Hang in There

We all have to face many battles in our life, but sometimes the battle seems too much for us, and our entire world is turned upside down. That's when we need to turn to others for help, and they will keep us happy as we drive on the long road to recovery.

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Rainbow Dash continued to lay in her bed. Her eyes were now dried from all the crying she did when she found out the news earlier in the day.

It all happened so quickly. One day she was soaring over Ponyville, the wind in her mane, the world in her hooves. The next day she was on her deathbed, knowing that she didn't have much time left.

The news that was broken to her just a few hours prior was devastating; not only to Rainbow herself, but also to everypony else around her. Everypony who loved her, everypony whom she touched in one way or another over the years, her friends, her family, and the many ponies that looked up to her. They were all devastated by the news that her cancer had spread, and she was told that she only had a few months to live.

Lying in her sickbed in the Ponyville hospital, the time had come for all of her closest friends to come and comfort her. So as not to overwhelm the sick pony, they all agreed to go in individually.

First to come in was Twilight Sparkle. The young princess had been through her own fair share of problems, but nothing this dire. Twilight light ran her hoof through Rainbow's mane, causing the pegasus to smile softly.

"I'm so sorry, Rainbow," Twilight said with sadness. "I-is there anything I can do for you?"

In her weakened state, Rainbow replied, "No, Twilight... There's nothing you can do. You've already done enough for me. Since the day I met you, you were one of my best friends. I'm honoured that I was able to be with you the last few years."

Twilight sniffled a few times, but took a few deep breaths to gather herself. "I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this. We're all here for you."

"I know, Twi. Thank you," Rainbow said as she stretched out her foreleg. Twilight grabbed Dash's hoof, and the gently placed a kiss on the blue mare's hoof.

After Twilight left, next to come in was Rarity.

"Rainbow, darling, I'm so sorry that you have to go through this."

"It's not your fault, Rarity. This is just life. We all have to go at some point," Rainbow responded maturely, trying to remain strong.

Rarity let out a sniffle. "I know, dear, but why does it have to be like this?"

Rainbow didn't have any tears. She already did all her crying earlier. Now she wanted to remain strong for her friends.

"I don't know why, Rarity. If I did, I would fix it. I'm sorry it has to be like this too."

Rarity came right up beside Rainbow Dash. The unicorn crouched down and placed her face no more than a foot away from the pegasus. Rarity then grabbed the other mare's hoof.

"We'll get through this, Rainbow Dash. I believe in you."

"Thank you, Rarity," Rainbow replied happily. "It means a lot."

Rarity nodded her head with a smile, said goodbye, and left the room for the next pony to come in- Applejack. The earth pony slowly made her way in and took off her hat in the presence of Rainbow Dash.

"Sugarcube, Ah've been through a lot in mah lifetime. Mah parents passed away when Ah was very young, and that hurt me so much, but I learned a very valuable lesson."

"What's that?" Rainbow asked as the farmer came by her side.

Applejack choked up a little bit, but was able to compose herself after a few deep breaths.

"Ah learned that life is short, and we have to do what makes us all happy. You were a hero to so many ponies, and you had so many good adventures with us. You were even able to go on a tour with the Wonderbolts. Ah know your time left is short, but we're all here for you, and we'll make sure to do what makes you happy."

"Thank you, Applejack. And you're right- we have to do what makes us happy when we still have the chance. And I did. I have no regrets."

Applejack let out a light snort and a smile.

"You're right, Rainbow. We saved this kingdom so many times. Nopony can say that we didn't do amazing things!"

"Exactly!" Rainbow replied with a smile. "I've accomplished a lot, I touched a lot of people, and I had my fun. Again, I have no regrets."

"Well," Applejack said as she leaned in closer to the mare, "we're all rooting for you. We believe in you. We'll get through this."

"I think we will, Applejack," Rainbow responded, though not fully convinced herself that she would be able to make it through.

Applejack said her goodbyes and left the room. Next to come in was Fluttershy, who only had to take a quick glance at the mare before her tears burst out.

"R-Rainbow," Fluttershy said as the tears came out. "I'm so sorry," she cried out while coming up to Dash's sickbed.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. You were a great friend, Fluttershy."

The yellow pegasus continued to cry. "Yes, there is. Y-you were one of the greatest friends ever. You stuck up for me even when nopony else would. I just wish... I wish I was as good a friend to you as you were to me."

Rainbow felt a lump in her throat, and she felt the urge to cry, but she held it in.

"Fluttershy, you're an amazing friend, and you always will be. Even if I don't make it, nothing will change that fact."

"Thank you, Rainbow," Fluttershy said as tears continued to fall and she continued to tremble. Rainbow used her hoof to wipe the other mare's tears.

"You're welcome, Flutters. Thanks for being a great friend!"

"Y-you're welcome," Fluttershy responded, trying her best to smile. She then left the room for Pinkie Pie to come in.

In came the party pony. But instead of her normal smile, she had a face of sorrow, and her mane was straight and down. She was clearly disturbed at the news.

"Dashie, I never, ever, ever thought I'd see you like this," Pinkie said in an uncharacteristically somber tone.

"I never thought I'd see the day either, Pinkie. But it's here, and I have to deal with it."

"We're all in this together, Dashie. We've defeated big meanie dragons and scary monsters. We can beat cancer!"

Dash let out a chuckle. Pinkie, even when sad, was always a pony who could pick anypony up.

"You're right, Pinkie. We can beat this together," Rainbow said, holding in a tear that was about to come out.

Pinkie Pie sniffled. "I'm sorry I don't really have anything else to say to cheer you up, Dashie."

"That's okay, Pinkie. You guys already cheered me up enough. Besides, you were one of the first ponies I met when I moved here. You've made me a happy mare."

Pinkie leaned in and gave a soft hug to the sick mare. "We all love you so much, Dashie. Hang in there."

"I will, Pinkie. I'll do it for you."

Pinkie Pie wiped another tear. Rainbow still held in her own. Pinkie Pie left the room, making way for one last visitor to come in.

Rainbow so far remained strong for her friends. She held in her sadness and kept her hopes up high.

However, her mood quickly changed as the next pony came in. With a quick glance to the door, Rainbow's heart sank. It was almost as if she was stabbed in the chest.

Young Scootaloo entered the room. Her soft hoofsteps made a quiet clacking sound as she trotted on the tile floor to be beside her hero.

As Scootaloo approached the bed, Rainbow reached a hoof out, allowing the filly to join her on the bed.

"Is it true what they say, big sis?" Scootaloo asked with eyes full of fear.

Rainbow, who was now leaning up against the head of her bed, replied, "Is what true, Scoots?"

Scootaloo's eyes began to water. A teardrop fell down her cheek. Her breaths became short, and she covered her mouth as she started to hyperventilate. Rainbow reached both hooves forward, giving the filly a firm, strong hug.

"Just breathe, Scoots. It's okay."

After a few deep breaths, the filly was more composed.

"Is it," the filly asked, "is it... true that you may... die?"

"I don't know, squirt. I want to say 'no', but I'm not too sure."

Scootaloo, whose eyes were red with sadness, responded, "It just can't be true! You mean... you mean so much to me!"

"I know, Scoots, I know," Rainbow replied, still holding back her own sadness for her friends. She felt the need to stay strong. "You mean so much to me too. And if it's up to me, I'll never leave your side."

"Why aren't you crying, big sis? Aren't you sad?" Scootaloo asked as she continued to sniffle, shaking every time she did.

Rainbow's eyes softened as she felt it coming. "Because, Scootaloo, I have to remain strong."

"Not for me, you don't," the filly responded. Rainbow began to choke up a little. She could feel a lump in her throat. "My mom always told me that you should let your sadness out, because then you have room for happiness to come in."

Those words by such a young pony were what set the older mare off. Rainbow closed her eyes. When she opened them, her sadness was evident. Tears slowly streamed down her face as she finally let her sadness out.

"I'm- I'm sorry, Scoots," Rainbow said as her breaths became short. "I-I wanted to remain strong for all of you."

"You don't have to, Rainbow. We- we all know how hard this is."

The two pegasus ponies cried together for a few minutes. The two of them drew so close together over the last few years, and even though they weren't biologically related, their bond was stronger than any blood relation out there. They both couldn't imagine life without the other.

"Scoots," Rainbow said after some of her sadness subsided. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Nothing, Rainbow Dash. You've already done enough for me," Scootaloo replied with a smile through her sadness. "Is there anything I can do for you?" she asked in retaliation.

"No, I don't think so," Dash responded. "I'm just really tired and weak. I-I should get some sleep."

"There's... there's no way I'm leaving your side, big sis. I'll sleep here with you."

The filly moved upward and curled up beside the mare. Scootaloo rested her head on Rainbow's belly, feeling the warmth coming from her hero. Rainbow moved her hoof through the young filly's mane, and then wiped a few more tears off of the younger pegasus' eyes.

"Thank you, Scoots," Rainbow replied as her younger honorary sister closed her eyes. "You mean so much to me," Rainbow said as she closed her own eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I won't be here forever."

Scootaloo, still with her eyes closed, replied, "That's okay. I know that. But I want to be with you for the rest of your life."

Rainbow smiled as her weakened body started to shut down. The mare's breaths became much shorter and slower.

"I love you, Scoots. Stay strong," the mare said as she opened her eyes to take one last look at the filly before drifting off.

The filly opened her eyes as well. "I love you too, Rainbow Dash. I always will."

Rainbow gave the filly a smile, and then closed her eyes, not knowing if she would even wake up again.

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There Rainbow stood, on top of a soft cloud, overlooking the quiet town that she called home. Beside her was Scootaloo, now a young mare herself. The last few years were hard for the rainbow-maned pegasus, but with the help of her friends, and the belief and hope that she would make it, Rainbow was able to make a full recovery.

Life now had a new meaning for the mare, as she was given a rare second chance at it. She now vowed to do what made her happy, and that was to always make her friends happy.

"You ready, Scoots?" Rainbow asked as she put her goggles over her eyes, ready to race her younger sister.

"I'm ready," Scootaloo replied happily. "Get ready to eat my dust!"

"We'll see about that, squirt."

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There may be times when we feel like we just can't go on; like there's nothing left to live for. Those are the times when we need to surround ourselves with the people we love the most. Those are the times we need to keep our head held up high, hoping for the better times to come. One day those better times will be here, and we will be glad that we got through the hard to get to the good.

There are many people cheering us on. Even though the battle may seem daunting, and it may look like we've reached the end and lost that battle, we need to remember the reward. We're not only fighting for ourselves, we're fighting for all those who love us. And that's a battle worth winning.

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