Crash Course (Only Chapter)
Applejack was quite a heavy sleeper. Her body was laid out on her bed with her snoring very loud but thankfully, nopony was sleeping next to her or they wouldn't get any rest from her rambunctious noise. She had a small smile on her face, implying that she was dreaming about something pleasant, probably something related to apples which was a big part of her life.
CRASH!!!
Applejack jolted awake from the boisterous sounds of wood smashing and breaking.
"What the hay?! What's that racket all about?"
She quickly grabbed her lasso in case there was an intruder breaking into her barn so that she'd apprehend them if need be.
"It sounded like it came from the kitchen when I heard it..."
The entire place was dark but this was her home, so navigating through the darkness wasn't much of a problem in her own home.
When she came to the door that led into the kitchen, she saw her family there, staring through a small space from a slightly opened door. Big Mac was there, holding a worried and terrified Apple Bloom protectively while Granny Smith looked toward Applejack.
"Granny. What's happening?" Applejack whispered.
"Ah, Applejack... We think somebody might've broken into the kitchen... We don't any hear any hoofsteps but they could be hiding..." she whispered to her.
"I'll take care of it, Granny. Don't you worry none." Applejack said fearlessly to reassure her grandmother and her two siblings.
Inside, Applejack did feel a bit nervous. This was one of the only times for her to put herself at risk to protect her family, but she knew she had to be strong to protect her family and the barn.
Applejack sailed through the door and quickly switched on the light to illuminate the room, ready to neutralise any intruder that could be lurking in there. She didn't see any intruder, but she saw a pile of wooden pieces on top of a collapsed dinner table that was broken down through the middle. Applejack surveyed the area around her as she crept closer and closer to the pile of broken wood. She looked up to see that there was a hole in the ceiling. This confused Applejack. She thought if somepony wanted to break in, they would try to do it at least a bit more discreetly and not in a more literal fashion. She wouldn't expect them to be dumb enough to leave evidence of their passing behind.
Cautiously, she started separating the pile of wood that was on the broken table. After a few pieces were removed, she noticed a cyan hoof protruding out of the pile. Applejack instantly recognised that colour and who it could be underneath the wood. Her stomach sank, then she accelerated her pace in removing the wood, revealing an unconscious and battered Rainbow Dash.
"I'll be sliced and served with gravy..." Applejack said with a quivering voice.
"Applejack? Everything alright in there?" Granny Smith called from behind the door.
"Granny! We need to get help! NOW!" she yelled back.
Two hours later...
Applejack was pacing back and fourth in a barren visitor's lobby in the Ponyville Hospital. It was still relatively deep into the night. She tried her best to be as quiet as possible for the slumbering citizens while hurrying Rainbow Dash to the hospital thanks to the help of her family. When they had to go home, Applejack volunteered to stay behind to look after her friend. Granny Smith and Big Mac gave Applejack her wish as they went to return to Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom wanted to stay, too but it was unanimously decided by the older ponies that she wouldn't, much to her dismay.
The cowpony let out a deep sigh after having bated breath for the past few minutes pacing back and fourth from worriment over her friend.
"Applejack?" Nurse Redheart's voice sounded.
Applejack lifted her head and looked towards Nurse Redheart almost immediately hearing her voice, "Hey! How's Rainbow Dash? Please tell me she's all right!"
Nurse Redheart sighed sadly and averted her gaze from Applejack, "Rainbow Dash got lucky for the most part. She only sustained minor injuries from falling but her overall health is a different story."
Applejack knew that what she was about to hear wasn't going to be pleasant to hear. "What do ya mean, doc?"
"Well, her physical condition suggests that she's malnourished and sleep deprived. She has many dark circles around her eyes and she's slightly slimmer than usual with atrophied muscle mass." Redhart explained.
"Uh... A little shorter and smaller words, please..." Applejack requested sheepishly.
Redheart sighed. "Well, Rainbow Dash's body shows that she hasn't been eating or sleeping well. Not enough sleep or food can result in terrible things happening for your body and can make you feel all sorts of bad ways." she then went on to ask, "You're one of her best friends, right? Why didn't you do something about it before it got too serious?"
Applejack looked down at the floor and sadly said, "Because we barely even see her. Through this past month, Rainbow Dash barely even talked to us. She would say she's busy doing her usual job as a weather pony and practising her flight skills and then she'd just dash off."
"I think I know what's going on with Rainbow Dash, Applejack," said Nurse Redheart as if she stumbled upon a revelation.
"You do? Tell me!" Applejack said eagerly. She wanted to know what was happening with her friend.
Nurse Redheart started to explain as she stared out a nearby window. "Starting from the start of this month, I would sometimes see Rainbow Dash flying across the skies at night. I thought it was unusual to see her flying through the skies in the break of night like this. I watch over this clinic through the night in case somepony needs some treatment for something or a medical emergency happens. It's what we do."
"Ya mean she might have been skipping sleep by flying all night?" Applejack questioned in surprise.
Redheart nodded. "Yes. That's right. If you let yourself be sleep deprived for too long, it can lead to some psychological problems for yourself. As for her undernourishment issue, there's no other possible explanation I can offer except that maybe Rainbow Dash has been skipping meals consistently for a long time."
"Well, I'll be plucked and breaded..." Applejack said with a hollowed and lowered voice. "Is she awake?"
"She was when I last checked on her, but I don't think you should go in and-"
"I'm going in. I need to talk to that Pegasus pony." Applejack said sternly.
Redheart blocked the way to hospital rooms. "Please, Applejack! Let Rainbow Dash get some rest now. As soon as she wakes up, I'll let you talk to her but you need to stay here if you want a chance to talk with her as soon as possible!"
Applejack's determined expression didn't move an inch, "Fine, then. I'll stay here as long as it takes, but ya'll best give me a chance to talk to her as soon as she's able to speak, alright? I realised I've been spit as a friend and want to make it up to her."
A soft smile curled on Nurse Redheart's face. "Oh, of course. Applejack."
The nurse admired Applejack for admitting her faults as a friend and wanting to be better. It even made her a bit jealous inside.
It was sunrise at the barn in Sweet Apple Acres. The remaining ponies of the Apple Family barely even got any winks of sleep through the rest of the night. They were too worried about what Applejack might do. Granny Smith and Big Mac were busy repairing the damage made from Rainbow Dash's crash-landing through the roof of the barn.
Applebloom did her best to help when she was needed but she was mostly kept out of the task. She was sitting in her room, wondering how Applejack was faring.
"APPLEJAAAAACK!"
That silly-sounding voice calling out for her could only belong to Pinkie Pie.
"Apple Bloom, go greet Pinkie Pie for us, would ya?" Granny Smith said through Apple Bloom's door.
"Yes, Granny," Apple Bloom replied.
The young filly hurriedly made her way outside of the barn and greeted Pinkie Pie at the gate.
"Morning, Pinkie Pie. Uh, what's up?" Apple Bloom was never sure how to talk to one of Applejack's friends one-on-one without Applejack herself around.
Pinkie Pie looked over Apple Bloom at the hole in the roof that was being repaired, "I just came here to give my morning greetings! Hey! What's that hole over there? Did someone raise the roof too high when you had a party here last night?"
Apple Bloom briefly averted her eye-contact from the wild Earth pony then looked at her again, "Uh, not exactly... We had no party here. I'm not even sure if I should even tell ya about this..."
Pinkie Pie's expression became curious. "Tell me what, Apple Bloom? Where's Applejack? Still sleeping?"
"Just..." Apple Bloom groaned. "I'll just take ya to Granny Smith..."
Pinkie Pie blinked a few times, "Okay! Let's go!"
Nurse Redheart spotted Applejack napping while sitting up with her forward-hooves crossed and her hat covering the top of her face. She went over to her and gently shook her awake. "Applejack? Applejack. Rainbow Dash is awake and alert, now. You can visit her."
Applejack came to at the sound of those words from the nurse. "Bout time! Let me talk to her! Now!"
Nurse Redheart nodded and escorted Applejack through the hallway out of the lobby and into Rainbow Dash's hospital room.
The nurse whispered into Applejack's ear, "Go easy on her, Applejack. Rainbow Dash isn't in a very good mood. If I hear you two yelling at each other, I will have to separate you two. Is that clear?"
"Yes'mm, ma'am. Noted." Applejack gave a little salute to Redheart before she turned around and left Applejack alone.
Applejack slowly made her way around the curtain that was covering view of Rainbow Dash from anypony looking from the front of the door. She looked to see Rainbow Dash curled up on her bed, facing in the direction of the curtains from where she could see her. The latter tried her best to ignore her. There were a few moments of silence before Applejack broke it.
"...Lookin' good, Sugarcube..." Applejack said lowly to her, trying to start small talk.
Rainbow Dash didn't turn around to look at the cowpony. "Applejack, I'm not in the mood."
"For what?" she asked.
Rainbow Dash slightly lifted her head and gazed at the ceiling. "I don't want to hear about how I messed up and landed myself in here again, okay?"
Applejack sighed. Typical Rainbow Dash, stubborn as always. "Hun, the nurse said-"
"I know what she said to me!" Rainbow interrupted. "I don't need to hear about it again! Why are you here, anyway? If you wanna make fun of me, just come out and say it!"
Applejack felt her temper smoldering but she tried her best to suppress it, "Relax, Sugarcube. Ain't nopony said anything or judging ya."
Rainbow Dash was silent for a few moments before asking, "So who else is here?"
"Just me, Rainbow. Just me. I haven't told the others...yet."
"Oh really?" The cyan pony chuckled sheepishly. "I kinda hoped that nopony else was with you."
Applejack returned the chuckle. "Don't you worry, none. I know how ya hate to embarrass yourself in front of yer friends." She paused before continuing. "...Ya know I have questions for you, right?"
Rainbow Dash groaned slightly then sighed. "Yeah... Just...go easy on me, alright? I'm already feeling bad enough as it is..."
Applejack gathered her breath then talked, "Sugarcube, we haven't seen ya much at all in the past few days. Ya'll lucky you crashed into my barn of all places. But ya sure scared the sheep's fur out of me. We thought somepony was robbing us!"
Rainbow Dash slowly nodded, "Yeah... Th-thanks f-for helping me, by the way. I...almost forgot to say."
To Applejack, Rainbow Dash didn't sound right. "Yer most welcome, Sugarcube. Hey... Why don'tcha look at me, hun? I ain't a monster, am I?" Applejack put a hoof on Rainbow Dash's back and turned her over to face her but once she did, what she saw startled her. Rainbow Dash was silently weeping hard. "S-Sugarcube?"
Rainbow Dash sniffed as tears came down her eyes, "Applejack..."
"Y-Yes?" Applejack averted her gaze from Rainbow Dash's weeping face, trying not to offend.
"C-Can I have a hug? I missed you so much!" Her silent weeping turned into more audible sobs.
Applejack observed her for a moment and then asked, "Ya mind if you could make room for me?"
"S-Sure..."
Rainbow Dash scooted over on the hospital bed and Applejack slowly sat upon it. She tenderly wrapped her upper-hooves around Rainbow Dash and learned her head into her chest. She softly rubbed her back as Rainbow sobbed.
"That okay, hun?"
"Y-Yeah... Thanks..."
"Why don'tcha tell me what you've been doing, alright? You can trust this gal on the farm." Applejack said in her comforting voice.
"O-Okay. Just...give me a moment..."
It was lunchtime in Fluttershy's cottage at the edge of the Evergreen Forest. Fluttershy was ever-so hard at work feeding and caring for all her animal friends. She sighed in relief and satisfaction once each animal got their share of lunch. Lunch was slightly earlier than usual but she thought that since all of her friends were hungry, she might as well feed them.
Now, Fluttershy was eager to consume her own meal. But before she could reach for tasty treats...
"FLUTTERSHYYYYYY!"
Fluttershy covered her ears with her hooves upon hearing the hyperactive Earth pony announce her presence. However, she could immediately tell that this was not her usual gleeful call but a panicked one. She became curious and greeted her at the door of her cottage.
"Y-Yes, Pinkie Pie? You sound worried. Would you like some tea?"
Pinkie Pie looked panicked. "Fluttershy! You need to know something! Rainbow Dash crashed into Applejack's barn while we were sleeping!"
Fluttershy gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth. "What?"
Pinkie Pie nodded rapidly before continuing. "I know! Granny Smith told me and said that Applejack hasn't come back from the hospital since last night! That has to mean something bad has happened to Rainbow Dash!"
Fluttershy's concern grew. "O-Oh no... Th-that can't be good. W-We should go visit her."
"Yes! But first, we need to gather the others! They need to know, too!" Pinkie Pie declared.
"W-What? Pinkie, no offence but I want to go see her, now..." Fluttershy complained in a low tone.
"Are you crazy?!" Pinkie Pie ironically asked. "Would you not want to be supported by all of your best friends when you're down?!"
The serene Pegasus came around to her point of view. "You're right, Pinkie Pie. I'm sorry. Who should we tell next?"
"Rarity, of course! Then we'll tell Twilight! She'll then lead the way to the hospital with her teleporting magic thingy!"
Fluttershy was startled at that idea coming from Pinkie Pie. "Wow, that's...actually pretty smart. Well, let's get going. I want to see Rainbow Dash. It's been so long since we saw her..."
"No kidding! Now let's move!"
"Ya got yer head on straight now, hun?" Applejack gently asked the cyan Pegasus.
She nodded while she was still in the comforting embrace of Applejack. "Yeah, I'm a bit better. I'm ready to tell you how I ended up in here. You see..."
It was nighttime: Princess Luna's realm. This was usually the time when ponies were getting their rest for the morrow. To some, rest was a crucial element on staying healthy and alert for it usually reinvigorates them with the energy they needed to be fresh when the sun rises over the horizon. Others, however, try to cheat the aspect of sleeping. There are a few words to describe ponies like this: Overachievers, overzealous, and even reckless. They would say in their own defence that it is their way of making more progress in their goals.
Was this extra time and effort put into reaching a pony's goal worth it? It's a broad question whose answer greatly varies between individual ponies. To a certain cyan-coloured mare, however, her answer would be a confident "yes".
Rainbow Dash's lifelong dream was to become a formal member of the Wonderbolts, not just a reserve for them. Her talent was speed and she flaunted this whenever she got the chance to. Whether ponies love her or hate her, they could not argue that her speed is legitimately up there, even among Hall of Fame fliers with seemingly impervious records. Become the greatest Pegasus of all-time? With her speed, it was possible and as long as it's possible, she would continue to chase that title.
To do this, Rainbow Dash has been on an extremely rigorous training that eclipsed even the night. What's more, she would even skip one of the three meals of the day to get more training in. The dream was far away but she thought that if she kept at it every single day, the goal would be within reach while she was still young.
It was roughly a month into her increased training regimen. Rainbow Dash still felt that feeling of determination very strong like a fire that won't go out. The only way to put it out was tasting that title of greatest Pegasus flier of all time and being in the Wonderbolt's Hall of Fame.
Rainbow Dash has been zooming across the clear night skies, leaving her behind her symbolic rainbow trail wherever she flew. Her eyes were locked ahead. She could see visions of of herself raising prestigious awards triumphantly. The bare thought of it was enough to inspire her to do better and to be great.
She was humming a heroic tune to herself gleefully as she flew.
"Everypony in Equestria will have no escape from my awesomeness! This training of mine is going to make sure I make it!"
They say that if you tell yourself something enough times, you'll believe in those words. Rainbow Dash was a firm believer in her confidence to surpass all.
She continued to fly straightaway going as fast as she can, hustling her wings to flap faster. But she noticed that she wasn't getting any faster. Rather, she was slowing down and losing altitude. Rainbow Dash felt surprised. Why? She started to become unnerved at this revelation. Her breathing became bated and her vision became blurry. Then, a dizzy spell suddenly start to overtake her and control of her body started to slip.
"No... What's happening...? Somepony...save me... Any...pony... Can't...move..."
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTT?!" Rarity cried out in her dramatic voice as she quickly grabbed her couch to swoon upon.
Both Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie rolled their eyes at her.
"Geez, even I didn't react that way," Pinkie Pie said with slight annoyance.
"This is madness! Why, oh, why must this happen to Rainbow Dash!?" Rarity cried out.
"Um, Rarity, perhaps you should calm down before you'll end up landing yourself in the hospital from high blood pressure..." Fluttershy gently advised.
The glamorous Unicorn Pony giggled with embarrassment then sat up on her couch. "Sorry about that, dear. But still! We haven't seen her in days and she's in the hospital once more? My, oh my, that pony isn't going to age gracefully at this rate! We should make haste to see her! Thank you, dearies for informing me, by the way."
Pinkie Pie nodded, trying to ignore her drama. "Yeah, yeah. Now let's get to Twilight so she'll take us to the hospital fast!"
The three ponies made their way out of Rarity's Boutique. However, one filly emerged from her hiding place. It was Sweetie Belle, Rarity's younger sister. She felt surprised at what she overheard from Pinkie Pie and sought to warn her best friend Scootaloo since she looks to Rainbow Dash like an older sister.
She ran out of the Boutique to commence her search for her Pegasus friend.
"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom's voice called out to her.
The Unicorn filly turned into the direction of where she heard it, and saw Apple Bloom run towards her. "Apple Bloom! I'm glad you're here! Have you seen Scootaloo?"
Apple Bloom shook her head. "No. You're looking for her, too?"
"Yes! Actually, I just got started. I'm looking for her because Rainbow Dash-"
"...crashed into Applejack's barn and is now in the hospital and Scootaloo would want to know, too?"
Sweetie Belle smiled. "Great minds think alike!"
The two fillies exchanged a high-five.
Applebloom started to explain a plan. "We can't waste any more time. We have to find Scootaloo fast and then get to Twilight Sparkle before her other friends do so that she'll take us to Rainbow Dash with them!"
"But we have to split up. They're already on their way there. We can cover more ground and find her faster. Meet back here in five and then race them to Castle of Friendship?" Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Good idea! You're a genius, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom said to her best friend.
Sweetie Belle blushed in embarrassment. "Thanks. I wish Rarity would say that to me more often, though. But let's go now! We're wasting time!"
Applejack was looking toward Rainbow Dash with her mouth gaping. "Sugarcube... You... You did all that...to yourself for your goals?"
She slowly nodded. "Lately, I felt like I've been slacking off on my goals, so I secretly took measures to make sure that I put the most time possible into training myself. I...I...I don't know what I should do now that I'm in this place again. My dream feels like it's farther away than ever... I'm...so afraid of my dream fading away from me, Applejack. What if...what if...I can't make it?"
Applejack listened. After much listening to Rainbow Dash, she felt as though she knew what has to be done. "Sugarcube... Give me your hoof."
Rainbow Dash protruded her right hoof to Applejack who was sitting next to her to her right. "Like this? Why?"
Applejack responded by gently holding that hoof...and then driving it straight into her face.
To say the least, Rainbow Dash was agitated at the sudden hit Applejack made on her with her own hoof. "Wh-What the!? What was that for?!"
"Ya should be asking yerself that, Rainbow..." Applejack said grimly.
She tilted her head slightly in confusion. "What are you talking about, Applejack?! You hurt me!"
Applejack nodded at her. "Yes. that's exactly what you should be saying to yourself."
Rainbow Dash felt like she was at a loss for words. She couldn't get where her friend was going with this. "I don't understand you, Applejack! Speak English!"
"Ya know how you've told me how ya skipped meals and sleep to train?"
"What about it?!" Rainbow yelled angrily.
"Me using yer own hoof to hit ya... That's what y'all been doin' to yer health...and in turn, also to yerself."
Rainbow Dash gasped. "You mean...I've been hitting myself by neglecting my own health? Why should that make me stop my goal? My health is-"
"Veryimportant, Sugarcube," Applejack interjected. "And when did I tell ya to stop reaching for yer goal? Don't be putting words in my mouth!" Applejack sternly warned Rainbow.
She gulped when she saw a piercing glare from Applejack.
Applejack poked Rainbow Dash's chest with one hoof before continuing, "Y'all so stubborn like a bulldog seeing red, Rainbow. We ain't fast as ya, I'll give ya that. However, do you have any idea how worried we've been for ya lately?"
Rainbow Dash blinked. "'We'? Who's we?"
"Yer friends, Rainbow! Yer best friends!" Applejack yelled at her, feeling slightly offended. "Y'all mean to say you forgotten about us?! Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Twilight?! What about Scootaloo? That filly looks up to you like a statue made of gold. How do ya think she feels not seeing her role model in weeks? Huh? Darn it, Rainbow Dash... Now I feel more lucky you just happen to land in my barn when ya passed out last night while flying... Ya could have crashed in a lake and drowned for all we know..."
Applejack's eyes were teeming with tears. Now, it was Rainbow Dash's turn to hug Applejack. "I-I'm so sorry, Applejack..." She sniffed, feeling her own tears return. "I don't know what I was thinking... I...I really forgot. I'm just...sorry..."
Applejack held her tight in her hooves. "Rainbow Dash... Ya supposed to represent loyalty, remember? There's something y'all should know. There is one more pony you haven't been loyal to."
"Myself...right?" Rainbow Dash asked while embracing Applejack.
"Good call, Sugarcube," she said, feeling good that her friend was starting to catch on, "Ya owe it to yerself to be healthy because if ya don't, I can't promise y'all last long in life. Also, we prefer ya healthy, not sick. Believe me, I know despite not having dreams that pierce the skies."
"What are you talking about?" Rainbow Dash asked, curious as she finally broke the embrace between them.
Applejack explained, "Before we became friends, I was really enthusiastic about my work like you. I took pride in cultivating the lands with yummy crops for my family and other ponies to eat. I loved every second of it. I would get up before the dawn even cracked and skip breakfast just to get my stuff done. I had great expectations for myself and my work. But then... There was a huge heat wave that hit. I didn't care, though. I was determined to get my work done. Big Mac and Granny Smith tried to warn me about possible heatstroke but I didn't listen...and I almost paid for it. With my ignorance to my own health and the weather, I passed out while digging holes with the heat not letting up. I was scared before I fainted. So scared that I was going to fry in that heat..."
Rainbow Dash felt horrified hearing about this from Applejack.
She continued, "If it wasn't for Big Mac saving me... I would have been a goner... And then...I woke up in bed with Big Mac at my side. We talked for a while but he was so scary. He scolded me harshly with tears in his eyes and then he taught me a lesson in looking out for myself. Ya know what he did? He took my right hoof and then drove it into my face..."
"Wait a minute, like how you did just a few minutes ago?" Rainbow Dash asked with astonishment.
"Yup...just like how I did," Applejack said with her voice low, "I'm passing on what I learned to you, Rainbow Dash. That lesson he taught me has stuck with me ever since. I didn't have to stop working. Taking a break from time to time was fine. Him saving me taught me that there is a limit that a single pony, no matter how strong, can do alone. I couldn't save myself from that heat when I passed out but it could have easily been avoided if I took better care of myself. Now, it's your turn, Rainbow. Take it from me, from a pony who was in that exact same situation as ya."
Rainbow Dash took a moment to think about it then said, "Applejack... I had no idea."
"Yeah? Well now ya do." said Applejack as she took out a glass of apple cider, "So for the sake of both our health, let's stop messing around."
Rainbow Dash gasped. "Apple cider! Hey! How did you manage to bring that over here?"
Applejack chuckled. "Figured I would be here a long time so I brought some with me. Also, I thought you could use some but I wanted to make sure the time was right so that we'd enjoy this more between us. I only have this one single glass with me, though, but since y'all were nice enough to hear me ramble like a grumpy grandma, I figure this one's all yours."
Rainbow Dash smiled at her. "You sure, Applejack? You know I'm not going to share it with you once I start drinking, right? Also, I thought you wanted to enjoy this between us?"
Applejack scoffed. "We already are by talking like this. I didn't say I had to drink anyway to enjoy this cider that I'm sharing with ya. Also, I'll live. I can always make more, remember?" she asked as she winked at Rainbow Dash.
Then, they both shared a hearty laugh as Rainbow Dash started to take a sip.
Twilight Sparkle was on her way back to the Castle of Friendship, feeling great after treating herself and Spike for a day at the spa. There was still plenty of daylight left but Twilight had no problem figuring out what to do for the rest of the day. She could research the magic of friendship more or even just read.
Spike was mounted onto the Alicorn, enjoying the ride. "Hey, Twilight. I know we were at the spa nearly all day but I noticed that on our way back, we haven't seen any trace of our friends anywhere."
"They're just probably having a very busy day, Spike. It's best if we don't bother them and let them do their work." Twilight Sparkle suggested.
"Yeah. You're probably right," he agreed.
"Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!" a trio of fillies called out.
"What? What? What?" Twilight asked three times out of being startled.
She looked around to see who was calling out until she saw a hoof waving right in front of her. She looked down and then saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders looking tired and exhausted, barely able to stand on all fours.
"Oh my. You didn't exhaust yourselves looking for me, did you?" Twilight Sparkle asked, surprised.
"Yeeep..." said Apple Bloom through bated breath, "We've...been looking for ya...once we found Scootaloo. We're so lucky the others haven't found you...yet..."
Twilight Sparkle became curious. "Found me? What do you mean?"
"Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and my sister were also looking for you but Apple Bloom and I managed to find Scootaloo and got to you first," Sweetie Belle explained with just as much exhaustion.
"Why was it so important that you find me first?" Twilight Sparkled asked, feeling like she missed too much while she was at the spa.
"Because then they would have asked you to take them to the hospital where Rainbow Dash and Applejack are before we could!" Scootaloo explained.
Twilight's eyes widened. "The hospital? Rainbow Dash? I haven't seen her in a while...but...what...?"
Apple Bloom started to plead her case. "We'll tell you everything! Just please listen to us!"
Twilight Sparkle sighed. "Alright. Just follow me into the castle and I'll listen to you. Tell me everything you know."
"Great!" Applebloom exclaimed happily with new vigor.
The Crusaders had never been inside the Castle of Friendship before so they were quite excited to take a look inside. Once they were inside the castle, they were appalled by how shiny everything was.
"Woooooooooooooooooow..." they all said in unison.
"It must be awesome living in a place like this!" said Scootaloo while following Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight Sparkle chuckled at how the castle completely won them over. "Not always. Anyway..."
She opened the door to the throne room only to see...
"Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!" a trio of mares called out.
Twilight Sparkle sighed and immediately felt a sense of deja vu. "Let me guess. You want me to teleport us to the hospital where Rainbow Dash and Applejack are, right?"
"Whaaat!? How could you possibly know that already?" Rarity asked with a dramatic tone.
Twilight Sparkle stepped to one side with her hoof and then pointed at the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "Because these three fillies had the same thing in mind."
Rarity's face became stern. "Sweetie Belle! What are you doing here?"
The younger sister became nervous. "Uh, well...you see... I, uh, couldn't help but overhear what you, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were talking about and I thought of Scootaloo."
Rarity gasped and became upset at her younger sister's intrusion. "My! My! Haven't you learned that it's impolite to butt into another pony's business?!"
Scootaloo went in front of Sweetie Belle and put her hooves down. "Hey! Come on! She thought about telling me about Rainbow Dash! She's my idol! I haven't seen her in such a long time and now I'm hearing that she's in the hospital! I wanna see her right now! Stop treating her like she's always up to no good!"
Rarity scowled at Scootaloo. "That is no way to speak to one who is older than-"
ENOUGH!!!!!
Twilight Sparkle used her Time Stop magic to silence everypony in the room (except Spike) and keep them from moving. After a few seconds and once everypony was calm, she proceeded to lecture them. "Listen to me, all of you. I just got back from a day in the spa only to be suddenly told that Rainbow Dash is in the hospital. I'm sure everypony in here cares about her. Are all clear on that?"
Everypony nodded silently.
"Then that should be the thing that comes first and unite us," continued Twilight Sparkle. "Scoldings and arguments can wait when a pony needs the company of her friends."
Fluttershy nodded in agreement. "Yes, Twilight. I am just about finished with all the arguing and ready to just go and see Rainbow Dash."
"Me too, Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie happily exclaimed.
"So am I!" Applebloom declared.
Rarity sighed. "Ooh, I messed up as a sister again, Sweetie Belle. I'm sorry."
To her surprise, Sweetie Belle hugged Rarity. "I'm sorry, too, Rarity. I should have looked for you instead of avoid telling you."
Scootaloo smiled at the pair of sisters then said to Twilight Sparkle, "Glad that's over. Whenever you're ready, Twilight!"
Twilight Sparkle smiled. "Thank you. Let me focus for a bit."
Back at Rainbow Dash's hospital bed, Nurse Redheart returned to the room and was pleased to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack sharing laughs together.
"So, Nurse Redheart, how's Rainbow Dash? She's alright, ain't she?" Applejack asked with hope in her voice.
Redheart smiled. "Of course she's going to be okay. Aside from the minor injuries she's sustained. she should be okay if she starts getting consistent sleep and nourishment from now on. However, the Doctor says that she should stay one more night here for further evaluation before we can discharge her, just to be on the safe side."
Applejack looked over at Rainbow Dash to see that she was clearly disappointed that she wasn't free to go just yet.
Rainbow Dash hung her head for a moment but then looked up with a smile at Redheart. "I understand. It's for my health, right?"
"Of course!" Redheart replied.
Rainbow Dash looked over at Applejack and then back at Redheart. "Sure, but not too long, I hope. I got a lot of catching up to do with my friends once I get outta here. I sure miss them."
"And I'm sure they miss ya too, Sugarcube," added Applejack.
"Stop! Wait! You can just come in here!"
"Hey, is that Doctor Horse?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously.
Gradually, the three of them heard the sound of many hoofsteps coming closer at once...
"Wh-What's going on?" Nurse Redheart asked, worried.
"I-I don't know!" Applejack answered with the same tone as Redheart.
The three of them looked in the direction of the door that led outside to see a few seconds later, a pink mare sliding into the room. Her face was overcome with joy once she saw Applejack sitting at Rainbow Dash's bedside. The two of them looked over at her with curious eyes, wondering what the heck was going on.
They both exclaimed with confusion, "Pinkie Pie?"
"Not you again!" Nurse Redheart groaned.
"I found them! I found them! I found them! I found them! I found them!" Pinkie Pie repeated rapidly while skipping about.
Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash exchanged looks that asked each other question of what exactly was happening here. Neither of them knew what the answer was.
"Were you playing hide-and-seek with Pinkie Pie, by any chance?" Rainbow Dash asked Applejack suspiciously.
She scoffed at Rainbow's question, "I was here the entire time, hun! Ain't no way I had time for a game!"
Soon, there was a parade of familiar faces streaming into the room. To be exact, there were six different ponies. Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle.
Once Fluttershy saw Rainbow Dash, a smile quickly formed on her lips. "Rainbow Dash! We all missed you!"
Rainbow Dash gave a sheepish laugh as she scratched the back of her mane. "Uh... Hey, everyone." She felt happy to see the friends she hasn't seen in a while but didn't exactly know how and where to start.
"How did ya'll know that we'd be here?" Applejack curiously asked.
All other ponies in the room glanced over at Apple Bloom. She gave a nervous grin at her older sister. "It was me, Applejack... Uh... Pinkie Pie wanted to know where you were since you weren't at the barn this morning and I didn't feel like lyin' about the hole on the roof so...I told her the truth."
Pinkie Pie continued, "Yep! She told me all about it. Once I heard everything, I bolted away to gather all our friends so we could come and see you, Dashie! It took longer than I thought it would but a late party is better than no party!"
"There will be no parties in this hospital!" Nurse Redheart warned.
"We haven't seen you in ages, darling," Rarity said to continue the explanation. "I was about to faint from shock when I heard you landed yourself in the hospital again! Also..." she pointed at Sweetie Belle. "This little one had the brilliant idea of getting a certain filly Pegasus to join us."
"Geez, Rarity..." Sweetie Belle blushed in embarrassment in hearing her older sister brag about her idea.
"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo called out.
Rainbow gasped and a grin flashed on her face. "Scootaloo! Been hanging in there, little buddy?"
"I should be asking you that, Rainbow Dash! I haven't seen you in weeks and then I hear you're in the hospital..." Scootaloo hung her head low after saying that.
Rainbow Dash scooted to her right on the bed and patted a spot to her left. "I'm sorry, Scootaloo. Here. Why don't you sit next to me and hten we can catch up with each other?"
Scootaloo's face brightened. "S-Sure!"
She eagerly jumped on the bed and cuddled close with her idol and sisterly-figure.
"Say..." Applejack started. "Why are you here, Apple Bloom? Why aren't ya helping out on the barn? They could use yer help, ya know?"
"I know, Applejack!" Apple Bloom cried out. "B-But I got permission to go! From Granny!"
Applejack was surprised. "Y'all sure ya ain't makin' excuses?"
"Of course she ain't, Applejack! Learn to trust yer little sister once in a while, will ya?"
"That voice!" Applejack exclaimed.
All ponies in the room took a look at the door to see a green elderly pony accompanied by a tall crimson red stallion.
"Granny? Big Mac? You too?" Apple Bloom asked in surprise.
"Eeyup." Big Mac replied with a smirk.
Once Granny Smith was a further into the room, she took a good look around to see that there's quite a crowd here. "My, oh my. What have we here? Quite a collection of ponies that are all here to see their injured friend. So colourful..." she cleared her throat. "Anyway, I was the one who gave her permission come see ya, Applejack."
"What about the hole in the roof, though? Is that fixed, yet?" Applejack asked, worried about the barn.
Granny Smith shook her head. "Nah. It's not. It's going to take the work of ponies of different skills to reach a hole that high. Big Mac's gonna break the whole roof if he sets foot up there and it's too dangerous for Apple Bloom to go up. Besides, she was very worried about ya, too, Applejack. So were we."
"But I wasn't the one who was injured!" Applejack said defensively.
"Have you even stopped by to say 'hello' or have something to eat at all today?" Granny Smith asked Applejack.
The latter sighed sadly. "No, Granny... I did not..."
Rainbow Dash came to her defence. "Hey! Come on! If she wasn't here, she wouldn't have taught me that awesome lesson!"
"Awesome lesson?" Everypony in the room asked.
"Hmm..." Twilight Sparkle scratched her chin for a moment. "I think there's a lot of questions all of us have for one another in here. However, I think it's best if Rainbow Dash explained to us what's going on here. That'll likely answer most of the questions."
Rainbow Dash groaned. "Fine... If I have to..."
Then, she shared her story. Mostly the same as how she told Applejack. How she had been skipping meals, skipping sleep, and skipping time with her friends because of her increased training. And then she told Applejack about the talk they had and about the lesson that she was taught by Big Mac and how it was passed down onto her. She especially emphasised the part where Applejack hit her face with her own hoof. She also recapped Applejack's backstory of how she learned the lesson of not to overexert yourself.
Everypony was surprised but others were jealous that they weren't around to hear it at the time when it was going on.
"Wow... I had no idea that Applejack could be so deep! Are you a wisepony in disguise?" Pinkie Pie asked Applejack.
The latter blushed. "Aw shucks, Pinkie. I ain't that clever, I can tell ya that much. But ya'll know something? I owe it all to one handsome stallion in this room. Big McIntosh over there." Applejack said as she pointed over in Big Mac's direction.
Big Mac quickly shook his head. "Nnnope."
"Don't be so modest, Big Mac! I wouldn't be around if y'all didn't rescue me from that awful heat! I love ya forever for that."
Big McIntosh tried feebly to hide a blush. "Shucks, Applejack. I just can't believe ya remembered that. That was years ago."
"Let's just be happy that we're all family and friends today, everypony!" Apple Bloom said as she jumped up and down twice.
"Pfft! Get out of here, Apple Bloom!" Applejack sarcastically said to her little filly sister as she waved a hoof at her.
Everypony in the room started laughing at the adorable little filly wearing a bow.
When the laughter died down, Rainbow Dash took a look at who was here for her. She smiled at the sight then looked at Scootaloo, who was still sitting next to her. "I can't believe you all still came to see me after I was a big jerk to you all. Still, I'm sorry that I messed up again and got myself back in here."
Twilight Sparkle took a few hoofsteps foward before saying to Rainbow Dash, "It's okay, really. I was once this way with my books, completely brushing off friendship before I became a Princess. Also, your best friends will always forgive you, Rainbow Dash. We know you always want to be at your best, but don't be afraid to ask for help once in a while. We might not be as fast as you, but I'm sure some of us can think of some way to help you."
Rainbow Dash averted her eyes from Twilight Sparkle and took a look around the room to see her other best friends all waving and smiling at her, signaling their support for her.
She opened her hooves and said to her five best friends, "I love you all."
"YAY! GROUP HUG!" Pinkie Pie yelled as she jumped into Rainbow Dash while Scootaloo quickly scrambled to get out of the way.
The others joined in the more traditional way of walking up and cuddling.