Waiting Isn't All That Bad
Lyra sighed as her and Bon Bon waited in the Ponyville Doctor's Office. Lyra was there to get a yearly checkup and Bon Bon decided to join her, at least for the waiting. It was hard to separate them, and Bon Bon was willing to go along.
Nurse Sweetheart came into the waiting room and called another name. A stallion stood up and went back to the exam rooms with the Nurse.
"Well," said Bon Bon, "At least that's another one gone. You must be coming up rather soon, Ly."
"Yeah, I guess." Lyra wasn't sure exactly how much time had passed, but it certainly seemed like a lot. She really didn't like getting check-ups, and the anticipation was almost the worst part.
Suddenly, the bell from the front door rang and a mother with a filly came in. They were both earth ponies: the mother was shades of pink; her mane and tail were hot pink, with light pink streaks, done in curls. Her coat was a very pale pink and her cutie mark was a layered hot pink flower with white at the end of each petal. The filly had a white, light pink, and light orange mane done in short curly pigtails and her tail reflected that same curliness. Her coat was light purple, and surprisingly, the young filly had her cutie mark already. It was a light pink lily and a stalk of purple lilacs. The filly looked like she really didn't want to be there, and her eyes were red and puffy, as though she'd been crying.
Lyra heard the filly inhale with a stuffy nose several times as the mother checked in with the receptionist. A minute or so passed, but soon the two sat down in the chairs next to Lyra and Bon Bon. It was a busy day at the doctor's office, and those were the only two seats next to each other.
As the filly sat there, she began to tear up. The mother looked over at her child, and frowned. "Lily," she said, "I thought we were done with this. Yes, I know you don't like the doctor's, but it's for your own good."
Through small sobs, the filly, "Lily," said, "But sometimes they put needles in your arms! Then you feel all wobbly when you walk! And they listen to your heart and your breathing, and it's all so scary! I don't like it!"
The mother sighed. "Ly, you're being ridiculous..."
At the sound of the little girl being called Ly, Lyra couldn't help herself. She really wanted to try to help this filly in any way possible. But how?
"Hi!" She smiled at Lily and her mother, and waved a little."I'm Lyra Heartstrings, what are your names?"
Bon Bon looked over at what was happening, but just smiled and said, "I'm Bon Bon."
The mother smiled back, and said, "Hello Lyra, Bon Bon. I'm Pink Peony, and this is..." She left the sentence hanging so her daughter could finish it.
She sniffled. "I'm Lily Lilac."
"And that's Lily Lilac," Pink Peony confirmed.
Lyra looked down at the filly, who was starting to cry. "What's the matter?" She asked.
Lily managed to say, "The doctors are scary."
"Oh? Why?"
"I don't like them. They make me uncomfortable. They put that cold disk thingy on my chest, then make me breath, and then they put that thing in my ears, and sometimes, they even put needles in me! They hurt!" Lily looked genuinely scared.
"Oh, I understand. I don't like the doctors much, either," Lyra said.
Lily Lilac looked confused. "You don't?"
"No, I don't. But look at me."
"Look at you?" The filly asked. "Why?"
"Look, I'm a full-grown mare whether I like it or not, and I've gone to many, many more doctor's appointments than you. Even though I don't like them, I still made it through, right?" Lyra was trying to reason with Lily. Maybe she couldn't stop her from getting upset, but she could help this way.
"I... I guess so." Lily's face was starting to lighten up.
"And you, Lily Lilac, can make it through like me." She smiled and pointed with her hoof to the filly. "I have the confidence in you. All you need now is confidence, yourself."
Lily was now smiling, dimples in her cheeks. "Thanks, Lyra. You're really nice." She then stood up on the chair and gave Lyra a hug around her upper body.
Lyra started to giggle. "Thank you, Lily. You're a great girl, too."
As the two parted from their hug, Lyra looked around at Bon Bon and Pink Peony. They were both smiling very pleased smiles. Lyra pat Lily on the back. "You know," she said, "My nickname is Ly, too."
Lily gasped, "Really? That's so cool!"
Lyra snorted, "Thanks."
Pink Peony then spoke up. "Thank you so much, Lyra Heartstrings. You made both my and Lily Lilac's day. You really are somepony very special."
Lyra hadn't stopped smiling for a second. "You're welcome, Pink Peony. I'm glad to help. And thanks, you just made my day."
The door to the back opened. Nurse Redheart called out, "Lyra Heartstrings?"
The sea-green pony got up to go back. "Well," she said, "It seems I have to go. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lily, Peony. Both of you will have a special place in my heart. I hope to see you again soon."
Bon Bon, Pink Peony, and Lily Lilac waved as Nurse Redheart and Lyra walked out of the waiting room.
"Was that Lily Lilac?" The nurse asked.
"Yeah, it was," Lyra responded.
"How did you do it?"
"Do what, exactly?" Lyra cocked her head in confusion.
"Well, with Lily we always have problems with her being upset. But she, then, didn't even have a single tear in her eye! How did you get her to calm down?" Nurse Redheart was very intrigued... Lyra was a miracle-worker!
"Oh, I just talked to her, you know..."
"You just.. talked? Wow, she must really like you or something." Nurse Redheart laughed a little. "Maybe we're going to have to hire you for all of the kids!"
The two entered an exam room and Lyra got up on the table. Redheart shuffled a few papers around on the desk also in the room. "Darn it!" She said. "I guess I left some of your papers in the office. Let me go and grab them quickly, just stay here, please." Nurse Redheart ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Lyra sighed. No matter what, there always seemed like there was some waiting to do. Maybe Lyra could calm down some hysterical cotton balls to pass the time.