Episode Summary: Spitfire suffers a personal crisis when her mother, Stormy Flare, suffers a near fatal heart attack.
Cast:
Kelly Metzger as Spitfire
Ashleigh Ball as Rainbow Dash
Matt Hill as Soarin
Andrea Libman as Receptionist Pony
Peter New as Doctor Stable/Orderly Pony
Sidika Larbes as Stormy Flare
…
"My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" Season 10, Episode 17
"Heart of a Wonderbolt"
By Jeff Snyder (TwilightSparkle3562)
Edited By SuperPinkBrony12
…
Like all parents and children, Spitfire and her mother, Stormy Flare, had a very tight relationship with one another. They loved each other, argued with each other and even cried with each other. They couldn't bear to live without the other. It had been that way for as long as Spitfire could remember, particularly because she had no memories of her father and her mom never talked about him.
But there was a time where all that love mother and daughter had for one another almost came to an abrupt end.
One morning, Spitfire went to visit her mother in Cloudsdale while off duty from the Wonderbolts. Spitfire couldn't help but notice her mom taking very shaky breaths as they were eating their breakfast. A fact that greatly troubled the off duty captain.
"Hey, Mom," Spitfire asked as she drank a cup of tea. "Is it just me or does your breathing seem a little…off?"
"Yeah, it's been like this for a few days, Spitfire," Stormy Flare replied in what sounded like a gasp. "But, I'm sure it's nothing. I'm just feeling a bit under the weather, and you know how that can sometimes make a pony like myself feel exhausted," She quickly changed the subject. "So, how are you and the other Wonderbolts doing?"
"We've been busy with the preparations for our latest show in Mustangia," Spitfire nervously chuckl;ed. "You know, it's the same old story. They're either excelling in certain areas or failing miserably in others. But at least I'm trying to help them. It's a tough job but somepony's got to do it." But as she spoke, Spitfire noticed her mother taking another ragged breath. It only served to increase her concerns.
"S-sorry about that," Stormy Flare abruptly gasped, putting her cup of tea down on the table. "Just had another…startled breath there. I think something went down the wrong pipe, happens all the time."
Spitfire wasn't convinced "Mom, I still think you need to go get checked out," She suggested. "As your only daughter…"
"I still think it's nothing, dear," Stormy Flare replied, this time her voice sounding a bit less strained. "I mean, I am taking some pain medication to help me out. Don't worry, I'm gonna get over this and be well in time for your latest show. I promise"
Rising from her seat, Stormy Flare went over towards a series of pictures dating back to when Spitfire was just a filly, a blank flank one at that. To Stormy Flare, seeing her daughter achieve her goals was more satisfying than anything else in life. "And the picture from your latest show, dear," She declared. "Will go in the collection here."
But then suddenly, Stormy Flare felt another sharp pain in her chest! Thus causing Spitfire to dash over to her mother's side in a panic!
"Mom, lie down for a few minutes, please!" Spitfire insisted and helped her mother onto a nearby sofa. "I'm telling you right now, you need to get looked at. Something's not right."
"Just fetch me another aspirin tablet, will you, Spitfire?" Stormy Flare gasped, much to Spitfire's dismay. "I'm... sure these episodes will pass eventually. They always do."
But Spitfire wasn't convinced, even as she did what her mother told her to do. The more Spitfire looked at her mother, the more worried she was becoming for her. Her mom looked like she hadn't slept well in days, no doubt a result of the chest pains. And though she didn't know it at the time, the leader of the Wonderbolts was about to face her greatest challenge.
…
…
Hoofing the aspirin to her mother, Spitfire watched her mother take it, her eyes still locked onto the older pegasus.
"Mom, these pills you're taking aren't going to help you out in the long run and you know it," Spitfire protested, placing the aspirin bottle back on the coffee table. "Look, why don't we go to Ponyville General Hospital and get you checked out? Seeing you with shortness of breath is really bothering me greatly. And Ponyville has some of the finest medical staff in all of Equestria, Rainbow Dash says so."
"Dear, it's nothing," Stormy Flare. "I just need to rest, okay? I need to get my strength back so I can fight off this stubborn illness."
"Mom, I mean it," Spitfire retorted. "The more you procrastinate, the worse this is going to get. You need to get checked out and you need to get checked out now. I've had sick recruits put up less of a fight than you. Don't think I don't know when a pony's not at their best, I've seen a lot of promising cadets get stricken down with ailments because they wouldn't go see a doctor when they weren't feeling well. I don't want you to be the same."
But Stormy Flare stood her ground. "Dear, I'm serious," She protested. "Look, if it'll make you feel better than why don't I just schedule an appointment after your performance in Mustangia? I can make it til' then."
Although it was against her better judgment, Spitfire had no other choice but to comply as she sensed her mother wouldn't accept any other decision. "Fine. But if you start acting up again with your breathing," She warned. "I will postpone the show until you're checked out. Understood?" She watched as her mom nodded her head very slowly.
…
The following day, Spitfire was back at Wonderbolts Headquarters, and she and her team were preparing for their aerial performance in Mustangia. However, the mood Spitfire was showing was giving her fellow Wonderbolts cause for concern. They noticed that their captain seemed… distracted for lack of a better term. Still, they kept their focus on the task at hoof. And once they had finished their rehearsals for the day and regrouped in the locker room, it was evident what was bothering their leader.
"Hey, Captain," Soarin asked as Spitfire placed her uniform back in her locker. He felt more comfortable around her than most other bolts, seeing as he and Spitfire had known each other the longest (they had been childhood friends). "Is there…something on your mind? You seemed kind out of it today."
Sighing heavily, Spitfire shut the locker with a loud bang as she faced her second in command. "What makes you think there's something on my mind?!" She asked in a harsh voice. "Is it because my mom is driving me up the walls?!"
"Why?" Soarin asked, recoiling from his commander's sudden outburst. "What's she done now? I've never seen you this upset about her."
"She's been having trouble breathing and she won't go get herself checked out," Spitfire groaned, before realizing her error that she made with her locker. "It's…been going on for a few days now, apparently. I…I want her to get checked out, Soarin, but she's insistent on attending our show this weekend in Mustangia."
As she spoke, Soarin couldn't help but feel sympathy for his commanding officer.
"Soarin'…." Spitfire started to say, looking away from Soarin for a brief minute. "Have you ever…I don't know… dealt with somepony who's nothing but sheer stubborn in terms of personality?"
"Are you kidding?" Soarin chuckled. "I'm looking at her right now."
Spitfire's eyes widened in shock upon hearing this and she became somewhat insulted by this remark! "What did you say?!" She remarked as her eyes narrowed.
Soarin realized his mistake too late. "I'm just saying that…"
"Sure I may have some of my mom's traits, but I don't have the same personality as her, Soarin," Spitfire snapped. "Do you understand?!"
Nervously backing away, Soarin gave his commander some space. However, Spitfire's anger wasn't heard just by Soarin. The entire locker room had overheard the abrupt outburst.
"What's going on here?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying in while wearing her princess crown and accessories. "What's with the screaming and shouting?"
"Don't tell me you think that I'm just like my mother, Crash!" Spitfire shouted back, much to Rainbow Dash's shock.
"I never said you were just like your mom, Spitfire," Rainbow Dash nervously remarked. "I just heard all the commotion and I wanted to see what was going on. And I'm sure Soarin didn't mean it when he said you were just as stubborn as your mom."
This made Spitfire calm down, feeling slightly embarrassed that she snapped at her royal comrade. "Sorry, Rainbow Dash," Spitfire remorsefully sighed. "It's just that my mom…has been having breathing problems lately. And it's really bothering me because she won't get it checked it out."
"Uh, what kind of breathing problems?" Rainbow reluctantly asked. She wasn't a medical expert by any stretch, but as an athlete she knew that things like breathing problems were never a good sign.
"The kind that can lead to something that I don't want to think about." Spitfire ominously answered.
Sitting in front of her superior, Rainbow realized through Spitfire's eyes that something was very troubling to her. Being a princess, Spitfire was Rainbow's subject, despite their rank. "Have you tried talking to her?" Rainbow asked.
"Yes, but she won't listen to me," Spitfire complained. "Surely you can relate. Surely your parents or even one of your friends has been this stubborn towards you even when you were just trying to help."
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash remarked, beginning to think of Applejack. "I can think of one pony who can be downright stubborn, more times than I care to remember. But I've learned that you can't force other ponies to do what you want them to do, even if you think it's for the best. And it's not just ponies who can be stubborn. Pinkie Pie will tell you that even Applejack's stubborn streak is nothing compared to some of the yaks. Thank goodness Yona's not one of them."
Those words did little to help Spitfire's case. "Crash," She remarked, the nickname slipping out again. "My mom's going to end up in a worse situation than she is now unless she goes to get checked out. What am I going to do if that worse situation arises? What if I'm already too late and there's nothing they can do for her even if she goes?"
Trying to find a way to help her troubled subject, Rainbow gave the best advice that she could muster up on such short circumstance. "I… don't know how to say this, captain," She explained, placing a hoof on Spitfire's shoulder. "But this is something she needs to decide for herself and the only way for her to see the light…"
"Don't say it!" Spitfire interrupted, her body shaking with fright! "Don't you dare say it!"
But Rainbow stood steadfast. The truth could hurt anypony, even Spitfire, but it had to be heard. "May be to let your mom live through the impending experience. It may be the only way she'll realize her mistake."
Deeply hurt by these words, Spitfire flew out of the locker room, leaving Rainbow Dash sighing deeply.
Once Spitfire was gone, Soarin walked up to Rainbow Dash. "The truth hurts, Soarin," Rainbow sighed. "I wish I was wrong, but I know from experience that this is the only way someponies learn. I speak from experience, myself included. The best we can do now is be there for Spitfire when the inevitable happens."
…
The next morning, Spitfire returned to Wonderbolt Headquarters, sitting in her office and doing paperwork. The words Rainbow Dash spoke to her were still fresh in her mind and Spitfire was more than determined to get her mother medical help for her chest and overall breathing. She didn't want it to have to come to the worst case scenario if she could help it!
"So much to do, so much to do," Spitfire muttered as she went about placing her autograph on a stack of Wonderbolts posters. "Why should they say my mom needs to live out her episodes?! I don't care what she or anypony else says, I'm taking her to the hospital whether she likes it or not! And if the Mustangia show has to suffer, then so be it! I'm captain, and what I say goes!"
But just then, Spitfire heard a series of loud knocks on the door, knocks that were made in a frantic manner.
"Spitfire, are you in there?" Soarin's voice called from the other side. "Spitfire?!"
Acting fast, Spitfire jumped from her desk and raced over to the door! She quickly opened it up, revealing Soarin with a greatly troubled look on his face. He looked like he'd run a marathon, judging by how fast he was panting and how frazzled his usually well kept mane was.
"What is it, Soarin?!" Spitfire cried, but she wasn't prepared for what she heard next.
"Boss, I got a note from Ponyville General Hospital," Soarin heavily gasped, holding a piece of brown paper in his wing. "It's your mom! She had a heart attack!"
Spitfire gasped loudly upon hearing this, her sunglasses falling off of her face in total shock! Immediately, Spitfire dashed out of the office without even looking at Soarin.
"Spitfire, wait!" Soarin called, chasing after his commanding officer. "Wait for me! I'll go with you!"
But Spitfire ignored Soarin, her mind focused right now on getting to her mother's side as quickly as possible! Taking to the air, Spitfire flew as fast as her wings would let her. "Why didn't you listen to me?" She thought to herself. "Why didn't you listen to me, Mom?"
…
Arriving at Ponyville General Hospital, Spitfire raced into the waiting room and approached the receptionist! "I'm Stormy Flare's daughter, Spitfire!" She cried out, not caring if she made a scene or not. "Where is she?!"
"She's in surgery right now," The receptionist pony replied in a calm tone of voice. "You're welcome to wait in here and…"
But Spitfire wasn't taking any chances and ran towards the emergency room! A pair of orderly ponies saw her coming and immediately held her back.
"Let go of me!" Spitfire demanded as the orderlies pushed her back. "My mother's in there! I need to see her."
"Miss, you are not allowed in there! It's a sterilized environment!" One of the Orderlies grunted. "Get back!"
"You don't understand! She needs me!" Spitfire protested but to no avail.
Hearing the commotion, Soarin (who had arrived on the scene) helped pull Spitfire back away from the operating room.
A frantic Spitfire threw herself onto Soarin as she felt her emotions give out. "She needs me, Soarin!" She cried while pulling her head out of his chest. "Why didn't Mom listen to me?! Why?!"
"Boss, it's okay, it's okay," Soarin whispered while gently stroking Spitfire's mane. "She's being taken care of, which is important. Your mom is in good hooves."
At that moment, the doors to the emergency room opened and out stepped a pony in surgical garb, gloves and a mask.
"Are you Stormy Flare's next of kin?" He asked, pulling off his mask to reveal Doctor Stable.
Right away, Spitfire assumed the worst. "Is she…?" She whimpered.
"Well, I will say that she is alive, thankfully" Doctor Stable answered. "It was a massive heart attack and we had to immediately rush her into open heart surgery. Fortunately, we were able to get her fast. If there had been a delay, I'm not sure she would've survived the attack."
Spitfire could only stand there with her mouth gaped open! Her mother had just had a brush with death. Just then, she saw another pony walk into the hallways and to both Spitfire and Soarin's surprise, it was Rainbow Dash.
"Crash, what are you doing here?!" Spitfire demanded.
"Being here for Stormy Flare," Rainbow Dash firmly answered. "I was there when it happened."
"What were you doing over there, Rainbow Dash?" Soarin questioned.
Before Rainbow Dash could say anything, the doors to the emergency room were flung open and several hospital staff came out, wheeling Stormy Flare on a stretcher.
Spitfire could only gasp in shock and horror at the condition her mother was in. Stormy Flare was still unconscious and had a noticeable scar from where she had been operated on.
Spitfire wanted nothing more than to cry, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. Instead, she spun around towards Rainbow. "Crash, were you trying to…?" She began.
"-No, nothing of the sort. I was trying to get her to understand your feelings about her chest and her breathing problems," Rainbow answered. "I asked your mom why she was being so stubborn and before she could give me an answer…she just collapsed! I rushed her over here as fast as I could!"
…
A few moments later, a pair of nurse ponies came out of the emergency room, carrying the stretcher bearing Stormy Flare (still breathing into a mask stuck on her face) away.
"We're taking her to recovery now, but you're welcome to spend the night," Doctor Stable suggested. "It's going to be a long recovery. There is even a possibility that she may not fully return to the way she was before the attack."
"If it helps, I can assume command in your absence, captain." Soarin suggested, and for Spitfire the decision was easy.
"Do it! You're in charge now, Soarin." Spitfire declared, looking over at Soarin who firmly saluted in response.
"So what do you want me to do, Spitfire?" Rainbow Dash asked. "If you need some time alone…"
"No, I could use the company, Rainbow Dash," Spitfire interrupted in a tired voice. "If my mom was listening to you, then I think you're better off staying here."
Having seen what was said, Soarin' departed the hospital and leaving Rainbow Dash and Spitfire alone.
…
Later that day, Spitfire and Rainbow Dash sat outside the recovery room, anxiously waiting for news on Stormy Flare's condition. Just then, Doctor Stable came out of the recovery room.
"How is she?" Spitfire asked.
"Well, her condition is stable now," Doctor Stable answered. "However, there's something that I think both of you should know about. During the surgery, we found a blocked artery in your mother's heart that seemed to have been unchecked for a while."
"That explains her chest pains," Spitfire commented. "What else?"
"We also found that your mother's heart is that of a much older pony's. It can't take as much as a younger pony's heart could under normal circumstances," Doctor Stable explained. "Tell me something, Spitfire. Has your mother been under a lot of stress lately?"
Spitfire felt stumped to hear such a question coming from a medical professional. Still, she had a hunch that what Doctor Stable was asking her was indeed true.
"Being a Wonderbolt is a demanding job, Doctor. You never fully realize what will happen to you when the unthinkable happens," Spitfire sighed. "Given all that's been happening recently with King Sombra and the Legion of Doom, I can't really blame my mom for having anxiety about me. But why wouldn't she tell me that she was under a lot of stress? I'm her daughter for Celestia's sake!"
"Maybe it's because your mom didn't want you fussing over her," Rainbow guessed, remembering the experience she had with her parents. "Do you remember you the time Scootaloo brought my parents to one of our training sessions?"
Spitfire couldn't help but chuckle at this reflection. "How could I ever forget? They sure were fussing over you, and seemed to be enjoying it! But why would you bring that up?"
"Spitfire, do you think that maybe you and your mom…fuss over each other?" Rainbow suggested. "Part of why my parents did what they did is because I hadn't kept in touch with them. To them it was like I'd just dropped off the face of the world all of a sudden, only to suddenly show up again unannounced."
Looking over to the hospital bed that Stormy Flare was resting in. Spitfire could only sigh in dismay over her newest Wonderbolt's remark. In a sense, Rainbow Dash had a point. "We do a little bit, but never to the point where something like this happens," Spitfire commented. "I'm always careful, Rainbow, you know that. But my mom…she just doesn't seem to think that. Maybe it's because she views me as a foal, even though I've grown into a mare. It's part of why she comes to all my shows, to make sure I'm okay. It's like she thinks she's the Wonderbolt and I'm still her little filly looking up to her."
Walking into the recovery room, Spitfire looked over at her mother's bed and placed a hoof on her mom's leg. "Dash, I'm going to tell you something that I've always kept to myself," Spitfire said as Rainbow Dash also stepped into the room. "When I was a filly, both my parents were Wonderbolts."
"I'm listening," Rainbow Dash replied, suddenly remembering what Stormy Flare was trying to say before she collapsed. "She did try to say that she didn't want you to end up like…"
"…like my dad," Spitfire answered, placing her head against her mother's foreleg. "I don't remember much but I do know that he died when I was younger. I learned to move on from his death. Mom never did and she…"Suddenly, Spitfire felt a shear amount of guilt pass through her body.
"She did what?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "What did she do, Spitfire?"
Spitfire's eyes welled with tears leaving Rainbow Dash trying to figure out what was going through her mind.
"Since you asked," Spitfire cried, wiping away a tear from her face. "Mom and Dad were taking part in an aerial relay in Canterlot. Suddenly, there was an unusually powerful gust of wind and my dad fell to his death because one of his wings locked up all of a sudden. The accident haunted my mom forever after that. Especially because doctors tried to save him, but they were too late. Nothing they tried could bring him back."
Spitfire paused briefly. "My dream was to always follow in their footsteps, Dash," She confessed. "But, after I joined the academy, became a reserve and then finally a Wonderbolt, my mom…she always worried. I thought I was doing good for Equestria, Rainbow Dash, but being a Wonderbolt…put my mom in here. It almost killed her!"
"That's not true, Spitfire!" Rainbow Dash protested and stomped a hoof down. "You being a Wonderbolt did not put your mom in here! She was just too scared to tell you herself because she was afraid of how you were going to react to what she was trying to say!"
"But, the pills…the aspirin…" Spitfire began.
"Were having no effect on her, Spitfire," Doctor Stable answered as he entered the room. "It appears that your mother's heart attack was in fact stress related. Perhaps maybe I can refer you both to Gentle Gust and Gentle Breeze once your mother is well enough again. I think it's best that you clear the air with one another before it's too late. Having seen what those two were able to do for Princess Twilight, I think it's safe to say that their psychological knowledge surpasses any that is known to ponykind."
Gulping nervously, Spitfire took in what the doctor had said. Perhaps the time had come for her mom to seek therapy over the untimely demise of her husband and Spitfire's father.
…
For the rest of the night, Spitfire stayed at her mother's side, clutching her hoof tightly. Rainbow Dash remained at her superior's side, trying to offer all the friendship and support she could.
The next morning, Stormy Flare still had not awakened from her emergency surgery, much to Spitfire's concern. "Rainbow Dash…she's not waking up!" Spitfire worriedly commented.
"The doctors did put a lot of medicine into her," Rainbow Dash remarked, only for Spitfire to give her a look. "But, it's helping her.
"She's probably in a coma!" Spitfire declared in a panicked tone of voice. "I'd bet she's talking to Dad right now, asking him to take her from me so I don't have to keep worrying!"
"Now you're just being ridiculous," Rainbow protested. "I don't think your mom would go that far. You need her as much as she needs you, Spitfire."
Rainbow Dash then directed Spitfire to look at the heart monitor, showing Stormy Flare's heart rate. "Will it…" Spitfire struggled to get the next words out, nervously anticipating her mother being taken from her at that very moment. "Will it flatline?"
"No it won't!" Rainbow protested, placing a hoof on her superior's shoulder. "Your mom is a fighter, Spitfire. Just like you are. The medicine should be wearing off any minute."
But in Spitfire's mind, her dream of being a Wonderbolt and following in her mother and father's hoofsteps, was going to take away the one parent she had grown to love and depend on. "Mom…Mom if you can hear me," Spitfire cried, once again grabbing onto her mother's foreleg. "Open your eyes, and let me know you're okay. I know you worry about me, but right now I'm worrying about you. Wake up, please!"
Suddenly, Spitfire felt a tight squeeze followed by the opening of one eye and the producing of a small but tired smile from Stormy Flare's face. "Mom?!" Spitfire cried, her eyes filled with tears of relief. "Mom, can you hear me?!"
"I can hear you, Spitfire." Stormy Flare answered in a hushed voice.
"Mom, I was so worried!" Spitfire cried again. "You could have…"
But Stormy Flare merely shushed her daughter as Rainbow Dash watched the mother and daughter reunion unfold before her, just as Doctor Stable and a nurse pony walked into the recovery room.
"I see you're awake now, Mrs. Flare" Doctor Stable commented, looking over at the tired, older pegasus pony. "The medication did it's job, so how are you feeling?"
"Tired…" Stormy Flare whispered, before suddenly feeling a sharp wince in her chest. "And still in…"
"It's going to be like that for a while, Stormy Flare," Doctor Stable answered. "You had a pretty severe heart attack and it's going to take time for you to fully recover, especially since it was triggered by stress"
"Mom, I know what you were thinking of," Spitfire spoke ip. "You just didn't want me to end up like Dad did, right?"
"Of course, Spitfire," Stormy Flare sighed. "It's time I talked about it with you again, instead of always ignoring the conversation. Your father dying was…one of the worst moments of my life. I wasn't honest with you because…because…"
"You didn't want me to worry?" Spitfire guessed and got an answer in the form of a nod. "Well, I was worrying, all right? How was I supposed to know that you were having stress related chest pains? I mean, when I say you should get checked out…" Overcome with emotion, Spitfire threw herself onto her mother's chest and cried her eyes out while Rainbow Dash watched from a distance, eventually deciding to leave the room and have mother and daughter enjoy their time together alone.
…
Later that day, Rainbow Dash returned to her home in Cloudsdale and merely looked up at the ceiling of her bedroom. Everything that had transpired before her very eyes left her wondering about something important to her. "You know something, Tank?" She asked her pet tortoise. "I don't know about you, but…you ever feel scared of…dying?"
Tank merely yawned to Rainbow Dash as he looked up to her. "I take it that you're not," His master replied. "But I think we all have to be scared of something at least once. In fact, it's making me think of my parents, and how I sometimes feel scared for them."
Rainbow turned herself over to look at a picture of herself and her parents when she was younger. Right then and there, she tried to put herself in Spitfire's shoes and she could only wonder what was just around the corner in terms of her own greatest nightmare where not just her parents, but also her closest friends would be subjected to a threat of death.
…
A few days later, Stormy Flare was discharged and soon, attention shifted back to the Wonderbolts preparing for their latest show.
"How's your mom?" Soarin asked Spitfire as they finished a training run.
"Well, she's back home and resting now. But it makes you wonder, Clipper," Spitfire commented. "I guess that Mom and I…can't live without each other, can we?"
"Same with every family, I guess," Soarin sighed as they walked towards the locker room together. "Do you think that maybe you and your mom have a pact?"
"About the fact that we can't live without one another? Yes, you're correct on that, Soarin," Spitfire nodded. "Still, her heart attack…" But Spitfire felt a wing touch her side gently.
"A sign that sometimes we need to be open and honest with each other, I guess," Soarin commented. "Your mom wasn't being open and honest with you, so maybe somepony made her see the light."
"Who do you think might have been behind that?" Spitfire questioned.
"I don't know, but either way, it seems like your love for one another just got a whole lot stronger." Soarin suggested.
Spitfire sighed heavily as she sat at her locker and reflected on all that had transpired. Maybe Soarin had a point. Maybe her relationship with her mother became a lot stronger than it had ever been, all thanks to the heart attack.
…
END OF EPISODE
…