The dragon stood in the middle of the CMC Clubhouse where he found Scootaloo shivering under a blanket. The poor filly's coat was less vibrant than usual. Her mane was frazzled, there were bags around her eyes, her nose was red, and she was sweating.
"S-Spike? What are y-you doing h-here?" the filly asked, weakly.
"I was going to ask you the same thing! Scoots, why are you sleeping here? Where are your parents?"
"I-I-"
Scootaloo didn't even finish her sentence before she fell back asleep.
"Scootaloo?" Spike said. "Wake up."
Spike felt Scootaloo's forehead and immediately pulled away.
"Ouch! Oh my gosh, Scoots! You're burning up!"
Spike leaped into action. He wrapped Scootaloo in her blanket and put his hat, scarf, jacket, and gloves on her. The dragon put Scootaloo's leg over his back and started moving. He decided to take Scootaloo to the Ponyville Hospital. While making his way to the hospital, Spike thought about who he should tell about Scootaloo's problem. 'Might as well tell Twilight and Rainbow. I trust Twilight and Rainbow is technically Scoots' big sister.' As the Ponyville Hospital got closer, Scootaloo became heavier and heavier.
"Come on legs! Don't fail me now!" the dragon grunted.
Spike managed to get through the front doors of the building but collapsed one second later. Spike couldn't really remember anything after that. All he could remember was that everything went black and that someone was moving him. Then he remembered Scootaloo. She needed his help!
"Scootaloo!" Spike gasped, sitting up quickly in his hospital bed.
He frantically looked around only to see Twilight's concerned face.
"Spike? Are you okay?" Twilight asked, genuinely concerned for her childhood friend.
"I'm fine..."
But the tone of the dragon's voice told Twilight that he was clearly the opposite of okay.
"Spike, I've known you since I was a little filly. I know when something is bothering you." Twilight said.
Spike sighed. "Twilight?"
"Hmm?"
"It's about Scootaloo..."
"I thought so. You and Scootaloo were out cold on the floor near the front door. What happened?"
Spike explained the whole scenario from beginning to the end. He told her about the clubhouse, Scootaloo's fever, and how he had to carry Scootaloo and walk all the way to the hospital. Twilight was silent for a moment. Then she spoke.
"First of all, I was worried sick when the hospital called and told me that you were here! So don't ever do that to me again!"
"Sorry Twi."
"It's fine. I'm just glad you're ok."
Twilight hugged Spike and he hugged her back.
"And second of all," Twilight continued. "Judging from what you told me, I think Scootaloo might be an orphan."
"WHAT?!" Spike yelled.
"Spike! Lower your voice!" Twilight scolded.
"Sorry..."
"Anyways, all the evidence lines up. She was sleeping in the clubhouse and when I offered to take her home, she panicked and ran out of the castle." Twilight said.
"Well, what should we do then?" Spike asked.
"Well first, we have to confirm that Scootaloo has no parents. If she doesn't, I think I might have an idea on how we can help her. But for now, you rest. We'll talk about this later." Twilight said.
"Ok." Spike yawned, falling back asleep.
When Spike was deep asleep, Twilight started panicking in her head. Though it didn't seem like it, Twilight was shocked as well. Next thing she knew, she started hyperventilating. Twilight took a few deep breaths and came to a decision. 'I have to tell the girls about this.'
Meanwhile with Rainbow and Scoots...
Rainbow Dash waited next to Scootaloo's hospital bed with a worried look on her face. Her surrogate sister had a severe fever and was administered to the hospital. Scootaloo was attached to an IV bag and had an ice pack on top of her head. On top of that, Spike was also in a hospital bed. 'I hope Scoots and Spike are ok.'
Just then, Rainbow heard a small groan coming from the bed. She looked down to see Scootaloo waking up.
"Ugh...R-Rainbow Dash? I-Is that you?" Scootaloo groaned.
"Yeah squirt. It's me. The one and only." Rainbow said, managing to crack a small grin.
"W-Where am I?" Scootaloo asked, looking at her surroundings.
"You're in the hospital with Spike."
"S-Spike?!" Scootaloo exclaimed, remembering the encounter with the dragon in the clubhouse.
"Yeah. One of the nurses found you guys out cold on the floor. She said you had a severe fever. Twilight is with Spike in the other room." Rainbow explained.
"O-oh..."
"Hey Scoots? Is something wrong?" Rainbow asked.
"Why w-would you say that?" Scootaloo said, becoming nervous out of nowhere.
"First off, your voice is quavering. Second of all, you're starting to sweat even though you're almost better. Say why did you get a fever that bad anyways? Don't you have somepony to look after you? Like your parents?" Rainbow Dash said.
Scootaloo was shaking now and her breathing was getting heavier and faster. Her heart was beating and she was starting to tear up. Rainbow Dash became worried and tried to figure out what was going on.
"Scoots! Snap out of it! What's wrong?"
Scootaloo started sobbing now and the only thing Rainbow could do was try to calm her down. This wasn't really her strong suit, more down Fluttershy's lane. But Scoots needed her right now.
"Hey, hey. It's ok." Rainbow said in a much softer voice while hugging Scootaloo. "Dashie's here."
Scootaloo kept crying into Rainbow's coat while Rainbow held her close and rubbed the crevice between her small wings.
"Shh. It's ok Scoots. I'm here." Rainbow cooed.
Scootaloo's sobbing turned into quite sniffles and she finally mustered up enough courage to tell Rainbow Dash the truth.
"R-Rainbow?"
"Yeah, squirt?"
"About my parents."
"Yeah?"
"I-I don't have any..."
"W-WHAT?! HOW?!"
Rainbow's outburst startled the young filly and she started shaking again. Rainbow Dash realized that if she wanted answers, she'd have to calm down.
"Scoots?" Rainbow started. "What do you mean you have no parents?"
"Th-they died in a t-terrible storm..."
"So where did you live?"
"I-in the clubhouse."
"And for how long have you been living in the clubhouse?" the older pegasus interrogated.
"3 y-years..."
"Why didn't you ask anyone for help? I would've helped you. Somepony would've helped you."
"I-I didn't want you to t-think I was weak a-and helpless s-so I kept it a s-secret for a long t-time...." Scootaloo sobbed again, keeping her head down.
"Scootaloo, look at me."
When she didn't, Rainbow lifted Scoot's head up and looked her straight in the eye.
"Scootaloo, don't ever say that you are weak and helpless. You are the bravest and most awesome filly I know. I hate to admit it but sometimes, I ask for help too."
"R-really?"
"Yep! Asking for help doesn't make you look weak. It shows that your brave enough to admit when you need help." Rainbow said.
"Thanks Rainbow. I feel better knowing that." Scootaloo said, snuggling closer to the blue pegasus.
"No problem, kid. No problem."