//------------------------------// // Giving Your All // Story: A Dash Of Pink // by inacti //------------------------------// It was morning in Ponyville. The hype for Twilight's return had died down a bit, and she had settled into her library again. Nopony in the group had slept very well. Rarity had been up most of the night staring at the wall, so much so that Sweetie Belle stayed up with her to 'protect' her from nightmares. Applejack had watched her younger sibling sleep to make sure nothing bit her as well. She wasn't going to let anypony else she loved get sick. Fluttershy had managed to sleep, but she had nothing but nightmares of a gravestone with Pinkie's name etched on it. Angel Bunny had not received food the way he liked it that morning because Fluttershy was so flustered. Twilight had paced all night wondering what to tell everypony in the morning. It seemed that nopony in the village was normal today. Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes. It had been a long night, and she didn't remember falling asleep. She trotted over to Pinkie's bed just to be sure. "Still okay . . . still alive,' she whispered to herself. There was a knock on the door. Rainbow Dash shook her head and yawned. She opened the door ready to tell Nurse Redheart all was well when, to her surprise, a mess of fluff and pink emerged. "Hello Rainbow. I made Pinkie a lovely dress to wear when she gets well! I was up half the night thinking of it. Isn't it divine? She'll love it, I'm sure." "Oh, is that you Rarity? I thought you were that puff ball from Fillydelphia. Well, she's asleep, but I guess we can talk in here." Rarity stepped inside and laid the dress on a nearby table. "Oh dear, you look dreadful! You absolutely must sleep, Rainbow Dash. How many days has it been?" Rainbow Dash shook her head. "I think maybe four days since I slept." "Oh my . . . Well, I know you want to stay here, so how about you take a nice nap in that chair and I'll make sure Pinkie stays safe while your asleep, okay? Please Rainbow, you want to be your best when Pinkie is awake. She would want you to rest." Rainbow Dash didn't protest. She simply sat in the chair and closed her eyes, sleeping for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. "Poor darling. I guess I'll just stay here for the time being. The others will probably come by soon," Rarity yawned. "Perhaps I should go get some breakfast for when Rainbow wakes up." She took a few bits from her saddlebag and exited the room. She walked down the empty hallway, her hooves making echoes throughout the hospital. She turned left, reaching the cafeteria. She grabbed three oat pancakes and an apple and turned to go back to the room when she spotted Sweetie Belle and her two friends sitting next to one another, writing things down on a piece of paper. Rarity trotted over to them. "What are you three doing here?" "We're gonna' earn our cutie marks!" cried Apple Bloom. "By cheering up Pinkie Pie!" cheered Sweetie Belle. "And it's going to be so awesome!" Scootaloo shouted. Rarity rolled her eyes and sighed. "Girls, Pinkie is-" "We know, we know. We want to make her feel better, and I bet Rainbow Dash could use a pick-me-up," Scootaloo said, more seriously this time. "I suppose she could use that. Well, how about you three girls come with me and visit them? You can test out those jokes of yours once they are awake." "Cutie Mark Crusaders Smile Patrol!" screamed the three fillies excitedly. Rarity sighed and began walking back up the halls, leading the girls to Pinkie's room. "Ah, here we are." Scootaloo stepped into the room quietly and, upon spotting Dash, ran up to her and poked her side. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle moved tenderly into the room as well. Upon seeing Pinkie, Sweetie Belle let out a small gasp. "Oh no, she looks sick! what happened?" Sweetie Belle asked, with concern overflowing her lightly colored eyes. "Yeah, Ah knew it was bad, but Ah never imagined it like this . . ." Apple Bloom was white with horror at the sight of the normally lovely and brightly colored party pony. "Well, she is in a hospital. Pinkie is very sick girls. If you'd like to wait for her to wake up-" "What the hay do you think you're- oh, hi Scoots," Dash said groggily. "Oh, I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, I just wanted to say hi," Scootaloo backed away guiltily. "No, it's okay, I'm glad you woke me up. I promised I'd watch Pinkie." "What's up with her?" asked Scootaloo curiously. "Well, the doctor isn't really sure. We just know it's a very odd disease," Rainbow Dash sighed. "Who is it Dashie?" Pinkie Pie whispered hoarsely. "It's Rarity, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scoots." "Oh, hi guys," Pinkie smiled, opening her eyes. "Hello, Pinkie Pie. How are you feeling?" Rarity asked. "Oh, fine . . . How are my three favorite fillies?" "We made a comedy routine for you!" cheered Sweetie Belle squeakily. "Yay!" Pinkie cried weakly, but still clearly pleased. "Y'all ready?" Apple Bloom asked. "Readier than ever-ier!" Pinkie cheered. "Take it Sweetie!" Scootaloo said. (to the tune of Smile song) "We are the CMC, and we are here to say, we wanna' make you smile and we will show you the way!" Pinkie smiled happily as scootaloo spun around while Sweetie finished her song, Apple Bloom keeping the beat on her hooves. They stopped, trying to gauge the reaction. "Yay! That was *cough* amazing!" Pinkie said. "Maybe this is our special talent after all," Sweetie Belle said, glancing at her flank. "Nope, I guess it's back to the drawing board. How about you guys?" "Nope, Ah ain't got nothing." No cutie marks here," Scootaloo sighed. "Hey Dash, did you like it?" "Uh, sure, I loved it Scoots," Rainbow Dash was distracted by Twilight talking to Dr. Hooves in the hallway. "So, did I help?" Twilight asked, closing her notes up and looking at the doctor. "Sadly, we had already guessed some of this. Perhaps we should discuss it in private. Here, come into my office." Twilight followed Dr. Hooves into the room across from Pinkie Pie's. The walls were elegant and very Victorian. Twilight Sparkle admired the lovely blue accent and feel of the room before sitting down in a chair across from Hooves. "My apologies for being so blunt, Princess Sparkle, but your friend isn't going to pull through as far as we can tell right now. You see, your deductions were correct. Pinkamina is in the final stages of the sickness, and the disease she caught from the parasprite hybrid is usually, in its later stages, well . . ." Twilight's eyes welled up with tears, she didn't want to hear the rest of that sentence. "Fatal?" she asked, sobbing. Dr. Hooves crossed his forelegs, and shook his head. "Not always. She still has a small chance. We have one more trick up our sleeves. You see, there is a special medicine available in Manehattan that we have in stock. We can try it, but if her body rejects it, she doesn't have a fighting chance." "You mean you have some now? Do you think it will work?" Twilight asked, hope rising in her chest. "Perhaps. We can only hope, because frankly, without Miss Pie, the world would be a much sadder place, indeed." Twilight shook her head sadly, knowing the chances were minuscule. "Well, if that's all, I guess I'm going to go spend some time with Pinkie. Applejack and Fluttershy will be there any minute and I don't want to be the only one absent. "Very well. Goodbye, Miss Sparkle." Twilight did her best to cover up her tears. She couldn't tell the others; it would make everypony miserable, and she wanted Pinkie's last days to be happy. She opened the door to Pinkie's room quietly, plastering on a smile and tucking her wings down. She listened to the laughter and cheering coming from the small room. She smiled for real this time, knowing that everypony was having fun in there. With a sharp intake of breath, she stepped in. "Hi everypony," Twilight said, with a bright smile. "Hi Twiliey," Pinkie said with a grin. "You missed an amazing party." "Yeah! We were awesome!" said Scootaloo with a clap. "I'm sure you were incredible," Twilight agreed. Twilight Sparkle trotted over to Pinkie's bed and knelt beside her. Pinkie looked at her with her giant eyes, once bright blue, now a dark gray. It was as though she could sense that Twilight wasn't really happy. She lifted her hoof up weakly to touch Twilight's shoulder. She patted it softy. "I know . . . But it's going to be okay," Pinkie whispered into Twilight's ear. Twilight gazed down at her. She must have guessed what was going to happen. Twilight nodded softly. Her eyes and voice were filled with a sincerity that could not be replicated by anypony. Pinkie was happy. She wasn't afraid of anything. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," she said louder. Rainbow Dash scooted past Rarity and nearly crashed into Twilight. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice filled with a light concern. Rarity chimed in. "Dear, perhaps she'll be more comfortable telling you when we all go home for the night?" Pinkie nodded, dropping her hoof off of Twilight's shoulder. A sudden knock startled Rainbow Dash, and she flew to the door to let whoever it was inside. Applejack and Fluttershy stood alone in the hallway. They smiled brightly, and Dash, who fluttered her wings tirelessly, worried that everypony being here would overwork the poor pink mare. "Hey there, sugar cube. Sorry we were late y'all. We were lookin' for Apple Bloom," Applejack said. She turned to see the three crusaders looking innocent with their hooves behind their backs. "Apple Bloom! You know what I told ya' 'bout goin' places without tellin' me!" She let out a sigh. "Ah well, I guess yer' okay, and that's what matters." Apple Bloom blushed and looked at Pinkie in the bed, whose smile was fading slightly. "Aw, *cough* AJ, she just wanted to see *cough* me," said Pinkie. "Ya', I guess that's good, too. Real nice of y'all to visit her." "So, Pinkie, how are you feeling?" Fluttershy interjected. "If you don't want to answer, you don't have to, it's fine." "Super duper, especially since these sweet little fillies did their song," Pinkie smiled. "Oh, yes, it was quite nice. You were marvelous, all of you," Rarity said. "We need to go cheer up everypony in this hospital!" Sweetie Belle proclaimed. "Great idea!" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom cheered as they all dashed out of the room. Rarity sighed as she closed the door behind her. Twilight shook her head and looked up. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better, Pinkie." "Oh yes, *cough* much better," she smiled weakly. Rainbow Dash flew over to Pinkie's side once again. "You aren't overexerting yourself, are you Pinkie? Maybe everypony should leave." "Oh Dashie, don't be so-" Pinkie began. There was a soft knock at the door. It was Nurse Redheart. "I'm afraid I have to ask everypony to leave now. We are about to try some new medications on Pinkie Pie here." Everypony gaped. "Already? Miss Redheart, please?" Rarity asked. "I'm sorry, everypony must leave," she replied stiffly. Pinkie's friends shuffled out of the room, Rainbow Dash still standing by Pinkie. She held Pinkie's hoof in her own, concern filling her face. "What new medicine?" Rainbow Dash asked. "That, I'm afraid, is classified. I am not at liberty to disclose such information. Now, Miss Dash, please leave the room. You can see her once we have finished the treatment." Rainbow Dash bowed her head sadly. "Pinkie, what should I-" Pinkie smiled. "See me when they're done, okay *cough* Dashie? It'll be fine." Rainbow Dash turned bright white. She nodded. "Okay . . ."