Sweetie Belle's eyes opened fast and big. The pain in her neck and head was still throbbing. She opened and closed her mouth several times, trying to wet it but came with the same result of dryness each time. She wiped the sweat off her head and coughed slightly.
"Oh darling, are you okay?" Rarity rushed through the door carrying water. Sweetie Belle took the glass of water gladly, trying to swallow the substance was difficult, but she managed. "What an awful bug. You should not breathe on anyone at school, you might get them sick." Sweetie Belle moaned.
"I don't know if I can go to school today, sis." Sweetie said and coughed again. Rarity jumped back.
"Don't cough on me!” She paused to look at her sister. “You really feel that awful?”
"It's worse than the whooping cough!" Rarity grimaced.
"That bad huh? Maybe I should send you home to mom and..." She trailed off.
"No!" Sweetie Belle squeaked.
"Then a doctor's appointment if not that." Sweetie Belle groaned again. "Cheer up, you'll be fixed up in no time." She smiled up at her older sister.
"I love you, ya know that?"
"Yes, I love you too, Belle."
"Cancer?!" Rarity wailed and flopped over onto the floor. "How is this possible, there must be some mistake!"
"I'm afraid not maim." The doctor said.
"Can't she get chemo or something?"
"Well...yes. But that would take months, it might not even work-"
"I'll take it!" Rarity shouted.
"And it doesn't fit your paycheck..." Rarity looked at him, her glare hardening.
"I have friends who can help, I can work extra hard."
"Well then, yes you can take it. But...don't you want to tell her." Rarity paused surprised.
"Oh... yes, yes, of course." She mumbled. "Right, of course she'd have to know."
"Cancer?!" Sweetie Belle screeched. "How is this possible, there must be some mistake." How could this be happening to her? Rarity looked at her with sad eyes, which were pouring water out like a fountain.
"I'm going to get chemo for you." Rarity said trying to reassure her distressed sister. Sweetie Belle was surprised when Rarity stuffed a spoonful of her ice cream into her mouth.
"Thank you." Sweetie Belle mumbled the food still in her mouth. It was vanilla oat swirl, Sweetie Belle's favorite. "Can I still live with you?" Sweetie said worry starting to come back into her voice, she coughed a little. Rarity's eyes started to squeeze shut, she opened them again with a sigh.
"No." She said her voice cracking. The words stung. "But I'll visit you as much as I can." Sweetie paused.
"Can you send a letter to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo?" Rarity smiled at her younger sister's sweetness.
"Of course, I'll send one to everypony." Sweetie Belle beamed in appreciation. "You know what sis?" Sweetie asked.
"What?"
"I'm glad I got my cutie mark." Rarity smiled even bigger, tears swelling in her eyes. She embraced Sweetie with a hug.
"Me too." She sniffled. Questions swarmed in Sweetie's brain; Am I going to die? Why can't I go to school anymore? Will anypony even care? Will Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tease me? Will I lose my hair? Will I ever see Scootaloo again, she's at the wonderbolt academy, so will I ever see her, ever? Her headache was starting to come back. Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to talk, but was interrupted by a bout of coughs. Rarity's body started to shake as she tried not to cry again.
"Sis?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I be left alone right now?" Rarity pulled away shocked.
"What?!" She sputtered. "Be-be left alone? At a time like this?...Alright, if that's what you want. I suppose I have to tell some ponies about...Just holler if you need me." Rarity squeezed her hoof and walked out the door. As soon as the door shut, fear took over Sweetie Belle.
"I don't want to die." She started to sob. "I don't want to die."
