Fate After Failure
Chapter 8: Visiting Hours
"Applejack, look out!" Pinkamena Diane Pie yelled to her friend, warning desperately of the oncoming runaway carriage.
CRASH
"NO!" the Earth pony screamed, and ran for help. I can't lose you, it's not fair! She thought.
The next day...
Applejack was warned about the careening carriage too late, but the paramedics weren't too late to get her to the hospital. Aunt and Uncle Orange had come as quickly as they could.
"Please," Uncle Orange had said. "Do everything you can to make her better."
"Rest assured, we have done the best we can, but it's out of our hooves now." The nurse had said.
"What do you mean, out of your hooves?"
"I'm afraid Applejack has slipped into a coma. She will be alright, she isn't in a critical state, but she is unresponsive to our treatment. For now, all we can do is wait. Her body is trying to heal itself, and it will, given time. Until then, there is nothing we can do." The nurse said. Nothing we can do... the nurse thought, but I know exactly what will help.
Aunt and Uncle Orange nodded in simultaneous and mutual despair, and went to speak with a doctor down the hall.
"Nurse! I-is my friend going to be okay?" said a small pink filly nervously. Even though they had just met, Applejack was still her best and only friend in this big empty city.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your friend is...well, she's very sick." The unicorn nurse said, trying to decide the best way to tell the young filly. "The most harm wasn't caused by the collision, but from when her head hit the ground after. Applejack's body entered a coma as a method of survival, as a way repair itself."
"What's a coma?"
"A coma is short for comatose. It means" The nurse sighed, her heart heavy. It was the worst part of the job, seeing the youngest of ponies in such dire conditions. "...it means she'll be asleep for a very long time."
"A long time? When do you think she will wake up?" Pinkamena said, starting to panic.
"I don't know. Hopefully, soon. But the important part is that your friend isn't dead, she will be okay."
"But-but..." Pinkamena said, tears welling up in her eyes. "But she's my only friend, I don't want to be alone!"
The nurse was feeling terrible. But after years of experience, you learn how to deal with other ponies, how to let grieving family and friends down gently.
"Hey kiddo, I know how you feel. You need her. But the thing is, she's going to need you too. Say, what's your name?"
"P-P-Pinkamena Diane P-Pie. Really? She needs me? How can I help?" Pinkamena said, sniffling her nose and stifling her tears.
"Well, Pinkie, They say that when somepony you care about is in a coma, they can hear you, and it helps them heal faster when they have a friend with them."
"Huh? How does talking to them make them heal faster?" The little filly said skeptically
"Let's just say it's magic."
"Like a unicorn's magic?"
"No, this is a much more powerful type of magic. Most unicorns are limited to what their talent is. This magic is universal, open to all, not just unicorns. It is shared by everypony, Earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns alike."
"What is it?"
"The magic of friendship. In the end, togetherness is the most powerful thing we have." The nurse confidently said. "I need to attend to other patients, will you be okay?"
"I...I think so. Thank you, nurse. I feel a lot better now." Pinkamena said, grateful for the reassurance.
"Good. I'll see you around, Pinkie."
Pinkamena thought about what the nurse said. As an earth pony, she never gave magic much thought; she knew she couldn't do anything with it, so like most earth ponies, she felt she didn't need it. If it can help Applejack, she thought, anything's worth a try.
Pinkamena carefully sat on the chair next to Applejack's bed. She didn't know where to start, it was so weird talking to somepony who wasn't all there. Out of all the things Pinkamena would say, she didn't know how much Applejack would hear. So, she decided to start like it was another day talking to her friend.
"Hey Applejack, it's Pinka...Pinkie."
End of Chapter 8
To Be Continued