Twilight Sparkle's life is twisted, as she meet the devil of her friendship - sickness.
Ponyville is not just all love, tolerance, happiness and friendship. One morning, Twilight Sparkle comes up with a brain tumour, and she gives up the will to live, the will to have friends, and the ambition of becoming as learned as StarSwirl the Bearded with magic. Will her friendship remain? Or will it be thrown away slowly and painfully like her life?
This fanfic is dedicated to all the poor patients of brain tumour, especially to my aunt, who recently contracted brain tumour. I hope it gives you all the support to live your life, no matter how bad your condition gets. Just remember, I will always have you all in my prayers :D
It was another beautiful morning, when Spike found Twilight Sparkle sitting in the corner, sniffing and holding back tears, whilst letting others stream down her cheeks.
"Hey, Twi," he groaned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "It's so...late."
Twilight didn't reply. She sat there, sobbing in the corner.
Spike scratched his head, lightly with his claw. "Hmmm.." he thought out loud. "Twilight's acting all weird today."
He approached her, with a little tremble of worry in his eyes. "Twilight? Is something wrong?" he asked.
Twilight turned to look at the baby dragon, tears partially blinding her sight. "No, it's nothing, Spike," she said, smiling, although there was a tint of sadness in her smile.
"Then why are you crying?" Spike asked.
Twilight shook her head, and shrugged. "I don't know. According to the "101 things you want to know about Medicine" book, it is probably another case of depression."
"Are you hungry, Spike?" she suddenly asked, changing the subject.
Spike groaned and answered, "Of course, it's breakfast time. I'm about to go gem-hunting with Rarity. Mm-mm...delicious fire-rubies..sapphires....deelicious!"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Come on, Spike," she said. She dragged the half-indignant baby dragon behind her. But as soon as she stepped out of the library, she was almost blinded by the light. "Aah!"
Spike, being the number one assistant he was, immediately grasped a tennis cap, to shield Twilight's eyes. He placed it on her head, and recieved a soft praise.
Twilight rubbed her eyes. "Why are my eyes so sensitive to light?" she asked. "That's not normal!"
"Relax, Twi," Spike groaned. He brightened up. "Maybe it could just be the crying that did it."
Twilight shook her head clear off the sensitivity, even if it didn't work. "Wait a minute - why are there two Pinkie Pies?"
Spike cocked his head in confusion. "Huh?" he asked. "It looks like there's one to me."
The lavender unicorn let out a scream. "Spike! Am I seeing things? There's two of every single thing I see!"
"Twilight.." Spike said. "Remember? I think you're over-reacting. As usual. Can I go to Rarity's now?"
Twilight breathed slowly, inhaling and exhaling, attempting to calm herself down. "You're right, Spike. After all, nothing has ever happened to me before."
The baby dragon trailed after her, as she trotted happily, feeling glad she overcame her fear and anxiety.
They arrived at the boutique, but when Twilight reached there, she collapsed on Rarity's couch.
"What now, Twi?" he asked.
"Spike.." Twilight groaned, massaging her forehead with a hoof. "I don't want to get breakfast anymore. I feel...dizzy, and fatigued."
"Oh my stars," Rarity said, a look of concern in her eyes. "You should see the doctor, darling. Double vision, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, depression, anxiety! Whatever next?"
"I'll try.." Twilight muttered, as she got up off the ground, onto her four hooves.
Suddenly, her eyes shot open, as she let out a gasp. "Princess Celestia once said that headaches, depression, double vision, sensitivity to light, and fatique had something to do with medical conditions! Spike!" She grasped the baby dragon, and shook him madly. "I could have a serious disease I don't know about!"
She grabbed the baby dragon, and dumped him on her back, as she headed for the doctor, hardly able to breathe.
----
"Please, Doctor," Twilight pleaded, as they reached the doctors at Canterlot that day. "Is there something wrong with me? Was I just over-reacting - or do I have a right to fear?"
The doctor returned into the room, after examining her with a special instrument. She sighed, and said, "I'm sorry, Twilight Sparkle." There was a brief pause, before the terrifying words escaped the mare's mouth. "You have a serious case of brain tumour."
It was over. All over for Twilight. One could see it in her eyes. Friendship, magic - it all never mattered to her now. She wanted to scream, cry and commit suicide all at once.
"Something wrong, Twi?" Spike asked, from behind the door to the doctor's room. He obviously didn't hear anything about what the doctor said.
After moments of tongue-tied speechlessness, Twilight cried out, "Something wrong?! This is everything, Spike! No more books - no more magic! No more friends! Only..."
She calmed down, and whispered, "Hospital." Tears welled up in her eyes, dropping to the ground, and forming a broken-heart shape, like in the "Return of Harmony" episode.
The doctor was moved with pity, and said, "Don't worry, Twilight Sparkle. We'll do what we can."
"If you must," Twilight said, sighing. "But according to the "101 things you want to know about Medicine", there's no cure. for cancer of any type."
"Don't feel like that, Twilight," Spike consoled.
Twilight shook her head. "Goodbye, Spike. You're - you're the new owner of the library. I'll just..."
Her voice faded into a whisper. "Lie here, awaiting my death."
Spike and the doctor felt their hearts break apart, as Twilight crawled under the hospital bed, glancing at her number one assistant, for what she thought - the last time. After a while, she closed her eyes, trembling furiously, as nightmares filled her damaged mind.
How could this happen to me? I made my mistakes, Got nowhere to run. The night goes on and on as I'm fading away. I'm sick of this life. I just want to scream How could this happen to me?
It was a lovely morning, and Pinkie Pie was one of the first in Ponyville to wake up. It was about seven o'clock, and the sun was already up in its position. It merrily shone upon the ponies there, brightening up their day.
"Hey, where's Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked herself, as she knocked on the library door. "Twilight! It's me, Pinkie Pie! Open up!"
There was still no answer. Pinkie Pie shifted her eyes from one side of the door to another, in surprise. Where was Twilight on a beautiful day like this?
She was about to leave, until she saw a thin piece of sticky-note drift to the ground. She picked it up, and read it out loud. "Dear friends..."
What the letter said next scared her deeply. She gasped, and cried out, "Oh no! Not the scary hospital! Where they do all sorts of crazy things! Oh no!"
She left the library at once, and rushed towards the hospital.
So Pinkie Pie was the first to hear the news, and she was deeply concerned, even though she didn't take it seriously, and had no idea why Twilight was in hospital in the first place.
She came over at once, with Gummy, carrying a basket of fruit tarts that Mr. and Mrs. Cake had made by her request, for the sorrowful occasion.
"Twilight? Twilight!" she cried out, as she bounced into the room, almost the knocking the nurse over.
"Pinkie Pie?" Twilight asked, weakly, as her friend placed the basket of goodies on a small bed-table, beside the bed on which Twilight lay.
The pink earth pony looked puzzled. "Why? What's the matter? Are you okay, Twilight?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, Pinkie Pie," Twilight mumbled, her eyes closed, trying to get their rest.
Pinkie Pie felt her heart drop, as well as her jaw. "Twilight! Don't be that way!" she cried out, as she bounced merrily beside Twilight's bed.
Twilight opened her eyes, and shook her head. "I don't think you understand, Pinkie Pie," she muttered.
The doctor sighed, and said, "It's like this, Pinkamena. Our patient has a brain tumour, and must get her rest."
"A what?" Pinkie Pie asked, scratching her head with a hoof. Trust Twilight to have that sort of stuff.
"A brain tumour," Twilight corrected, as she fell back onto her bed. "I'm really very sorry, Pinkie Pie. I hope you won't miss me."
"Why? Why would I miss you?" Pinkie Pie asked, her eyes wide and curious.
"I'm afraid..." Twilight said, gulping back tears. "I can't be your friend anymore."
This was too much for Pinkie Pie. "Why not? But Twilight...you said --"
"Forget everything I said before!" Twilight said. She turned to her side, and whispered, "I may die any day."
"Die?" Pinkie Pie repeated. Tears welled up in her eyes, as those words reached her now dropped ears. "But - but --!"
Twilight shook her head sadly. "Goodbye, Pinkie Pie. Just..remember me....when...when we part."
Pinkie Pie giggled lightly. "Oh, Twilight - you're such a silly. Why can't you enjoy life while you still can?" she asked, hoping to lighten up the mood.
The nurse glared at Pinkie Pie. "Pinkamena Diane Pie. I said - the patient needs her rest!"
Pinkie Pie nodded slightly, before dropping her head low, and trotting away, her back hunched. Her hair deflated, and her coat and mane darkened into a greyish-pink. She sighed sadly. "Goodie-bye, Twilight. I'll....see you again, tommorrow."
----
The adrenaline pulsed rapidly through Twilight's veins. Her heart was pounding hard, and she felt it crack, and break, like a shattered glass. She clenched her teeth, in all her pain. "How could this happen to me?! I was your faithful student, Princess Celestia! How could you let this happen?!" she screamed, to the ceiling.
Despite the nurse's attempts to calm her down, she couldn't help but scream out her feelings.
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.
