Comatose

The rainbow maned mare walked gloomily down the Ponyville street, her hooves hitting the pavement like a metronome. Her mane fell effortlessly in front of her face, but the pony made no attempts to move it. She was of no importance to her, but everything else was

"Pinkie...I'm so sorry..." She whispered, she looked up and noticed all the happy and grinning ponies that she passed by. Talking and giggling with their friends, joking around. It broke Rainbow Dash's heart. It reminded her of everything that they used to do together. She remembered those fun little pranks that her and Pinkie used to play on the townsfolk. Everyone, including Pinkie and Rainbow, thought they were a riot.

Her breathing came to a halt for a moment as soon as she realized that there wouldn't be anyone that could replace Pinkie Pie.

She tried not to cry. Not now. She didn't want to break down in the middle of town. Although she DID have a reputation to keep up, but right now she didn't care. She wanted to hang out with Pinkie. She cursed at herself. How could I have been so stupid? Chosen a stupid book over my good friend? I deserve to have her taken away!

Wait! Rainbow how could you think that!?

Well, actually it is kind of true...

"GAH!" She screamed outloud, the ponies nearby jumped before stopping to look at Rainbow Dash in confusion, who just blushed timidly before carrying on her way. The voices in her head were fighting. She was surprised that she didn't see an angel or a demon pony on either of her shoulders trying to fill her head full of good, and bad.

She left the hospital, she didn't know why. But she just couldn't stay there. She had to leave, or else she would have literally lost it. Rarity was lucky. Rainbow bet the other three were lucky as well...they didn't have to live with the pain. Rainbow knew that they were indeed hurt by what was going on in some way, but she didn't know the extent of it. What she did know, was that if Pinkie never woke up, she'll never be able to live with herself.

She walked down the street, gloomily taking her time. She wasn't in a rush anyways. She was sure that they'd be home. They never really leave their home, especially with all the responsibility that they have. She thought about them. What if they didn't know yet? How will they react...

Her destination, unfortunately, was on the other side of town. But that didn't matter to Rainbow. She didn't have anything more important to do anyways. Especially not her book. Which she did, indeed, finish. The ending wasn't as good as she thought it was going to be anyways...

It took her a longer time than she'd hoped to get there, but it was her own fault, as she walked as slowly as she could while still actually staying in motion. She looked up at the large, pink building, and the sign that was hung up in front of it. "SugarCube Corner!"

Rainbow Dash remembered all the good times her and Pinkie had here. One time they had a strawberry-flavored cupcake eating contest, it was needless to say that she lost. And even after Rainbow Dash unwillingly admitted defeat, she still kept on eating cupcakes. Saying things like "What? You're done already?" and "Wow! These are the best cupcakes I've ever eaten in my life!". Rainbow Dash would have laughed along with her if she wasn't so bloated.

She was about to walk in, but she hesitated. What if they didn't know? What if she had to break the news to them...Rainbow Dash doesn't know if she wants to ruin someones day with miserable news, even though it was increasingly important.

She walked inside of SugarCube Corner, and was immediately met with the bright smile of Mrs. Cake. "Rainbow Dash! Hello!" She said, moving various cupcakes and other sweets around her shop on her back. It seemed very heavy to Rainbow Dash, but she didn't ask about it. Must be an Earth Pony thing.

"Hey, Mrs. Cake!" Rainbow Dash said, trying to sound as happy as possible, fortunately, Rainbow Dash isn't very good at faking, and Mrs. Cake saw right through her charade within moments.

"Are you alright dear? Would you like a free cupcake to make you feel better?" Mrs. Cake said. Rainbow knew that Mrs. Cake has been watching over her kids a little TOO much, because the way she said that to her made her think that she was a five year old. Mrs. Cake pulled a cupcake out from one of the unopened boxes and handed it to her politely. "Here! Take it!"

Rainbow looked at it, before realizing what flavor it was. Strawberry. She instinctively knocked it out of Mrs. Cakes hooves onto the floor. Sprinkles and frosting littered the floor at their hooves. Rainbow Dash blushed for the second time within a timespan of 45 minutes. Today just isn't my day...

"Rainbow! Why did you do that?" Mrs. Cake said, sadly. Rainbow realized who was initially going to be the one to have to clean up, and quickly apologized to her, multiple times.

"Oh no! I am so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm really sorry..." She pleaded. Mrs. Cake couldn't help but snicker.

"Oh, that's alright. Nothing to worry about at all! Just got to grab a cloth and we can have this cleaned up in a moment." Mrs. Cake said, putting down the many boxes she was carrying and walking into the employee only area of the shop. Rainbow looked around awkwardly. Luckily, Mrs. Cake returned within seconds and quickly cleaned up the floor, which was now spotless.

"Again, I'm really sorry. That was rude of me..." Rainbow apologized again. I need to stop hanging out with Fluttershy so much...

"Rainbow Dash, it's fine." Mrs. Cake responded, putting the now dirty rag down on a nearby table.

"Hey, hun, what's going on out here?" Mr. Cake said, coming out from the employee only area behind the shop.

"Hey Mr. Cake." Rainbow Dash said politely. Trying to move the attention away from what she had just done. Her blush began to fade at this point.

"What'd I miss?" He asked, giving Rainbow Dash a kind and welcoming smile.

"Um, not much...eheh..." Rainbow Dash responded, the blush once again appearing. Mrs. Cake found Rainbow's embarrassment to be amusing, and tried to contain a laugh, barely succeeding.

" Ah, well what brings you here Rainbow Dash?" Mr. Cake asked her, shrugging a little bit.

Good question...

"Well, I was just wondering if you knew..." Rainbow gulped. She REALLY hoped they already knew about it. "about what happened to...Pinkie Pie." She could barely make out the words without choking up. Just saying or mentioning her name makes her want to shed a few tears. But she didn't to save face.

Mr. and Mrs. Cake eyed each other worriedly, almost as if they were speaking to each other telepathically. Rainbow Dash mentally gave a relieved sigh, she already knew just by their reactions that they had already known.

"Uh...why yes we have." Mrs. Cake said for her husband. Mrs. Cake looked upset, but she didn't cry. Rainbow Dash wondered why not. Maybe it was just not in her to cry at something like this, even though it sounds, and is itself, unusual.

"Oh okay, I was just making sure. I'm kind of glad you are, I really didn't want to have to inform you guys in case you didn't." Rainbow dash said honestly, looking down at her hooves. Mr. Cake couldn't help but nod at her sincerity.

"I know what you mean. We were devasted when we found out. We visited her late last night, when the kids were still asleep." Mr. Cake said. Rainbow Dash expected as much, Pinkie was almost like a child to them. That's when Rainbow Dash was reminded of the kids, Pound and Pumpkin Cake. Rainbow didn't even want to get started thinking about that, because she knew that that would just make her upset. So she forced herself to push those thoughts into the back of her mind, where she would hopefully never find them.

"I came over here wondering something, do you guys know what actually happened to her? I mean why she's in the hospital..." Rainbow Dash said, hoping to get a serious answer out of the two of them. Neither of the Cakes said anything for a moment. They all just sat there, in total silence. Rainbow Dash remembered at times like these, Pinkie would pop out of nowhere and say completely random- Get a hold of yourself, Dashie!

"Um..." Mrs. Cake finally spoke up, her friendly and happy-go-lucky tone turning to one of those that reminded Rainbow of sorrow. "Well, yes...and no..."

Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up, for the first time in a while, with hope. "What happened? Please tell me. I really need to know." She begged, not caring about saving face anymore as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Mrs. Cake only sighed and looked at her husband, who could only nod back at her. She groan echoed throughout the empty shop, as she opened her mouth in explanation.

"Well, in the hospital, we couldn't seem to find a doctor anywhere..." She paused for a second before continuing. "But I read a clipboard near Pinkie's hospital bed. It said "Blunt Force Trauma induced Coma..."

Rainbow's jaw dropped. "What..how!?" She couldn't even ask the question properly.

"I have no idea. Like I said, there was no doctor around to give us any details." Mrs. Cake responded.

Rainbow Dash wanted to cry, but didn't. She wanted to know more. How did Pinkie get hit on the head? Well, she might have gotten dropped on her head when she was a filly, but that didn't count. Some kind of accident maybe? Or...someone tried to...

"She was attacked?" Rainbow Dash said, unknowingly coming to the same exact conclusion as Applejack. Mr. Cake walked out of the room, to let the two mares talk in peace. He didn't want to be there.

"No one knows, except Pinkie. Or maybe a doctor. Both of which are unaccessible." Mrs. Cake said, Rainbow Dash noticed a hint of anger in her voice as she spoke. Maybe she was just as upset and Rainbow Dash after all.

"That clipboard...what else did it say?" Rainbow Dash said, eagerly scooting a little closer to Mrs. Cake, who took a step back away from the anticipating pony. Mrs. Cake tried to think of a way out of this one.

"Uh..." Mrs. Cake looked at the clock. "Oh! The cupcakes are done in the over, I have to go grab them, I'll be right back~" She said as she started to walk away, but Rainbow Dash help her back.

Rainbow looked into Mrs. Cake's eyes and put her heart and soul into the next words that she was about to say. "Mrs. Cake. Pinkie and I are best friends. She means the world to me, and I'd do anything to get her back. Especially after the last thing I told her before she ended up in the hospital was to 'Go away'. Now, if there is anything that can tell me a little bit more about what happened to her, I would be very happy." She said, her eyes still watering. Mrs. Cake looked down, a tear now rolling down her own cheek now. She didn't want to tell Rainbow, it would just break her heart. But it looked like she didn't have a choice.

"A-alright...there was one more thing on the clipboard..." She said, not looking at Rainbow Dash anymore. She couldn't bear to do it.

"Yes?"

"It said 'Time of Awakening" on it as well..." Rainbow Dash felt another glimmer of hope. Maybe she'll wake up soon! "But..." That word. That one word. That one word that can make someone feel instant misery, the word "But". Rainbow Dash's excitement fell. "It said 'Unknown'." Mrs. Cake waited for the onslaught of tears that she expected from Rainbow Dash. But none came.

Rainbow stood there, unmoving. Her mind racing. "U-Unknown!?" She asked her. She was surprised when she didn't cry when she was told this. Just one of those things...

Does this mean, there's a chance that I'll never see her again...?

Mrs. Cake didn't respond to her initial reaction, her mind full of regret after telling her this information. But what's done it done, it's too late to take it back.

It took a second, but the tears silently started to fall down her face. She walked over and hugged Mrs. Cake. She needed someone to hold her for moment. Usually Pinkie does that for her, but...there may not be another chance. She looked Mrs. Cake straight in the face and thanked her for telling her what she knew. Mrs. Cake didn't utter a word out of response.

Rainbow Dash headed for the door, Mrs. Cake not even trying to stop her, only making a whispery "Bye" as she walked out of SugarCube Corner. Mrs. Cake walked into the employee only area of the shop after picking up her boxes that she left on the floor. "I knew it was a mistake to tell her that..." She said, calling after her husband.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash knew what to do now. She knew about Pinkie, she just didn't know how it happened, and she knew how she was going to find out as well. She was determined now. She wasn't going to leave Pinkie's side, even if she is in her state for a month. No, a year. No! FIVE years! Even longer if she had to! She was going to stay by her side. She was loyal to all her friends, and Pinkie was no exception.