ER

The Waiting Room

As the chilly climate of the room kept the live bodies under a comfortable amount of stress, the “Main Six,” along with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, waited outside the surgery rooms with no information regarding the current state of Scootaloo. Fearing the worst, even Pinkie Pie, who is usually the most energetic pony under any situation, is feeling the unbearable weight of tension that surrounds the entire group as she sits quietly humming “Giggle at the Ghostie” in a nerious tone. To which it kept herself calm and in a single mind set.

Rainbow Dash on the other hoof, twitching her legs and gritting her teeth as she continuously changes her facial expression between cool and collective to absolute panic, couldn’t stay still. Her mind is racing a million-to-nothing with thoughts and concerns for Scootaloo. Consuming her brain with images of a happy little pegasus that dreamed of flying with her in the skies above Ponyville while also earning her right not to be called a “Blank Flank” anymore. However all those mental pictures keep recycling back to the most important thought, her meaning to Rainbow Dash.

Breaking the silence, she speaks up and asks, “Hey guys, you think Scoots is going to be ok?”

“I think so,” said Sweetie Belle, walking over to coax Rainbow Dash, “I mean, she is very head-strong and courageous. Therefore, I’m sure we have nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “And not to mention she’s the toughest Crusader out of all three of us.”

“True,” noded Sweetie Belle.

Dash sighs, “Oh, ok... Just wondering.”

A moment of silence goes by until Twilight Sparkle acts upon Rainbow Dash’s emotional state by nudging her.

Rainbow Dash reacts with a short, “What?”

“Hey… I think I’m going through the same concerns you are feeling right now as well,” said Twilight, trying to relate to her.

Dash is confused, “What? Wait… What do you mean by that?”

Twilight responds, “I mean, you and me are scared from not knowing the specific details of Scootaloo’s condition.”

Rainbow Dash was slightly offended by her statement. “Scared of not knowing? Sseehh… I’m not scared from that! I’m just… Hoping that Scootaloo is ok.” She cracks an agonized grin, not hiding the obvious lie she told.

Applejack, immediately suspicious of Rainbow Dash’s behavior, asks, “Are you sure sugar-cube? I mean you haven’t been able to sit still since we got here.”

Dash hastily replies, with her eyes looking left and right, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Alright,” Applejack and Twilight replied.

As the entire group fell silent, time began to affect Rainbow Dash as she slowly rocks her head back and forth. Checking the clock on the wall almost every minute, the same images and thoughts from before crept back into her mind while slowly turning her into a hesitant wreck. Before long, the rising agony inside Rainbow Dash made her want to scream. However, she still tried to keep herself calm.

Sadly, after another hour passes by, she finally cracked and blurted out, “Guys! I’m really scared.”

“No kidding. I feel the same way too, Rainbow Dash,” said Fluttershy.

“No... I’m like... Really, really scared because,” Dash pauses, unable to finish what she was about to say. Instead, she clenches her face in angst.

“Because why? Rainbow Dash?” asked Rarity, persuading her to talk.

She refused, failing to come to peace with her thoughts as her inner turmoil continued to push her further and further to admitting the truth.

Pinkie Pie exclaims, “Oh, come on Rainbow Dash! Let it out!”

She gives in, “Because well,” Dash struggles to speak, “I don’t know what else to say except... I guess, Twi, you were right. I can’t take the pain of not exactly knowing what is going on.” Tears began to shedded around her eyes.

Twilight leans over and holds Rainbow Dash by her hoofs. Comforting her, “I told you, buddy. Besides, I think we all feel the same way. But for right now, we need to remain strong for her until we find out the results.”

Sobbing, Rainbow Dash agrees.

Just then, the double doors swung open as an entire group of doctors emerged to confront Twilight. As her group lifts themselves out of their seats, the surgeons, lead by Dr. Red Heart, come over to shake Twilight’s hoof while motioning the entire party to sit back down. Afterwards, the news they have been waiting for is finally delivered.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Dr. Red Heart addresses while bowing to her, “On the behalf of the entire hospital, we are honored to have you here a guest… Despite the current situation.”

“Thank you very much Doctor.” Twilight bows back in respect, “Now how is our patient, Scootaloo, doing?”

Clearing his throat before speaking in a professional manner, “Yes, ummm. As for Scootaloo. From what I can tell, we were able to completely remove the spikes from her body.”

The entire group, excluding the doctors, breathed a heavy sigh of alleviation as they felt some weight lift off their shoulders.

The Doctor continues his address, “However, it was discovered that two of the spikes have torn through the sides of her lungs, causing both of them to collapse. While we do have her on a mechanical ventilator at the moment, I regret to inform that the damage to her lungs are pretty severe and we are not optimistic on her survival. However, another twenty-four hours will tell.”

Rainbow Dash wasn’t happy to hear that, “You mean she could… Die?”

Dr. Red Heart responds with contrition, “I’m sorry, but it’s not in my will to tell you that. However if any of you want to visit her, she has been moved into one of our intensive care rooms for now as we monitor her health.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Twilight replied.

“No problem. Any more questions?”

They all remained quiet.

Dr. Red Heart gives Twilight pieces of documentation that display Scootaloo’s room number. Afterwards, the surgeons left to let the “Mane Six,” Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle soak in the information that was told. Once again, another moment of silence ensued over the entire group before they decided to go and visit Scoots.

Upon getting out of their seats, Twilight notices Rainbow Dash’s refusal to move. She questions her intentions.

Dash responds with a firm voice, “I’m not going to come with you guys.”

Rarity was disturbed by her answer, “Why, Rainbow Dash? Do you not want to see her?”

“Yes I do!” She pleaded, “It’s just that... I want to visit her alone. Is that ok?”

“Umm,” Fluttershy wasn’t completely convinced on her plans, “Well, are you sure-”

Dash interrupts her, “Yes, Fluttershy. I’m sure.” She then explains with a slight bitterness in her tone, “It’s just something I believe I need to do alone. Alright?”

Fluttershy squeals, “Alright.”

Everyone else looked at each other, still not understanding why Rainbow Dash wants to see Scootaloo alone. However, Twilight chooses to respect Rainbow’s wishes as she asks her to remain in the waiting room while they all go and see Scootaloo first. Rainbow Dash agreed with the plan, letting her friends proceed through the double doors after Twilight hands Rainbow Dash the documents that were given to her from Dr. Red Heart.

“She will be in your hoofs once were done with her,” said Twilight.

***

Following the visit from almost the entire posie, they returned to the waiting room to find Rainbow Dash holding an intense stare at a picture she has in her hoofs. Showing a confused facial expression, Twilight decides to wave her hoof in between Dash’s face and the image of Scootaloo. This manages to break Rainbow Dash’s concentration as she notices Twilight and the rest of the gang’s arrival back in the waiting room.

“So are you ready?” asked Twilight.

“I think so… No, wait. I know so,” replied a confident Rainbow Dash.