''And sign here...and there...all done! Well, congratulations, Miss Dash, You're free to go! Just remember to take it easy for a few days, and no flying! We don't wan't your condition to worsen, now, do we?'' Doctor Brown said firmly, a little smirk at his 'regular' patient.
Rainbow Dash sighed and ignored his smirk. ''B-But when I don't fly, I get all antsy! I won't have anything to do!'' She pinched the bridge of her muzzle with a hoof. ''I'm gonna be SO bored!''
As many times as Dr. Brown has seen Rainbow Dash come into the hospital on a regular basis, he was used to her behaviour and mareisms, a common part of her recovery routine each and every time she was signed out of the hospital.
''Now, don't worry, I'm sure you'll find something to occupy yourself as your wounds heal up.'' The Doctor said reassuringly, much to Rainbow's annoyance. With a glance to her stitches loacted near to her collar, Rainbow grunted softly, gently nudging the now expertly-sealed wound.
The rest of Rainbow's body was battered and bruised from one of her latest sky performance tricks, one that involved high speed and precision, the exact same one that landed her a place inside the infirmary.
She may be a brash and awesome pony, in her own words, but that didn't put any emphasis on the fact that she was as mortal as any other pony and capable of being damaged and wounded or having her bones broken.
Her left wing, now adorned with gauze and bandages, was secured tightly to her side, although not as much to cause discomfort or numbness. Inside her wing, she suffered a few minor fractures, disabling her ability to fly or hover.
Her back hooves were also wrapped up in bandages, due to many various wounds, ranging from scrapes to gashes, deep enough to draw blood, and although most was delicately cleared from her coat when she arrived, it had soaked lightly through the layers of gauze now concealing them from the elements and decreasing the risk of infection.
As tough as Rainbow was, by a mare's standards, she was never one to complain about the pain. Currently, the pain in her back legs put some strain into her voice and caused her to grit her teeth now and again, but she could toughen it out and bring herself to ignore it.
The only thing that Rainbow only ever seemed to complain about was the fact that with only one wing free to use, she couldn't fly. Any attempt in flying could, and would, worsen her condition and lengthen the recovery period. Something she wasn't willing to try, no matter how desperate she may have been.
''Thanks, anyway, Doc. Appreciate it.'' She said glumly, taking her leave from the hospital room she was in and entering the vacant hallway before beginning her trot towards the waiting room, on her way to the exit.
It was early morning outside, and the sun graced the sky with a gorgeous orange radiance, highlighting the clouds above in an angelic aura. As the hospital doors opened and a pair of ponies entered, a smooth, soothing breeze swept lightly through the hospital's waiting room and brushing through Rainbow's mane, ending in a tingle down her spine at the slightly cold sensation.
However, before she could make her departure into the outside world from the hospital, something stopped her from the corner of her sharp eyes.
Turning her head around to see what it was, she gave a silent gasp at the sight, identifying that 'something' as her one and only greatest fan, Scootaloo.
Her orange fur was unkempt and stuck out in places and her usually scruffy, purple mane was in tangles at the ends, almost as if she had been rolling around on sandpaper.
The most evident thing that gave a good enough reason to be in the hospital was written in her eyes. Even Rainbow could see it.
It was hurt. Pain. She was hurt somehow. That 'somehow' was what Rainbow guessed to be the reason that she was there for.
Scootaloo was slumped slightly in her seat with her right hoof supporting her left hoof, hanging loose and limp.
Worry and concern rising in her heart at seeing who she considered to be her younger sister, Rainbow approached her, taking a seat beside her on one of the many unoccupied cushions.
Scootaloo didn't seem to notice.
As a matter of fact, besides the two ponies behind the reception desk in front of them, there wasn't anypony in the waiting room.
Hearing Scootaloo squirm quietly to herself but not enough so that Rainbow couldn't hear it, Rainbow ever so gently nudged the small filly's back with a hoof, causing her to turn to face her.
For once, Scootaloo didn't gasp like she always would whenever she met Rainbow on the streets and begin saying ''Oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh!'' over and over again in an almost endless jumble of words all at once. Instead, the hurt look in her eyes stayed and she only gave a left-sided smile to Rainbow.
''H-Hey, Rainbow.'' She said weakly, her usual, piped-up attitude nowhere to be seen. ''What's up?''
Rainbow smiled. ''That's what I should be asking you, squirt. You okay?'' She asked, and Scootaloo didn't respond. She only looked down with a glum, pained expression. ''Scoot?''
Finally, Scoot looked back up to meet her older sister's eyes. ''I think I broke my leg. It hurts.'' She said plainly. ''I won't even be able to ride my scooter.''
With a hoof, Rainbow ruffled Scootaloo's hair. ''I hear ya, sis.'' She pointed to her bandaged wing at her side, causing Scootaloo to gasp. ''I can't do anything, either.'' She rolled her eyes.
''So...what happened?'' Scootaloo asked, now genuinely curious. Rainbow managed a smile.
''It's a long story, Scoot. Can't reveal any secrets, now, can I?'' She winked at her, itching her younger sister's curiosity.
''Aw, come on! Just between you and me? Please?'' She pleaded, but to no avail.
''Nu-uh. My story isn't important right now, squirt, but you are. How long have you even been here?''
Scootaloo took a momentary glance at the clock located above the exit of the hospital. ''Around twenty or so minutes.''
Rainbow blinked.
''Wait, you mean you're by yourself? As in, 'Alone'?'' Rainbow asked, shocked. Scootaloo cringed noticeably. ''Where are your parents?'' She asked. Almost then, she regretted doing so.
Scootaloo's eyes began to water, although this time, it was from a different type of pain that wasn't from her arm. Her eyes became heavy along with her tear ducts, but she never shed a single tear. Not even one.
With an observant eye, Rainbow could sense the tension in her muscles and her emotions seemed to radiate from her body. Behind those eyes of hers, she could plainly see beyond her pain. As a weather pony, Rainbow's eyes were trained over time to be sharp and agile, able to see things before they could come at her.
It was no different with Scootaloo.
''Aw, shucks, kid! Come here.'' Rainbow wrapped a hoof carefully around her, holding her around her lower back just above her waist and pulling her into a single-hoofed hug.
With her free hoof, Scootaloo returned the hug and pressed her cheek into the crook of Rainbow's neck. The two spent a short moment or two of silence in each other's embrace before Scootaloo was called by a doctor to be escorted to a hospital room to be examined.
With Rainbow's relationship to the filly, she was granted access to the filly's examination as a guardian. Even though the examination didn't take any more than up to twenty minutes to half an hour at the most, it seemed to go by slowly for Rainbow.
Her thoughts were of Scootaloo, thinking about and going over what happened earlier, diagnosing what she could about what she saw in the filly's eyes
On some levels, it worried Rainbow, and on others, it gave her some pride for her younger sister. Although she couldn't make a thorough conclusion to what she saw, she had a rough idea of what was dwelling behind Scootaloo's eyes and what she was feeling inside.
As young as she is, Scootaloo was always a tough, little filly. The fact that she could hold herself together like she did was a sight that made Rainbow feel two things in her heart - worry and admiration.
She knew that this wasn't going to be the last time she would talk about it, and she knew that Scootaloo probably knew that, too.
Scootaloo is Rainbow's sister, and it didn't change anything just because they are not biologically related, but either way, she is going to need her, now more than ever.
After all, it wasn't in Rainbow's nature to leave a friend hanging.