The first thing Sweetie was conscious of was the sound of light rain. The second thing was that she was laying in a bed. Slowly, she cracked open her eyes and stared at the wooden beams that criss-crossed the ceiling above her. Her neck ached when she turned her head to the side. Water was streaming down the window, distorting and warping the outside world. She sighed and raised her right foreleg so that she could touch her forehead.
Or at least she tried. Her limbs were bandaged and splinted, and she could smell the acrid odour of disinfectant. Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion. What had…
Her eyes went wide as events from the morning returned like a bolt from the blue and she sat up. She gave a strangled cry of pain as her body protested the sudden movement, forcing her back down.
“Sweetie?” She recognised Rarity's voice. “You're awake? Oh thank Celestia!”
“What...?” Sweetie began when a hoof gently touched her head.
“Shhh,” Rarity cooed. “Don't talk, and please, don't try to move. The doctor says you need to rest as much as you can.”
“Doctor...?” She asked, confused.
“You're in the Fillydelphia General Hospital,” Rarity said, stroking her sister’s mane tenderly. “The hotel staff found you collapsed in the lobby, bleeding with cuts and bruises. Mum and Dad were worried sick,” she said. Her strokes paused as her hoof trembled slightly. “So was I.” Rarity looked Sweetie in the eye. “We got you here as fast as we could.”
Sweetie closed her eyes. The hotel lobby? She couldn’t remember anything after that… that alleyway. Her mind was just a blank. Considering she leapt out of a second story window, she was quite amazed that she even made it that far.
“I suppose I owe you an ex...?” Sweetie started when Rarity hushed, a sad smile on her lips.
“Later, Sweetie,” she whispered gently. “You can tell us and the doctors when you're feeling much better.” She gave a weary sigh. Sweetie would have to tell them what happened, eventually. Moreover, the authorities needed to know what was in that building.
“Thank you, big sis.” Sweetie Belle smiled at her big sister gratefully as Rarity withdrew her hoof.
“I feel horrible about yesterday after seeing you in this state. The way I behaved… I am so sorry Sweetie - I was just so furious at having travelled all that way through all that… that junk for nothing!” She paused, ears drooping as she looked at the ground. She fidgeted in
her chair, shooting a quick glance at Sweetie before looking away again.
“It's okay,” Sweetie purred reassuringly, enjoying the attention despite herself. “In fact...”
Rarity cut her off. “In fact, I felt so bad about insulting your interests, calling them all germ and dust-infested, I had to make it up to you somehow. So, I went out to get you a little gift.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Sweetie saw something being placed upon the bedside table with an audible thunk. “You shouldn’t...” Sweetie was struck dumb as Rarity kissed her just below the horn. When was the last time she did that? Between the dresses, fashion shows, celebrities… Sweetie knew she shouldn’t be so glad, but her heart warmed nevertheless.
Rarity paused, as if unsure what to do. Then she glanced at the clock on the wall. “Don't forget, I'm the element of generosity, not the element of crankiness.” She winked at Sweetie, getting up from her chair jerkily. “I need to go see our parents now, and let them know you're awake. We'll be back as soon as we can. In the meantime, you get some rest.” Sweetie watched the way she walked. From the way her limbs trembled, she was the one who needed some rest.
Rarity turned out the lights, plunging the room into darkness, broken only by the faint light outside the window and the cracks around the door, which hesitated in closing. “You want to know something funny, Sweetie?” Rarity said. “You really were right all along about that old museum. I'm so glad my conscience forced me to go back there for another look. Otherwise, I wouldn't have found your little gift.”
Sweetie froze, sudden paralysis overcoming her as she flapped her mouth in vain trying to call out. No, it could not be. No sound came out, and the door clicked shut with terrible finality.
Alone in her room, desperate hope forced her to turn her head. It was hard to make it out, but there was no mistaking that familiar white coat, that purple and pink mane and tail.
Worst of all was that cheerful, never-ending rictus grin.
THE END