Rarity, Rainbow Dash, AppleJack and Fluttershy rushed to the hospital at once, at top speed. Even Fluttershy was keeping up well, even though she looked ready to collapse and cry and cry and cry.
"Twilight, are you okay?" they asked, in unison, as they bashed open the door.
Twilight didn't turn to look at them. "I'm sorry, girls," she said, as she grasped her pillow with her hoof.
Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth. "Who did this? Show yourself! Come on! Let's brawl!" she cried out, getting into her fighting position.
Twilight shook her head sadly. She wanted to reach down, and put a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder, but she couldn't. "It's not that," she said, smiling sadly at how much her friends cared for her. "I have a brain tumour."
"A brain tumour? Oh my stars! Why --" Rarity began, as she gasped, covering her mouth with a hoof. "And I thought pinworms would be a pain."
AppleJack blinked her eyes, and shook her head, as if she were dreaming. "Twilight? What are y'all doin' in the hospital, anyway? Ah mean --" she asked.
Rainbow Dash interrupted, "Yeah, what's a tumour anyway?"
Twilight bit her lip, not wanting to explain. "I don't want to talk. Please, I need my rest."
"She's right, you youngsters," the nurse scolded, glaring at them.
"Who are you to say we can't see our friend when she's in a serious conditon?" Rainbow Dash asked, threatening the nurse, by raising her hooves up in fighting posture.
AppleJack gripped her teeth on Rainbow Dash's tail, and pulled backwards, causing the pegasus to be flung over - and nearly knock over a vital medical instrument on a large table.
"Ah'm sorry for ya, Twi," AppleJack said, as soon as Rainbow Dash was calmed down. "But that doesn't mean yer can't enjoy all the time you've got."
"Oh my..um..Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. "Can you um...follow us?"
Twilight shook her head, sadly. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. The hospital's my home now." she whispered, before falling back onto her pillow. She wasn't herself anymore. She didn't seem herself. She was....a different pony completely.
"But Twilight?" Fluttershy said, her eyes wet with tears. "Please?"
Twilight shook her head, even if it was already buried in the pillow - which was dreadfully drained with tears. "I'm sorry, girls."
AppleJack sighed and said, "Look, sugarcube. Ah understand yer in pain and all, but just do this for yerself."
"For us?" Fluttershy pleaded, her eyes trembling, but still retaining her puppy eyes. "Please?"
Twilight stared into her eyes, and felt her heart melt. She couldn't imagine how she could ever live if she didn't have her friends. In fact, the chances were - she'd kill herself, and get it all over with. She smiled and said, "Of course, Fluttershy. Anything for my friends."
The mane six cheered, as they helped her out of the hospital, on full consent of the doctors - with extra caution.
-----
It wasn't long before Twilight reached the park.
There in front of her, was a huge banner, reading out, "Farewell Party - dedicated to our friend, Twilight." There were balloons and streamers, of all colours, and a huge cake was in the middle of the long table. The joyful sound of laughter reached the unicorn's ears at once, and she saw families of ponies and fillies laughing and cheering, dancing and having fun, despite it being a Farewell Party.
"What's going on?" Twilight asked, looking around in awe and wonder.
"Oh, you said you weren't going to be our friend anymore," Pinkie Pie explained. "So I decided to make one last party for you. I hope you like it."
Twilight felt a huge smile find its way on her tear-stained face. She grabbed her friends, and squeezed them together in a group hug.
She looked before her, and saw a small filly, among the ponies having fun. She looked like she was suffering pain, but having fun at the same time. She had some sort of medical instrument on her head, that looked like a headpiece. "Who's that filly?" she asked, pointing a hoof at her.
Pinkie Pie's hair went back to its normal bouncy cotton-candy self, and she turned bright pink again, cryingout, "It's a little filly!"
"She's suffering from brain tumour, darling," Rarity explained, beaming proudly at the little filly, who was smiling, laughing and playing party games with everypony else.
"And she's happy," Rainbow Dash joined in. "She's living her life as awesome as everypony else."
AppleJack gave a wide smug, and added, "You should be like her, Twi. Who knows? Maybe you'll like it better. Ah'm --"
"But --" Twilight said. "It's a brain tumour. A stage four brain tumour! How could --"
"Um..you really should lighten up, Twilight," Fluttershy whispered. "It will..um..do you good."
It wasn't long before sunset, when Twilight returned to the hospital, with help of her friends, but this time, smiling widely. She was happy, and they were happy - and she had had her fun at the party, as well as learnt a lesson.
When she returned to the hospital, she lay on the bed, smiling.
But little did she know, her life was in her friends' hooves, that evening.
---
"Her brain tumour is getting worse and worse," the nurse exclaimed, in worry adn anxiety. "I've never seen anything like it. Why, in a few minutes, she might --"
She didn't want to say the word, but she was forced to. "Pass away.."
Fluttershy wanted to scream, as did Rarity. AppleJack and Rainbow Dash were trying their hardest not to - especially Rainbow Dash.
"Oh my..um..can you do anything about it?" Fluttershy asked. ""
"There might be one chance to save her," the nurse said, turning to her. The mane six nodded, and stood clear out of the way. They bit their hooves, hoping
It seemed like hours, untill the nurse came to them, and whispered, sorrowfully, "I'm sorry, we did all we could."
The mane six looked at each other. "You mean --" Fluttershy cried out, even though her voice was unable to go any louder than a soft shout.
"We'll never see our darling Twilight," Rarity carried on the sentence. The last words came out with a squeak."Again?"
"I'm sorry," the nurse said. "We tried our best. The tumour's too serious, for us to handle."
"But --" Fluttershy said. She burst out into tears, as she buried her face in a tissue.
Pinkie Pie's hair deflated again, and she turned greyish once more. "What if we have something to do about it?" she asked, her voice fading into a whisper.
"You can try," the nurse answered, smiling kindly. She sighed, and added, "But I don't expect there is anything you can do."
The mane six looked at each other once more. "We'll -" Rainbow Dash stuttered, trying her hardest not to cry. "Try!"
It seemed hours and hours passed, as the unconscious unicorn lay on the hospital bed, her whole life depending on her friends.
Her friends sweat nervously - especially Fluttershy. If she made one small mistake, she would've let her friends and Twilight down, and allow Twilight to proceed to her death. She felt like crying for help, but inside, she wouldn't let herself.
I can do this. You can do this, Fluttershy. I won't let you down, Twilight.
She bit her lower lip, and bashed her two hooves against each other nervously.
Please wake up, Twilight! Please please PLEASE, don't leave us.
The test failed again. Fluttershy wanted to burst out crying, but her tears could go in the machines that kept Twilight alive, and mess everything up. She sniffed, and gulped back tears.
Her friends wanted to console her, but the most they could do was give her an affectionate look.
The results was almost like a miracle. As the mane six was about to give up, Twilight opened her eyes wide, and turned conscious. "Fluttershy? Pinkie Pie? Rarity? Rainbow Dash? AppleJack? What are you all doing here?"
"Twilight! You're okay!"
"Dear Princess Celestia,
Today, I learnt that your friends don't love you for your health, strength or power - but they love you because you're you.
After a serious case of brain tumour, I also learnt not to give up hope, but to do your best, no matter what, and get on with your life. Sometimes, something extraodinary may happen that may set your heart to peace, and renew your friendships, and change your life forever.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle."