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// Entry #1,129 
// Story: Dear Success 
// by PresentPerfect 
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Dear Princess Twilight,

Had a bit of a scare here yesterday, and I wanted to tell you about it because I think I learned a good lesson about friendship.  I know how much you like hearing about those.

It all started when I promised Applejack I'd help out on her farm.  I have to admit, I've always been a little jealous of how strong she is, geode-induced super strength aside.  I figured it would be a good chance for me to build a little physical endurance while helping out a friend, not to mention bonding time and really getting to learn what it is she and her family get up to on their farm.

Long story short, I was pooped by the time we finished all the chores and harvesting and whatnot, so AJ agreed to let me spend the night.  After getting a good hot meal in me, of course.  More bonding time, right?  AJ and I rarely ever do things like that together, so I was all for it, and it was great!

In the middle of the night, though, we were woken up by someone crying out in pain.  Granny Smith had gotten up around 1, gone downstairs looking for something, tripped in the dark, fell and hit her head.

Before you freak out, the end of the story is she's okay.  But while earth ponies are really strong (I've never met Equestrian Granny Smith, but I have to imagine she's an earth pony like Applejack), here in the human world, we take old people falling down very seriously.  It can be really dangerous, so everyone was immediately worried.

Apple Bloom was the one who'd heard Granny first, and she woke up me and AJ.  Applejack told her to go back to sleep, since it was the middle of the night and all.  I know in her shoes, I wouldn't have been able to.  I'm also pretty sure AJ wanted her out of the way so she wouldn't have to watch her big sister freaking out.  Because that's exactly what happened.

After getting Granny an ice pack for her head and making sure she wasn't, y'know, dead or anything, Applejack proceeded to fret, fidget, pace, you name it, everything just short of actually crying.

I, meanwhile, was still dead on my hooves.  The shock of it had woken me up, yeah, but my body quickly started clamoring to go back to sleep.  In spite of that, with Apple Bloom trying to sleep, Applejack's brother actually asleep, Granny not quite coherent and AJ freaking out, I was the one who had the presence of mind to grab the keys for Big Macintosh's pickup truck, get AJ and Granny into it, and drive us all to the emergency room.

Before you ask, yes we could have called an ambulance, but since the Apples live a ways out of town, it would have taken almost as long for one to get there than for us to drive ourselves.  That, and ambulance rides in this world are pricey.

So I got to spend the next two and a half hours propped up in the corner of a place that wanted to be a hospital but was somehow way less intense.  I mean, we were almost the only people there and like I said, Granny was okay.  They gave her some kind of scan, and the doctor said they didn't find any fractures or swelling or anything, so that's good.

Me, I just spent the night doing those breathing exercises you showed me.  I wasn't exactly going to sleep, there was too much talking in the background because we were right near the nurses' station, but it kept me calm.  By which I mean any time AJ got too riled up with worry, I could say something to calm her down.

And I'm still really tired, so I apologize if this is incoherent.

But looking back over it, I was kind of surprised at myself?  I mean, Applejack gave me an out right at the start.  She said I didn't have to get involved since this was a family matter, but I just grabbed those keys and took it on myself to drive.  I really do think she wouldn't have held it against me if I'd said no, but there was never any question in my mind.  My friend was in need, and I could help, so I did.

Go me?

I feel good about how I handled the situation, at least.  Maybe I'm selling myself short when I say I didn't expect myself to jump into the literal and metaphorical driver's seat like that.  But maybe it shows how far I've come, learning about friendship and all?

Anyway, thought you'd like to know.  How are things in Equestria?  You know me, always up for the latest gossip!

I'll stop here, since I kind of filled a few pages.  And cuz I want to I'm gonna go take a nap.

Your friend,

Sunset Shimmer