Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watched as Scootaloo climbed into a tree near their clubhouse. Earlier, Scootaloo had mentioned her intention to attempt to fly and her friends had given her their support right away. However, neither Apple Bloom nor Sweetie Belle had expected it to be this dangerous. Considering Scootaloo had a knack for putting herself in dangerous situations they probably should have known better.
“Alright, here I go,” she said as she stopped at a particularly high branch.
“Uh, Scootaloo,” said Apple Bloom, “would you like a rope just in case?”
“I don’t need a rope,” she said and with that she jumped off the branch and began to flap her wings.
For a moment Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle thought she would make it. However, it soon became clear that gravity was bringing Scootaloo back to earth. There was a loud thud as her body hit the ground and she didn’t move as a result of the pain. Her friends ran over as soon as she hit the ground and saw she wasn’t moving.
“Are you all right?” said Apple Bloom.
“That was a pretty nasty hit,” said Sweetie Belle, “but at least you’re not covered in pine needles and tree sap”.
Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle as she touched Apple Bloom’s hoof in order to get her attention and pointed at Scootaloo. It was then that Apple Bloom figured out why Scootaloo wasn’t moving that much. Her leg was twisted in ways it shouldn’t be and there was an alarming amount of blood scattered around it. She wanted to kick herself for letting her friend carry out this foolish stunt but it was too late for that now, leaving Sweetie Belle to look after Scootaloo she ran off to find Applejack.
“Scootaloo, don’t move, Apple Bloom ran off to get help,” said Sweetie Belle wondering if her friend was even conscious.
She turned to hear hooves running up the path at full gallop, fortunately it was Applejack. Apple Bloom was behind her a little ways trying to keep up. Sweetie Belle looked down at Scootaloo again and her broken leg but not for long, she couldn’t stand the sight of blood. At least her friend, despite the extensive damage to her leg, was still breathing.
“What happened?” said Applejack as she looked at Scootaloo.
“Well, Scootaloo wanted to attempt to fly so she climbed up a tree…” began Sweetie Belle.
“And?” asked Applejack.
“Well, when she jumped off that branch,” said Sweetie Belle pointing to the branch she was referring to, “we all thought she would make it but unfortunately she didn’t”.
“We’ll have to take her to the hospital in your wagon,” said Applejack.
Sweetie Belle ran off to fetch the wagon she and Apple Bloom rode in while Scootaloo had towed them with her scooter. She didn’t miss the fact that their roles were now reversed and like Apple Bloom regretted letting her friend jump out of that tree. Once she dragged the wagon over Applejack gently placed Scootaloo inside with a pillow under her head that Apple Bloom had retrieved from the clubhouse. She didn’t dare touch her leg; she felt she could only do more harm than good.
The trip to the hospital was a blur for Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Fortunately, Scootaloo was not bleeding as much and she was still breathing, unfortunately she had not moved or said anything since the accident. The nurses immediately took Scootaloo into the emergency room once they arrived, clearly they knew what they were doing which relieved Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
“I have to go back to the farm although I wish I could stay,” said Applejack.
“That’s okay,” said Apple Bloom looking more than little depressed.
“Thank you Applejack,” said Sweetie Belle who was on the verge of tears.
“Good luck guys,” said Applejack as she walked out the door leaving Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to do the only job they could do: wait. They sat on the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the waiting room watching as nurses, doctors, and patients filed in and out of the hospital. The world was oblivious to their existence but that didn’t matter to them, they had tuned everything out but the plight of their friend. Hours ticked by but they were willing to wait 1,000 years if the situation demanded it.
The images of Scootaloo’s leg were still present in Apple Bloom’s mind and as hard as she tried she couldn’t get them out of her head. She wondered how she had failed to notice it at first, she knew the fall was bad but she didn’t think it was that bad. Maybe she had known what was going on but had tuned it out as a coping mechanism until Sweetie Belle brought her back to earth. She wished she could tune it out as easily as she had back then.
Sweetie Belle had dissolved into a puddle of tears almost as soon as Applejack had left. Apple Bloom had put her hoof around her shoulder in an attempt to calm her but had been pushed away. Unlike Apple Bloom, the images of Scootaloo’s mangled leg did not keep repeating in her mind. However, she cried uncontrollably thinking that her friend was going to die.
After what seemed like an eternity a doctor emerged from the emergency room and walked over to them. Covered in sweat he was using his magic to levitate a clipboard and a pen. Once he finished writing he put down the clipboard and pen and looked at them with exhausted eyes. Sweetie Belle had stopped crying and the awful images of Scootaloo’s injury had evaporated from Apple Bloom’s mind as a result of the suspense. Both were hoping for good news but not expecting it given the extent of the injury.
“Your friend is going to make it,” he said finally.
Apple Bloom’s heart soared when she heard the news and Sweetie Belle broke into a smile. Still, there was one burning question on Apple Bloom’s mind, one that she had to ask. From the look on Sweetie Belle’s face she was thinking the same thing she was: How bad was the damage? Would Scootaloo lose her leg?
“She’ll recover fully although she may walk with a limp for a little while,” continued the doctor.
“Can we see her?” asked Apple Bloom, who was on the edge of her seat.
“She’s been through a lot so I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until tomorrow,” replied the doctor.
“Are you sure?” asked Apple Bloom.
“We’ve been worried sick about her all afternoon,” finished Sweetie Belle.
“You’ll have to wait I’m afraid but as I said she should recover fully,” said the doctor.
“What time does the hospital open for visitors?” asked Apple Bloom.
“9 A.M.,” replied the doctor.
“We’ll be there,” replied Apple Bloom paying no attention to the fact that she had school tomorrow.
Both fillies emerged from the hospital and after saying goodbye to each other began to head home. Night was falling across Equestria as the moon slowly rose higher into the sky. The fact that Scootaloo was going to be alright, if the doctor was correct, lifted their spirits but they refused to talk about it with their families. Exhausted from the day’s events they refused supper and immediately went to bed.
