//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: How to preen your chicken 2 // by RainbowdashieCloudsdale //------------------------------// “I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but... it’s serious.” The doctor said. He paused for a moment, clearing his throat. “I think… she’s going to fall into a coma.” The world collapsed when Rainbow heard that sentence. Her lips went dry. “A-a coma?” The doctor nodded, a solemn look on his face. “Yes. We are very sorry for you miss Dash, but we can’t do anything to prevent her from falling into a coma.” Rainbow Dash felt a few hot tears form in her eyes. “This can’t be true! I was taking care of her! Did I do something wrong, doctor?” “I’m sure you did nothing wrong Rainbow Dash, but we also don’t know what’s wrong with her. We are doing our best to find what it is.” Another doctor looked to Rainbow Dash, his face serious. “Rainbow dash, you must go now so we can start the research.“ Rainbow felt herself choke on her words. “B… But she’s my daughter… I... I don’t want to leave her! Please let me stay!“ The doctor shook his head. “I’m afraid you can’t stay here.” As soon as the doctor responded, Applejack walked in the room. “Rainbow… Let’s get out of this room so the doctors can do their job.” Rainbow started to cry. “Doctor? I have one question before I leave. Is she going to die?” The doctor quickly flashed her a grave look. “There is a chance she could die, but we will do everything we can to prevent that from happening.” Applejack felt her vision blur. “Let’s go Rainbow...” She said, sadness in her voice. Rainbow Dash turned to Applejack, her eyes red. “Where do you want to go?” “Let’s go to Twilight and the rest of our friends… we can’t change anythin’ here.” Rainbow slowly nodded, another tear slipping down her cheek. “Okay… let’s go, then…” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When they arrived at Twilight’s library, all of their friends were there to support Rainbow Dash in this emotional and hard time. Applejack and Rainbow Dash sat down, their faces grave. Nopony said anything, afraid to say something wrong. Rainbow Dash was like an emotional bomb ready to explode into a sea of tears. “I just couldn’t take care of her… it’s all my fault…” Rainbow Dash started crying. Twilight gave Rainbow a sympathetic look. “What happened, Rainbow?” Rainbow Dash took a breath, wiping the tears from her eyes. “We were flying home after we visited your castle, and we were having a little race. Suddenly, I hear Scoots saying that she had pain, and suddenly she passes out and falls down. I caught her just in time, but when I asked her something, she didnt react. I imedeatly went to the hospital with her. I think it’s all my fault that… I’m not a good mother…” “Rainbow Dash, it’s not your fault… and you can’t do anything about it,” Twilight replied. Fluttershy clamped her wing around Rainbow Dash. “You did everything she wanted and I’m sure you did nothing wrong.” Pinkie Pie walked a bit closer to Rainbow. “Is there anything we can do for you?” Rainbow shook her head. “no… I’m fine. But thanks for all the support and help you’re giving me.” Twilight nodded. “We are always there for you, Rainbow Dash. Just tell us if you need anything.” A slight smile appeared on Dash’s face. “Thanks. You all are the best friends anypony could ever wish for. But… I just want to be with her…” Applejack said, “well, sorry sugarcube, but you can’t be with her now. The doctors are doin’ all they can to take care of Scoots. Tomorrow they will know what’s wrong with her.” Rainbow blinked. “Maybe I just need to sleep and visit her tomorrow.” Twilight said, “you can sleep here tonight. I have an extra bed.” Rainbow looked up at her friend. “Thanks, Twilight. I think I’ll sleep here tonight.” After comforting Rainbow Dash, the others left. “It will all be alright, I promise you. Ponyville has the best hospital in all of Equestria. And Scootaloo is the luckiest filly in Equestria to have such a good and loving mother to take care of her.” Twilight said. Rainbow felt a very small smile appear on her lips. “Thanks, Twilight. You’re one of the best friends I could ever wish for.” After a few moments of silence, they both fell asleep. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next morning, Rainbow Dash was awoken by the smell of fresh cooked breakfast. Twilight saw her and smiled. “Good morning, Rainbow Dash! Did you sleep well?” Rainbow Dash nodded. “I slept very well, I think I was tired from what happened yesterday.” Twilight nodded as she levitated a plate in front of Rainbow. “I have breakfast ready. Let’s eat first, and then we will go to the hospital.” While eating her breakfast, Rainbow Dash continued to think about what could be wrong with Scootaloo. She heard the sentence “coma” and “ there is a chance she could die” constantly running around in her head. After they finished their breakfast, Twilight and Rainbow flew off to the hospital. While flying, Rainbow Dash almost crashed into some other ponies because all she could think about was Scootaloo. When they got to the hospital, the doctor immediatley recognized Rainbow Dash. “Hello miss Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo lays on the second floor, room 7. Please follow me,” he said, walking towards Scootaloo’s room. When Rainbow and Twilight entered the room, they saw the little orange pegasus laying on a bed. All kinds of machines were connected to her and she had tubes coming out of her mouth and nose. “She is currently in a coma. The cause of this is that a blood vessel in her brain snapped, causing her to pass out. She has some brain damage, but we expect her to wake up within two weeks from now,” the doctor said. Rainbow Dash felt a tear running down her face while seeing the little orange pegasus in such a bad condition. The words “coma” and “brain damage” were the only things she kept thinking about. “Will she ever recover completely? “We can’t tell you that now. We need to wait until she wakes up,” The doctor replied. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ever since that day, Rainbow came to the hospital every day, hearing that Scootaloo didn’t wake up. On the tenth day Rainbow dash came to the hospital, the doctors said Scootaloo could possibly wake up within four hours. Rainbow Dash sat next to Scootaloo’s bed, waiting until she showed any sign of waking up. Hours passed by… Until suddenly, Scootaloo opens her eyes slowly. As Rainbow saw this, happiness coursed through her body. She called to the doctors. “SCOOTALOO IS AWAKE!” 3 doctors ran to Scootaloo’s bedside. One of the doctors said, “Scootaloo? If you hear me, blink twice.” Just as the doctor said, Scootaloo blinked twice. “Can you say anything, Scootaloo?” The other doctor asked. “Yes,” Scootaloo softly reply. Only that little, soft “yes“ gave Rainbow Dash hope. One of the doctors turned to face Rainbow. “Miss Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo lost a big part of her memory. This may be permanent, but it may also come back slowly.” Rainbow Dash nodded, her lips dry. She gulped and looked down to Scootaloo, asking a question that was burdening her current thoughts. “Scoots? Do you remember me?”