Rainbow watched Twilight trot away into the darkness, quickly disappearing behind the falling snow. She yearned to go after her to try and make things right, but a small part of her mind told her that she needed her space right now. Biting her lower lip, Rainbow turned around and shot one last glance over her shoulder, then sullenly walked back inside the hospital, her head hung low.
She pushed the door open and allowed herself a smile as she felt the heat from inside purge the cold from her coat. Rainbow felt a shiver run down her back as she closed the door behind her. She stood in the empty lobby as her stomach twisted itself into knots. Rainbow swallowed, trying to keep the contents of her stomach down. She was starving, but her concern for Scootaloo outweighed everything else. Even though she trusted Twilight without reserve, she still had to see Scootaloo alive with her own eyes.
Rainbow knew she had to find out where Scootaloo was. She figured that setting a couple of broken wings and bandaging some cuts wouldn’t take that long, so Scootaloo must already be in one of the recovery rooms.
Everypony here knew that Rainbow Dash was strong, that nothing could ever faze her. She had to be strong. Showing that she was hurting would make her look weak in everypony’s eyes, and she could not have that at all. Rainbow took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, puffed out her chest, and fluffed her wings.
She didn’t feel tough at all.
Stepping up to the nurse’s desk, Rainbow lifted her head to meet her gaze. The nurse offered a comforting smile as she stood up. “Come with me, Miss Dash. I’ll take you to her.”
“T-thank you,” Rainbow choked out. She was grateful that the nurse knew what she needed because she doubted she had the strength to ask. The nurse led her down the hall and up the flight of stairs at the end. They walked past a few empty rooms, then the nurse opened a door on the left side and held it open for her.
Rainbow nodded at the nurse, silently expressing her thanks. Though just as she was about to turn and step inside, her stomach grumbled loudly, making the two of them pause.
“Would you like me to fetch you something to eat, dear?” the nurse asked softly.
Rainbow’s stomach grumbled again. “Yeah, that’d be... nice. I’ll be inside, if that’s alright.”
“Of course it is!” She glanced inside the room. “We had to give her some pretty strong pain medication, Miss Dash. Having both her wings broken, I... can’t imagine how much that would hurt. But never fear, for she’s going to get the best care around! I’ll be back with some food for ya.” The nurse turned and trotted down the hallway, leaving Rainbow alone.
Rainbow turned to look inside the room, and as soon as she saw Scootaloo, her breath caught in her throat and tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Scootaloo was fast asleep, laying on her stomach. Her wings were fully encased in a cast that ran over her back. Her feathers were completely encased in thick bandages and her cuts were covered by gauze. Scootaloo’s mane was an absolute wreck. She was missing a little bit of her mane and tail, and her face and neck were covered in large, black bruises.
Rainbow’s eyes glazed over as she began to feel light-headed. Rainbow stumbled over to Scootaloo’s bed, tripping over her hooves. She sat down on the cold floor and heard what sounded like a group of stallions trotting down the hallway. Rainbow looked and saw four of Luna’s personal guards stop outside of the room. She knew, deep down inside of her, that Twilight had sent them for her. Rainbow cracked a small smile and looked back at Scootaloo.
A few seconds later, the guards outside slammed their spears on the ground, shocking Rainbow. Her head whipped around as she glared at their backs. Feeling anger build up inside of her, she trotted up to the door and yanked it open to find the nurse blocked off from the room by four very sharp spears. The poor mare was quivering in terror as she looked up at the four bat ponies blocking her way. The tray of food she was holding looked like it was about to slip from her grasp. “Can’t you guys keep it quiet out here? Scootaloo is trying to sleep!” Rainbow snapped, her voice hoarse.
“Sorry ma’am, but we have strict orders from Princess Twilight to keep this room locked down.”
“Even from the doctors and nurses that are doing their job to help our daughter?” Rainbow asked incredulously.
“We were just about to ask for her credentials, ma’am,” the same stallion answered. “Once we are able to determine that she works here, we’ll—”
“Don’t bother, this nurse was just bringing me food. I vouch for her.” Rainbow pushed her way past the guards and held out her hoof. The nurse hesitantly took a step forward and placed the tray in Rainbow’s outstretched hoof then darted away.
Rainbow walked back inside Scootaloo’s room and closed the door as softly as she could. She walked back towards the bed and placed the tray of food on the edge of Scootaloo’s bed, eyeing the applesauce hungrily. She ripped the lid off of it and emptied the entire thing into her mouth in one go. Rainbow swallowed it, and did the same to the other one. Tossing the empty plastic cartons back on the tray, she slid it under Scootaloo’s bed.
Rainbow’s shoulders slumped as she looked back at Scootaloo. The poor filly slept away soundly, her chest rising and falling with each breath. She looked so peaceful laying there. It occurred to Rainbow that the last thing Scootaloo must have seen before she was knocked unconscious was her parents beating her. Rainbow knew from personal experience that waking up in a strange place after an accident was pretty disorienting, so she wanted Scootaloo to see her first. She hoped that Scootaloo didn’t hate her for not being there for her in her time of need, just like she had promised.
Rainbow hopped onto the bed, doing her best to not disturb Scootaloo. She lay down on her side and laid a wing over Scootaloo’s back, taking care to not touch the cast. Even though she knew that Scootaloo was out from the medicine, it didn’t stop her from doing what she wanted to do. She nuzzled her daughter right between her ears, a loving smile forming on her face as Scootaloo’s left ear flicked back and forth.
“Momma’s here, Scootaloo...” Rainbow laid the lightest of kisses on the back of Scootaloo’s head and brushed the filly’s mane out of her face as gently as she could. “And Momma loves you very much...” She lay her head down on a pillow and settled down for the night. Rainbow thought about turning off all of the lights, but decided against it. If Scootaloo did happen to wake up in the middle of the night, Rainbow figured that, after such a horrific experience, she would like to see where she was: safe in Rainbow’s embrace.
As sleep tugged at her weary mind and body, Rainbow laid one last kiss on Scootaloo’s muzzle, then fell asleep a few minutes later.
Rainbow woke up in the middle of the night, feeling something stir under her sensitive feathers. Knowing that it was Scootaloo waking up, she sat up and lifted her wing to find Scootaloo wiping her eyes with her hooves. Rainbow cleared her throat as softly as she could, making Scootaloo’s head whip up.
Their eyes met. Rainbow simply smiled as Scootaloo stared up at her. Scootaloo’s whole body trembled, her eyes were filled with confusion and terror, and her ears lay flat on her head.
“M-Mom? Is that r-really... you?” Scootaloo croaked out. Tears filled her eyes as she slowly recognized Rainbow looking down at her with a warm and comforting smile on her face. She coughed a moment later as her tears began to fall down her cheeks.
“Yeah, Scootaloo, I’m here... Momma’s here...” Rainbow choked on her words, her breath catching in her throat. Rainbow covered Scootaloo’s forehead in kisses. She leaned down and nuzzled Scootaloo’s cheek, closing her eyes as tears flowed down her face. “I'm so s-sorry, squirt... I’m so glad you’re alive.”
Scootaloo buried her face into Rainbow’s side, right behind her shoulder as the tears started to flow freely. “Everything hurts... M-my wings... will I ever get to fly with you?”
That drove a spike into Rainbow’s heart. “Of course you are!” Rainbow gently pulled Scootaloo closer with her wing and held her tightly, letting her daughter cry as much as she needed to. “There, there... I’m not going anywhere, Scootaloo...” She felt Scootaloo latch onto her leg, her tears wetting her fur.
Scootaloo sobbed into Rainbow’s leg for the next couple of minutes. Her cries softened after several seconds, then she fell silent. Rainbow lowered her head and found that she was fast asleep. A soft giggle escaped past Rainbow’s lips when she saw that Scootaloo’s head was propped up against her leg like it was a makeshift pillow. Rainbow knew her leg wasn’t the softest thing around, but she figured that if it worked for Scootaloo, then it’d be alright.
Laying her head back on the pillow, Rainbow silently prayed that Princess Luna was watching over Scootaloo’s dreams.
They better not keep up the flying lie while she recovers.
Note I hate that idea of her crippled to begin with but it's a part of this story.
Still Rainbow being awesome mom here overall.
Best. Mom. Ever!!
Short but absolutely amazing chapter.
Scoots is awake now the real recovery begins.
D'aww. I almost cried at that. Honestly.
WAHHHHHHHH
Trust me on this, there will be hell to pay for those psychos.
I teared up while reading this.
Take all my feels here, just take them!
Good chapter, I hope things get better between Twilight and Rainbow.
And with that, my feels container exploded from over filling
The thought just occurred to me, I may be conflating this with another story where scoots can't fly due to wing abuse as a small filly, but I seem to recall something about the solution to the problem would basically require smashing her wings to peices again and then resetting them properly.
Well, the've been smashed to peices...
I can see this being used as a vehicle for a silver lining of "well at least now the've healed properly, flying to some extent will now be in your future.
Apostrophe in "I'm".
6643412 Thanks.
*Squee!*
That was AWESOME!! Definitely worth the wait! I freaking love your work Abyss, can't wait for the next chapter!
I do have a question though. Why did you make this one so... Short?
This chapter makes me happy. It makes me happy because I was bored and needed something to read, and because it's showing more of Rainbow's sensitive side. Still am waiting for Scootaloo's biological parents to be given the death sentence.
You knocked the feels into geosynchronous orbit.
As I said somewhere else (on another story, I think), "The feels are strong in this one".
Excellent chapter, Abyss! Can't wait fort the next one to see what happens next!
6643553
That makes two of us, as they deserve no less for this!
Awww scootaloo v.v. she's my favorite cmc. I hope she gets justice
6643372 Interesting theory, but one that is flawed, at least in this case with my story. You see, in the prequel, I had mentioned that Scootaloo's unusual wings was due to her biological mother drinking heavily while she was pregnant with Scootaloo. Because of that, breaking Scootaloo's wings and resetting them wouldn't do a thing, except cause the poor filly unnecessary pain.
6643077
Why would they, especially after having to go through all of that?
6644054 the fact that Rainbow said she could fly with her.
6644053 Alternate solution: build a sort of wing harness for Scootaloo that acts as wing extensions, and amplifies the magic in her wings to levels appropriate for her size. That way, she'll be able to fly, even if it's via artificial means.
6644171 Well someone has figured out my idea, arcane powered wing gloves that sheath her wings, she has the strength, she just doesn't have the size. (Also assuming that her wings ever do grow then the gloves can be easily adjusted to refit!)
Abyss great chapter, I am loving Rainbow's sensitive side, after all she really did nothing wrong as I'd act the same way... Well except for nailing Twi's cheek but that was an honest mistake.
Missing "she".
You remembered! That is so awesome!
And you were doing so well up to this point. It is "laid". Ears are objects. Unless you meant for it to be in the present tense.
This chapter was a roller coaster. Well, maybe not a roller coaster, a swing maybe? Teeter totter? A slide? Something that takes you from one emotional level, to another, and then to another in one steadily motion. An elevator! This chapter was a figurative emotional elevator.
Ooh, that analogy has another meaning. It also steadily elevates your spirits. It works two levels! (Get it?)
~KBO.
That was good man. Now Twilight and Rainbow need to make up and all will be well (mostly, the parents need to have a lunch date with Luna's Guards).
Loving this story and can't wait to finish.
6644100 She technically didn't say that she could fly on her own, but rather, that she could fly with her help. So... yeah I just had to put that out there, sorry if you find it annoying.
6644053
Ah, so I was thinking of compleatly the wrong story.
It's easy to conflate stories you've not read in a while.
I really hope you plan to banish those two bastards to the sun.
Poor Scootaloo...
I mean this in the nicest way possible: you glorious bastard!
Motherly Instincts teared me up. Even though it is a short chapter, excellent writing as always. And I throughly enjoy seeing Rainbow written softly.
I'm curious, and if it is a spoiler forget I mentioned it, if Rainbow is being presented as the motherly of the pair, is Twilight going to be more fatherly? Or are we going to see them work out more of a dual motherly? I'll be honest, I originally saw Rainbow as the more fatherly type, since she is more physically active than Twilight, and Scoots is very much a tomboy.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised to see Twilight break down and cut loose on Rainbow. She was so stressed in the first book, being the one that took care of a majority of everything needed to secure Scootaloo's adoption, that I was hoping you'd create a break down scene where she just can't take it anymore. Looks like Rainbow needs to start figuring out how to balance everything out between the three of them.
Looking forward to the next chapter, and keeping occupied with your one shots. Those are great as well!
OMG you got my crying at work with this amazing chapter........
The whole dash/scoots scene got me really good and i lost it at : momma´s here ...
Can´t wait for the next chapter
oh wow the feels in this chapter. Very good dialogue between scoots and rainbow
6645330 Send them to the Rainbow Factory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTEkvsrMTGE
My feels are strongly affected
Please, make Scoot's parents suffer
Very short chapter, but very emotional. I love how you give insight into Rainbow's inner turmoil, and how she tries to appear strong for the ponies around her.
I did notice that your depiction of Rainbow Dash breaks from the norm, in which she is a socially awkward and slightly insensitive pony. It's a nice change of pace to have her a bit more mature and caring.
Wow, what a way to start after the hiatus! That was amazing, again, almost making me cry, while in English class, no less! Well, it is literature, right? Anyway, that was amazing.
I love seeing Rainbow in a different light than normal, and you really do the best job at that. I think this is the most emotional we've seen Rainbow in this series, congrats! I can't wait for the next chapter, which will hopefully be a little longer. I am happy to see you are making new chapters for this!
I thought it kind of weird to have a chapter without Twilight, but the emotions in here more than made up for it! I also felt really bad for the nurse, actually causing my temper to rise slightly at seeing how they acted! Please keep up the amazing work, and I eagerly anticipate the next chapter!
TL;DR- I loved it, emotions were amazing, made me feel the emotions. Keep up amazing work, I eagerly anticipate next chapter. :P
6646413 Please!
6643372 You are thinking of "You'll Always Be My Number One", at least I think so. I also love that story, but is many chapters long, and I don't feel like scouring them to verify that this is the right story. It's the only other Rainbow-mother to Scoot story I have read, so I am pretty sure it is the right one. Here is the link. If anypony HASN'T read it yet, DO IT. It is also a tear-jerker, but sadly hasn't been updated in a while.
Link! https://www.fimfiction.net/story/238667/youll-always-be-my-number-one
Like Aj i cry in the inside but man did this story made me cry
good job mate
6666090
Actually, I don't. That part you quoted was written from Rainbow's point of view, so it's fine as is. If I had written it like this:
Then yes, you would be correct, as each speaker gets their own paragraph.
Sorry Dash... but I don't think it will ever be possible. Only way for Scoots to fly now... some Deus Ex Machina shit.
6666110
Not nescessarily. Even Dash had her wings broken, if they are in casts. Then they'll heal. As for feathers, they grow back. It'll take a while but feathers do grow back. Although it can take several weeks to a year for it to fully grow back with birds. Since Pegasi have bird wings, then it should take that long as well [since feather loss is a natural part of the wings life cycle [called molting] and clipped and plucked feathers do grow back].
Also as for wing bone damage. I'm using Dash's canon injury, as well as in nature. Broken wings if treated can and do heal [like Scoot with her cast]. The rest is rest, nutrition, and ensuring the damage isn't aggravated while she heals.
The only thing keeping Scoots from flying is if the author is in the "Scootaloo was born unable to fly", or "Scoots is a late bloomer" camp of ScootaFlight. But it won't be because of a broken wing [that'll just be some stress for Scootaloo to worry about being a filly and all. But for Dash or Twilight to talk to her about later.]
6369320
I read your comment and cold instantly picture purple smart jumping up and down in circles...HAha
Now you just won yourself another follow.
6687291
Gah, asshole! You almost made me cry! That line after the last two chapters. Ugh!
cdn.meme.am/instances/50909753.jpg
I'M NOT CRYING!
...
Its just onion ninjas Dx
Nice chappie
6718524 Got to watch out for them onion ninjas.
Gosh-darn onion ninjas, got me at the end of Crusaders of the Lost Mark and nearly caught me reading this.
"Look at me."
"...okay"
"Scootaloo's okay, alright? She's not dead."
"But she broke her wings! You have no idea how bad it is to--"
"She's going to be okay. Nothing's going to happen."
"...A-Alright..."