//------------------------------//
// Hospital Day Two 
// Story: Come Back Dashie 
// by The Mechanical Artist 
//------------------------------//

It was morning again. Pinkie watched as the almighty "life giving" sun rose above the tree tops. In the distance she could see ponyville waking up. Windows opened, birds sang, and even a few particularly cheery ponies joined in. That was all outside. Inside was a mess. Beeps and chimes rang endlessly through the halls and doctors were running every which way. It was hard enough sleeping on a plastic bench without having to listen to the intercom all night long. But she didn't mind. It kept her awake. The real problem was internal, not external. Every time she heard someone speak she flinched, listening carefully, but still failed to gain any news about Dash. That was to be expected though. With hundreds of patients ranging from paper cuts to terminally ill, what was one patient? It was frustrating but still, she couldn't be mad. She was sure they were doing everything they possibly could.

"Ms. Pie?" Said something above her.

She lifted her head from the depressed pony in the linoleum and saw one of the many nurses standing before her.  

"Doctor Cross wants to see you in room Thirteen."

Pinkie just stared up at her, giving the same look of pain and depression that she had been giving everyone for the last two days.

"What's he want?" She said barely making eye contact.

The nurse softened her manner at this. There was always something so heart rendingingly horrible about seeing Pinkie Pie sad, it drove most ponies straight to tears. Knowing what she was going through didn't help.

She shifted uncomfortably from one hoof to the others and thought. "I think it'll be best if it comes straight from the doctor. I don't have all the details." She added as an afterthought. Breaking sad news to Pinkie would be like trying to put down a perfectly healthy kitten.

Pinkie sighed and got shakily to her feet, feeling every second of the three days of lost sleep, and took a wary step. 
*                                                 *                                          *

Pinkie winced as she watched Dr. cross finish up the last of her stitches. 

"Look. I know this is probably going to be hard for you to hear." He said turning his attention to her. "But you need to go home. It's been too long since you did anything to take care of yourself. There's no sign Dash is going to wake up any time soon. Try to relax, take a break from worrying. We'll make sure to tell you if anything comes up."

Pinkie felt tears start to build behind her ears. "Doc, I'm fine. I just need to..."

"Ms. Pie." Interrupted the persistent doctor. "Passing out from malnutrition is not fine. You need to get some rest. I can give you a prescription for some sleep medication, but the rest is up to you." 

He stood and signaled something to the nurse.

"I'm sorry but you're just going to have to wait for Dash to get better. There's nothing more you can do.


*                                               *                                          *


Pinkie spent an unusual amount of time outside that night. She didn't want to sleep, she didn't want to eat, she just wanted to be there with her. She sat on the balcony staring up into the sky watching the moon intently. Only wondering why.  Why now, why here? Why Her? She knew it was different, she knew it was stupid, but she loved her, and she'd be damned if she thought she was wrong. She choked on her thoughts and burst into tears, whispering to the sky through heartache, through pain. "Come Back Dashie"

Some where in a darkened hospital room a cyan ear twitched.