[Classic] The Scootaloo Diaries

Rainbow glanced down at Twilight, who was happily snoring away. She calmly smiled and laughed under her breath, the events Scootaloo faced pushed Rainbow towards a new sense of appreciation for what she's found. She ran her hoof across Twilight's cheek and brushed the mane out of her face. Such a gentle and warm side of Rainbow Dash was a rare sight, and she was sure to keep it that way. She was beginning to realize that maybe Twilight brought out the best in her.

Putting her romantic thoughts aside, she decided to continue reading before she got too tired. These next entries were of particular interest to her. She turned the page and lost her smile as she began reading away.

I woke up today in a strange yet familiar place. It was terrifying, I had no idea where I was or why I was in so much pain. I looked around and didn't recognize a single face. It was a horrible feeling, to be surrounded by ponies but still feel completely alone. I didn't realize it at first, but I was in the Ponyville Emergency Room. I could barely see and my wing was killing me. I leaned up and looked at the lights overhead, they were blindingly bright and I couldn't focus with them shining into my eyes. I laid back down and covered my face with my hooves, then a doctor came up to me.

"Hello there little one, my name is Doctor Stitch, and I'll be taking care of you today." Doctor Stitch? That sounded like some kind of serial killer or something from a horror film.

That's when it hit me, I was in a hospital. I felt my left wing throbbing as I tried to lean up. The doctor yelled at me to take it easy but I was determined to get a look for myself. When I saw it I nearly fainted, there was blood everywhere, soaking my bed-sheets. I could feel a tear between my wing and my body as I stretched it forward. The thing was nearly entirely ripped off, well at least it felt that way. I felt like I was about to cry but held it in as I tucked my wing back down.

"Please Scootaloo, don't do that. You need to leave your wing down while the tear heals. The stitches can only hold so much pressure, I don't need you popping them, alright?" My mind was racing trying to figure out what happened, I couldn't remember anything.

I felt dizzy, my head was spinning like a record and I couldn't get a grasp on reality. I had to ask, "What happened to me?"

Talking was difficult, I felt like I was about to drool while I attempted to form words. Apparently I'd been dosed with quite a bit of pain meds. I glanced around the room. There were two others in here with similarly brutal injuries. I realized something terrible had happened.

"There was an accident with the storm. A tornado formed and did a lot of damage to Southern Ponyville. A few houses were demolished, yours included. You're lucky to be alive, Scootaloo." Lucky to be alive? I think I grinned, I felt like grinning anyway. That was a laugh.

"Is Cheerilee around?" I hoped.

"Sorry, but no visitors are permitted to enter the ICU at this time." I still wanted to know.

"I just want to know if she's here or not, can you tell me?" I don't know why I cared so much, I guess I just wanted to know if she was worried about me.

"Um, I'll go check. Just a moment." A nurse trotted out and came back a few minutes later.

"Yes, there are quite a few visitors trying to see you right now. They'll have to wait, but among them is Cheerilee." That was a relief.

I felt like writing, so I asked for a notepad or something. I really hoped my journal was still intact after the storm. I'd have to go digging as soon as I could get up. I jotted down my feelings and everything, then copied them down into this later.

The next day I got moved into the recovery unit. I was able to see my friends and everyone. It was pretty great. I really missed Cheerilee after spending last night alone. I just wasn't used to that anymore. The biggest and best surprise I got was Rainbow Dash coming to see me. I was so happy, I still can't believe she came. It felt so good to know that she cared and was worried about me. I expected Cheerilee to care, but Rainbow Dash... It's just different, it was the best feeling I could imagine.

I remember when she crashed a couple summers ago. She was unconscious for three days, and I kept sneaking out of the house so I could spend as much time next to her as I could. I just wanted to make sure that she didn't wake up alone. I felt terrible when I woke up alone, I'm not sure how much time has passed, but I bet if she could have, she would have been here for me.

When she woke up, I was the first pony she saw and I started crying. I was so glad to see her eyes again, it was scary seeing her so hurt. I hugged onto her and she hugged me back, I was happy to have been there for her like that. I wonder if she knows how much that moment meant to me.

Now that she was here, she was able to return the favor and make sure I didn't feel alone. Cheerilee disappeared right after Rainbow came in for some reason, but I didn't really mind. It was nice that it was just the two of us for a while.

"Hey kiddo, how's the wing?" She spoke pretty quietly and something was clearly on her mind.

"Been better." I laughed, trying my best to make her feel comfortable.

She seemed to have tears in her eyes and her lip was quivering. I never could have imagined why. She trotted up to me and placed her hoof on my cheek.

"I'm so sorry Scootaloo. I didn't mean it..." She was crying and she hugged onto me tightly.

All I could do was hug her back. Seeing her like this broke my heart but I needed to know what was going on. This wasn't the Dash I knew.

"It's alright, don't worry about it. What happened though?" I asked, hoping to find some answers.

"I... I caused the tornado. I didn't mean to, I was just trying to... trying to hurry." Her sobbing was getting in the way of her words.

"Shh shh, it's alright Dash, I know you'd never hurt me on purpose." Seeing such a strong pony brought to tears like this was tearing me up inside.

I wished she didn't feel so bad, I never once blamed her for anything that happened. Even if it was her fault, I could never hold it against her. She's my friend, and I care about her too much to ever let anything come between us. As long as she was there for me, I had a home and someone to confide in. I just want her to know how I feel. I know she's usually too busy for me, but when she's around, my life is just better. I really do love her, I've never cared for a pony the way I care for her. She's everything to me, she's like a distant goal that I strive to reach, a mare that I hope to become. She represents a point in my life when I'll know exactly who I am and who I want to be. She's who I am and who I want to be, she's me, only perfect.

I know I have to push through these hard times on my own, but once I get past them, I'll be a better mare.

Rainbow's tears dotted the page. She wiped her face with a hoof and laid down on the pillow. Why didn't you ever tell me this Scoot? I'd have taken you in. I'd have done anything you needed me to, you never have to be on your own, you know that...

Rainbow turned the page and wiped her eyes again. These recalled emotions were much stronger than she anticipated.

"Well I'm here for you now Scoot, if you need a place or anything, just... just let me know and I'll take care of you." Those words made me feel at ease, to know that I'll have a place to go and someone to take care of me if I need it.

I wished I could return the favor, but I didn't have much to offer. "Thanks Dash, that really means a lot to me."

She just nodded and stood next to me looking sad for a while. After a while she ended up taking a seat and looking around. It felt awkward but I didn't know what to say.

Then she decided to break the silence. "So how's school going?"

"Dash, it's the middle of summer."

"Oh, yeah, right."

Then back to silence. It didn't take too long before she said something else, then we had small conversations about a few things. She asked how my mom was doing, I really didn't want to talk about it but I figured I might as well. I explained where she was and what was happening. Then once again we were both silent.

I felt bad, I know she wanted to make me feel comfortable, but she was doing the opposite. I hated the thought of her feeling obligated to stay here with me even though she didn't want to.

"Go ahead and leave if you want to, I'll be fine." I really hoped she'd want to stay, but I wasn't about to make her.

"Oh are you sure? I can let you get some sleep if you want." It seemed like an obvious excuse, just her way of leaving without feeling guilty.

"Yeah, I could use a nap." Considering I had only been up for a few hours, I really wasn't tired at all. But she was quick to jump up and head out anyway.

Then I was alone, it was pretty late after Rainbow left and visiting hours were over. It was fine at first, but then my stupid thoughts started ruining the comfortable silence. It seemed that Rainbow didn't really care after all, that she was only here because she felt guilty. I kept fighting those thoughts, trying to convince myself that they weren't true, but the more I thought, the more obvious it became. That's why she was so quick to leave me alone, and all she wanted to talk about was how she could make up for what happened. Offering me a place to stay and telling me how sorry she was.

It was a painful revelation, but who am I kidding?

I spent the rest of the day alone and I'm tired of writing. My wing is killing me and I need more sleep.

~Scootaloo, out-

Rainbow wanted to shout at Scootaloo through the pages that it wasn't true, she really did care but she was just uncomfortable and not used to that sort of thing. Frustrated, she turned to the next entry.

Today started out pretty crappy, they cleaned my wound and reset my joint. I guess they found me beneath an old bookshelf buried under a pile of debris. It was really painful but I knew it had to be done. Afterwards, to my surprise, Rainbow came back. She trotted in bright and early, it was just after eight in the morning. I could hardly believe it, I guess she did care, or maybe she was feeling guilty again. I don't know, but I was glad to see her.

"Good morning Scoot, feelin better today?" She asked letting out a long drawn out yawn, I could only smile and nod.

She came up to me and wrapped a hoof around my head to give me a quick hug after setting a saddle bag down next to the visitor's chair. I was able to sit up now while I ate my breakfast. It was some pretty gross stuff, but I was starving. Rainbow had a grin on her face while she watched me choke down that cheap hospital food.

"What are you lookin at?" I'm not sure where my attitude was coming from, but I felt pretty irritable.

"Nothin', so when do you think you'll get to leave?" I just shrugged and kept eating.

She was staring at me strangely so I stopped mid-chew to answer. "I'm not sure, they haven't really said anything, but I'm feeling better so probably soon." I hoped that was true, I had a lot of things to attend to as soon as I got out.

Just then a nurse came trotting in and Rainbow decided to ask her. She said soon depending on my next examination. I sighed and assumed I'd be here a while, just my luck. As she trotted off, Silver Spoon came trotting in. I had a pit in my stomach and wasn't quite sure how to react. I wondered what she had to say now.

She trotted up to me and kept looking down. "Are you okay?"

I put on a bright smile patted her mane. "Of course I am, I can handle anything."

It felt funny. I was bandaged up in a hospital bed with a torn wing and I was still the one doing the cheering up. She looked terrible though, I guess she was worried. I can relate because I know I'd feel awful if it were her or Cheerilee that got hurt. I hugged her and hoped Rainbow wouldn't find it strange.

"I'm glad you're alright, I was really worried about you Scootaloo." She really touched my heart, and I'm glad the Cheerilee incident seemed to be off her mind.

"Don't worry about me, I've got Rainbow Dash watching my back. Go ahead and go home now so I can get some sleep. I'll go see you as soon as I can, alright?" I just wanted to get her out of here before she got too touchy in front of Dash.

"Oh, okay." She leaned up into my ear and whispered, "I love you."

I held onto her for a little longer and resisted the urge to kiss her. Then she trotted off and wiped her eyes after looking back, probably making sure I didn't change my mind and want her to stay. If it weren't for Rainbow I'd have made her stay with me all day.

Once we were alone I told Dash to shut the door, I was really looking forward to spending time with her, and I was curious as to what she brought with her.

"So what's in the bag?" I had to know.

"A surprise, this helped me get through the boredom when I was stuck in the hospital. I figured you'd like these too." She reached into the bag and pulled out a book.

I was a bit skeptical at first. "Daring Do?" I read the title, it sounded awful.

"Save it, I know what you're thinking because I thought the same thing." She pulled the chair up next to the bed.

I rolled my eyes and scooted as close to her as I could. She was sitting on the arm of the chair and wrapped her hoof around me as she rested the book on her leg and turned the first page. Then she cleared her throat and began reading.

I don't know if it was as enticing a book as she thought it was, but it was alright. More than anything, I loved the fact that she was here with me, taking time out of her life to make mine better. I can never truly tell her how much that means to me, especially during this part of my life. Not the injury, but my depression. The things that I've been doing lately really weighed in on my heart, and the way my friends have been getting hurt and hurting themselves made it worse. But as long as Rainbow was with me, none of that mattered. She took my pain away, and replaced it with solice.

It was a wonderful day thanks to her, and it flew by. The doctor said I looked good and was healing nicely. As long as my next checkup went well then I'd be able to leave tomorrow morning.

Well here's me hoping, ~Scootaloo, out-

Rainbow brushed her hoof across the page with a teary eyed smile. At the time she was only trying to make Scootaloo's stay at the hospital easier, she never realized how much of an impact she actually made on the filly's life. Now more than ever, she felt like visiting Scoot again. It had been a while since the last time they spent any time together, and if their time together was that meaningful, then surely their time apart was hard on her.

She recalled the next day quite vividly, and always wondered what Scootaloo thought about it. Excited to find out, she turned the page and kept on reading.