//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Best Medicine // by zaptiftun //------------------------------// Morning came and found the five friends outside Sugarcube Corner readying themselves for the trip to Canterlot. They had only been waiting a few minutes when Pinkie Pie bounced out the front door, her usual wide smile on her face and her saddlebags across her back. “Hiya, everypony! Are you all set to go?” she asked cheerfully. Rather than waiting for any of them to answer, she bounced off down the road. They briefly exchanged confused looks over the sudden departure before galloping off to catch up. For a while they walked in silence. Well, mostly in silence. The only sound came from Pinkie, and most of that was some happy tune that seemingly only she knew. After around an hour’s time, they made it to the forested area where Dash had been tackled by a bush. Up to this point of their walk Dash made quiet motions to Twilight in an effort to get her to talk to Pinkie and see if she’d spill the beans. Twilight would always respond with a shake of her head and mouth “just wait”. Initially, Rainbow Dash would throw her hooves up in exasperation but keep her peace just the same. This time, however, she slowed her pace, motioning Twilight to fall back with her. The road ahead was curving, and the trees surrounding them would provide a bit of cover. Once the rest of their group had moved ahead Rainbow released her irritation. “What’ve you been waiting for Twilight?” she complained, dragging the lower eyelids down her face with her hooves in exasperation. “I thought we were going to find out what this was all about.” “I know, Rainbow Dash,” she apologized. “It’s just that this is a delicate topic, and I don’t want her to close herself off from us just when she’s getting ready to talk about it. I mean, I’ve never known Pinkie to not want to talk about something,” she remarked, in defense of her logic, “but then she hasn’t exactly told us anything about this yet either.” Their pace slowed to a stop as Twilight continued. “I’ve been hoping Pinkie would say something about where we’re going or something to get the conversation started. That way I could start picking apart her story and she wouldn’t be able to hide it the way Applejack tried to at the cherry orchard.” Dash stood there staring at her friend. She wrestled with a feeling in her gut that questioned how manipulative that approach would be. “Pinkie’s never been one to run from her problems, Twilight.” “We never thought that of Applejack either,” she reminded Rainbow. “I just don’t want a repeat of that.” Twilight sighed, “If you really want to ask her, then ask her.” “Ask me what?” a familiar voice chimed in. Twilight and Rainbow Dash turned simultaneously to regard the third participant in their conversation. “Pinkie?” Twilight nearly choked on the word before she could compose herself to for an actual sentence. “I thought you were up ahead.” “Well, I was, silly, until I looked back and realized there were only four of us,” she explained, hardly pausing for breath. “I wanted to make sure none of us got lost on our way. Now what was it you wanted to ask about?” She looked expectantly at Twilight and Rainbow Dash with such innocence in her eyes that would put a puppy to shame. “I, uh,” Rainbow stammered. Her words died on her tongue. She looked to Twilight for help. “We were just wondering how far along we were on the trip,” Twilight quickly explained. “Well why didn’t you just ask?” Pinkie replied, completely accepting the statement. “We’re just about there.” The knowledge that they were only about halfway to Canterlot was not lost on either of them. Dash remembered the turn Pinkie had taken the last time they were out this way, and Twilight’s quiet hope that maybe there wasn’t a hospital quickly faded. Exchanging a nervous smile to attempt to convince Pinkie that everything was fine, they followed her as she pranced back to the rest of the group up the road. Eventually they arrived at the intersection with the West Road and, just as Dash had said in her recounting a week before, Pinkie turned right off the road to Canterlot. Finally sensing the opportunity, Twilight spoke up. “Pinkie Pie, this is the road to Manehattan. Didn’t you say your job was in Canterlot?” Pinkie paused and turned to answer, “Weellllll…technically it’s in Canterlot, just not in the city with the palace and everything.” Her face bore the expression of a foal who had just been caught with her hoof in the cookie jar and it gave Twilight the opening she’d been looking for to press for more information. “Pinkie Pie, what exactly is this new job of yours? You haven’t told us anything about it and it’s really unlike you to act like this.” “Yeah,” Dash joined in forcefully, eager to try to get her to explain. “You’ve been doing this for three weeks now and you never told us about it! You’re acting all cagey and everything and it’s not making any sense!” Pinkie stepped back shamefaced, her ears folded against her head at Dash’s not undeserved onslaught. Dash paused and took a deep breath to rein in her emotions. “Look, we just want to know what’s up with all this. Is there something wrong?” Her voice cracked, “We’re your friends, Pinkie, just tell us.” The last words leaving her mouth left Rainbow Dash on the edge of tears. Pinkie bit her lower lip as her eyes fell to the ground. “I’m sorry, everypony, I didn’t mean to leave you out like that, honest. This thing came up all of a sudden and I’ve been so busy with it that,” she paused, searching for the right words. “It’s something very personal and important to me. I didn’t want anypony to know about it until I knew I was ready to share it. You understand, right?” Applejack stepped forward and nuzzled her. “’Course we do, sugarcube, we’re jus’ worried about ya is all. ‘Specially makes us worried when you’ve been acting the way you have.” The others nodded in agreement. Tears formed in the corners of Pinkie’s eyes as she looked happily upon each of her friends. “Thank you, girls, you’re the bestest best friends anypony could ever ask for. I’ll tell you everything, promise. Pinkie Promise,” she added, performing her usual ritual. “But there’s something I have to show you first. It’s really important.” They stood there, expectantly, waiting for Pinkie to continue. Only the odd song of a flitting bird and the leaves rustling in the trees at the crossroads produced any sort of noise. As each of the mares exchanged glances with one another Pinkie just stood there silently. At last, Twilight sighed and nodded. “Alright, Pinkie, lead on.” “Okey dokey!” she gleefully replied before swiveling and continuing her prance down the road. The others followed, but Dash and Twilight hung back. “Every time!” Dash blurted. “We get her this far and that’s what we end up with?” “We’re a lot further than where we started,” Twilight replied, watching their friends progress down the path. “I’m still not sure what we’re in for, but judging from how she reacted there maybe it will be better than we thought.” “Maybe,” Dash muttered, refusing to allow herself that optimism, though conceding that Twilight had a point. “After all, she did make a Pinkie Promise to tell us when we get there,” Twilight added. They continued on, still without the information they wanted but Pinkie’s promise left them far less tense than they had been. Pinkie seemed calmer, almost subdued, from what she had been when they had first started out in Ponyville. Perhaps, they thought, it was from the knowledge that soon she would have others to help shoulder her burden. Her smile wasn’t the wide, hyperactive grin that usually wore, the one for which everypony knew her, but it was one of contentment and true appreciation. The smile grew when Rainbow Dash alighted beside her, deciding to hoof it for the rest of the journey. Dash gently rubbed her head against Pinkie’s as they walked and Pinkie responded in kind, an unspoken apology accepted and forgiven in a simple motion. Following the route Dash had recounted a week earlier, they arrived at the clinic late in the morning. Pinkie led them into the main building and through the labyrinth of hallways. Tension and unease returned to the others as they wound through the building, the bland sterility and lackluster design of the place seemed unnatural. Eventually they arrived at the reception area. Pinkie halted the group and approached the reception desk. “Hiya, Miss Honeydew!” The green mare looked up from her paperwork, her face brightening immediately. “Oh, good morning, Pinkie Pie; Dr. Patches should be out shortly for your session. Feel free to wait here.” At the word ‘session’ the rest of the group exchanged concerned glances. Thoughts of there being an alternate explanation quickly slipped away. “Thanks, Miss Honeydew!” She turned back to her friends. “Shouldn’t be too long of a wait, girls. Dr. Patches will be able to give you the low down on what’s going on.” Fluttershy couldn’t take the suspense anymore and launched herself at Pinkie, wrapping her hooves around the pink pony and burying her face in the cotton candy mane amid her sobs. Pinkie just stood there, uncharacteristically confused and at a loss for words at her friend’s sudden outburst. “Um…it’s okay, Fluttershy,” she said uncertainly, wrapping a hoof over her friend’s withers. “I know hospitals aren’t all that fun, but it’s not something to get upset over…Unless you have a phobia of hospitals. That could do it. Oh, or doctors! Just like Rainbow Dash is scared of dentists.” “Pinkie!” Dash hissed. Rarity intervened, “I think it’s because she’s worried about you, Darling, as we all are.” Pinkie smiled sadly and hugged Fluttershy. “Aww, I’m sorry, girls, I didn’t realize I made you worry that badly. Guess I better tell you all what I’ve been doing here, huh?” Dash nodded emphatically. “Yes please already!” Pinkie giggled as she separated from Fluttershy. “Okay. See, it started when-” “Ah, Miss Pie, there you are.” Dash nearly screamed in frustration as she rounded on the interrupting voice. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped as soon as she recognized the stallion and immediately pointed at him. “You!” “Me!” “You’re him!” “I should certainly hope so,” he chuckled, “It’d be very disconcerting for me to wake up one day as anyone else.” “Hiya, Doctor Patches!” Pinkie greeted brightly. “Good morning, Miss Pie,” Dr. Patches returned. Applejack sidled up to Dash. “Ya alright there, RD?” “That’s him!” she exclaimed, continuing to point at the doctor. “He’s the one I talked to last week!” Dr. Patches tilted his head, curiosity creasing his features as he examined Dash. His eyes quickly lit up with recognition. “That’s right, I remember you. You were here last Friday looking for Miss Pie.” “You were here looking for me, Rainbow?” Pinkie asked in confusion. Dash rubbed the back of her neck self-consciously. “Yeah…see, last Friday I went to Sugarcube Corner to see you but Mrs. Cake said that you had gone to Canterlot for your other job. Well, I had no idea what this other job was so I went off to find you but when you didn’t go straight to Canterlot I got suspicious and followed you here and I bumped into this guy,” she blurted, barely pausing for breath, “And that’s when I found out you were here for some sort of medical treatment and I went back to tell the girls here and we’ve been freaking out about you being sick all week.” There was an uncomfortable silence in the room as Pinkie and Dr. Patches stared at her blankly. At last they both spoke. “I’m not sick.” “I never said she was sick.” It was Dash’s turn to stare blankly. “But you told me that you’d met her at the advanced medical treatment wing and that she was back here for some experimental program.” Pinkie and Dr. Patches exchanged a glance and tried their best to resist chuckling. A growing sense of dread filled Dash as it dawned on her that she may have made a very grave error. “Hoo boy, I think we’ve had a bit of miscommunication,” Dr. Patches said with a chortle. “Yes, I met Miss Pie while working in the treatment wing several years ago, but it wasn’t her that was being treated.” “And I am part of a new research program,” Pinkie added, “But only because I’m helping out with it.” Dash’s face and wings drooped pathetically. Realizing the worry she’d produced in everypony over the past several days, there was only one thing she could do. “I’m gonna go find a rock to hide under for a while.” “It’s okay, Dashie!” Pinkie giggled, pouncing on her with a hug, “I know it was a mistake and everything, but I’m really glad that you guys cared that much for me to get worried like that and now everyone’s here so I can show you what I’ve been doing!” “I admit that I’m curious, Pinkie,” said Twilight, “Immensely relieved but still curious. What is this project of yours?” Pinkie turned to Dr. Patches with a huge grin. “Can I show them?” He nodded, his own face creased with a wide smile. “Go ahead.” She motioned excitedly for them to follow her and bounced down the hallway. They trotted down another corridor and passed by a number of rooms, some empty and some with treated and recovering patients. At the end of the corridor they turned left down another, reaching a set of double doors, evidently leading to a larger room than the ones they had passed. They could hear some commotion within the room but it was not apparent as to what was causing it. Pinkie quickly peeked through the small windows and ducked away, giggling to herself. Motioning to the others to be quiet, she stuffed her head into one of her saddlebags and came out wearing a ridiculously over-sized pair of spiral-lensed glasses and a fake arrow strapped onto her head. “I love this part,” Dr. Patches whispered to the rest of the group gleefully. Without warning, Pinkie flung the doors open and leapt inside with a merry cry. “Hiya, fillies and colts! Guess who’s here?” “Pinkie Pie!” replied a joyous multitude of voices. Foals. The room was filled with foals of all colors and description: unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies alike. Some were fairly young while others were clearly older as they had their cutie marks and stood a bit taller. The most striking thing about them was that very few of the foals had manes and tails and those that did had theirs closely cropped. “Wha…what is all this?” Rainbow Dash asked as she stepped into the room. “This is my project,” Dr. Patches answered, stepping up next to her. “It’s a supplemental program of sorts for the foals being treated here.” “All of these children have terminal illnesses?” Rarity asked, her voice tinged with sadness. Dr. Patches nodded. “Some do, yes; some have some sort of immunodeficiency and others we simply haven’t worked out yet.” “How sad,” said Fluttershy, her eyes glistening as she thought about what the poor young foals were going through. Twilight turned to Dr. Patches, confusion still etched on her face. “I don’t understand, you said that this is supplemental to their treatment but I don’t see you giving them any sort additional medication.” She watched as Pinkie attempted to inflate a large balloon only to have it force her breath back and inflate her instead, much to the enjoyment of the foals who now had a large, fluffy, pink volleyball to play with. “And much as I love Pinkie,” Twilight continued, “she is most definitely not qualified for practicing any sort of medicine.” “I’d have to agree with you there,” Dr. Patches replied with a chuckle, “But you are quite right, this is rather an unorthodox program and I knew Miss Pie would be the perfect fit for it.” He turned his attention to the foals and Pinkie as they played with a balloon she had finally managed to inflate and twist into the shape of a giraffe and was working on another. “Tell me, Miss…” “Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle.” “Ah, Princess Celestia’s protégé! I am most honored to make your acquaintance,” he said with a bow, eliciting a shy blush from her. He stood and motioned to the gaggle of foals. “Tell me, Miss Sparkle, what do you see?” She glanced at him curiously before looking across the room. “Well…I see various sorts of exercising equipment lined up against the far wall – evidently this is the physical conditioning room – and there is a set of double doors on the far side leading to the outside, the light fixtures are standard industrial fluorescent light tubes, the walls and ceiling are painted an off-white color, and Pinkie and the foals are playing with a bunch of balloons.” She turned back to him with a smile, very satisfied with her detailed analysis. Her smile faltered when it was met by Dr. Patches’ flat stare. He glanced past her to the other four. “Is she always like this?” “You have no idea,” Dash quipped. Twilight grumbled sourly and looked away. “I meant no offence, Miss Sparkle,” Dr. Patches chortled, “It’s just that you observed all the details in everything you saw – which I should’ve expected from an academic of your caliber. But what I wanted you to observe were Pinkie and the foals; tell me what you see with them.” Once again she turned her attention to the petite playing ponies their partying pink patron. She scrutinized every detail, her face skewed in concentration. At last she shook her head. “I don’t know what you want me to look for, Doctor,” she admitted unsurely, “But all I see is Pinkie and a bunch of foals playing and laughing.” “Exactly!” he said with a clap of his hooves. Twilight turned to him in confusion. “I’m not sure I understand,” she said, “How is laughing and playing considered medical treatment…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes lit up as the realization dawned on her. “It’s a psychological method designed to produce a physiological benefit!” “And she wins the sixty-four thousand bit question!” Dr. Patches cheered enthusiastically. “And that means what, exactly?” Applejack asked. “Look at what you just walked through on your way in,” Dr. Patches explained. “Unless you’re of a rare breed I’d wager you weren’t feeling too comfortable with it all,” he glanced quickly at each of them to see if the thought had set in and to make sure they were following him. “Hospitals aren’t exactly the happiest of place for most of the people in them.” They weren’t sure what it was, but hearing it said that way seemed like a grand revelation. “See,” Dr. Patches continued, “When you laugh your body releases certain compounds called endorphins, which studies show help decrease the sensation of pain and in general feel better, which is why after you’ve had a good laugh you feel much more relaxed and content, like you’ve had a good workout. Now Equestrian science isn’t sure how, but laughter also helps increase blood flow and boost antibody production, strengthening the immune system. That being said, a stronger body would be more apt to fight a disease and be receptive to the introduction of medication.” The confusion was evident in Dash’s voice. “So…laughter makes you healthier?” “In a way, yes,” answered Dr. Patches, “It’s like that old saying: ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine’. As I mentioned, this is a supplemental program to the actual treatments and I’m hoping it’ll make them more effective.” “Well, that certainly explains why you chose Pinkie for the job,” said Rarity. “Yeah, but it doesn’t explain how you knew her in the first place,” Dash said thoughtfully. “If it wasn’t her being treated all those years ago, then why was she here at all?” “I was visiting my cousin Blueberry,” Pinkie said, suddenly appearing next to the stunt flier, a light glow of sweat evident on her face from the energetic performance. Behind her, the foals appeared to be too preoccupied with several balloon animals and a large beach ball to notice that she wandered away from their group. “Your cousin?” Rarity asked curiously. Pinkie nodded solemnly. “See, this happened a while back, way before Twilight moved to town. Blueberry and I used to play with each other all the time growing up: pranks, parties, you name it we did it. But even then there was always something wrong with her, she would always get tired a lot more quickly than everypony else and she got sick a lot. “A little while after I moved to Ponyville, I found out that she had gone to the hospital and been diagnosed with cancer.” She paused, the memories threatening to shatter her composure. “It didn’t look good. It was so hard so see her lying in that hospital bed, just staring outside because she was too weak and sick to move.” Her face brightened a little. “So I did what Pinkies do best! Every week I’d come up here with balloons and cakes and streamers and all the fun party stuff to cheer her up. And it worked! She laughed and smiled and was happy every time I came and we kept it up for months.” There was another pause and the smile slowly disappeared from her face. “Then one day she was gone. It hurt so much, y’know?” her voice cracked. “Like a part of my heart had been torn away. She had been my super best friend growing up and I could never play with her or make her laugh again.” She lifted her to face to her friends, a sad but hopeful smile on her lips. “But you know what? Even though she was gone, I knew she was happy right up to the end. I helped make her days brighter, helped make her laugh when everything was dark and gloomy and helped giggle the ghosties away. It was all worth it just to see her smile again.” Fluttershy was instantly upon her with a bone-crushing hug. “Oh Pinkie,” she said through her tears, “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.” Rarity laid a hoof on her pink friend’s withers. “You’re much stronger than I realized, Pinkie dear, but why didn’t you tell any of us about this when it happened? We would have been there to help you.” Pinkie sniffed sadly. “I know, but I’d just started out in Ponyville and I didn’t want to make any of my new friends sad with something like this.” “That’s our Pinkie,” Applejack said with a morose smile, “Always thinkin’ of other folks’ happiness first.” Dash surreptitiously wiped away a tear. “Alright, that explains that, but how do you fit into all of this, Doc?” “I was Blueberry’s physician,” he explained. “At first, I was annoyed when this pink ball of energy insisted on visiting every week with all her party paraphernalia, but then I noticed that Blueberry was responding positively. She had more energy after her treatments, she was most definitely in higher spirits, and she regained her appetite. “It was infectious, so to speak,” he chuckled. “The nurses and I quickly noticed we were smiling more and were much more jovial than before. This job can get you down pretty easily if you’re not careful, as you can imagine, and soon we were all looking forward to those Fridays when Miss Pie would come and cheer Blueberry up, and by extension the rest of us.” His expression fell with a sigh. “Sadly, Blueberry’s condition was far more advanced than we originally thought. It was a hard blow when she passed, all of us here had grown fond of her and we missed her and Miss Pie terribly.” His eyes drifted toward the floor in thought while he spoke. “Perhaps if we had gotten her in earlier we could have saved her, at the very least helped her live a little longer. “That’s when I had an idea.” His face brightened as the smile returned. “A lot of folks going through these treatments are left drained and have little energy and that, in turn, affects their moods and emotions. Medical treatments alone can help physically, but for the most part they don’t do anything to help the patient’s psyche. You usually need exterior stimuli for that. Blueberry had just that and it helped her. There’s a whole bunch of science mumbo jumbo for this, but basically the body releases hormones and enzymes that help strengthen it when it’s exposed to positive stimuli like laughter. That, and on a psychological level as well, gives them a greater will to live. “I had to write up formal proposals and do my own research to back them up, but after a few years I came up with a proposal for this program and ran it by the hospital’s board of directors. It took time and no small effort, but they finally agreed to let me try it out.” “And that’s when he called me and I said yes and now here we are!” Pinkie cheerfully interjected with a hop. “Indeed! And as you can see, it seems to be working out rather well.” “Wow…that’s quite the story,” Twilight said, slightly awed with appreciation for their task. A brown-dappled pegasus colt with a cutie mark resembling a cloud bursting after being kicked came up and tugged on Dr. Patches’ coat. “Dr. Patches? Can we go outside now? It’s real sunny an’ Pinkie said it was warm out.” Dr. Patches smiled. “I don’t see why not, Kit. Pinkie, if you would be so kind?” Pinkie grinned widely and bounced towards the double doors with and called excitedly, “C’mon, kids! We’re going outside!” As one, the crowd of foals cheered and followed Pinkie outside. Dr. Patches and the mares trailed behind them. Dash paused when a splash of yellow caught her eye. Off to side of the room were a line of pillows, upon one of which rested a yellow unicorn filly. Curious, she made her way over to the little one. “Hey kid, how come you’re not outside with everypony else?” The filly lifted her head, her eyes widening as she focused on Dash. “Oh, um…I’m too tired to go out and play. I had my treatment this morning and it always makes me sleepy.” She smiled tiredly. “But I always have fun when Pinkie comes, even if it’s just watching everypony else play.” “Ah, I see…I guess.” Dash rubbed the back of her neck self-consciously, feeling very awkward. Hanging around foals was not exactly her thing and it didn’t help that the filly was staring at her. “Something wrong, kid?” She looked away shyly. “S-sorry, your mane just looks so cool.” Dash grinned and ran a hoof through her mane with a chuckle. “Yeah, it is kinda awesome, isn’t it? Name’s Rainbow Dash, what’s yours?” “S-Sun Drop,” she replied, followed by a moment of silence. She looked back up to Dash. “Can I ask you something?” Dash shrugged. “Sure, what is it?” “Um…What’s it like to fly?” She looked at the young filly curiously. “Bit of an odd question; how come you want to know?” Sun Drop looked at the floor shyly. “My daddy’s a pegasus and I always see him moving clouds and flying everywhere. I…just want to know what it’s like.” Nodding in understanding, Dash sat next to the pillow and lifted her eyes to the ceiling, a blissful smile crossed her lips. “It’s like falling: terrifying, exciting; the wind’s rushing by, roaring in your ears, but you’re in control. You flap your wings and feel gravity pull against your gut as you defy it climb toward the sun.” Dash turned from the filly and looked off at a point in the distance, as though watching the events play out. Sun Drop followed her gaze, picturing herself flying alongside as Dash continued. “There’s a moment of weightlessness as you reach the top of your climb and settle on a cloud – the softest, comfiest pillow you could ever imagine. And then you look out and all of Equestria lies in front of you. You can see past Canterlot to the Crystal Mountains and beyond the Whitetail Woods to the glittering lights of Las Pegasus. Look around you; you’re free as a bird. The skies are yours.” Sun Drop stared wonderingly, mouth agape as Dash turned back to her. “That’s amazing,” the filly breathed, “It sounds so wonderful. Daddy’s taken me up a couple of times but only up to the treetops. I wish I could fly myself.” Dash grinned. “Well, my friend Twilight knows some really neat tricks. She got herself and my friends up to Cloudsdale when I was in the Best Young Flyer’s Competition.” “Really?” The filly’s eyes sparkled. “Yeah, she really did! Want to hear about it?” Sun Drop smiled widely and nestled herself comfortably into her pillow. “Well, see, I’ve always wanted to be a Wonderbolt, ever since I was your age….” ***************** The courtyard was filled with laughter and the joyful calls of fillies and colts as the gathered friends made their way out into the fresh air and warm sun. Twilight closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, relishing the sweet scents of nature. The sight of Pinkie running everywhere while playing tag with the little ones brought a smile to her face when her eyelids fluttered open. “We try to let them play outside for an hour or two a day, as long as the weather permits,” Dr. Patches explained, “Sun, exercise, and fresh air are very important for them to stay healthy, but we also have to be careful that they don’t hurt themselves or get too worn out.” “How successful has this here program been so far?” Applejack asked. “Well, this is our first group so we don’t have any concrete results yet, but it looks promising,” he answered. “Morale is a huge part of any treatment process, for cancer especially, so seeing them happy like this makes it a success in my book.” He shook his head sadly. “I’ve seen a few patients come in here and waste away because they lost the will to live. Nopony came to visit them, they never laughed or smiled, they just gave up,” he sighed at the harsh reality of it. “No amount of treatment is going to save somepony like that. But when somepony is shown love and support…well, here, let me show you.” He led them down the walkway to the crest of a knoll, allowing them to see across the green expanse of the Center’s small park. “Take that guy for example,” Dr. Patches said as he pointed across the way to a stallion sitting under a tree with a mare leaning against him, a loving gaze upon her face. He was surrounded by a number of other ponies –even a young dragon and giraffe of all things – presumably his friends as all of them were smiling and laughing. “He’s been a real trooper. He came down here a while back and it was kinda hairy at first, but you couldn’t get him down. He’s got spirit, that one. His wife and friends have constantly been by his side helping and encouraging him.” The PA blared, impassive yet urgent, interrupting him. “Dr. Patches to ER #3. Code Blue. Dr. Patches to ER #3. Code Blue.” “Shoot! I’m sorry ladies, but I need to go; it was nice meeting you all!” he called over his shoulder as he galloped away. “Oh my, I hope it’s not anything serious,” Fluttershy worried. “Hate to say it, sugarcube, but the way he left makes me think that it probably is,” Applejack voiced with a frown. She didn’t want to think what an announcement like that meant in a hospital. Twilight, too, frowned and shook her head lightly. “C’mon, girls, let’s see if we can help Pinkie out.” For the next couple of hours, the five friends played with the foals in each of their own ways. Fluttershy talked about the different plants and animals that were around and showed a few eager foals how to safely catch a butterfly. Applejack showed how to tie knots and regaled them with stories from the farm and of the adventures she’d been on with the others. For some of the unicorns, Twilight taught some simple spells and lectured about a few of the notable unicorns in Equestria’s history. Rarity taught some general points of arts, crafts, and fashion and was pleasantly surprised when a colt managed to make her a bracelet using grass and lilacs. Sadly, the time came where the nurses had to call the foals back inside, bringing an end to the playtime with Pinkie. The girls said their farewells to the young ones and Pinkie promised to come back the next week with more balloons and games. The friends were all smiles as they walked down the corridor to the main lobby. “I must admit, Pinkie,” began Rarity, “It never occurred to me that you would become involved in a program such as this. I don’t know why it never did; you’re the perfect mare for it.” “Darn tootin’ ya are!” Applejack agreed enthusiastically. Pinkie beamed. “Thanks girls! I’m so glad you think so. I’m really sorry I worried you the way I did, I guess I should’ve told you sooner.” “It’s okay, we understand why you didn’t say anything and there was no harm done in the end,” said Twilight. “But please remember that we’re your friends and that you can trust us with anything, okay?” Pinkie smiled sincerely. “I will, Twilight.” Suddenly Applejack stopped and looked around. “Hold on a tic, where’s Rainbow?” “I saw her talking to a unicorn filly when we went outside,” Fluttershy answered, “But I haven’t seen her since then.” “Found her!” They looked down the corridor to see Pinkie at the far end bouncing in place. They made their way to end of the corridor and turned the corner to find the prismatic-maned pony sitting solemnly next to a set of double doors, staring almost vacantly at the floor. Pinkie was by her side, an uncharacteristic worried frown on her face. It was obvious that there was something very wrong. The farm mare approached gingerly. “Rainbow? What’s wrong, Sugarcube?” For a moment she didn’t speak, then her mouth slowly worked itself open and closed. “I…I thought she just fell asleep. I was just talking to her and she was listening a-and then she closed her eyes, you know, like I do sometimes when Twilight’s explaining something. I didn’t notice at first ‘cause I was really into it and…” She swallowed hard as her words caught in her throat. “I-I tried to wake her up so we could go outside, but when she didn’t move I called the nurse and…and then…I…she wasn’t…” Tears welled up in her eyes and she choked. Immediately, Applejack and Pinkie embraced her, with the others quickly following suit. For a long while they sat there, none saying a word, just lending strength to their friend. The hospital retained its pace around them, though they took no notice. Time passed in unmarked measure as they all sat silently with their thoughts. Eventually they parted and Dash wiped her eyes. “Thanks, girls.” Her voice was a little raspy and she coughed to clear it. “Sorry, I guess that took a little more out of me than I thought.” “There’s no need to apologize, Rainbow, we completely understand,” Rarity soothed. “Perhaps we should go home now.” “Sounds like a good idea,” Twilight agreed. They started again down the corridor, this time in solemn silence. When they reached the main lobby, they paused to get their bearings. Pinkie bit her lip hesitantly and asked quietly, “What was her name, Dashie?” “Huh? Oh, um…Sun Drop? Yeah, that was it. She asked me what it was like to fly ‘cause her dad’s a pegasus, so I told her what it was like and how we were at the Best Young Fliers Competition and how Twilight got you girls up there. She seemed pretty excited to hear about that.” “Awww,” Pinkie cooed with a sad smile, “I think you made her really happy.” “I don’t know,” she said doubtfully, “All I did was just talk to her.” “Sometimes that’s all somepony needs to help them feel better: just someone to talk to,” Pinkie said as she placed a hoof on Dash’s shoulder. A thoughtful frown crossed Dash’s face as Doctor Patches stepped out of another set of doors into the lobby. He appeared haggard and his face downcast as he entered, but managed a weak smile upon seeing the gathered mares. “Hello again. I’m sorry for running off like that, but I had an emergency to attend to; the worst kind, I’m afraid.” He turned to Dash, his smile genuine and grateful. “Thank you for staying with Sun Drop, Miss Dash, I’m certain she was thankful that you took the time to talk to her.” His smile faltered. “And…I’m sorry.” Still recovering from her emotional roller coaster, Dash could only nod in response. He sighed and turned to the rest of the group. “I’m glad I was able to see you all before you left. I’m so very glad that you came with Miss Pie today, even if it was for entirely different reasons. The nurses tell me the children very much enjoyed spending the afternoon with you.” “It was our pleasure. I’m so glad we could brighten up their day and have fun,” Rarity said with a warm smile, though it faltered with her next thought. “It saddens me, though, just how young they are to suffer so. Many of them are hardly older than Sweetie Belle.” Applejack shivered. “I know what ya mean, Rarity. I couldn’t help but keep thinkin’ of Apple Bloom while I was out there…I can’t imagine what it’d be like for the family if she had to stay here.” “It must be very difficult for the families who do have foals here…and for the foals to be here away from home. No wonder you started this program, Doctor,” Twilight said solemnly. He nodded. “Yes, this is incredibly stressful for ones so young. The program is an attempt to help them understand that yes, they’re sick, but they can get better and they can still enjoy their foalhood.” A moment of silence followed, only broken when Dash turned to Pinkie. “I’m coming with you next week.” Pinkie gasped excitedly, “Really? You really want to?” The pegasus shuffled self-consciously. “Yeah, I mean, I’m not all that great at talking to foals and stuff, but if every little bit helps, then I’d like to. Heck, maybe I can give some of the fliers some pointers.” “I wouldn’t mind coming back either,” Fluttershy added, “I had fun teaching some of them about nature and little critters.” “Well shoot, I’d like to come back, too!” Applejack declared. “Maybe I can teach ‘em more about roping and farming and bring some of my family’s famous cider!” “Ooh! And I can make hair pieces and hats to help keep their heads warm. Oh, and I can teach them how to sew and design!” Rarity gushed. “I can teach basic magic to the unicorns and come up with a curriculum so they don’t fall behind in their studies,” Twilight contributed thoughtfully. Pinkie bounced in place, bursting with excitement, and turned to Doctor Patches with a huge smile. Doctor Patches’ eyes sparkled and a small smile tugged at his lips. “I think we can work something out.” The End