“Shipwreck the sun, well I’m on your side
An army of one onward we will ride
Whisper your songs, birds to the air
We’ll bury all of our burdens their”
~Chris Cornell
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
“I’m not entirely sure I can believe that she isn’t hurt at all. What kind of freaking diagnosis is that supposed to be? Should I be wholly satisfied with that and just walk out?”
“Ma’am, like I said before, the scans seem to indicate that she didn’t experience any kind of concussion, and as you said yourself, she never hit the ground.”
“So WHAT then? Ponies that are ok don’t lose consciousness for sixteen hours. You mean to tell me that is NORMAL?”
“What I’m trying to tell you is that there is nothing conclusive that can be drawn from our medical examinations and there is nothing more we can do for her. She seems to be fine right now, but if that changes we are always willing to bring her back in for more tests.”
“… What am I supposed to do then…”
“I think you should be thankful that Scootaloo is doing alright as of now. Also, if the feeling in your gut is telling you something is certainly wrong then go get another perspective on it. It is a wild and magical world, and I’ll be darned if I can say that traditional medicine is always that answer. If you would like I can refer you to some of my old colleagues who are more diversified than me. ”
“… I’m going to take you advice, but I won’t need any references though. Thank you Doctor…”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The night breeze was pressing loudly against the second story window. The white unicorn buried her muzzle in Scootaloo’s disheveled purple mane and let her horn rest gently on the back of Scoot’s head. Sweetie Belle had just returned from the hospital earlier that evening with her orange pegasus. Sweetie imaged that something about the accident had left Scoot perturbed. After a crash, Scootaloo normally sits on her hospital cot with a pouty face while a handful of doctors restrain her and try to get x-rays. And afterwards, she usually won’t shut up about how awesome it was. Sweetie Belle reassured herself that it made sense for Scootaloo to be exhausted by the whole ordeal, but her gut was telling her something was amiss.
She pulled herself in tighter to her lover, who seemed miles and miles away. Cuddling was still something entirely novel to the two, but tonight their bedroom would not be filled with giggling and sickly-sweet chatter. Sweetie listened for Scootaloo’s breathing, which was barely audible and inconsistent. Sweetie figured that Scootaloo was awake beside her but wallowing in deep thought and reluctant to speak.
“Scoot” she whispered “I know it might seem kind of silly, but I’m worried about you. Talk to me a little. Tell me I don’t have anything to worry about.”
The sound of the outside wind filled the air. Scootaloo shifted in the bed a little, but said nothing. Sweetie Belle gently kissed below her ear and decided to call it quits for tonight. A little bit of time can do wonders for most problems.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
“And then I decided that the only way I could beat her was to go for the double backflip and obviously I had never managed to land it before but I wasn’t scared so the fact that I was putting myself in a position of potentially high personal risk didn’t matter.” Scootaloo took a huge breath. “Did you see how close I was to landing it though? I know Sterling probably thinks she is top pony but whatever I almost made HISTORY. Could you have imagined that?” She spread her hooves across the sky as she envisioned her name filling it up in bright lights.
Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and Sweetie Belle all sat around the backyard patio table, nibbling on breakfast and listening to Scootaloo tell her story. The group had come unannounced to pay Scootaloo a visit following her release from the hospital. Sweetie had scrambled to put some food out for the bunch.
“Not to burst your bubble Scoot but you were a little further away from sticking the double back than you remember,” Sweetie Belle said with a forced chuckle.
“Really? It really seemed like I almost had it…” Scootaloo closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
Sweetie was surprised that Scoot had taken her word as true without contest.
“What about yer’ little episode?” Applejack interjected. “What did the doctors say?”
“Well… umm.” Scootaloo shrugged and glanced over at Sweetie, looking for a little help.
“The doctors couldn’t come to a definitive conclusion, but I’m just happy that Scoot isn’t broken” Sweetie said with a slightly forced smile. The way Scootaloo was acting last night was still heavy on her mind, but her rapid improvement allowed Sweetie to breathe a little easier. Sweetie hadn’t had a chance to talk to Scootaloo in private this morning, and the crowd of ponies left Sweetie feeling like she was more separated from Scoot than she had ever been. They couple hadn’t really brought up how they were going to come out (only Apple Bloom and Rainbow Dash were in the know), so for the time being they were stuck playing pretend.
“Sooooo you’re all better then Scootaloo?” Pinkie inquired as she raised one eyebrow inquisitively.
“I guess you could say that, yeah. I feel good as new.” Scootaloo rested her hooves behind her head and leaned back, trying to portray a strong aura of confidence.
“Sooooo it is possible that this is a time worthy of rejoicing?”
“Pinkie” Twilight said sternly.
“Yeah I guess so…” Scoot responded.
“Sooooo what you are saying is that…”
“Pinkie” Twilight interrupted, to no avail.
“… we should probably throw a party in celebration of your good health?”
“Pinkie we had this discussion before about how sometimes you can’t just go throwing parties for every small event that…”
“DID SOMEONE SAY PARTY?” Pinkie Pie launched into the air. Upon returning to earth she was wearing a conical party hat. “Ohhhhh I’m so glad you are all better and I know everyone else is to if you want we can throw the party here and I can invite all your old filly friends and OH I could get the mayor to invite EVERYONE and then we can play games like…”
“It’s ok Twilight, I got chu’ on this one.” Applejack pressed her forehead into Pinkie’s side and began to push her away from the residence.
As Applejack left with Pinkie, Sweetie asked Twilight “do you think you could stay for a bit after everyone makes their way off? There is something I’d appreciate if you helped us with.”
Before Twilight could respond, Apple Bloom began trotting off in the direction of her sister and yelled “I ain’t gonna hassle y’all too long. I’m sure you galls need a little privacy.” Apple Bloom’s snickering caught Rarity’s attention. Recently, Rarity had felt that her younger sister had been keeping something from her, and she was determined to find out what, not out of the interest of gossip (or so she told herself), but for the good of the family. Rarity often observed Sweetie Belle staring at Scootaloo with such longing and concern. Sweetie shouldn’t be afraid to tell her anything.
“Spike and I have an embroidering class to teach, so I’ll leave you three to your own devices. Also, Sweetie Belle, if it isn’t too much to ask, please drop by so we can catch up on things. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to just chat with my little sister, you are always so busy.”
“Mhmmm I’ll be sure to do that sis’” Sweetie said to Rarity. Turning back to Twilight she asked once again “would you be able to stay a bit and maybe help us out?”
“Certainly, Sweetie Belle!” Twilight said in a chipper voice. “But,” she continued “I’m not really sure how useful I’m going to be in giving you medical advice if the doctors weren’t able to help.” Scootaloo was also a bit curious as to what Sweetie Belle had in mind.
“Well, I was thinking,” Sweetie stammered a little. Scootaloo had show so much improvement that Sweetie felt like what she was about to say was going to sound like an overreaction. “Maybe the problem isn’t medical, and it is more, um, magical?” She gave a sheepish grin while she waited for Twilight’s input. Out of the corner of her eye, Sweetie noticed Scootaloo seemingly zoned-out, staring into nothing.
“Um, maybe you are over-reacting a bit?” Twilight’s presence forced Scootaloo out of the corner of her eye. “I understand if what happened wasn’t too coherent, but I haven’t noticed anything extraordinary about the situation.”
“It is just that, Scoot, the doctors said you had no idea what had happened and you were mumbling about some strange stuff overnight, right? And I know you’re a Pegasus but we don’t know who your parents are, maybe you’re part unicorn?” You must feel like quite the silly pony now. Sweetie Belle’s attempts to garner support didn’t seem to be working.
“I think Twilight is probably right,” Scoot agreed. “I know it was a little funky, but I mean, c’mon, I was doing some pru-heety crazy shit.” Scoots head bobbed up and down while she grinned to herself, eyes closed.
Twilight thought Sweetie had a bit of a regretful look on her face, and she didn’t want to leave with her feeling like she thought she was being fooling. “Don’t worry Sweetie Belle. I’ve seen ponies make bolder claims on intuition that turned out to be right. Just stay in touch if you notice anything strange. I’m going to head out. You two stay safe.”
“Thank you, Twilight.” Sweetie Belle hated being the worrier, but somepony had to do it.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sweetie peered into the doors of the shop without knocking. I one corner of the room she saw a large curled mess of purple scales snoozing on a modest pile of scuffed-up and unwanted gems. In the other corner there was an oblivious Rarity, calmly reorganizing today’s unused fabrics and miscellaneous materials.
“Hey sis’” Sweetie Belle softly spoke into the air to announce her presence.
“Hello darling little sister” Rarity replied without glancing back.
“Why don’t you have spike doing any work? If you let him sleep and eat gems all day he’s just gonna get fat again.” Taking a look at Spike, it was hard to image he was ever a tubby little dragon at all. He was about twice the size of an average pony, and even when he slept his muscles were taut and intimidating. Spike never did grow to be a giant terror. The lack of avarice stunted his growth, but, with the help of Twlight’s horrifying training regiment, Spike became as dangerous as any other dragon, but without the collateral. Hearing his name, Spike began to stretch and make his way towards the door. He had given up on walking upright a long time ago, and now his movement was more akin to that of a jungle cat.
“I’ma go out for a bit Rare” Spike said. Sweetie thought that it was strangely arbitrary of him.
“Did I say something I shouldn't have?” Sweetie asked right after she heard Spike fly off.
“No no, not at all. I had actually asked him to give us a small time alone.” This made Sweetie Belle’s brow rise just a wee bit. “Actually,” Rarity continued, “I was wondering if I might ask you some questions about Scootaloo and you.”
“What kind of questions?” At this point, Sweetie Belle was giving Rarity a stare of the most dubious manner.
“Well, the parents were wondering”, which to Sweetie certainly sounded like a cop out, “with a mare as pretty as yourself with such a nice voice and with an adorable cult following…” Rarity paused, carefully planning her inquiry, “why haven’t you found a nice boyfriend? I’m sure there are plenty of willing…”
Sweetie had already had enough. “I remember mom and dad wondering why the prettiest pony in Ponyville is riding into her thirties without reeling in a single catch. In fact, I think everyone finds it pretty dubious as to what she is doing flying around with her purple lap-dragon all day every day.” Sweetie Belle was no longer facing her sister. ”I personally suspect you gotta give a dragon a bit more than mottled gemstones for him to agree to wear such a tight chain.”
Rarity knew that Sweetie wasn’t attacking her on a personal level and that is was more of a defensive reaction to her invasive questioning, albeit uncalled for. “Sweetie Belle”, Rarity addressed her sternly “I’m not making accusations towards you, I just want to let you know that I have my reasons for assuming what it is that I assume and that you shouldn’t be so immature as to assume that your own sister would have anything against it.”
Sweetie wasn’t so much worried about how Rarity would react, but was more annoyed and embarrassed by the manner which Rarity invaded her own private life under the assumption that it was what was best for her. “I do love Scootaloo” she said quietly. Her words bounced around in the stillness of the room. Rarity would have had to learn someday anyways. “If that is all you really wanted to hear,” Sweetie motioned towards the door.
“We could exchange other pleasantries if you’d like, but I just wanted you to know your big sis will always love you.” Everything had gone about as well as Rarity could have hoped for. She found solace knowing she had reached out to her a sister in a positive manner and reaffirmed their family bond. There is no other love like that between two sisters.
“SPPIIIIKEEEE you can come give Rarity some of your SWEET DRAGON LOVING now!”
Rarity hurled six pairs of heels at the door with her magic. She was hoping at least one made solid contact. Modest bruising would be ideal. She listened to Sweetie giggle as she made her way around the outside of the shop. No other love like it. Her brow began to relax and a smile returned to her face. Rarity laid down at the front of her boutique, directed her ears to the sky, and listened for the heavy beat of his wings.