Family Day

****

                            Muffled speech filled the air as Rainbow Dash slowly regained consciousness. Soon the voices got louder till they were loud enough to be so familiar yet so indistinct. There was a sound of a door, then another group of familiar voices, finally the hushing of the voices and quiet sighs of relief. Everything became clear to hear.

                             At first she sat up rapidly, causing pain to her injured muscles and plastered head. There also was soft bandaging around her right forearm and one of her hooves were in a cast. Rubbing her side, stopping once she noticed each her friends, watching silently as they to had no words, they were all here. She absorbed the feeling of her surroundings. She scanned the hospital room, it was already sunset. The day was almost complete. An urgent thought came to her mind.

"Where's the filly?? Is she okay??" Rainbow asked worringly.

"Perfectly fine thanks to you" Twilight smiled. "She only has a few cuts and bruises, nothing that can't be treated."

Rainbow now relieved relaxed her back, slowly this time, so a to not cause any discomfort.

A slightly timid voice arose " That was very brave of you Rainbow"

"But don't you ever scare us like that again!" warned AppleJack.

"Yes dear, you really should be more careful, we know you meant well. But we're just lucky that things went the way they did."

The crowd nodded in agreement.

"Fine, fine." Rainbow said dismissively, though deep down she was overjoyed that her friends cared that much and the smile that played on her muzzle made it no secret to anypony either.

                               Rainbow observed the room again noticing a few get well cards placed on the window sill, the books and bag that she'd dropped in order to save Scootaloo, were stacked neatly beside the bed. Her smile faltered as she let out a grand sigh.

"Sorry to have spoiled your day guys"

"Oh it's quite alright darling, we consulted our families before coming here. Beside you're just as important, best friends are always like a second family to oneself."

"I appreciate it all, really. Rainbow insisted. "But I can't be the reason that you all had to cut your day short."

"Oh there's no such thing Dashie, it's not like we're strangers" Pinkie assured.

" I know that much"

Fluttershy added "Don't worry, they'll und-"

"No.... why don't you understand, I mean...for how long will you keep doing this? Every year you all appear to take pity, I know you all don't mind, I know they don't mind either, but it'd be easier if they did. It wouldn't feel right to be included on a day like this, I just... wouldn't belong. So thank you but..."

"No thank you??" AppleJack finished.

                               Rainbow's head lowered a bit, she hated shouting at her friends like that. After all they were only trying to help.

"I'm sorry"

                              With that they headed for door, naturally they weren't angry. They knew Rainbow was hot-headed and being with her for so many years this routine managed to pop up very frequently, even when it wasn't on Family Day.

                               She rolled over onto her left side, which didn't hurt, and cupped the pillow around her head.

"Here Dashie" spoke Pinkie quietly. "We made this just in case you wanted a change in menu" she left a tall cylinder metal canister on the nightstand Rainbow was facing before joining the others at the door. Leaving, they closed the door behind them

                                The door opened again.

"Go away!"

                                There was no response.

"I said, GO AWAY!" Rainbow immediately sat upright and chucked the pillow she was using at the door.

                               Time froze as she gaped at the door, it was slightly closed undoubtedly being used as defence mechanism against the flying pillow. A familiar face peeked through the space that was left, exposing a piece of their fringe which was curled at the tip and a slight reddish-purple in colour. The pony gave Rainbow the impression that it was short in height.

"Wait, wait, wait!!." she yelled as the door began to close a bit more, the small figure felt frightened and unwelcome.

                                The door opened once again, this time wide open fully revealing the familiarly small pony.

"Ehh, you can come in if you want?"

                                Rainbow patted an empty space on the bed, motioning for the filly to sit. At first she hesitated, still a bit shocked by the fluffy, whiteness that was thrown at her. Picking the pillow up she walked over to Rainbow and soon found herself sitting on the bed.

                                 Her head was still bowed with the same expression she had on this morning, she was still silent and she emitted and awkward vibe.

"So what brings you here?" Rainbow questioned as she started toying with the lamp on her right nightstand, switching it on and off.

"Shouldn't you be with your family?" she asked, unknowingly sounding cold to Scootaloo.

                                Silence

"Do they know you're here?" Rainbow asked again this time she didn't want to sound hostile, not wanting her own sadness to get the better of her attitude.

                               When she found there was no reply she turned to the filly who's face was now filled with what looked like a waterfall flowing from each eye as her head stared downwards, the drops landed on the pillow wetting it as they came in contact with the fabric. Some of the emotion that was being kept in began to show and Rainbow realising the power of her words began to feel guilt.

"I'm sorry I caused you trouble!" Scootaloo blurted. "It's all my fault! I let them get to me!" The tears began to fall faster but her face remained expressionless from what Rainbow could observe.

"You don't have to be sorry, I didn't mean to sound so rude. Honestly." apologised Rainbow. "I saw those two treated you and I could tell that it certainly wasn't your fault, bullies will always be bullies."

"But I should've looked where I was going! Or at least I should've seen all this coming!"

"You mean it happens often?"

                             Scootaloo nodded as her tears began to calm down. Still not looking Rainbow in the eye.

"Don't you have anyone to tell?"

"O-Only my friends... but they left early"

Of course!. Rainbow recalled some info"You're Scootaloo aren't you? Friend of Applebloom and Sweetie Belle."

"H-how do you kn-. right" she too remembering the countless times they'd seen each other. But they never getting a chance to have an official meeting.

"What about an adult like a parent or guardian??"

                             There was more silence for a moment.

".......I...I-I don't have any...."

                             At first Rainbow couldn't understand, but with a bit of call to mind, everything became crystal.

"Is that what they were teasing you about?" now being able sympathise with Scootaloo.

                           Scootaloo nodded shamefully "That and...other things"

                           Though they both knew what those things were, Rainbow didn't want to risk hurting the filly anymore than she had.

"I didn't mean to"

"It's ok" she smiling that 'it's not like anybody actually cares about me' type smile.

"Well to be honest, today wasn't any good for me either" Rainbow bragged. Somehow being able to relate to Scootaloo so much, her comfortable enough to share her secrets with her, well only some, Scootaloo wasn't worthy of hearing every secret, not yet.

"How so??" Scootaloo looked up, surprised. "Oh, sorry. I'm probably being really nosy"

"Not at all actually, maybe it's time I told someone."

"Really!!??" Scootaloo asked completely stunned.

"Yup" Rainbow thought telling someone else would make herself upset, but her friends were right, it helped take the weight off her shoulders.

                              The sun was still setting as the sky kept its calming orange-pink colour. Both marvelled at the window before Scootaloo began to un mount from the bed.

"Wait, where're you going kid?"

"I better move, thank you for everything. And I'm sorry for causing trouble" There was a hint of sadness in her voice as she spoke.

"At this time, on your own??"

"I'm used to it, it's not that far"

                              Rainbow gave Scootaloo a stern look to which Scootaloo couldn't argue with, she couldn't get out of this one. She let up a slight groan as a sign of surrender returned to the spot where she sat.

"Seems like we have a lot in common. You know the day isn't over yet, and I'm not letting you go anywhere unsupervised how about we become sisters...just for a day" they looked at the sun, still setting. "Or whatever's left of it. Of course if-"

                            Rainbow sentence was interrupted as Scootaloo glomped her, and began to sob softly. Rainbow patted her back, calming Scootaloo's tears and apparently setting off her own in the process, upon seeing this Scootaloo began crying again and they both consoled each other. A caring moment was shared between the two.

                           Once they'd expressed their feelings, Rainbow reached out for the canister Pinkie had left for her.

"So, Are you up for a feast?"

Scootaloo's tummy growled. "Uh, maybe??"

They both laughed and began to eat. Sharing stories, exchanging thoughts. For the first time they both forgot their troubles as they both found someone to share it with. The void had been filled.

Soon night time fell upon them as the rested soundly. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

****