sometimes she wondered if her friends knew what they were missing out on, even Fluttershy didn’t use a cloud bed. As she climbed into the bed though her reservations melted away as she sunk into the soft pillow and silk sheets. She remembered yawning again and staring at the ceiling for a moment before her body finally gave into the exhausting she had been trying to ignore.
It was some time later when Rainbow’s sleep was interrupted by a quiet but firm tapping. Her eyes fluttered open and for a moment she was momentarily confused at where she was before she remembered. The tapping was coming from the door, somepony rapping on it from the other side.
“Rainbow darling,” came Rarity’s voice, her tone back to her usual cheery and friendly self, “I know you must be tired but your food is getting cold and you’ve been up here for nearly two hours. Do come down and get something to eat.”
Rainbow listened as a set of hoofsteps faded off down the corridor. The room was filled with silence one again…until her stomach gave an annoyed gurgle. She curled up slightly and ran a hoof over her mid-section. Food did indeed sound like a good idea right now. Rolling herself out of bed she headed for the door and made her way downstairs, but not before stopping at the bathroom to splash her face with water.
During her descent of the stairs the small of recently cooked food wafted into her path. She could smell bread and coffee but the smell of vanilla was the one that caught her attention. With her hunger fuelling her eagerness she bounded down the last few steps and headed into the kitchen area.
Rarity stood in front of the stove, her magic keeping various pots, pans and spoon moving back and forth as she worked. To one side a small table was set out with a spread of different foods; fresh bread rolls, scrambled egg, a mountain of assorted salad and a stack of muffins. Rainbow couldn’t help but drool slightly, after the generic slop she had been eating at the hospital this was going to be heaven.
“Ah Rainbow good, do sit down, help yourself,” motioned Rarity as she turned slightly to acknowledge the Pegasus, “I had to put a few things away in the fridge to make sure they didn’t go bad, one moment.”
Rainbow slowly settled herself into a seat as Rarity’s magic opened the fridge and proceeded to pull out a string of items including butter, pickles and a variety of jams and spreads. Rainbow was already helping herself to bread as the final few items landed on the table.
“The eggs may be a little cold but I’m afraid it’s all I’ve got at the moment. I sent Sweetie Belle to get some more but she hasn’t come back yet. I can make you some fresh coffee though, cold coffee is…so uncouth.”
“Uh, thanks Rarity,” replied the Pegasus as she spoon some of the afore mentioned scrambled egg onto her plate, “You did this all yourself?”
“Yes yes,” replied Rarity with a smile, “Just because I consider myself destined for high society doesn’t mean I’m completely useless. In fact after a long day working on my ensembles I tend to find a little cooking is a nice way to relax. Although I must admit that the muffins are from Sugarcube Corner, one cannot deny that they do a simply marvellous job…and Pinkie said this was the best batch she had ever tasted…that said I do remember her saying that about last week’s batch as well.”
Rainbow felt a small smile spreading across her face, typical Pinkie. The situation felt strangely normal, as if this was just any other day and Rainbow had popped in for lunch. Saying that Rainbow couldn’t remember the last time she had had lunch at Rarity’s home, she tended to visit Fluttershy more often than her other friends. She resumed her eating as Rarity turned back towards the kitchen and set about running the dirty dishes through the sink.
“So, how long will it be?” asked Rarity suddenly.
Rainbow stopped her eating, looking back at the unicorn with a hint of confusion, “Excuse me?”
“How long until your procedure?” Rarity kept her tone level and factual as if talking to a patient rather than a friend.
“Oh uh…no more than a week,” replied Rainbow as she looked away and tried to focus her attention on the pile of muffin on the tabletop.
Rarity gave a small nod to herself, “You’ll be here for a while then, I don’t imagine the doctors will let you fly again immediately after such a procedure. I’ll clear out the spare room later so you’ll have a little more space. And I’ll let Fluttershy know that she’ll be looking after Tank for a while.”
“Huh?”
“We figured you wouldn’t be allowed to fly for a while so Fluttershy volunteered to go and collect Tank from your home and look after him. The little darling was looking very confused when Fluttershy collected him apparently. You should go and see him later once you’ve rested.”
“Oh, yeah…”
A silence passed between them, neither pony wanting to say anything else. That said the silence wasn’t destined to last as the door at the front of the boutique opened and the scurry of small hooves echoed into the room.
“Rarity! I got the eggs!” chimed Sweetie Belle as she charged into the room carrying a basket on her back, “Oh! Rainbow Dash!”
“Uh, hi Sweetie Belle,” replied Rainbow with a small wave.
Rainbow wasn’t sure exactly what to say and part of her wondered how much Sweetie Belle actually knew about what was going on.
“Marvellous darling,” commented Rarity as she levitated the basket onto the counter top, “I’ll make a useful sister out of you yet. Rainbow will be staying with us for a few days, the doctors say she’s not allowed to fly yet.”
“Uh uh uh uh! That is so cool!” bounced Sweetie Belle, the foal vibrating up and down on the spot in excitement.
She quickly dashed over to Rainbow’s side eying her carefully for a moment. Rainbow was a little put out by the stare and adjusted her position in her seat.
“Rarity tells me you’re having an ab…um…abdor…abdoption! Who are you giving the foal to?” asked Sweetie Belle excitedly.
“Huh? What?” asked Rainbow, the Pegasus completely confused.
“My sister said you couldn’t take care of the foal and when that happens you give the foal to another mum and dad to look after right?”
“Sweetie, it’s a little bit different to that,” cringed Rarity, “Now really isn’t the time for such questions, remember what I told you last night.”
“Aaaaaaw!” moaned Sweetie before giving a sullen nod of her head.
“Good now why don’t you…”
The front door of the boutique rung out again as somepony else walked into the shop. In fact from the flurry of hoofsteps it was more than one pony.
“Sweetie Belle?” called a familiar sounding southern accent,” Ya here Sweetie Belle?”
Sweetie Belle herself spun towards to doorway as Applebloom rounded the corner, the young farm pony smiling broadly as she spotted Sweetie Belle. As she scanned the rest of the room though her smile faded like she had seen a ghost. She quickly looked to her side as another young pony wandered into view. Orange coat, purple mane, a pair of small wings that had yet to give her the joy of the air; Scootaloo.
She wore a sad expression, the filly looking forlorn and lost. Her eyes were bloodshot and her orange coat showed signs of tears. She dragged her hooves, her wings hanging loose at her side. Slowly she scanned the room, barely lifting her gaze from the floor until she spotted the blue Pegasus sitting at the table.
In that moment her eyes shot open, her previously sad exterior vanishing. Her wings perked up, her tail was lifted aloft and for but a moment a smile spread across her face. Rainbow felt the colour drain from her face though as the smile turned the other way, her lips and teeth beginning to quiver. Her eyes narrowed, her blood shot pupils boring holes straight into Rainbow.
“Scoots please don’t!” snapped Applebloom as she raised a hoof to Scootaloo’s shoulder, “You promised!”
Scootaloo didn’t even turn to look at her, she simply knocked her hoof away as she continued to glare at Rainbow.
Finally Rainbow couldn’t stand it, she had to say something, “Err, hi kid!”
“Shut up!”
The words cut the air like a knife silencing every pony in an instant. Nopony moved and for Rainbow everything faded away apart from the furious filly that stood in front of her.
“Don’t you ‘hi kid’ me!” continued Scootaloo, “How dare you?! How dare you even think that…”
Scootaloo’s furious exterior began to waver, tears beginning to form in her eyes and her limbs trembling.
“Scoots I…what’s wrong?” asked Rainbow, her voice low and full of fear.
“What’s wrong?!” replied Scootaloo, her eyes flashing with renewed rage, “You’re going to ask me what’s wrong? You are! Is this the real you?! I thought you cared about me but now I can see that I’m just excess baggage! Somepony to fish for compliments from!”
“What…Scoots no!” stammered Rainbow, her mind racing as she tried to work out what was going on, “I love you kid, I…”
“You love me?! Ha! I know you’re pregnant Dash and what’s more I know that you’re getting an abortion! I’ve tried to ignore it until now, thinking it was just my paranoia but now I can see it clearly.”
Rainbow tried to speak but her mouth was dry. What was going on?! This had to be a bad dream!
“You always want to be the hero, and you hate losing,” continued Scootaloo, “You always brag that you’d do anything for your friends…but only when it suits you! Your dreams are always the most important thing and everything that gets in the way is just an obstacle isn’t it?!”
“Scootaloo darling, please stop,” interjected Rarity but it was already too late to stop what was coming next.
“My parents might have abandoned me but at least they had to guts to bring me into this world! They could have just got rid of me too but they didn’t! I thought you were different Dash! I always looked up to you and after that trip to Winsome Falls I though…I thought that maybe I’d finally found a true family.”
Tear were now streaming down Scootaloo’s face and her words were becoming wails of agony and pain.
“But then not even a week after that trip you suddenly take off to the Wonderbolt’s Academy. You don’t even tell me you were going before you left! And even when you came back you were always busy. You kept promising to spend time with me but you always ended up forgetting or rescheduling it. And even when we did hang out all you wanted to do was brag about how you’d become Lead Pony or how you’d broken another record. And when it wasn’t convenient you’d just push me aside…just like you’re doing to these foals! I…I….hat…ha…”
Realisation dawned on Rainbow’s face but it was all too late to say anything. She blindly blurted out a string of incoherent mumbles, her mind trying to arrange the words she wanted to say but failing miserably. As she looked at the filly she saw a flash of conviction pass behind her eyes.
“I HATE YOU!” screamed the young filly as her tear finally took over and she burst into sobs.
She turned tail and ran, rushing from the room as the tears slid from her face. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle rushed after her, both of them calling her name and asking her to stop. Rainbow slowly pulled herself out of her chair and took a few shaky steps towards the door only to be stopped as Rarity held up a hoof to block her path.
“No Rainbow, let her go,” she stated firmly.
“But I…I…” stammered Rainbow, her mind still a fog of pain and disbelief.
“Do you see now Rainbow? Your decision has many more consequences than you can possibly imagine.”