A Dazzling Trio

Chapter IV: The Way Forward

Author's Notes: Hello, everyone! So, I know this chapter is kind of short, but I wanted to go ahead and update the story rather than make this chapter even bigger. I have a lot to do since Christmas is on the horizon and since I'm just now better from c*vid, I think I will take it easy~ Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please tell me what you think of the story so far! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Stay special out there!

Chapter IV: The Way Forward

I've never really liked the setting of a hospital. Everything feels so... restricted. All colors except for white are drained from the environment and everyone is waiting for an ill friend or family member, so no one is waiting for a party exactly. All the emotions here are either negative or absent... The last time I was here, I had fallen down some icy stairs. Needless to say, I don't like remembering that instance or the dream I had here...

Pushing my body against all the buttons of the vending machine, a quiet beep repeats every couple of seconds. If I remember correctly, I just have to count to five slowly before I can go to the next step. Taking a deep breath, I kick the bottom of the machine before letting go of the buttons, taking a step away from it. Looking at the options, I can't seem to decide what drink I would want. Maybe it's not the decision that is evading me... If anything, maybe it's the fact that I'm stuck here in a hospital. I don't like waiting here, but I wouldn't just abandon Apple Bloom here. She's going through something not a lot of people have to do when it comes to their friends... She's watching her friend go through an illness over the course of years, without being able to do a thing about it.

Sighing, I put in the code for a bottle of water. Within a moment, the machine spurs to life, selecting my drink and dropping it off at the bottom. Picking it up makes my hand feel pretty cold. Just like the rest of this waiting area. Despite my thoughts, I take a sip of the water and sit back down in the seat I've been waiting in for the last hour. I want to do something more, but I can't really do anything but be here for her.

Every time someone gets close, my mind gets a little anxious, anticipating it to be Applejack. Countless times, I've looked up for that hope to not come true, but this time? The orange cowgirl walks down the hall towards me, making me stand up again right after I had sat down. "What's the news?" I ask her hesitantly, hoping Apple Bloom is taking it alright.

"Well, from what I heard, Diamond Tiara is doing better now. It was a flair up, but with the right care, she'll be back to normal soon," Applejack tells me slowly, her expression briefly showing an awkward conflict. "Um... I mean as normal as she can get. Whatever her normal was before this. Anyway, Apple Bloom is gonna stay with her overnight. I was going to take her home but... I couldn't really tell her no." Applejack walks past me towards the exit, making me look back down the hall. A part of me still wants to stay here and wait for Apple Bloom, but I know she won't back down. She'll wait here all night, even if it means she has to fight the doctors themselves.

Catching up with Applejack, I take another sip of my water before we walk out of the hospital. "It's a little weird. A part of me still sees her as the thirteen-year-old that befriended me a few years ago. I guess I feel a little sad to leave her alone because of that." Applejack nods in agreement, patting my shoulder. Without effort, we both look both ways down the street before walking into the parking lot, away from the building.

"Yep. It's hard to let her go since ya want to protect her. Imagine how hard it is for me. I still see her as a small child, learning how to ride a tractor in my lap." Applejack smiles for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Don't worry. She'll be fine. If she needs help, she'll call for it. I admit that she's better at that than I am. I'm too stubborn to ask for help sometimes." The statement sounds a little solemn coming out of her mouth. Honestly, I can't help but agree with it. Despite the fact that I haven't been her friend for as long as Rainbow Dash has, I can realize that Applejack can be pretty stubborn. "I actually have something to talk about with ya," she tells me quietly, both of us passing through the parked cars.