One. Two. Three.
These were the first seconds that spelled the end of the life I had come to known. A blue coat lay on the bed in front of me, going uncharacteristically cold. I told ponies who would ask how I felt, that I had been through Yakyakistan, and I had never felt anything so cold.
The first cohesive thought that came to mind was what I would do, or say to be exact. The others expected this to be one of her routine trips to the hospital. She was a usual guest, and even the staff thought it would be over soon. But, I never told them why she was here.
And I didn’t want to tell them. All I felt was seven eyes fall on me as I slowly walked out of that room. How I wished it was eight.
It all started a few years after I had taken the throne. Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna abdicated their rule, leaving me and my friends to rule Equestria from then on. Of course, I did get help from them occasionally, and they didn’t make themselves strangers to a visit. Nonetheless, I received a visit from one of my guards late in the afternoon. I should have known something was off with how he wouldn’t look me in the eyes too long, but I put that up to paranoia. I wasn’t a stranger to some of that, myself.
He had told me that the Canterlot Hospital was requesting my presence, and that it involved my friend, Rainbow Dash. I originally thought it was because she was going to have trouble paying her hospital bills, and needed some help. So, I left, leaving Starlight to keep a close eye over things while I was gone.
As I wandered up the street, I felt as if the whole city suddenly had its eyes on me. I would notice ponies glancing my way, but saying nothing at all. In all honesty, they didn’t know her outside of promotional material and shows, so their connection was limited. They could sense how close I was to her, though. My friends were the closest to family I had outside the immediate.
And my mind started to tell me to go faster. So I flew; still keeping a medium pace, not trying to act panicked in front of my citizens. I finally reached the front counter of the hospital, walking inside at a brisk pace, met by a doctor at the front desk. He ushered me back, and didn’t talk until we reached the room.
He gently let me know that I should have any loved ones I knew come in, as it wasn’t good news. He would give me a few minutes to see, but I was to send out the invites as soon as possible, but don’t spread the news just yet. I definitely questioned the secrecy. When I opened the door, that’s when I felt the train rolling through my mind.
Rainbow Dash lay in a familiar bed, the same she had stayed in so many times during the last few years. The only difference was the respirator, and the bandaging over her head. Spitfire was also there, head down. She had been crying for some time, it seemed.
She apologized profusely when she saw me, and I couldn’t stop her. I couldn’t even think for myself, and it got worse when Rainbow opened her eyes. Those eyes which had harbored so much pride, and unwavering strength. She looked broken, and defeated. I quickly shut the door behind me, quickly rushing over to her bedside, whispering; I asked profusely what happened, not even sure if I wanted to know the answer.
Spitfire said they were treating the Wonderbolts’ newest recruits to a reward, a field trip to anywhere they wanted to go. Of course, Rainbow Dash had spread news of her work with the weather facility in Cloudsdale, so quite a few new recruits wanted to take their field trip to the factory. And for the most part, it went quite well. That was until they got to a segment where most thunderclouds were produced, artificial.
Somepony had apparently failed to use the proper grounding procedures, leading to a dangerous discharge as soon as Rainbow stepped in the doors ahead of the others. She took the full brunt of the storms, lighting cascading all around her until it was forcefully ceased. Spitfire said Rainbow looked okay for the first few seconds, but then she kept collapsing.
And they rushed her here, due to the lack of a medical facility on that weather station. That’s when something began to show, and Rainbow Dash first faded. She had apparently passed out three times as the staff tried to stabilize her, and this was the best they could do.
I couldn’t help but hurry that letter out, for once not caring about my spelling, penmanship, or grammar. I got rid of it, and gently took Rainbow Dash’s hoof in mine. When I reflected on it later, I shouldn’t have kept it a secret. The doctor wanted to protect my friends, but it didn’t matter in the end.
And there I stay, holding Rainbow Dash’s hoof, and looking into her eye as I even started to apologize, myself. Spitfire couldn’t stay, she had to leave, rushing out the door. I sat close to Rainbow Dash, as a nurse came in to check on her, once more. That’s when Rainbow motioned weakly for me to remove her mask. I refused at first, until the nurse put her hoof on my shoulder, assuring me that it was okay.
I made it slow, trying not to hurt her anymore than she already was, and smiled the strongest smile I could muster in that moment. She said weakly to not let anypony else in; even at this moment, she didn’t want to ponies to see her weakened state. I gave her a nod, laying my head lightly against hers. I could hear wheezing, whenever I wasn’t sniffling.
I had to laugh a little when she weakly asked if I was wiping my muzzle in her mane. It hurt to laugh, but her soft smile made it a little better. I assured her I wasn’t, and that I was so sorry. She continued to assure me that it wasn’t anypony’s fault. She told me she couldn’t be sorry for anything, as she reached a point in her life that she never even had in mind.
She only wanted to join the Wonderbolts when I had met her, she would tell me. Over time she learned we were often working for much more than ourselves. All of Equestria came to know her name, and the town of Hope even idolized her to a high regard; so much so they thought her just being there would restore their town’s morale.
She said she didn’t want us to hold onto her pain, and make it out own. She wanted me to move on, and make sure that everypony saw strength in their leader. I was still holding her hoof when she took her last breath, and I started to count.
One. Two. Three.
It was the longest walk I had ever taken to that door, giving her one last look. She looked so relaxed, and she had made her peace. I hadn’t. I felt like there was so much more I had to say, but it wouldn’t come out through the choked sounds I was making.
The other’s picked up on that as soon as I stepped out. They no doubt were expecting my usual over-bearing worry, but I saw their smiles fade as soon as I stepped out. My eyes were already red from crying, and I saw my closest friends already on the verge. Her parents didn’t make it there, I have no doubt no one had gotten a hold of them, and I don’t blame them. Scootaloo was, however, and I saw her heartbreak right through her eyes. We didn’t stop her from running into the room, and nopony stopped me from running out of the hospital.
I spent three days in my room, from all accounts but mine. Rarity and Starlight took up the duties I had skipped out on to grieve. I had never felt a pain like it in all my time, and sadly, it wasn’t going to be the last of her. The day we lay her to rest back in Ponyville was the hardest. While I wanted to do Cloudsdale, due to her being raised there, I had to be convinced that burying a body beneath a moving city would be very difficult.
She was given a hero’s rest, I made sure of that. Her accomplishments were written in stone, and the Wonderbolts performed their first, completely free show for the town. I made certain Scootaloo was up front with Rainbow’s parents, and they never paid a bit for anything that day. Her parents were surprisingly upbeat, and were all about celebrating their daughter, and spreading her name even more. I admired that, but I knew they hurt just as much as I did.
Spitfire took Scootaloo for a surprise fitting, afterwards, giving her a Wonderbolt’s uniform of her own; as a surprise, and a memento, I had Rainbow’s cutie mark embossed in the uniform. She never let that uniform go, as long as she lived.
As for us, though harsh as it is to say, we moved on. With a kingdom to run, Rainbow Dash was left to rest at home, while we tried to pick up the pieces I left while shirking my duties. I received a last surprise from Celestia, and Luna. They led me to the end of the palace, where a statue was now outside in front of the hedge maze. I couldn’t help but break down, again. I think Celestia took my pain harder than I did, according to Luna.
Once, again, we did move on. I made it a habit for the next few years to visit that statue during my morning walks. I took several months before I could pass it without breaking down again, her broken eyes still haunting me whenever I would blink. And, no doubt, I sometimes swear I can catch a glimpse of her whenever I turn around.
Author's Note
By no means is a chapter finished just because it appears. I am personally prone to changing ideas, and some chapters could outright disappear. I did try to keep things as close to canon as possible, but when dealing with death, obviously that's gonna push up the rating, so I would at least consider this a PG story. I did not include overly gruesome, nor was gore permitted. I at least want most ages to be able to read this story.
I originally left this out of the notes so that I could get a feel for how people felt about the story, without it feeling like a total cash grab. However, I do like to be honest with you guys, and will admit that a brony needs help from time to time. So, I have a PayPal I use for donations while I am in search of work; I don't use Patreon, because outside of continuing the story, I really don't feel I have much to offer, and I know I am not the most consistent. So, with PayPal, you can donate, but not get stuck in a monthly payment plan with someone who gets frequent writer's block. If you feel like being a stranger, the donation link is paypal.me/mrforehead; this in no way affects how this story progresses. I will continue it regardless.
