//------------------------------// // Tragedy // Story: The Life and Death of a DJ // by Syn3rgy //------------------------------// I'm sitting beside Balefire, sweat dripping from my brow, mind full of butterflies… I felt helpless. What in the name of Luna and Celestia is going on behind those closed doors of room 626? The question irked me more than anything. Why is it taking the doctors so long to analyze Dawn’s broken wing? Another question, and for this one, I held off trying to answer it myself. I wouldn’t allow my foalish suppositions to get in the way; not until the doctor came out of the room and told me the verdict. Hoofsteps beyond the door made me lean forwards attentively on the bench. Seconds later the hinge swung open, revealing Doctor Gilding. As he approached Bale and I, he took both of us in before speaking. His voice was even, and calm. “Mister Balefire, I have good news and bad news about your brother.” Beside me, Bale flinched visibly, a shadow crossing over his face. I could practically feel the unicorn’s anticipation. “He seems to have contracted Wing Rot…” Wing rot. I noticed through the sudden haze of shock that the ominous word had triggered a rapid change in Bale’s demeanor. He cringed and collapsed in on himself, contorting his facial features with a horrific grimace. With Bale down for the count, I pressed in desperation for the good news. “Ok, so what’s the good news then?” I asked, trying to keep calm for the both of us. “The good news is that the infection is still in the beginning stages of development, so your friend…” Mate, dammit. “…still has a fighting chance.” At this, Bale perked up. Not thinking to brush the hot tears from his eyes he spoke: “He has a fighting chance? How much of a fighting chance Doc? They told that to me when my father contracted the infection.” He stood up and took a few bold paces towards the doctor. “And he died.” Doctor Gilding backed up a bit and cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I am not the enemy here colt, I’m your friend. Sit back down before you’re asked to leave. ‘Please’.” He added for good measure. When Bale remained standing defiantly, I tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned I nodded reassuringly. No words needed to be spoken. Clenching his jaw and slitting his eyes doubtfully, Bale sat back down. “Thank you.” The doctors comment was directed towards me. “To ensure the greatest success, we’d like to keep him in our care till the worst of this has blown over. Visiting hours are between 8AM and 10PM.” And with that he walked off, disappearing behind the door he came out from. As soon as the doctor had left, Bale broke down and began to cry. Deep, racking, spasms of misery convulsed his body. Feeling rather numb myself, I leaned in and hugged Bale wholeheartedly. And then reality hit me. As the situation came crashing down on me all at once, I felt a lump of sadness build up in my throat- the fact that Balefire was crying was not helping to keep me even. A tear slid out from my eye, and then another, and another. I began to cry at the unfairness of it all. Diary entry 1 I don’t really know what to do, how to deal with it all, so I plan to just talk and get it all off my chest. I went out and bought this diary from the store. Maybe it’ll help? I don’t know. It’s worth a try though. So let’s see… It’s been two days now, two horrible days. Bale’s left to the Drinking Trough, and I’m alone. I don’t know why, but it’s like he’s already given up before giving the situation a chance. However, if his predictions are true, by Luna, I think I’ll join him. Diary entry 5 The legal documents came in the mail today. Bale had to sign and make some calls. I feel so sorry for him. The weight he has to carry… it’s not fair. Diary entry 15 As time goes by I’ve become rather optimistic. I spent the whole day with Dawn talking about nothing, and it was great! Other then the coughing, he sounded fine. I know he can pull through, he’s damn strong. Diary entry 20 Celestia save me from this rollercoaster of emotion. I was talking with Dawn today, he was laughing at this one joke I’d said, and then… then he started coughing, really bad. An alarm went off at the side of his bed and two nurses came in. I was shooed out. Bale was with me as well, he resisted when they asked him to leave… I really don’t know what’s gotten in to him. He’s changed. It’s scary. Diary Entry 22 It’s been two months and I know I haven’t updated my diary at all recently. It’s not helping, so I think I’m just going to stop after this entry. Things are bad. I’m scared. When I was spending time with Dawn today I noticed a patch of black flesh on his hind hoof. He tried to hide it from me, but when he started coughing, he covered his mouth and… well. This means it’s spreading, this means they’re having a harder time keeping the Wing Rot down then they said they would. This means my mates chances of survival are dwindling. If he dies, I don’t know what I’ll do. Even though the whitewash lights above the bed were glaring, all I could see was blurry darkness; that kind of darkness that wrapped mercilessly around you, filling the inflicted pony with a painful despair. I gazed solemnly at the rotting hulk that tossed and turned in front of me, sickly amazed by the aftermath that Wing Rot had left. It was evident across his whole body. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. Gruesome looking patches of sticky black decay riddle the length of his flank and chest, elongating and stretching at different places to appear as though it had a mind of its own, and wanted to abolish all symmetry. A pus stained bandage covered the stub where the surgeon had to remove his left wing. He had already been moved to the intensive care unit, and this was where he would remain till he got better or finally succumb.The thing is, I knew that no amount of luck would get my mate out of the hospital. I brought a hoof up to rub my eyes bitterly; I was such a damn foalish emotional train wreck. “Filly?” The faint voice came from the bed. With a start, I took my hooves away from my face and looked incredulously at my mate. “Is that you? I can’t see.” “It is, Dawn,” I said tenderly. “And where’s my bro?” he questioned. I flinched. 'He’s drunk and collapsed in the park, cursing profanities at ponies passing by and trying to find a stripper to ram'... like I’d tell him that. “Bale, oh, he’s asleep at home. He had a late night yesterday.” Ok, so that was a half truth. “Ha, sound like him. He works hard ya’ know.” Was I imagining it, or did Dawn sound genuinely amused? Just agree with him, Vinyl. “Yes he does,” I replied, conjuring fake thoughtfulness. In all truth, I’d lost a lot of respect for Bale. He’d taken the whole situation so poorly. He should have been here today, however, instead he chose to get plastered again and skip the whole ‘final meeting’. I hated the emphasis on final meeting. But it was the reality present. The infection had won, even with the advantage the doctor had with early detection. It was only a matter of time. “How, how are you doing?” I questioned. Of course I knew, the evidence was as clear as day; but Dawn hadn’t spoken to me in the last week and I was desperate to hear his voice. “How does it look like.” The comment, on the surface a line of sarcasm, had a prominent undertone of despair. “I’m dying, just like ma' dad. I guess I’m gonna be seein’ him sooner then a thought, eh?” I tapped my rear hooves uncomfortably on the wooden floor. I absolutely hated when Dawn spoke like that. It kept reminding me of how little time the two of us had left together. “I’ll tell him ya’ said hi, m’kay?” “Sure, Dawn.” A moment of silence. “Ya know that once I die I become an angel?” he eventually said. “Yes.” I didn’t really believe in that sort of thing, but I wasn’t going to start pushing my beliefs on somepony that was about to find the truth of it all. “But I won’t be a normal angel, no way filly; I’ll be a guardian angel. From way up there.” He tried to bring a hoof to point at the ceiling, but failed halfway and brought it back down to his side. “From way up there I’ll be lookin’ down on you and ma’ brother. I’ll keep ya’ll safe.” I felt another spurt of crippling emotion. If it weren’t for the fact that I had to be strong for the both of us, I would have probably started sobbing again. “I bet you will, Dawn, I bet you will.” A shuffling from behind me, and the door to the room opened. A nurse walked in and placed a gentle hoof on my shoulder. “Miss Vinyl?” “Yes, Nurse Redheart?” At about this point in time I had gotten to know the staff keeping care of Dawnfire. Nurse Redheart was an apprentice to Doctor Gilding, not much older than me really. Out of all the others, Nurse Redheart was the pony I had gotten the closest to. “Visiting hours are done.” A question heaved forwards into my throat, but I kept it down. “Might I stay for a few more minutes? The doc said it’d probably be my last chance to spend time..." I took a pained breath. "My last visit with my mate.” Compassion crossed over Redheart’s face, and she nodded understandingly. “Of course, Vinyl, I’ll come back in five minutes.” With a nod, the nurse left the room. I turned back to Dawn. “Hey, Dawn?” No response from the colt; he was shivering bitterly and wheezing. “This is probably going to be the last time I see you, the last time I… oh Luna, I can’t bare it!” I moaned, smashing the ground bitterly with my hind hooves, and shoving my rear one's into my muzzle to stop myself from breaking out into tears again. “I just, I just wanted…” “Shush you.” Slowly, Dawn's hoof rose to rest on my shoulder; the touch was like electricity. “We’re safe now, but damn, am I tired.” I looked up from the ground and into the pegasi’s silver eyes. They were glazed over with blindness, but they still retained that wonderful color I had fallen in love with. It all went to remind me that a mere two months back, he was a fully functioning pony with a sense of humor and a love for life. Funny how quickly things can change. “I’m tired.” Dawn’s hoof fell from my shoulder to hang limply over the side of the bed. Silence. “No, no don’t fall asleep!” I exclaimed desperately. “Stay with me a bit longer, please.” The duration of silence lengthened. His breath was shallow. By the time the nurse arrived he had fallen into a coma induced stupor. Closing my eyes I allowed the nurse to escort me out.