Shattered Dreams

A gentle breeze sailed in through the open window of the hospital room. It was quiet. The even beeping of the monitor was clear as day. Rainbowdash could even hear Scootaloo’s soft breathing as the filly rested under the thin white sheets.

The storm had ended. In fact, it had ended a week ago. Dash had to keep reminding herself of that. Her mind wanted to tell her it was just yesterday. It said, “It was just yesterday you scarred the young filly’s life and body because you decided to fly over the Everfree Forest.”

The sound of the door creaking open jerked Rainbowdash from her thoughts. Quietly, a young nurse walked in. A checklist was wrapped carefully in her magic as she peered into the small room.

“Just tell me. How bad is it?” Rainbowdash murmured.

There was a moment of silence before the nurse spoke. “You must be Miss Dash. I’m Nurse Warmlight. I’m the one that’s been looking after her. I’m glad we finally get to meet.”

“How bad is it?” Rainbowdash repeated. “And don’t ramble on about how she’s fine, because she’s not. I don’t give a flying feather about your excuses.”

Nurse Warmlight’s eyes hardened for a moment, but they immediately softened again. Closing the door with her back hoof, she gently set the checklist on a counter and placed a hoof delicately on Scootaloo’s forehead. Even from where she was seated, Rainbowdash could easily see the sweat crawling down the filly’s face.

“Scootaloo’s wings were broken when she crashed.” stated Nurse Warmlight. Rainbowdash suppressed a growl of frustration and tightened her crossed legs. She didn’t need to be told that Scootaloo’s wings were injured. It was obvious that they would be. “The bones are twisted and snapped, and her muscles are torn. I don’t see her ever flying again. I’m sorry, Miss Dash.”

Rainbowdash rocked her feet. After a moment, she looked up and met the nurse in the eyes. “Is there anything we can do?” Pain cloaked her voice, and her stomach felt heavy as a boulder. There had to be something!

Nurse Warmlight was silent. The seconds felt like hours, and what happened next made Rainbowdash regret asking.

Nurse Warmlight rolled back the covers that hid Scootaloo’s lower body from view. The orange filly moaned and her feeble hooves numbly reached for the warmth of the blankets. Twisted and jumbled feathers lay crushed at her sides, and Rainbowdash held her breath as she spotted small bones breaking through the thin flesh here and there. Dried blood crusted overtop of the mangled feathers.

“She won’t be leaving the hospital anytime soon I’m afraid. And she’s been mumbling in her sleep about a ghost. I’m worried she’s gone delusional.” Warmlight murmured, mostly to herself.

Rainbowdash slipped off the chair and tottered to the bedside, where she carefully cradled Scootaloo’s head in her hooves. “Where are her parents? Why haven’t I seen them here?”

“Her parents refuse to take responsibility for her.” Nurse Warmlight looked over to the counter pulled the clip board towards her with her magic. She appeared to be checking something over. When she looked to Rainbowdash again, her eyes were deeply troubled. “They refuse to pay for her to be taken care of. It’s been hard enough to keep her here as it is. I’m afraid I won’t be able to convince the hospital to let her stay much longer.”

“Will you except money from others? What if I got the bits! I can, just give me some time!” Rainbowdash was practically in Nurse Warmlight’s face. She would do anything to fix the mess she created. Even if she emptied her wallet, it didn’t matter.

“Well, I suppose-”

Nurse Warmlight’s response was cut off by a soft groan. Scootaloo’s eyes fluttered open slowly, and the orange filly murmured drowsy gibberish. Rainbowdash shivered as she realized Scootaloo had never been awake while she was there. How would she explain what had happened, and did Scootaloo even know?

“Rainbowdash?”

That was the only thing Rainbowdash heard, and she was already crying. With a big hug, she crushed Scootaloo’s body into her own.

“Rainbowdash, I can’t breathe!”

Shocked, she set Scootaloo back against the pillow. Apologetically, Rainbowdash grinned at Warmlight, but the nurse just smiled back. Secretly, Nurse Warmlight was happy that Scootaloo had someone that really cared for her, even if it wasn’t her parents.

“Scootaloo,” Warmlight said softly. “There is something you need to know. I wanted to wait for someone to be here, so you can hear it with them.”

Rainbowdash’s head hung, and she thought she would scream when Scootaloo pushed herself into a sitting position and shrugged impatiently. “I just want to leave the hospital and wait for my wings to heal! If I’m going to be like Rainbowdash, I have to practice!”

“Scootaloo, dear, please just hear what I have to say. After that, we’ll get you settled, and hopefully find a room for you.” Nurse Warmlight said quickly, pulling the covers over Scootaloo’s bear legs. The only thing keeping the filly warm was a fragile green hospital gown. By the looks of it, it was thin as paper.

“But I don’t want a room, I want to fly!” Scootaloo argued.

“Scootaloo, stop, please.” Rainbowdash murmured. She just couldn’t take it anymore. “Scootaloo you won’t fly okay, it’s my fault! I’m sorry! When we were flying above the Everfree Forest, there was a flash storm and you were swept away from me! I tried to catch you, I really did, but you crashed and now your wings are destroyed!”

Scootaloo stared open mouthed at her shredded idol. Her mouth hung open numbly, and when she brushed her hoof against her side, she felt the smashed and cluttered feathers hanging limply. Her body started to shiver. She wasn’t prepared, not yet.

Rainbowdash was sobbing, and Scootaloo could feel tears brimming her own eyes.She couldn’t cry, or at least she wouldn’t. Looking back to Nurse Warmlight she asked, “Is it true? Will I never fly?”

Nurse Warmlight just nodded. “I’m sorry, Scootaloo. It’s true.” For the umpteenth time, the nurse looked at her notes. “I wanted to ask you a rather serious question Scootaloo.”

Even in the dark moment, Scootaloo’s curiosity poked through. “What is it?”

“Well, there is a surgery I wanted to try. We would remove your wings, since you can’t use them anymore, it would be best. With how they are currently, they could become infected. They’ll be in the way.”

“Get rid of them?” That was impossible, there was no way she was going to get rid of her wings! They made her special, they were what made her Scootaloo! Getting rid of them would be tearing away a piece of herself and throwing it in the trash! “No!” She yelled in protest. She wouldn’t do that, she would find a way to fix the problem! “No!”

“Scootaloo, please understand. There isn’t anything you can do. This surgery is the safest option, it will keep you alive and healthy, don’t you want that?” The nurse’s eyes were almost pleading, and Scootaloo could see her yellow mane starting to spring up with worry.

“I-I don’t think I want to make that decision right now, I just want to think.”

Warmlight nodded. “Alright,” she said. “But there is one problem you’ll need to consider. The surgery is . . . rather difficult. It will be very expensive, and I’m afraid I can’t get your parents to pay for it. We have no way of getting the bits necessary. The hospital refuses to pay for it.”

Everything was falling apart. Scootaloo hadn’t wanted the surgery, but as least it had been an option. Now if she changed her mind, it wouldn’t even be doable.

“I told you I would pay for it.” Rainbowdash spoke up. “So why did you have to go and say that huh?” Her voice was dark as Luna’s night. Scootaloo shrugged back under the covers. She really didn’t mind that the nurse had brought up her parents, she didn’t care all that much about the subject anymore. But how was Rainbow supposed to know that?

A gust swept through the window and the lights flickered. Nurse Warmlight chose to ignore Rainbowdash’s threat. Slowly, she pulled the window shut and told Rainbowdash that it was time for the visitors to leave.

Rainbow growled quietly under her breath, gave Scootaloo a quick goodbye, and slugged out the door. Nurse Warmlight watched her leave before turning back to Scootaloo. “I’ll be leaving for a second.” She said. “Feel free to ring the bell if you need any help, I’ll be back with some food shortly.”

Scootaloo looked to the bedside table and discovered a small golden bell. Rolling over, she picked it up and waved it gently in the air. A soft chime echoed from it’s center and Nurse Warmlight smiled warmly. Scootaloo returned her grin and watched, slightly anxious, as the unicorn left the room.

Everything was finally quiet. Scootaloo didn’t like the quiet at that moment. It gave her too much time to think. he would never fly again, and they were possibly going to cut off her wings.

Instantly she let her gaze soar across the room, looking for the spirit that had warned her of her fate. And she was indeed there, standing in the corner, with wings that looked shredded and a mane that was sloppily falling over her shoulders. There seemed to be a few bald spots too, Scootaloo noticed. Places where the pegasus had torn out her own hair.

The older mare walked towards Scootaloo, and the filly shuddered, pulling up the covers like a shield. There was no one here to help her, but she wasn’t going to let the ghost hurt her!

“Scootaloo, I’m not going to hurt you. Have I ever done anything except warn you of your fate?” The spirit said as it stood at her bedside. The older mare covered Scootaloo’s hoof with her own faded one. Cold seeped from where the two hooves connected, and Scootaloo looked into the spirits eyes.

“What about when you tried to hurt me when I was flying down from Rainbow’s house!” The memory was still fresh, and the feeling of hooves yanking out her wings burned like a fire in her mind.

“That wasn’t me Scootaloo, that was your imagination. I didn’t do that.”

Scootaloo didn’t want to hear what the spirit had to say, she didn’t believe a word of it! She wasn’t crazy! Hatred for the ghoul radiated from her body and she rang the bell harshly. The sweet hum was no more. Instead, a wailing ring shrieked from the small object.

Nurse Warmlight was in the room within seconds, a tray in her magical grasp. The white unicorn quickly made her way towards Scootaloo and rested the tray on the bed. “Are you alright?”

Scootaloo blinked with confusion, the ghost was gone. With a frown she shook her head and wiped her forehead. “I just, got a little freaked out I guess . . .”

“That’s alright dear, it’s hard being here alone. But I’m here, alright? It’s my job to help you. We set you up for a therapy session with Doctor. Dreamcloud tomorrow, alright? You just eat your meal and get a good rest.”

Scootaloo flared with anger, she wasn’t crazy! But she did need to talk about her wings, so she calmed her rising blood and nodded. The food looked to good to pass up anyways. Warmlight had given her a warm bowl of rise, along with some beans and even a cookie on the side.

“Do you want me to stay with you for a while?” Nurse Warmlight said quietly.

Scootaloo looked at the nurse and smiled. “That would be nice.” She didn’t want to be alone right now, and having the nurse around seemed like a comforting thought.