//------------------------------//
// Chapter 25 - Doctors 
// Story: Roads of Life 
// by PonyWrites 
//------------------------------//

Scootaloo had cramps during her cycle. She thought they were the worst thing ever. Mainly because she didn’t think she should be having them. Boys didn’t… do that. But she was wrong. This was the worst thing ever. The nice ladies at the clinic had described it as “discomfort.” This was the reason she had trust issues. Put “Doctor” in front of their name and people lie to you. She tried moving her legs but let out a whimper that reminded her of a kicked puppy. OK maybe the pain wasn’t terrible. It just felt like it. Same difference. When an organ you think shouldn’t even be there is inflamed it’s hard to be objective about it. 
        Apple Bloom had woken up with a snort. “You OK?”
        “My hips are on fire.” She squeaked.
        “I’ll make breakfast.”
        “Yoghurt please. And coffee. Cream and five sugars.”
        “Mmk.” Apple Bloom kissed the crown of her head. It was tender and motherly, and Scootaloo was grateful. However, since this was spring break, Sweetie could sleep through the apocalypse. Scootaloo envied her, but knew she wouldn’t be getting back to sleep any time soon. Apple Bloom came back with a glass of water and a mysterious red pill. “Pamprin” she whispered. Scootaloo pointed to the orange pill bottle on the counter. She was going to need all the serotonin today. Apple Bloom nodded and retrieved that pill as well.
        “I’d nominate you for sainthood but I’d have to make my own religion.” Scootaloo knocked back the pills. 
        “Do you want to move to the bed?”
        “I don’t think I can move.” Scootaloo whimpered.
        “You know I can lift you.” 
        “Alright, be gentle.” Apple Bloom tucked one arm under Scootaloo’s knees, and the other around her lumbars. She seemed to put next to no effort into lifting the invalid. Scootaloo should work out more. But where would he find the time… He was fit, but Apple Bloom was a goddess. Scootaloo sighed.
        “What’s wrong?”
        “I was just thinking that you’re beautiful.”
        “And so are you.” Scootaloo started to lean into a kiss, such as the position was. Didn’t she deserve that much, from all the suffering? All the pain she felt in her life now concentrated in her abdomen? But she regained sanity, instead focusing on that pain. Love is cursed by monogamy indeed. Sweetie was still pissed. Perhaps, at a later time they would share the bonds of love they all felt again. Apple Bloom was blushing furiously and went to finish breakfast. But Scootaloo would be happy either way. She looked to her girlfriend’s tranquil sleeping form and smiled serenely.
        She came back with two bowls of yoghurt with plenty of granola and fresh fruit. “Sorry, I…” Scootaloo started.
        “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t know breaking up with you would be so hard.” The farmer passed the bowl to Scootaloo, who started munching.
        “It’s not… that she’s a bad girlfriend or anything.” She whispered and pointed with a spoon to the snoring girl. “But I love you just as much. And well, we’re teenagers. I mean… hormones.”
        “I bet that’s especially fun for you.” 
        “I think I have enough Testosterone I’m kinda like a boy already.”
        “Well, I’d have to agree.” Apple Bloom giggled. 
        Scootaloo quietly suffered while reading a book. Apple Bloom was playing a videogame on her computer. Probably beating Scootaloo’s high score.
        Eventually Sweetie decided to join the living. She stretched and yawned. Somehow Scootaloo’s nose didn’t start bleeding. Well, this wasn’t an anime, after all. “You really should wear looser shirts,” she commented. But it was before breakfast for the buxom girl so she glared on her way out the door. Apple Bloom was trying not to laugh. Sweetie came back some time later with a mug of coffee and a plate with toaster strudels, bacon and a muffin on it.
        “Just because you’re trying to cover your curves doesn’t mean I can’t accentuate mine.” She said, with no malice.
        “Babe, my uterus feels like it’s exploding. Well really it’s more of a dull ache but it’s reminding me every second I’m a woman and I hate it. I’m not in the mood for your transphobic bullshit.” 
        “Ouch. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. You know I love you no matter what.”
Scootaloo let out a long exhale. “I know.  I just… ugh. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Apple Bloom had started laughing and clutching her stomach even though it meant she lost her game. Sweetie paid no attention to the farmer and gently kissed Scootaloo. She could smell the coffee on her lips. Well, it was more sugar than coffee.
“I never mean to hurt you.”
“Nor I you.” 
“Should we call Rumble? Tell him the good news?” Apple Bloom asked after collecting herself. 
“Can I have a day to recover. I didn’t realize taking a pill would lead to this.”
“Alright, yeah. He’ll probably want to celebrate anyway…”
“Not in the mood?”
“I can’t even walk of course not.” 
“Is it really that bad?” Sweetie asked.
“I’m really just being melodramatic. It’s like the worst cramps ever but the pamprin AB gave me is helping. And like I said, it’s more where the --aaahhh--- pain is than how bad.” Scootaloo took a minute to hold her stomach.
“Out of all of us this would happen to you.” Sweetie remarked.
        “Yeah, and here I thought I was done serving penance.” 
        Sweetie closed her eyes and shook her head sadly. “You didn’t do anything wrong to even need it. It makes me sad you think you deserved everything bad that ever happened to you.”
        “I… didn’t know...ow.” Scootaloo held her stomach then grunted. “You actually took me seriously. I have to make a joke about it or I go crazy.” 
        Sweetie sighed that wonderful sigh that Scootaloo hated and heard weekly. The sigh that meant she was trying her damndest to put up with Scooter/loo. “Here’s a thought. Don’t even acknowledge it as a valid argument.”
        Scootaloo usually didn’t tolerate the tone she heard; that was how most of their arguments started. It usually took a lot longer to get to the searing underlying spite that seemed to take Sweetie’s voice like that. Scootaloo knew she was right. It was best to ignore it. And she wasn’t in the mood to argue. “You’re right. I won’t even think about it ever again.” 
        “I didn’t mean to snap. I haven’t even finished my coffee. I’m gonna step out before I eat your head off.” Sweetie turned and covered the distance to the door.
        “At this point I would welcome such a sweet end by your hand, my love.” 
        There was The Sigh again. Sweetie walked out. 
        “You two always like that now?”
        “Gee, I don’t know, it’s probably just a combination of PMS and… whatever you call what’s going on with me!” Scootaloo snapped. 
        “Hmm… Let’s see. I could be hanging out with Rumble and Button playing video games… or getting my head lopped off by the bitch patrol. Gee. I wonder what would be better…”
        Scootaloo hid her face in shame. “I’m sorry. Go ahead and go. And thanks for everything.” 
        Apple Bloom gave an awkward hug, since Scootaloo was still propped up on the bed, and said “any time.”
        Scootaloo had about ten minutes to herself, which she used to try and calm down. It half-way worked. Sweetie came in looking refreshed. “So are you planning on moving today at all, or do you just want me to dote on you and cuddle you and say ‘everything's alright’?”
        “I have an urge to watch sad movies and cry together. Is this what estrogen is like?”
        “Well, yes and no.” Sweetie rolled her eyes, then grabbed the remote to the TV on the desk. She slid into bed with her… boyfriend may not be the right moniker now, but her partner, and turned it on. Thus the day ran, with them only stopping to eat. Since Sweetie was likely to burn the house down if she tried to cook, meals were elaborate sandwiches. She had become increasingly adept at it the past few months. They lost track of time crying over different characters, until Sweetie realized it was the wee hours of the morning. She decided she might as well stay another night, since the Dashes were spending Spring Break on vacation in Trottingham. Scooter, for whatever reason didn’t want to go. He was dealing with too much of his own stuff at the moment. So he volunteered to hold the fort. 
        Why he didn’t get a double bed was a different question altogether. Still, the couple had sleeping in a twin-size down to a science. With their combined body heat they couldn’t use sheets, and Scooter was always the “big spoon.” They solved the problem of his arm losing blood by letting hang of the edge behind him. Their legs overlapped oddly. Anybody else would be uncomfortable but it worked for them. 

        Scooter felt much better the next day and went skateboarding at the park. He saw Button’s boyfriend, Mark, and teased about them getting married. Then they all hung out at Rumble’s house and told him the good news. The poor almost-father was so excited he lifted Scooter in the air and kissed him. Then he realized what he did, and turned away blushing.
        Scooter laughed. “You’re stronger than you look.”
        “I didn’t lift you quite right so my back hurts now… How was I supposed to react to that? I don’t know… um. Was that happy news or what? I assume--”
        “Shush,” Scooter said and lightly slapped him. “Yes, it’s very happy news. The last thing I want is a child, and I don’t think you want one either.”
        “Was it that obvious?” Rumble smirked.
        “Just a little.” Scooter grinned. 
        Scooter continued to feel “off” from the hormones the rest of spring break. The terribly familiar foreignness of his body was back. Kind of like he was watching a first-person movie. He just shook it off and kept exercising. In addition to making him stronger, exercise releases endorphins and fights off depression. It just made sense. Eventually, everything got back into balance and he felt halfway normal. He’d still like to start HRT, but those dumb doctors thought they knew him better than he did. But really, nobody wants to be wrong when dealing with the body at a molecular level. Scooter knew first hand how terrible it felt to have the wrong hormones. 
        Then, the Friday the week school started back up, something interesting happened. He passed by the living room on the way from his bed and saw Sunset Shimmer on the local news. The banner underneath her stated “Governor Approves Informed Consent Bill.” Sunset spoke about it, “Well, I’ve always been a firm believer in getting up and changing the world.” Scooter noted the irony. “Nearly all of my friends back home were LGBT in some combination, and I wanted to help them and others like them. Not to brag… well, ok, maybe. But this and the marriage bill passed two weeks ago is a step in the right direction. It won't stamp out bullying, or end harassment, but it sets us on the right path. To clear up any confusion, Informed Consent is the idea that Trans People can get hormones more easily, by signing a few forms, and meeting a few requirements like counseling and having an ‘adamant belief’ they need it.”
        The camera turned back to the busty reporter “There you have it folks. Back to you, Brett.”
        A man with an obvious toupee replaced her. “Be the change you want to be in the world, eh? It’s never too early.”
        Scooter made a quick phone call and scheduled an appointment. And that, as they say, was the end of that.