//------------------------------// // What do we do? // Story: Wake Up Applebloom // by Blonde Blue Eyes //------------------------------// "Sweetie Belle!!!" Rarity yelled upon entering the hospital room. Sweetie just ignored her sister and continued to watch Applebloom for any signs of her waking. "May I have a word with you?" Fluttershy said in a surprisingly firm tone. Normally she would cower after saying something like that for fear of retaliation. "What is it!" Rarity said in a low angry voice. Fluttershy silently led Rarity out of the room. Sweetie Belle could hear angry whisper yelling coming from beyond the door. This went on for minutes, both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo paying little attention to it. A few minutes later it stopped and the door creaked open. Rarity walked in without even looking at Sweetie Belle. She was obliviously angry that they had snuck out of the hotel room. Rarity just sat in the chair just next to Fluttershy. Moments later Applejack walked in. Despite hours of crying her eyes were still watering. "H-hey girls." Applejack tried. There was no response from either of the fillies. Applejack moved to the bedside. She looked at her little sister momentarily before turning her attention to Sweetie and Scootaloo. "I know your sad, I really, really do. But Applebloom needs her rest now. I'm gonna stay here and keep an eye on her. You two go out and try to have fun. No need to worry yourself." Applejack said to them. Applejack didn't even notice that Rainbow Dash had entered the room and heard her talking to Sweetie and Scootaloo. "Like I have." Applejack whispered to herself with another tear falling to the floor. With a much softer attitude Rarity lifted Sweetie Belle up in her magic, set her gently over her back, and headed for the door. Rainbow followed Rarity's lead and flew over to pick up Scootaloo in her hooves carefully and headed out the door with Fluttershy close behind. -------------------- "Come now Sweetie Belle you must eat something." Rarity pleaded with her little sister. "I'm not hungry." Sweetie Belle said as she shoved her plate away. "How could I eat when I put my best friend in the hospital." She asked walking away from the table. "It really isn't your fault Sweetie. You really mustn't blame yourself." Rarity said hoping Sweetie Belle would change her mind. She didn't, she just headed for the door and left the Boutique. Rarity followed behind her. "Well you should at least know they moved Applebloom to Ponyville long term care today." Rarity tried. Sweetie Belle picked up the pace slightly headed in the direction of Rainbow Dash's home without even acknowledging her sister's remark. Sweetie Belle looked up at the cloud home way above her head. She then looked around to see if there was anypony around who could help her get up there. There were no pegasi around aside from Bulk Biceps. Reluctantly she trotted over to him. "HI SWEETIE BELLE!" he said in is usual loud deep tone. He immediately changed his expression upon seeing Sweetie Belle so depressed. In seconds he started bawling. Sweetie Belle backed away in confusion. "Uuuh, Bulk?" Sweetie Belle began. "Wh-wh-what's wr-wrong Sweetie Belle?" Bulk said behind his tear filled eyes. "I think I should ask you the same thing." Sweetie Belle said after cocking her head to the side. "You look so sad. I hate it when fillies are sad. It makes me wan-wan..." Bulk said in an actually quiet voice before he began crying fountains again. Sweetie Belle thought it would probably be best to just walk away. Before she could however, she found herself being hugged so tight she literally could breath. "DON'T WORRY I'M HERE! NO ONE WILL EVER BE MEAN TO YOU AGAIN!" He said his yell returning to him. A gasp was all Sweetie Belle could reply. Hearing her lack of breath he immediately dropped her to the ground. "Nnghuuuuu..." Sweetie Belle drew in as much breath as she possibly could. After she eventually caught her breath she looked up at Bulk with a look that said, "Why did you do that?!?" "Uhh, sorry." he said with an embarrassed smile. "Look, I just need to get up to Rainbow Dash's place." Sweetie said pointing a hoof to the cloud house in the sky. Bulk looked up then back to Sweetie Belle. "YYEEAAHH!!" he replied as he carefully scooped up Sweetie Belle in his huge front legs. "NN-GGEE-RRGH-AHHH!" He screamed as his tiny wings strained to lift himself into the air. After about a minute he was high enough to land on Rainbows cloud porch. "THERE YOU GO SWEETIE BELL!" he said after landing. "Unicorn, remember." Sweetie said pointing to her horn. Bulk just looked at her confused. "Ugh, you know only pegasi can walk on clouds." she said impatiently. "Oh right." he said quietly he said as he put her on his shoulders. Bulk approached the door and knocked on it with loud *Thunk*s. In moments Rainbow Dash opened the door to see Sweetie Belle sitting on Bulk Bicep's back. "Hey Sweetie Belle. How ya feelin?" Rainbow asked trying to avoid upsetting her. "Is Scootaloo here?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Uh, yeah she's just upstairs in the spare bedroom. I'm sure she'll come out if I tell her it's you." Rainbow said turning away. She headed up the stairs and turned down the hallway out of sight. After several minutes later Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo came around the corner and began down the stairs. Nopony said anything as Scootaloo hopped onto Bulk's back behind Sweetie Belle. "So I'll see you later?" Rainbow asked Scootaloo. "Yeah, sure, see you later." Scootaloo replied. Bulk began to tear up again after seeing Scootaloo so upset now as well. He held back as much as he could so they didn't notice. He then strained his wings again to gently lower himself to the ground. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo got off his back and began toward their clubhouse. Neither one said a word along the way. They just stared at the ground only ever looking up to make sure they were going in the right direction. As they walked up the ramp to the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse Scootaloo was the first to speak, "I have cried more now than I have in my whole life. I usually never cry." Scootaloo said as she pushed open the doors. "Neither have I. I think if I cry again I'm going to look like an old mare." Sweetie Belle replied as she began opening the shutters to let sunlight in. Scootaloo just sighed. "What are we going to do?" They headed over to their idea spot. They sat there quietly for a moment. Sweetie Belle began scanning the room for anything in the hopes that something simple might give her an idea. No luck. Scootaloo brightened up quickly as she had just thought of something. "I got it." she informed Sweetie Belle. "What?" Sweetie asked doubtingly. "Zecora of course. She knows about every cure know to ponykind. She'll have to know something that could get Applebloom out of a coma." Scootaloo announced. "Yeah. She'll know what to do." Sweetie Belle agreed a smile reaching her face. -------------------- "I'm I afraid I must tell you, there is noting I can do." Zecora said to Sweetie and Scootaloo. They immediately lost their hopeful looks causing Zecora to think momentarily. "The only herb that can be used to pull somepony out of a coma lies thousands of mile away. It grows only in Saddle Arabia and that is too out of the way." she said to them. "Wait, so there still is something?" Scootaloo asked, her hope returning. "What is it?" she asked before Zecora could answer her first question. "Yes little one. It is called Dust Blossom. But it is much too dangerous for two little fillies I'm afraid." Zecora said. "How about three?" A familiar voice called from the doorway. "Babs? What are you doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked. "My mother knew I really wanted to see my cousin after she was moved from the Manehattan hospital. So she let me come down here to visit as a guest of Applejack's." Babs replied. "Well, how did you know we were out here at Zecora's?" Scootaloo asked in return. "Pinkie Pie told me. She said something about seeing you guys while she was hiding under a tree wearing an umbrella hat." Babs said still confused by it. "Alas even twenty fillies would not be enough for it is knowledge that will get you through the rough of Saddle Arabia's terrain and creatures." "Who cares about creatures or whatever that other word you said?" Scootaloo said heading for the door to be stopped by a striped hoof. "I cannot let you go on such a trip alone. It is too dangerous for you." Zecora added. "But we have to." Scootaloo said shaking Zecora's hoof off of her shoulder. "I did say you can't go alone. So therefore I will follow." Zecora said in reply. Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were shocked. They didn't expect Zecora to give in, especially in such a way as to help them. Babs just looked confused and remained silent. "Come, there is a train that will be leaving to Appaloosa soon. There are many stops the train will make along our way so be sure to leave a note to your friends and family. We have a long trip ahead of us." Zecora said headed out the door.