Friends, Tears, and Broken Wings
Beep Beep Beep
The Flatline next to Scootaloo's bed rippled every so often. Where is Scootaloo right now? This you may ask. She's in Ponyville hospital, fifth floor, sixth room on the left. In her room there there were two beds, one occupied the other was empty. Next to her bed lay a table, with a lamp and a plastic tray with a glass of water on it. There were no decorations around the room that were stunning except a painting that was a picture of Ponyville. There was a window five feet to right of her that was closed at the moment right now. She didn't care. She had a bandage on her left wing, a cast of her left back-hoof, a cast on her right fore-hoof and a stand that kept her injured neck still. Another question you may have is, how did his happen? Scootaloo is recalling and trying to remember most of what happened that caused her to look like this...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scootaloo was perched up high in a tree located in Everfree forest. Her friends, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, were under the tree with worried faces. Their friend was going to attempt a stunt she wasn't prepared for.
"Ya still want to try this, Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom called to her friend.
"Of course! I'm not chickening out on this, besides it took forever for me to climb up here!" Scootaloo called back. She had a smile on her face but was a sense of fear was hidden underneath it.
Just a few days ago it was her birthday, Scootaloo recalled it as the best day of her life because that day she turned to an age where she would be able to fly. She has been waiting for her birthday for a long time and has filled joy when it came. She decided to try flying after a few days after her birthday. Today is that day.
"Wish me luck!" The orange peasus called to her friends.
She extended her wings, leaned back and jumped.
Big mistake.
She glided through the air for a couple of seconds then... she fell, increasing speed as she descended. Scootaloo let out a scream that could be heard throughout Ponyville. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watched in horror as their friend fell, they didn't move because they were paralyzed with shock.
Scootaloo fell, still screaming. She tried to use her wings but were of no use. She looked down at ground a she fell, she knew she was a goner. Closer and closer to the ground she fell until...
THUD
She fell on her side, causing pain to surge through her body. Another scream escaped from her lips then she blacked out...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now here she is, stuck on her bed because of all the strands of bandages on her. Every day she thought herself as a fool for what an act she did. She didn't know when she would be able to walk again or even leave the hospital. For now she will just have wait and see.
Day after day she had the same agenda. It went like this, wake up, eat sloppy food, sleep, friends visit, check-up, eat more food, take her medicine, sleep even more, friends visit again, throw up from the food given to her and finally sleep for the night. Scootaloo hated this process she was literately forced to do it if she wanted to get better.
The doctor and nurses treated her with care but were often in a rush because they had other patients to treat. Around visiting hours her friends, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and occasionally AppleJack and Rarity would come by. Conversations with them usually went like this.
"Hey Scootaloo, feeling better?" Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle would ask.
Does it look like I am? She would respond in her mind.
"I don't think she is," AppleJack would answer for Scootaloo. " Her hooves and wings still have bandages on them."
They would then talk to her about school, their lives and just about anything that was found interesting. Scootaloo would just close her eyes and listen because she could not respond. Her mouth was also covered with bandages and gauze. What interested Scootaloo most was when they talked about Rainbow Dash. They would say that she would often attempt Sonic Rainbooms and was successful some of time. Scootaloo liked the sound of that because someday she would fly with with Rainbow Dash and do Sonic Rainbooms with her. When it was time for her check-up the nurses would tell them to leave and come back later. With quick good-byes they would leave with grim faces.
As the weeks turned in to months Scootaloo noticed something about her friends. They were beginning to visit her once a day instead of two. This made her curious of why her friends have not been visiting her regulary. When they do come and see her they talk less and less, Scootaloo could tell something was up. Then it happened. Her friends stopped visiting her at all. She had one question on her mind, why? This thought stuck to her mind for days. Why would they leave her stuck like this? Was their magic of friendship dead? Scootaloo never felt so alone in her life, she usually hung out with them but it didn't look like they were going to now or ever.
Days seemed to get longer and longer which bore and pained Scootaloo. With no one to see her, she felt like she has been deserted. Everyday she would cry at night with no one to comfort her, until today.
Scootaloo was fast asleep dreaming of seeing the sun being raised again by Celestia, when a sudden breeze brushed her cheek. She opened her eyes and sighed. It felt good to feel wind after a long time. She looked around the room to find the source of the breeze. It pained her but she had to find out. It turned out that the window was open, she couldn't help but think, how is it opened? The window was closed most of the time. She pushed the thought out of her mind and fell asleep.
"Evening love" a voice Scootaloo never heard before said. The voice sounded like a colt's. She opened her eyes with shock, turning her head towards the sound of the voice.
"No, no. Don't give yourself anymore pain. Just rest," the voice said. When she saw who was speaking she couldn't could picture the pony in her room. All she she could see was an outline of him but still could see what he looked like. She felt afraid of the intruder but she couldn't do anything about it.
"Well, it seems like you've had the worst time of your life, love," the colt whispered. " I'm here to tell you a story."
What the hay is going on? Who is this guy and what is he doing in my room? Why is he calling me 'love'? Scootaloo thought. She wanted to call for help but she knew she couldn't, her mouth was covered with bandages.
The colt began tell a story a young filly pegasus on a journey to find out her talent and earn her cutie mark. Scootaloo turned her head when she heard this. Is he talking about her? The colt continued talking and said that the pegasus climbed over mountains, explored the darkest caves and battled Mother Nature. She traveled through towns and villages stopping here only to rest for the night. She made friends along the way but left ther once they found what the wanted. The pegasus travels alone trying to find out why she is here in this world.The colt continued talking and talking Scootaloo fell asleep. He smiled and left without a sound.
Next morning didn't seem too boring for Scootaloo. She had the best night of her life. The way the colt spoke and told his story was simply amazing. The following hours seemed to be also less boring. she had only one thing on her mind now, for another story told by the colt. She didn't care anymore of her friends or if she was ever going to get better. She waited for the night to come again. When it was, she would wait for the colt to come back. It seemed like forever to Scootaloo until he came.
"Miss me, love?" He said once he returned. Scootaloo tried to nod and was successful. "Thought so" the colt responded with a laugh.
He began telling a different story than last night. It was about the same young filly meeting two other ponies the same age as her. They became instant friends and accompanied her journeys through the world, they never left her and was happy to be with each other. They all overcame the terrors and obstacles of the world and still the young filly never found her true talent.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell... Scootaloo knew the colt was talking about her friends, she began to weep softly. The colt knew what was happening and stopped his story.
"I better be going now, love. Good-night," the colt whispered and left.
Scootaloo was alone again more sad then ever. After her friends stopped visiting her she stopped caring about them but after hearing the colts story, she wanted to see them more than ever. After many minutes of crying she fell asleep.
Day after day the same colt returned and told her stories about the young filly and her journey through the world, she defeated manticores, hydras and dragons. She crossed seas, catacombs and ruins finding anything that might help her. One story that interested Scootaloo was that the filly was able to successfully create a Sonic Rainboom. This made Scootaloo's heart skip a beat and she liked it. Story after story the colt told Scootaloo it got more intense and interesting. She never wanted an end to the stories this mysterious told colt her. Every night when Scootaloo would have enough of the stories she would fall asleep with a smile on her face and the colt would leave to wherever he lived or where he was needed.
It has been almost a year since Scootaloo been in the hospital. Twelve months of pain and joy. This also meant another thing, it was almost her birthday, which was tommorow. Over the last couple months, her hooves and wings have healed. The only thing left was her mouth/face. She didn't expect them ever to heal but she didn't mind. As long as the colt visited her she was happy enough. Today was going to be extra special because last night the colt said he was going to have a story for her that she would like. Scootaloo was excited for the night to come that she couldn't sleep a wink that day.
Finally, the sun went down and night was set all over Ponyville, as so the colt arrived.
"Hello, love."the colt whispered. "Are you ready for this?" Scootaloo nodded her head dying, to hear what he was going to say.
He told her the young filly has entered a cave where no pony has ever left. She heard that if anyone was able to find the secret of it they would be gifted with anything they wanted. The young filly didn't know if any of this was true but it was worth a shot. With her friends they entered the cave and explored it. They took twists and turns, left and rights, ups and downs, until they came to a large room. As soon as they entered a voice called to them.
Welcome
You have reached the end of this cave
and your lives
The ground shook under the the young filly's and friends hooves. The walls began to collapse and so did the ceiling. All three ponies screamed with terror. Suddenly they spotted an opening with light pouring out of it on the ceiling and ran towards it. They climbed falling debris until they reached it and when they did, the young filly's friends fell but were able to grab on to the sides of stones they were climbing on. The young filly looked back towards them and tried to help them up when the voice spoke again.
NOOOOOOO!
Its either you live and tell the world what you saw here
or you stay and die with them!
The young filly was in total shock and terror, this was the biggest decision of her life, live or die. She looked back and forth towards the opening and her friends with teeth gritted and worried faces.
Choose already! the young filly thought.
She then chose to help her friends. Oh well, I had a good run, she thought. She lifted them up and hugged them, with tears in her eyes. The rumbling and shaking stopped. All three ponies lifted their heads to see why. That's when the voice called to them again.
Congratulations you've done what no pony has ever done
You've stayed and helped your friends instead of leaving them in despair
All other explorers have a came with a partner and abandoned them
They were deceased as soon as they left
But you have stayed and helped your friends, you may go now
And just like that they were outside again feeling shocked and joyous. The young filly's friend drowned her in thank yous and tears. They fell in for another hug and left he cave without a word. The young filly learned something from this, she cared for her friends and they cared for her too...
The colt smiled at her and said last the words she would ever tell her. "It looks like you've had your fill, love. It's time for me to go and tend to others things that are needed." With that he began to walk away but turned around and whispered, "Happy Birthday". At the sound of those words Scootaloo was dozing off and finally fell asleep.
Next morning she was in for a surprise. The nurses and doctors greeted her with Happy Birthdays, she smiled when she heard this but she was going to have an even bigger surprise. Around the last visiting hours a nurse told her someone was here to see her. Who could that be? Scootaloo thought. She began thinking if everypony she knew that would even care to visit her when...
Happy Birthday Scootaloo
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle walked in with a HUGE card made out of glitter, paint and pictures. If Scootaloo could let her mouth drop she would but couldn't. On it were (of course) the words "Happy Birthday" and pictures of them together. There was a picture of them when they first met at Diamond Tiara's party, another had picture them at their school talent show and another with them trying to find a 'special some pony' for Ms.Cheerilee. She soon found out all the pictures were drawn with paint which looked amazing. Scootaloo turned toward her friends.
"Sorry for not being able to visit you," Sweetie Belle said. "School got more complicated and our sisters needed urgent help with things."
"I also had to paint all these pictures on your birthday card, took me a while to do... Do you like it? Apple Bloom asked.
Scootaloo nodded her head. The pictures were the most beautiful things she had seen in a long time. At that time a doctor came in and said " Sorry girls but it's time for Scootaloo's check-up. This will only take a sec." Her friends left the room and said would come back later.
"Just a few days ago, your lower half of your face and neck have just healed somehow! Sorry we couldn't have told you sooner, we were ever so busy. I'm going to remove those bandages on your face..." The doctor approached her face with scissors, " this will only hurt a bit..done!'
The bandages fell to the floor and the doctor stood back, he handed a mirror to Scootaloo. When she peered at herself in the mirror, she gasped. Her face didn't look any different except for a slight scar next to her mouth that was hardly noticeable. She's never seen herself in a mirror for quite some time now, she didn't seem any different.
"I have more to say, today you'll be able to leave this hospital. You're fully healed and well enough to walk again," the doctor continued with a smile. "I'll go and call your friends now." He left the room and called a nurse to call for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Some time later, her friends entered the room with grins.
"I heard the doctor the said you can leave this place now, is that true?" Sweetie Belle asked. Scootaloo nodded her head.
"Ya know you can talk now, right?" Apple Bloom said. "That bandage on yer face is gone now"
Scootaloo opened her eyes bigger with joy. She opened her mouth to speak. "Ummmmm...yeah I can talk!" She eager to say and hear words come out of her mouth. It still sounded the same after so many months. Her friends smiled with joy to hear their friend speak again.
They began to talk about what has been happening since the last year. Scootaloo didn't talk about the colt that has been visiting her, she wanted to keep that a secret.
"You guys want to go Sugar Cube Corner?" Sweetie Belle asked. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom nodded.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle left the room, walking side by side. Scootaloo removed the blanket on top of her and found a book on the edge of the bed. It was titled How To Fly For Beginners. Scootaloo opened it with a puzzled look, who could've left this here?
When she opened it a piece of paper fell out. Scootaloo picked it up and found out there were words written on it. It read...
Hello again Love, If your reading this, it means you're probably all better now which is great! It might be hard for you to live your old life again but I believe you can try. This is just going to be a short letter for I have many other thing to attend to but just remember one thing, you still haven't found your true talent and I expect you to find it sometime in your life. Everypony has to and you're not an exception. Remember these words for I can no longer assist you. Farewell.
Yours truly,
L---
"Scootaloo, ya coming?" Apple Bloom called to her friend. Scootaloo closed the book and placed it under her wing. As doing so, the letter in the book fell out and landed on the floor. Scootaloo unaware of this just climbed out of bed and headed towards the door. It took a while for her legs to get used to walking but was able to walk with her friends to Sugar Cube Corner, grinning ear to ear...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as the three friends left a mysterious colt entered the room where Scootaloo used to be and picked up the letter he wrote. He looked it over with a smile. That young filly's has lots of potential and spirit, she's also got many years ahead of her. I hope she uses them wisely.
The colt looked around the room, happy with his work and slid the letter under the covers of the bed. He then left bearing the thought of that young pegasus going on many adventures with or without her friends...