“Hasn’t this place ever heard of an air conditioner?” Spike said to no one in particular as he jogged down the hospital halls once again. “I swear it gets colder every time I come in here. You think they woulda figured out a way to fix that given all the technological advances these days.”
Spike hurried the most he could to the designated meeting place with Derpy, at the visitor check-in counter. He wasn’t in a particular rush given there wasn’t a set time to be there, but he was running a little behind the time he was aiming for. It was already five past two o’clock. He didn’t want to come off as uncaring or lazy to the blonde mare he was meeting with.
He passed a few familiar faces belonging the various doctors and nurses he’d met over his time coming to the hospital, who waved at him with their usual smiles. He, however, had no such time for pleasantries.
He continued down the halls at a slightly more relaxed pace down the halls until he finally got to his destination. However, Derpy was nowhere to be seen.
“Excuse me, miss,” Spike said, approaching the counter. “Has Derpy come by here, yet?”
The mare at the counter, one Spike didn’t recognize, turned around in her chair. “Derpy? I’m sorry, but I’m not sure who you’re talking about.”
“She’s got a blonde mane, grey fur, cute eyes,” Spike said, motioning around with his claws. “I was supposed to meet her here at two, and I’m afraid I might’ve missed her.”
“Hmm,” the mare replied. “That sounds an awful lot like the mare standing right behind you, but I could be mistaken.”
Spike flipped his body around to see Derpy standing a few inches away, a bright smile on her face.
“Hi, Spike!” she said. “I’m so glad you actually came! I wasn’t sure if you remembered. I know we talked about it this morning, but that was a long time ago. And I forget stuff like that all the time.”
“Oh, hey there!” Spike said, returning the infectious smile. “Of course I came. I said I would didn’t I?”
“Yeah, but not everyone follows through on everything they say,” Derpy said, her smile deflating for a brief moment before reigniting once more. “But either way, I’m super happy to see you, and Dinky will be, too.”
“Well, I’ll be glad to see her, too. I tell you what, it's impossible not to smile around her.”
Derpy’s eyes travelled down to Spike’s claw and locked on to the teddy bear he was holding. “A teddy bear? Did you get that for Dinky?”
Spike took a moment to figure out what she was talking about before he remembered the plush panda he had in his grasp. “Huh? Oh, yeah, this. It was actually a gift from the Cake twins, believe it or not. I stopped by to chat with them on my way here, and once the twins heard I was visiting a sick filly, they decided to donate this to the cause. It was rather adorable, actually.”
Derpy’s face lit up. “Oh, that’s so cute. She’ll love it, I know. Thanks for bringing it, Spike.”
“Nah, I’m just the messenger. But, you and Dinky should both thank the twins when she gets out of here.”
“We’ll definitely do that,” she said. “But, if you’re ready, we could head back and see her now.”
“Definitely! Let me just grab a visitor's badge for us.”
Spike got the desired item from the mare behind the counter and the two began making the walk back to where Dinky was staying.
“So, Spike?” Derpy asked, interrupting the silence in the air.
“Yeah?’
“Is it just me, or did you actually call my eyes cute?”
Spike felt his face heat up slightly and rubbed the back of his head. “Oh, yeah, I was just thinking off the top of my head. Sorry if I crossed any bounds.”
“No, of course not,” Derpy said. “Actually, I was asking because most ponies seem to get a good laugh. My eyes are both a little lazy, so it happens.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Spike said. “If it makes you feel better, I do think they’re pretty cute. It adds character.”
She smiled at him. “Thanks! But, it doesn’t bother me. Everyone has things about them that are silly or funny looking. Mine just happens to be on my face.”
“I know that feel,” Spike said with a chuckle. “My green spines are all different sizes and some of them even look like hearts. Add my height to that, and I’m a laughing stock every time I have to go to the dragon lands.”
“Heh, I imagine,” she replied, covering her mouth with her hoof. “Then again, most other dragons look pretty strange to us ponies, anyway. So, it’s not that crazy looking to me, if that means anything.”
“Thanks, but I’ve come to accept it,” Spike said. “I’ll grow up someday, I’m sure, and then I’ll be a blazing ball of draconic fury. Just you all wait.”
“I’m sure you will,” she said, stifling a chuckle. “But, I think you look pretty good right now.”
“Thank you,” Spike said. “But, that’s enough of making Spike feel good for now. Let’s go see your sister. Her room should be over in these halls somewhere, right?”
In the midst of their conversation, the two had made it all the way to the children’s wing and were standing at the entrance to the hall with the patient rooms. It was always depressing, looking down the lengthy stretch, hearing the hushed sounds of coughing and nurses exiting in and out of each child’s temporary quarters.
“Oh yeah,” Derpy spoke out, snapping Spike back to reality. “I’ll lead you to it. Just follow me.”
Spike nodded and walked behind the mare down the hall. They went to a room in the far back corner. It was much happier than the previous one Spike had seen her in. As opposed to heavy machinery and stale colored walls, there were bright decorations and blue wallpaper coated the sides of the area. And, as per expected, there was one hyper filly laying on a bed in the center of it.
“Why, hello there, Dinks!” Derpy said as the two walked in. “I brought a special guest with me.”
The filly, who had been drawing something on a piece of paper, immediately tossed it to the side upon seeing Spike walk in.
“Huh! Spike!” She couldn’t help but stomp her hooves into the bed in pure, unadulterated glee. “You came back! You see, Derpy? You don’t know anything! Spike said he’d be back if i took all my medicine and was nice to everyone, but you didn’t believe him! You said ‘don’t get your hopes up’, but I knew! I knew!”
Derpy blushed and held a hoof over her sister’s mouth. “Quiet Dinky. Yes, you were right, as always. Now, why don’t you say hello the right way to him?”
“Hi, Spike!”
Spike waved, making sure to keep the teddy bear behind his back. “Hey there! It looks like you’re feeling better, is that right?”
The filly nodded at what must’ve been lightspeed. “Yep! And I did everything you said. Even when the mean nurse came in and poked my leg with that needle, I didn’t even cry! That way you would come back and be nice to me again.”
“Well, I’m glad you listened to me,” Spike said. “And, as promised, here I am!”
“Now, Dinky, Spike has a present for you,” Derpy said, motioning to Spike.
Dinky gasped as if the heavens themselves had opened their glory to her. “A visit and a present, too?”
“That’s right!” Spike said. “Close your eyes, okay?”
The filly nodded and shut her eyes, squeezing them together as hard as she could “Is this good enough?”
“That’s perfect!” Spike slowly set the stuffed panda bear on the bed in front of her. “Okay, open them!”
Dinky peeked out behind her eyelids and her jaw immediately dropped. “No. Way.”
The sound that soon followed could only be described as a squeak capable of trashing the space time continuum. “Ahh! I’m so excited!”
Dinky grabbed the the plush and squeezed it against her as tight as she could. The hug was of epic proportions and seemed as if there were no plans for it to ever end.
“I think she likes it,” Spike said, leaning over to Derpy. “But, you know, I could be wrong.”
Derpy was beaming at the sight of her sister’s death grip on the toy. “I think so, too. Thank you so much!”
“Yes, thank you so much, Mister Spike!” Dinky said, finally softening her hold on what seemed to be her favorite thing in the world. “He’s so cute and fluffy I can’t stand it!”
“Don’t thank me,” Spike said. “You can thank the Cake Twins when you get out of here. They thought their toy would make you feel better. I’m just the messenger.”
“Yeah, but you’re an awesome messenger!” Dinky said, eyes staring up at Spike. “Thank you so much!”
Spike couldn’t help but smile looking at the literal ball of joy before him. “You’re most welcome.”
“Alright, folks, I’m gonna have to ask you to move out for a bit.”
Spike and Derpy both turned around to see one of the hospital’s Doctors standing behind them.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve gotta run our daily exams on Dinky, I'm afraid.”
The two adults nodded and stepped back from the bed.
“Aww, do they have to go, already?” Dinky cried out. “We were having fun and all kinds of stuff!”
“Sorry, Dinky, but we gotta listen to the doctor, “ Derpy said to her. “He knows what’s best, after all, remember?”
The filly nodded and scrunched her face. “Fine. Do your dirty work, doctor. But first, can I say goodbye to Spike? What if you forget to make me feel better and I never get to see him again?”
“That won’t happen, dear,” the doctor said, stifling a chuckle. “But yes, you can say goodbye.”
The filly waved her forehooves back and forth, beckoning Spike over. “My sister says you hug ponies when you really like them or they’re really nice. I hope it’s the same with dragons, because I want to hug you.”
She held out her hooves and Spike could feel his heart melt. “Alright, but only really quick, okay? I don’t want to make the doctor wait for too long.” Spike was about to lean in, but got pulled in by the filly’s grasp, which was a lot stronger than he initially gave her credit for.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
She eventually weakened her hold on him, which Spike was thankful for given the fact that breathing was a pastime he enjoyed.
“Not a problem,” Spike said, taking a deep breath of air. He walked over toward the door where Derpy was waiting. “Remember Dinky, do what your sister and the doctor say, okay?”
She gave a begrudging nod as the two left the scene.
“I’ll tell you what,” Spike said, rubbing his neck, “your sister has one powerful grip. When she gets out you should talk to her about taking up a career in the Equestrian Wrestling Federation.”
Derpy giggle. “Sorry about that. She gets a little, oh what’s the word… enthusiastic about stuff.”
“A little? I’d say more like super, mega enthusiastic. But, it’s cute. I just feel sorry for whoever she starts dating in a couple years.”
“Heh, yeah,” Derpy agreed. “For now, though, I just can’t wait until she’s ready to go home and back to school.”
“Definitely,” Spike said. “But, I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Derpy. I don’t know her as well as you, obviously, but at the same time, you can tell she’s a fighter.”
Derpy nodded and put on a smile. “Well, on a positive note, how’re you doing, Spike? I don’t want you to think I only care about my life or anything.”
“Me? Pretty good, actually. Just being lazy at the castle, trying to be a little less lazy. Which, I gotta say, you helped me a lot with that today. If i wasn’t here, I’d be sleeping at home.”
“Oh,” she said, covering her mouth. “I’m sorry if this whole thing interrupted your royal duties and naptime. I didn’t even think about that.”
Spike laughed. “Trust me, this is a much better use of my time. My royal duties pretty much begin and end with keeping Twilight in check when she goes off the deep end. That happens a lot more than one might expect.”
Throughout their conversation, the two had made it back to the entrance area for the children’s wing where a few couches lay and the visitor's desk stood in the middle.
“Well, I guess there’s no point in you sticking around, huh?” Derpy asked.
Spike shrugged. “I don’t have any plans in particular, but at the same time, I imagine you want some alone time with Dinky, huh?”
“That’s true. But it’s probably gonna be awhile. They’re tests usually last a few hours. Heh, I’ve actually fallen asleep on this couch before while waiting. But, it’s worth it for her.”
“You’re definitely a great sister,” Spike said. “On that note, though, I’m probably gonna go home and check on Twilight.”
“How is she doing?” Derpy asked. “We used to see her around town quite a bit, but not so much anymore. I haven’t seen her for almost a month now, I think. Or it may have been last week, I can’t remember.”
“A month is more likely,” Spike replied. “She doesn’t leave the castle much anymore.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. She was always so friendly and nice to talk to. Back when I had a muffin delivery service on the side, she’d come in at least once a week for some.”
“Well, if that’s the case, you should come by and visit her sometime.”
“Me? Go… to the castle? Am I even allowed?” Derpy’s eyes widened.
‘Of course!” Spike said. “As long as you’ve been invited by a member of the royal family, AKA me, you’re good to go. Twilight could use the company, anyway.”
Derpy smiled and shuffled her hoof across the floor. “That sounds great, but I’m just too busy right now for anything like that. But, once things get back to normal with Dinky, if the offer still stands, I’d love to!”
“Awesomes. In the meantime though, let me know how Dinky is feeling, alright? I’ll be back here next week for story time again, so maybe we could talk some more then?”
Derpy rubbed her chin. “Well, what day would it be?”
“How about… next Tuesday?”
Derpy thought some more before responding. “I suppose I can start my route early that day so I can get here right after the recess.”
“That sounds good,” Spike said. “I”m not trying to overstep my bounds or anything, but you seem like you could use some company here. It gets lonely I bet.”
Derpy nodded and let out a sigh. “It does. But, like I said, it’s worth it.”
Spike nodded. “Well, whatever happen with me before then, I promise we’ll have some chat time that day. Okay?”
“Okay!”
Spike gave the blonde mare a wave and wandered down the halls, leaving her with a small smile. One of the few genuine ones she’s worn in a long time.