//------------------------------// // Goodnight, Rainbow Dash // Story: At Her Hospital Bed // by Eventide Indigo //------------------------------// Pinkie heaved a sigh, staring at the newly-waxed tile floor blankly. She was glad that finally her fight with Gilda was over, perhaps the two of them could even be friends. "Pinkie?" a familiar voice rang out from down the hallway. Pinkie's eyes widened. "Twilight! You made it!" Pinkie exclaimed, throwing herself into the open forelegs of a good friend. Behind her stood a rather flustered-looking Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy. "Of course we did, we came as soon as we could." Twilight said. "After we heard what happened -" Twilight trailed off as Rarity scrambled past her and grabbed Pinkie in her hooves. "Where is she? Is she alright?" Rarity screamed. She evidently hadn't gotten much sleep of late, there were deep bags beneath her eyes and her mane was in complete disarray. Streaks of black ran down her face where her mascara had run. Pinkie looked down sadly. "The doctor said she won't make it." Pinkie whispered. She searched the faces of her friends, perhaps for any sign of recognition that she had spoken. Rarity simply peered at her in disbelief, her eyes were wide and her lips was quivering. Twilight's mouth hung ajar with utter shock. Applejack lowered her head, hiding her tearful eyes from the group. Fluttershy simply shook her head, staring at Pinkie as if she had just seen a ghost. "Oh no, no, no." Fluttershy choked. Bawling, she galloped to Pinkie. "Say it isn't so." "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. She's still awake though, let's go see her." The five trotted in, past the large metal door, which they now propped open with a wooden wedge. Gilda turned to them, recognising the many familiar faces. "Hey girls." she said quietly, stepping from Rainbow's bedside. Pinkie took a seat, trying to fight the urge to glance up at the screen. Her ears twitched as the routine beep gradually grew less frequent. Rainbow looked up at them, her eyes half-closed as if she were just falling asleep. "Hey girls." Rarity slunk to another chair, taking it and pulling it up closer to Rainbow Dash. "Hello sleepy head." she said soothingly, as if she were a mother waking her sleeping child. "You simply must hang out a tad longer, Rainbow. We know you are stronger than this. You can fight it. Prove the doctors wrong." her lip once again began to quiver. "You musn't die." she sobbed, burying her face in the white sheets of the bed. Rainbow blinked, her eyes moved lethargically between each of the ponies, until she fell back on Rarity. "Naw, Rari. I don't think I can fly out of this one." Rainbow turned to face Twilight. "Could you *cough* get me a little water? I'm parched." Twilight nodded and trotted to her bed side, using her telekinesis to lift the glass to her friend's lips. "Better?" Twilight asked hopefully. Rainbow gave a nod of her head. The doctor trotted into the doorway, knocking on the open door to signal his presence. "Hello everypony." he said with a nod of his head. "How are you doing Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow Dash raised a hoof as if she were giving a thumbs up, flashing him a sarcastic look. "Just great, doc." "Listen, girls," he turned to the visitors. "It's already getting pretty late at night. We usually don't allow visitors to stay over night, but I talked to my boss and he said we could make an exception for you." Rarity nodded. "Thank you, doctor. I am sure I speak for us all when I say it means a lot." the five ponies and griffon all nodded in unison. "Alright-y then, I will leave you seven alone then." the doctor said, turning to leave. As the night grew darker beyond the shelter of the lamp light, the ponies gradually grew tired, until many could hardly keep their eyes open. They agreed each would take an hour shift keeping Rainbow Dash company through the night, for Rainbow was in far too much pain to sleep comfortably. Applejack had volunteered first shift, and as the others slept peacefully, huddled up with blankets on the floor, the two good friends whispered jokes and reminisced in the memories of days on Sweet Apple Acres. Of the sweet taste of apple cider. "That reminds me." Applejack whispered, reaching into her saddle bag and pulling out a metal thermos. "Ah brought some o' the finest cider for ya." she said proudly, handing it to Rainbow. The hour seemed to fly, just as these last two years had. "Goodnight Applejack." Rainbow Dash rasped. "Goodnight Rainbow Dash." Through the night, the shifts continued to quietly alternate as the rest slumbered. Rarity, then Fluttershy, then Twilight, then Gilda, until finally Pinkie Pie. It was three in the morning by this time, but Pinkie was hardly tired. She could see that through the night, Dashie had grown even weaker. Her every breath was pained and difficult for her. "Hey Dashie." Pinkie cooed. "How are you doing?" Rainbow peered up at her sadly. "I'm in pain." she whispered. "And I'm scared." Pinkie held the pegasus' hoof in her own. "Scared of what Dashie?" "I'm afraid to die alone, Pinkie." Rainbow sniffled, her eyes welling with tears. "I don't want to die alone, please don't leave me alone." Rainbow cried, grabbing Pinkie's arm. Pinkie looked at her sympathetically. "Shh, Dashie. You know I would never leave you. Wewould never leave you." Rainbow blinked away her tears. "Promise?" "Promise." "Pinkie? Can you sing me a song?" Pinkie gulped. "Of course." "Hush now, Dashie. Don't you cry. I know you're scared - but ... so am I. We will never leave your side Dashie, goodnight. And in that moment, Pinkie could see all the pain leave Rainbow's body. All the sorrow leave her eyes. Rainbow peered up at her, one last contented smile. "Goodnight Pinkie." she whispered. Pinkie stifled a sob as she felt Dash's grip go limp in her own. The screen gave one last beep, showing a scribble of green, until it disappeared, leaving a single flat line. Pinkie gave a weak smile, her hoof against her own heart. She pulled the blanket higher, tucking her in one last time. "Goodnight Rainbow Dash."