Written by NintendoGal55
***
The kidney transplant surgery went without a hitch. Both the donor and patient were now in the same room together, their beds side by side. Both were asleep, the patient unaware of the donor. Four other ponies stayed by, watching over them and talking quietly. Eventually, they soon had to leave, promising the sleeping ponies that they would return in the morning.
Doctors and nurses came and went throughout the night, check on them both. Eventually they left as well, with the room dimly lit by a lamp, as the dark of the night went on. At around 11:28, that was when the patient awakened.
Fluttershy opened her eyes, slowly. How long had she been out? Did everything go all right? Her mind was abuzz with questions, she could feel...odd. Very odd. The last thing she remembered were the surgeons assuring her that they would be okay. She'd asked who her donor was, but they said she would know when she'd wake up. Then the mask was placed over her face, and she was out before she even realized it.
Now she saw that she was in a hospital room, in the middle of the night, though she didn't know what time it was. Nopony else was in the room, she was all by herself. Strange, she was certain that doctors and her friends would be around when she'd wake up.
Disappointed, she wanted some answers. Who was her donor? Wouldn't she be able to thank them?
"H-Hey, Fluttershy..." A familiar voice sounded from her left.
Heart skipping a beat, Fluttershy slowly turned her head to the source. Much to her surprise, Rainbow Dash was lying on a hospital bed next to hers. Not just using it to sleep on, she too was a patient, in a hospital gown and everything. She looked haggard, but happy.
"R-Rainbow...? You....You were my donor?" Fluttershy squeaked, wide-eyed. "You...gave me a kidney? But...why?"
"What do you mean 'why'? I did it because I love you." Rainbow said, rolling her eyes, but smiling anyway.
Fluttershy blushed, nodding a bit. "I-I know...I just...never thought you would have... You never told me."
"Guess I wanted to surprise you," Rainbow admitted. "But when I found out that you needed a transplant, then put on the waiting list... I came here, telling them I wanted you to have my kidney. We're not related, so they had to check if we'd be a good match. Looks like I was! Come on... I had a chance to save your life, there was no way I was going to let that pass me by!"
Tears came to the creamy yellow mare's eyes, feeling touched. Her best friend, the love of her life, had just willingly gave up one of her kidneys. Just for her. So that she wouldn't have to wait for so long. She sniffled, reaching her hoof out toward Rainbow Dash. In turn, Rainbow did the same, the tips of their forehooves touching.
"Rainbow...thank you so much...Thank you... You've given me a wonderful gift... You helped save my life. I can't thank you enough, and I don't know how to repay you...but I will, I just-"
"Flutters, cool it. You don't have to pay me back." Rainbow said firmly, but was smiling. "Just...take it, okay? Take it and live. That's all I want, okay? I'm not gonna make you repay me for something like that. It's what friends do! It's what ponies in love do."
"....Okay..." Fluttershy smiled more, blowing her a kiss. "Thank you... I love you, Rainbow... I love you. I would do the same for you, in a heartbeat."
"Love you too, Flutters. Glad it worked." Rainbow murmured, blowing a kiss back.
A warm feeling of comfort overtook Fluttershy, knowing that she had great friends who always had her back. She now had a piece of Rainbow Dash within her, the very part of her that was saving her life. It was a gift she would cherish for all time, to take it well, and to make sure that the sacrifice would not be in vain.
She could not have asked for anything more.