The 21st of June. The day Celestia got her sister back. The day that Twilight became a princess. The day that Discord was defeated. Today everyone was happy! But for Hoops and Dumbbell today was even better. The day they got their cutiemarks, and the day they got married. Three years ago today. The day would go like this: they would wake up and go to work after eating cake. When Hoops and Dumbbell got home from work they would head over to the biggest party place in the world! At little charge they provide food, a great party, and gift bags! They would see their friend Score they have not seen in over 12 years. Ever since he became a professional goofball player, its hard to reach him. It would be the best party ever! Then they would head home and have a smaller party of friends in their apartment. Then head off to bed. It would be the best day ever.
The alarm rang. It was 6:30 AM, and they both had to wake up. Hoops worked at the weather factory well Dumbbell worked at a school for foals. He was known as the apprentice of the teacher. These foals were very nice. Though not all of them got along, but it was a very fun job. While Hoops just made clouds the whole day. It was simple, put the mixture made by the previous station and add water. Then pours it into the cloud machine. He does it 163,742 times a day. But today was different. Hoops walked into work and went to his locker. Suddenly there was a loud explosion. Hoops ran over to where the noise came from. The cloud machine had burst. The one that exploded was the one that no one used. It was the one no one had used in 4 years. It was close to bursting. Everyday, getting worse. Until yesterday. It stopped getting worse and everyone thought it was done. I guess today was the day to finally happened. Hoops ran and tried to save the other stallion. But since the building was burning, it was almost impossible. But he had to try. Hoops ran passed the burning debris on the floor. Suddenly, another machine exploded. This place was coming down and fast. He grabbed the stallions hoof. Then the worst happened. A piece of the roof, fell. Right on top of Hoops. He is fast, but could not get out of this. His hoof got stuck. There was no way out.
Meanwhile, The day was going fine for Dumbbell. He had gotten a raise and now was on his lunch break. Suddenly all the TV's in the cafe where interrupted by breaking news. The news about the weather Factory. Dumbbell knew that Hoops was not hurt. He knew he could get out of there if he got stuck. Suddenly, they said that two stallions were missing. Their names, Hoops and Cloud Breaker. Dumbbell was stuck with shock. He was frozen. What felt like years was only a matter of seconds and DumbBell snapped out of it. The weather factory was down the street. Dumbbell left without warning. Not caring about his job. His tears quickly flew off his face as he ran. He saw the building. He was to late. The whole building collapsed. The police searched through the wreckage, not letting anyone through. He did not care. He burst through the tape. The police screaming and hollering. But he did not care. He went were the old cloud loading place was. Were Hoops worked. He searched for about 20 seconds before the police came over. He explained the situation but they still did not let him in. He pleaded. He cried but the police did not budge. So he had to watch from 10 meters away. He watched, and watched, and watched some more. Until one section they summoned more police and started moving boards. DumbBell watched as they struggled to move the boards. Suddenly, they all reached down and grabbed some thing. They all heaved and huffed and finally pulled out the first pony. Covered in ash. But he coughed a couple times and seemed alright. Obviously had a broken wing, and a broken leg. They pulled another ash covered pony out. Quick as a bug they loaded them into the ambulance and left. He knew one of them was Hoops. It had to be. Why would they all suddenly leave. I mean only two pony were missing. So it had to be him. Right?
Two hours later DumbBell walked into the hospital. The clerk at the desk asked who he was. But he had not asked in hours. So when he tried he broke out in tears. He cried, falling onto the ground. Shaking and screaming. The clerk came over and tried to calm him. She walked him over to the chairs and let him cry. He cried and cried. For what felt like hours. Until he was finally ready to talk. He told her that he was Dumbbell, here for Hoops. She asked how she knew him. He had to explain they were married. Which he was never that comfortable talking about it. Then a nurse came and walked him down. She told him everything was alright. But that she didnt know what had happened. She opened and door and he was lying there. Limp as a cow on sleep meds. he opened one eye and smiled. He could not speak. The ash had polluted his lungs to much. Dumbbell burst out crying when he noticed that something as wrong. Hoops left wing was, half gone. Only half of it remained. The doctor came in.
"Oh hi. It seems your 'friend' is-" The doctor came closer and whispered in Dumbbells ear, "Not as good as normal. His wing won't grow back. We are going to have to amputate it and give him a robotic wing. He doesn't know yet. Thats a good thing. If he knew he could have a heart attack. Stress attack to be exact."
"What H-Happened?" Dumbbell stammered
"Well you see, the old cloud mixture machine was always making noises. One day it stopped. Yesterday to be exact. Today it exploded. Making the others explode. You friend must have somehow had gotten trapped in the rubble." He exclaimed. Dumbbell was dumbfounded. This whole time hoops was just watching as they spoke. He had wires and burn marks all around him. Then the doctor ushered him out. It was time for Hoops to go to bed. Dumbbell kissed Hoops cheek and left. The walk home was agonizing. As well as the lonely house. Dumbbell decided to go to sleep. But he could not sleep. This was the worst, day Ever.
The next day was the day of the surgery. It was time. They wanted it to happen earlier than later. If it happened later he might have noticed his wing. Right now he hasn't. As for the party last night? It was canceled, everything. Last minute everyone turned around and had to stay home. But it made sense. Dumbbell had gotten work off. He called at 3:37 am, no one picked up but it still went to a voicemail. Dumbbell nervously trotted into the hospital. Ponies being wheeled around everywhere. It seemed happy. But in reality, it was just depressed ponies being served like a king. He went up to the nurse at the desk. Luckily it was a different nurse than yesterday, if it was her it would have been very awkward. He told her who he was here for. He waited for an answer. She went through papers. Then made a satisfying find in the pile. She stood up, and beckoned for the other nurse. It was her, the one he had collapsed on the floor crying. She told him that she was going to take him to Hoop’s room. They started to trot to the room. Dumbbell, closely following her. Then she stopped and grabbed a key out of her pocket. She put it in the lock. She fiddled with it until she finally got the door open.
“This is Hoops. If you need anything let me know. I am Nurse Redheart.” She told Dumbbell. Then, she trotted down the hall to another patient's room. One thing that was weird was that she was a earth pony in a cloud hospital. But she had a spell around her. I guess it was like that one time Twilight Sparkle had cast a spell so she could walk on clouds. Anyway, back to the story. Dumbbell sat down in the swivel chair. He started talking about, things. Just plain old random things. Knowing he could not respond he just would wait for a nod or a shake. An hour had passed when the doctor came in.
“Dumbbell, it's time to go.” The doctor said.
“Is it time already for the-,” Dumbbell whispered. “Surgery?”
“Yes, it is, you need to leave.” The doctor replied.
“Okay, See you later Hoops.” Dumbbell waved goodbye. Then, a couple seconds after he left the room, he saw Hoop’s getting wheeled into the surgery room. It would be a five hour surgery. Those five hours, Dumbbell was going to wait in the waiting room. He was going to be one of the first to see him.
Minutes turned into hours. Hours into even more hours. Dumbbell just sat there when finally the nurse came over. She asked if he wanted anything to eat or drink. Dumbbell had not even thought about his own needs and right when she said that, he got hungry. He nodded in response. She told him to follow her. They trotted, and trotted. Until they finally reached the food court. It was massive. Food shops everywhere. Dumbbell ran off to his favorite restaurant, The hayburger store! It’s a place where you only have hayburgers and fries. Oh and of course, lemonade and mountain pony. It was so good to eat again! Dumbbell thought. It had been more than 24 hours since his last meal at school. He finished up and headed back into the waiting room. He waited a bit longer then out of nowhere the doctor comes.
“I knew you would still be here, well to ease your worrying, the surgery was successful!” The doctor said nicely.
“Can I go see him?” Dumbbell asked kindly.
“Sure, follow me.” The doctor replied. Dumbbell got up, and started trotting, again. Then he stopped at the room, the doctor opened the door and sure enough, there Hoops was, iron wing and everything. He was sleeping. Then the doctor pulled him out.
“He will be released in two days. The wing was the only broken problem we found. Do you want to tell him tomorrow about his wing? Or me?” The doctor told Dumbbell giving him two choices.
“I will tell him. I will be here at 9:30 AM.” Dumbbell answered.
“Great! See you then!” The doctor waved goodbye as Dumbbell trotted down the hall, back to his home. Where he could sleep knowing Hoops was okay.
