//------------------------------//
// Day One Dread 
// Story: Patients (Part 1) 
// by DubstepIsAmazing 
//------------------------------//

Scootaloo stared into the eyes of Rainbow Dash, unable to find words. Her sisters eyes went from one of disappointment to one of surprise.

"Scootaloo, why are you up this early?" she asked, "You're not supposed to be out between midnight and five!"

Scootaloo checked her watch.

"It's 4:59," she said, "Wh--what are you doing up?"

Rainbow's confusion grew. "What do you mean why am I up? You know that I get up early to get the clouds ready for the day. I gotta be at the Academy at noon, so I'm just getting my fair share of weather work out of the way. But you know this; you've gotten up with me to see what I do!"

Scootaloo deadpanned; she was right. There were many a times when, before school, Scootaloo was visited by Rainbow Dash or after school, she was taken to see where she worked, when she worked, and what time she left for the Wonderbolt Academy. Rainbow stared at her, waiting to hear her explanation.

"Ummm...I couldn't...sleep?" 

Rainbow still wasn't convinced. "We have milk in the refrigerator. You could've just heated up a glass and it'd knock you out."

Eyes darting, Scootaloo racked her brain to get out of this situation. She used the tired excuse, she couldn't use the energy excuse because she could've just watched a show or read a book to burn vivacity. She couldn't tell the truth, because she knew that Rainbow would talk to Rarity and Applejack about it. 

"Um...I...well...you see..."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Look, we'll talk about it when I get back. If you're not tired in the middle of the night, just talk to me; I'll give you some ways to get tired. You're looking exhausted, so you may wanna get some sleep."

Walking past Scootaloo, she looked back at her. 

"I'll see you later, Scootaloo."

"Bye!"

As she began her ascent to the weather plant, Scootaloo was finally able to breathe. As she walked into the house and up to her her room, she began to wonder what would happen if Rainbow found out what she and the Crusaders learned last night. It'd create a conflict for sure.

"Alright...down the hatch," she said as she climbed into her bed and popped Spike's berry into her mouth. 

As she lost consciousness, she saw the rays of the sun peeking into her room. When her eyes closed, she experienced exactly what Spike described; exactly nothing. She saw, heard, and felt nothing. As the heat of the sun's rays warmed her back, she smiled. 

Maybe this won't be that bad...

Bathing in the nothingness of her dreamscape, she felt herself begin to relax. It was the first time she had been able to ever since she regained her ability to fly. But it seemed that even then, her relaxation wouldn't last long. Even though she was surrounded with nothing, she felt a pain in her chest. Squeezing her eyes shut, she flailed her arm behind her, trying to get whoever was doing that away from her.

I'll have to ask Twilight if she can poke me some other time... she thought angrily.

But when she moved her arm behind her, she was just waving the air. The pain was still there. Looking down, she saw that something was poking out from the inside of her chest. Its repeated motions showed that it was about to burst; each motion made the pain increase exponentially. She opened her mouth to scream, but no one heard her. There was no one around her. When whatever was inside finally emerged, her breathing rapidly shortened.

"H--help," she mouthed. "Somebody..."

It was a pink hoof bathed in red; in it was her heart.

Slowly turning around, she looked into the wide eyes of Pinkamena, who sported a wide grin.

"I thought...you...aren't you..."

"Come on, Scootaloo...smile."

After she finished that sentence, she vanished, prompting Scootaloo to wake up in a daze. Looking at her clock, she groaned. It was five minutes after she fell asleep.

"And I can't get Luna's help either," she complained, falling onto her pillow, staring at the ceiling with bloodshot eyes.  

At the Asylum

Spike sat in an all white room with nothing but a simple chair. As he was picking at his teeth with his claws, he heard the door open; in walked Twilight Sparkle.

Sitting down on the other side of the room, she wore a smile. The cracks in her heart were very visible. She almost began to cry when she noticed Spike's glare and the flick of his forked tongue. Looking into his eyes, she saw almost no trace of the sweet, adorable dragon that she grew to love over the years. Instead, she saw nothing but a confused, angry soul that needed help finding itself again.

"Hey, Spike," she said in a shaky voice, "How ya holding up?"

"When do I get out of here?" he said in a cold voice. His response literally made Twilight shudder. She slowly backed away from the glass that divided the two.

"That...that doesn't answer my question," she said, finding her courage.

"That doesn't answer mine either."

She narrowed her eyes at him with sobs choking her throat.

"You'll...leave when you're better. That's when."

Spike got out of his chair, almost making Twilight scream.

"When I'm better...when I'm better? Twilight, do you yourself even know what that means? Do you know what it means to be better?! Especially if you're in my position?!"

"What do you mean if I'm in your--what? What do you mean?"

Spike exhaled smoke out of his nostrils.

"You're definition of me being better...is just me going back to being the servant that I am. The outlier, the nuisance, the pest." Spike spat out in disgust.

Twilight cringed at his use of that word and the memories it came with.

"Spike, I'm sorry! We're all sorry! We admit that we were wrong, and we want to change it! You're not a pest, you're a friend! We love you more than you could ever know!" She pleaded as her tears were freed. "Just give us a chance!"

Spike didn't blink. "Can you say," he said, "That this is the first time that you've ever seen me as someone who was just in the way? As someone who just annoyed you? Can you honestly say that you've never thought of me as a pest before recently?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out, thus giving Spike his answer. His tail dropped.

"I rest my case," he said, "You still see me as a bother after all of these years. You just want me out so I could go back to cooking, cleaning, and errand-running. Admit it."

"Spike, that's not true--"

"It is true. Celestia was going to lock me in here with no telling on when I'll be out, and you blindly followed her, under the idea that it was 'for my own good'! Well, let me tell you something: she isn't the role model you think she is!"

Gasping at the dragon's words, she grit her teeth.

"You're wrong," she cried, "She's my hero! She's done no wrong to me, you, or any of us in Ponyville! She'd never do lock up someone like this because they were innocent! She'd never think of a friend as an obstacle! She does the right thing, even when it's hard to do! She's more of a role model than you'll ever be!!"

When the last sentence tumbled past her lips, she immediately wished she could take it back. Although it was healed, the scar on her face hurt once more. Behind the opposite side of the glass, the dragon's guard had fallen. His large green eyes shimmered at Twilight's defense of her teacher. He looked just like the small dragon that he was when she first met him. If only they could go back...

"Spike...Spike, I didn't mean--" 

"Of course you didn't," he interrupted, "You never do."

"Spike, when I said she was a role model, I meant--"

"You don't know what she actually acts like, Twilight. I've seen it firsthand."

Ignoring his statement, she continued.

"Spike, she wants you back. I want you back. I need you back!"

"You only want me back to continue being your test subject, your training dummy, your slave. Admit it."

"Spike, that's not--"

"ADMIT IT, TWILIGHT SPARKLE," he roared as pounded against the glass, claws unsheathed.

The sudden motion made Twilight fall back in bewilderment. The fear in her eyes seemed to fuel his actions.

"You only want me back," he hissed, "So that I don't act like a dragon. So that I don't pose a threat. So that you can do whatever you want and say whatever you want to me."

Twilight backed away towards the door with her knees shaking. Spike placed his head on the glass and began to weep.

"Why," he said as Twilight opened the door, "Why don't you believe me...what about me makes me so unlikable to everyone...?" 

"Cadance will be here tomorrow," she answered in a quivering voice, unable to look him in the eyes, "She's gonna bring gems...for you..." she finished, running out of the room.

Twilight's Castle

Saying the Crusaders were tired was an understatement. The berry that Spike gave them, while making them dream of nothing, gave them images of their recent trauma. As a result, they got no sleep at all. The cracks of their eyeballs were visible to anyone that looked at them, and they had several bags under their eyes. The reason they were at the castle was so they could get some peace and quiet during the time it took for their sisters to conduct their everyday business.

Apple Bloom yawned. 

"We're...we're runnin' outta options here, y'all..." she slurred, slumping to the floor, "It's all over if Luna gets into our heads..."

"And we're out of those berries," Scootaloo groaned.

"You actually want more of those?" Sweetie Belle mumbled, "I don't want a reminder of how Luna killed me..."

"Would you rather let down Spike, Diamond, and Pinkie?"

"No...no, I guess not."

As the three groaned in fatigue, the door was opened, and in came Rainbow (in her Wonderbolt uniform), Rarity, and Applejack. The fillies didn't even see them walk in. But they were the first thing the mares saw. Rarity scrunched up her nose in disgust when she saw Sweetie Belle.

"Goodness, Sweetie Belle," she exclaimed, "You look like you came back from the dead!"

"Whaddya think happened in the last couple of days," she mumbled, not looking at her sister.

"You too, Scootaloo! This is what happens when you don't get your sleep!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, putting her on her back.

"But you got up at four in the morning," Scootaloo weakly protested, "And that's after going to bed at midnight."

"Trust me, Scootaloo. The Wonderbolt exercises are enough to keep me going for the entire day," she responded proudly.

"Alright, little sister," Applejack said, getting Apple Bloom to her feet, "I think that's enough crusadin' for today. Let's getcha home so you can get some rest."

"NO!" the fillies shouted, startling the older three. Clearly confused, they put them down.

"No what? Y'all look like you've been walking around like this all day! You need your sleep!" Applejack said.

"She's right."

All six heads spun towards the doorway as Princess Luna stood there, wearing a suspicious look on her face. She walked towards them very cautiously. The Crusaders wished they could run, but more than anything, they wished they could sleep.

"You three do need your sleep. And speaking of sleep...I didn't see any of your dreams last night..."

"Wait, what?" Rarity said, "But she went to bead on time last night!"

"Same goes for Apple Bloom!" Applejack protested.

"Clearly not; they wouldn't be this tired if she got her required hours of sleep."

"This is what happens when you go on early morning flights, Scootaloo," Rainbow said, rolling her eyes, "That reminds me: where DID you go?"

All eyes were on Scootaloo, who could barely compose herself at the sudden question. Looking at Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, she was met with eyes that pleaded with her not to tell.

"I...I thought you said we would talk about it later!"

"It is later, Scootaloo. It's 5 in the afternoon. I left you at home at 5 in the morning."

"I...I...I can't say! It's a secret!"

"But you weren't willing to tell me when we were alone."

"Perhaps Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle know the reason," Luna suggested, putting the spotlight on the other two fillies.

"It's what she said," Sweetie said, "It's a secret!"

"Eeyup," Apple Bloom agreed, wearing a nervous smile.

"And who told you this secret?" Applejack asked, squinting at her sister. 

All eyes were on them as they were very quickly running out of excuses.

"NOBODY!" Sweetie Belle blurted out, causing the other two to mentally facehoof themselves.

"You can't have thin air tell you a secret, darling," Rarity said, getting annoyed, "This is getting ridiculous."

"Ummm...Discord,,,?" Scootaloo said.

"Look, it's starting to become clear that y'all are hidin' stuff from us and that y'all aren't bein' honest with us about what it is, and I don't like it. Especially from you, Apple Bloom." Applejack scolded.

"Enough of this," Rainbow said, putting her sister on her back, "We're going home, and you're not leaving that cloud until I know what's going on. I may be the element of loyalty, but I'm not loyal to liars."

Rarity followed suit as she and Sweetie Belle walked out of the door. Apple Bloom walked behind her sister with shame at her words.

Luna looked on in silence.

At the home cloud...

Scootaloo was trying to stay awake, but she knew that she couldn't afford to fall asleep. There was too much at stake. Rainbow came down the stairs and approached her with a scowl.

"Last chance, Scootaloo. Tell me the truth," she ordered.

With tears, Scootaloo shook her head. If there's one thing she hated, it was making Rainbow upset at her. She sighed.

"Fine. I guess I have no choice."

Bracing herself, Scootaloo winced...only to look up in surprise when Rainbow sat next to her. She then paled when she saw what she had in between her feathers. Although it was small, it was a syringe filled with a dark blue liquid.

"Rainbow...what is that?" Scootaloo said, backing away, prompting Rainbow to come closer.

"It's just something that'll help you sleep tonight. That's all."

"Luna gave that to you, didn't she?!" Scootaloo cried, "Please, Rainbow! I'm begging you! I can't let Luna see what's going on!"

"It's not just you. Applejack and Rarity got the syringe as well. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are already fast asleep."

Rainbow grabbed a sobbing Scootaloo and held her with a strong grip as she uncapped the needle. She struggled to get away, but to no avail.

"Rainbow, PLEASE!" she screamed, "Don't do this!!"

To her surprise, Rainbow froze. She still held onto her arm with the needle ready; a soft smile spread across her face.

"This is to help you, Scootaloo. You're clearly concerned about something. Luna's just going to ask you three some questions and she'll leave. You'll be able to sleep soundly again! Doesn't that sound nice?"

Sniffling, Scootaloo refused to turn toward her. 

"It'll only hurt for a few seconds...then you'll be out like a light..." she advised.

"But where will you be...?" Scootaloo asked softly.

"I'll be right here..." she said, "Waiting for you to wake up."

With that, she softly placed the needle in her left foreleg and injected the blue fluid. Scootaloo bit her tongue to keep from screaming, but that didn't stop the flood of tears coming from her face. The instant the needle was empty, Rainbow took it out and embraced Scootaloo with a tight hug. The filly looked up at her reassuring smile as everything  around her slowly faded to black.

"Don't leave me, Rainbow Dash," she sobbed, burying her face into her chest as she lost consciousness.

"I'll be right here, Scoots. You'll wake up in my arms...I promise."

As soon as the sentence finished, Scootaloo was teleported back to her dreamscape.

She shuddered as she looked into the unrelenting eyes of Princess Luna.