What If: My Second Life

CHAPTER 21: A Not So Happy Reunion

Author's Note: Sorry for that last chapter guys. To clear this up, that song is amazing! I love it to death!I'm listening to it right now as I write! Coal even listens to the damn song! Relax, it's not going to be every chapter that something like that is going to happen. Also, guys, that was a NIGHTMARE. Not the REAL THING. I ain't killing off Jace that easily.

“AHHH!” I shot up into a sitting position on my bed, breathing hard. I looked around and realized I was in the hospital. Right...My wounds...Fuck...What kind of fucking dream was that?! That wasn't a dream, that was a NIGHTMARE. It felt so real though!

I laid back on the bed Nurse Tenderheart rushed in to see what the screaming was about. “Are you alright?!” I nodded slowly and tried to speak but my chest hurt like Hell. The jerky movements I just did were starting to come back now in the form of pain. Oh my LORD did it hurt! It felt like someone was taking a sword dipped in lava and was slicing my chest.

“Well, good. I thought your wounds opened up again. You're lucky Big Mac came in with you when he did. You were bleeding like I've never seen!” She trotted over to the bed and picked up his medical sheet on the end of the bed. “Hmmm...You've been in here before for just getting those wounds from Big Mac...” I nodded in her direction.

“Well, glad to see you two worked out your differences. I have to go check on other patients. Just hit the button on the side of your bed if you need anything.” Just like that, she left out the door and closed it behind her. Well shit, now I'm bored.

I could hear talking from behind the curtain next to me. Meh, I got nothing better to do. Let's eavesdrop. Wait...Is that Dashie's voice? Wait...Scoots? Uhhh...Am I gonna hear...

“...Coal.” I said his name softly so he possibly wouldn't hear. The pain in my chest had subsided and now I was just laying there, racing possibilities in my head to have a perfectly good explanation to why he would be in the damn hospital. I passed him early today..Or was that yesterday? Fuck, I don't know how long I've been in here for. When I passed him, he looked fine! A little tired, but that was it! He didn't have a scratch on him.

I contemplated opening the curtain but I laid off. I just kept to my thoughts. I thought I heard my name a couple times but didn't pay much attention to it. Then I heard Scoots voice from behind the curtain.

“Coal...C-can I call you dad and Jace uncle?”

Oh my Lord.. Did I just hear what I think I just heard?

“You would make us both so very happy if you would...I don't know where Jace is...He hasn't stopped by to see me yet. Some friend he is.”

W-WHAT?! SOME FRIEND I AM?! WHY THAT...FUCKIT! I reached out and grabbed the curtain, then pretty much threw it so it slid on the rail and it was wide open. “What was that about me being 'some kind of friend?'”

* * * *

"H-hey Scoots! I-I didn't see you there!" Dash greeted her nervously.

"Hey Scootaloo! Thanks for stopping by. I was hoping I would get to see you before too long.""Ohhhh hell~ how much did she see~!?"

"D-Dash!?...w-what were you doing o-on C-Coal!?"

We both stared at Scootaloo in horror. That was definitely what you wouldn't call a...public moment. Thankfully Dash managed to take charge of the situation.

"Well Scoots...you know Coal likes hugs right?"

"S-sure..."

"They make him feel better...and I was on him trying to give him a hug, but it was kind of awkward..."

"O-oh...I see. Whew! For a second there it looked like you and Coal were kissing!"

I nearly choked! "That is some imagination you have there Scootaloo."

"Yeah I know...but I was kinda hoping you two were kissing..."

I did choke this time..."Aha! Ok Scootaloo; I'm not sure I want to know this one..."

"Well...since you're kinda like my dad now...if you and Dash were together...then she would be like my mom!" At the end of her sentence Scootaloo put on a big smile and flapped her wings in excitement.

Dash was somehow managing to stay very composed. I don't know if she was embarrassed or not, but I was very thankful she was at least in control of herself.

"Hehe, you're a funny squirt Scoots. I'm gonna take off; bye Scoots..." she turns to me and gives me a little wink "...bye Coal."

I start turning red again and she chuckles a bit to herself. On her way out she rubs the top of Scootaloo's head before leaving.

I then turn my attention to Scootaloo. She was watching Dash fly off...and then it hit me. She called me 'dad'. Not really, but close enough to make my mind go blank. "Scootaloo..."

"Yeah Coal?" She said still looking after Dash.

"Did...did you just call me dad?"

Her ears dropped and she started twiddling her hooves. "I-is that bad?"

"No! No of course not...it makes me really happy is all..."

She turns to look at me. Her big purple eyes were looking a little moist. I was a little scared she would start to cry again. I'm in the hospital after having just gotten done kissing my personal hero and fantasy. Going from that to crying little filly would break my neck because of whiplash!

"R-really? I know that you said you would take care of me...and that you loved me, but..."

"I don't know what's on your mind Scootaloo, but don't worry about it. Now come on over here and give me a hug. I don't think I can have this conversation with you all the way over there."

She put on a small smile and walked over to the side of the bed. With some flaps from her wings and a big jump from the ground; she made just enough altitude to make it on the bed. She curled up next to me and rested her head on my chest. I put my hand on her back and started rubbing her wings. Wings are actually a lot softer than they look (and they look pretty damn soft!). I imagined they were as soft as a cloud. She seemed to enjoy the touch, and I was enjoying her company.

"Now Scootaloo...why don't you tell me what is on your mind?"

She gave me a sad smile. "Coal...why are you being so nice to me?"

"What do you mean Scootaloo? Do you not like my affections?"

"No! I mean...I don't understand it. You caught me doing something bad and...you decide to take care of me? It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I'm really glad you are though! It's just a little weird..."

"I understand what you mean Scootaloo, but I've never been one for making a lot of sense. My simply being in this world doesn't make any sense."

She held her head up and gave me a weird look. "Did I never tell you that?" She shook her head. "Twilight brought me here by accident with a spell. I'm actually from a completely different world. I decided to stay though, so don't worry. I won't ever be leaving you." Scootaloo crawled up my chest and rested her head on my shoulder. I was able to put my arm around her more easily thanks to their natural shape. I did miss rubbing her wings though, so I pulled my other arm over and continued where I left off. She gave me another gentle smile before snuggling her face into my chest.

"C-Coal?"

"Yes Scootaloo?"

"C-can...can I call you dad and Jace uncle?"

I was a bit taken back. I wasn't expecting that, but I was not complaining of course! "You would make us both so very happy if you would...I don't know where Jace is...He hasn't stopped by to see me yet. Some friend he is.”

Then, I heard the sound of metal sliding on metal and I turned my head to where the curtain was. Wait...Was that...Jace?! OH SHIT. DID HE HEAR THAT?! Oh buck, that look in his eyes is not one of happy to see me. Oh, please don't bitch me out for this...Pleaseplease..

“What was that about me being 'some kind of friend?'” Fuck...

* * * *

"Wow that was awkward..." Dash said to herself leaving the hospital. "I can't believe what I did in there....hehe" Dash took off into the sky and relaxed in the clouds. All she could think about was what the future would hold. Was what she had done a good idea, was there a way to make this work, what would tomorrow bring? She was about to drift off into sleep on her cloud when she heard some yelling.

"Hay RD! Is that ya up there!? Ah need ta' talk to ya!"

She looked over the edge and saw the give away cowboy hat. "Hey AJ! How was the applebucking?”

“Yeah...We kind of had a little incident on the farm though. His friend overworked himself and his wounds opened again..Anyway, what is the story with Coal? He didn't show up at mah farm today."

"Oh yeah, Coal is in the hospital again." Dash stated rather bluntly

"What?!”

"Hey calm down AJ! Coal is fine. Nothing too serious, but they commissioned an extra strength healing brew from Zecora. Coal doesn't know it yet, but later she should stop by the hospital and give it to him."

"Iff'n they had something like that before, why didn't they give that ta' him when he was nearly dead?"

"Zecora didn't have the herbs needed at the time. I don't know how long this potion will take to fix him up though."

"Ya know an awful lot about this Dash...what happened to him anyway?”

“Coal protected Rarity from that creep of an ex-colt friend of hers. He beat the snot out of the guy but it seems that creepo had some kind of defense. He got Coal a couple times during the fight.”

"Well Ah'll be...how bad did Coal beat him?"

Dash put on a wicked smile. "I didn't think you were that sadistic AJ..."

"Now come on Dash! It ain't nothin' like that! Ah'm just curious how much ya have to beat some pony in order to hurt yerself in the process."

"Whatever...Coal pretty much beat him until anymore beating would of killed him."

"Whoa...isn't that a bit...ya know; too much?"

"I don't think so. Rarity told me all about it. Apparently the creep was going to rape her, and Coal took it more than personally and beat him senseless."

"Shoot! Ah'm surprised Coal didn't kill him then! Ah know he is very appreciative of all Rarity has done for em!"

"You're telling me AJ...are you going to pay Coal a visit?"

"Ah can't at the moment. Ah just needed ta' find out what happened to em. Now Ah need ta' get back to the farm."

"That is probably a good idea. He is probably still with Scootaloo anyway..."

"Huh? Now why is he with Scootaloo?"

"Oh gees! You didn't know about that yet! Ok...you're getting the quick version. If you want the long version go to Twilight or Coal." Applejack was a little reluctant to accept, but nodded her head in understanding. "Coal is now Scootaloo's unofficial dad. I imagine he is going to be needing his pay from all his farm work soon."

"What!? I'm gone for ah day and Coal is back in the hospital and he has ah kid!? I need to keep in touch with him more!”

"Hahahahah! No kidding AJ! Well anyway; I know you need to get back to your farm. Maybe Scootaloo told Applebloom about it if you're still curious. Later!" With that Dash flew off leaving Applejack a little annoyed.

"Darn flyin' ponies..."

Author's Note: Welp, Coal's boned. That is all.