//------------------------------//
// Chapter Three: Heart Breaking News 
// Story: The Element of Loyalty 
// by Darkswirl 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash snored softly in her bed just as the sun was coming up over the clouds.  

She was fast asleep and nothing could wake her.

Except for somepony's frantic knocking on her door.

"Rainbow Daaaaash!" a slightly deep voice sounded fom the other side, followed by more knocking.

The blue pegasus pony grumbled and pulled herself out of bed, her colorful mane sticking every which way.  "D-Derpy...?" Rainbow asked as she let out a yawn.

"Rainbow Dash, I got an urgent letter for you, it's from Ponville Central Hospital!" the gray mailmare said, her face no longer sporting her cheerful smile.  Instead, it was the direct opposite; a look of sheer discomfort and worry.

"Ponyville Hospital?  I don't know anypony there." Dashie stated, dumbfounded.

Without contradicting her, Derpy shoved an envelope in the mare's face and began hopping back and forth between her hooves.  

Rainbow Dash spat the letter out frustratedly and tore it open.

"This had better be important if it got here this early..." she muttered.

"Dear Miss Dash,

I regret to inform you that Miss Scootaloo has suffered incredible amounts of physical damage and is currently in critical condition. She has been slipping in and out of consciousness and has requested your presence. Additionally, there are other matters that Miss Scootaloo has asked me to relay to you that are not suitable to be enclosed in this letter and must be discussed in person. If you could attend to these matters as soon as possible, we will be able to assist you and Miss Scootaloo through this tough time. Visiting hours for Ponyville General are between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, daily

Respectfully,
Ponyville Central Hospital
Dr. Stable  -  Nurse Red Heart"

Rainbow Dash's heart skipped a beat and she just stared at the letter in shock.  Derpy's ears lowered in sorrow.

"It's about Scootaloo, isn't it?" she asked slowly.

"Y-Yea, how'd you know?" Dash replied. 

"I may talk slow, but I'm not as stupid as everypony thinks.  Anypony can see that Scootaloo absolutely adores you, and she would do anything to get close to you.  It was bound to get her into trouble eventually." Derpy said slowly, dragging a hoof against the cloud ground and accidentally making a hole, to which her hoof fell in.

Dash resisted the urge to even chuckle.  It wasn't time to laugh, and it didn't seem right to be laughing at Derpy.

The realization tore through Rainbow Dash like a bolt of lightning: The visiting hours started at the same time as he flight exam in two days.

Memories raced through her head as she recalled every moment about Scootaloo.

She couldn't just ignore her biggest fan, but she'd also been waiting for her chance to join the Wonderbolts.  

Wonderbolt Cadet training was very demanding, so she'd have little if any free time to visit Scootaloo.

It just wasn't fair.  Why couldn't she just have both?

Derpy Hooves noticed the pained look on Dash's face and rubbed her snout against her cheek in a comforting notion.

"I don't know what to do, Derpy..." she whimpered.