.....

................

...Where am I?

I look around at my surrounds. All I could see for miles was black; The never ending cold, darkness of who knows where. The only thing that was visible was somehow my small, almost glowing body, that, for some reason, was showered with a soft, pale glow, almost as if there was a dim candle above my head, that was about to go out. It was sort of a comforting glow, almost to say that I was safe, but I knew I wouldn't be until I knew where I was.

Suddenly, the room (or wherever I was) lit up, to a bright, white that was almost blinding.

....

A voice.

Yes, I did hear a voice! I listen again, a little more closely, and soon, I could hear more voices coming from far away. I ran as fast as I could, each second, the voices getting louder. Rarity. I can hear her, and Applebloom; Scootaloo; they're all talking; no, they're shouting. I can hear them clearly now.

".......swe.......lle...."

"Sweet.....Be...lle

"......SWEETIE BELLE! WAKE UP! PLEASE!"

I opened my eyes.

I was now lying in a bed, my head pounding with such intensity, that it felt like my brain was trying to pound it's way out through my skull. I slowly, but surely, sat up and was finally able to get a better look at my surroundings. The walls were as white as the room I was just in, except instead of being empty, it was filled with medical equipment, beds, curtains separating the room, and a giant window that was letting in the dim glow of Celestia's sun.

Eeyup, I'm in a hospital.

Then it hit me. Rarity screaming, the cart, passing out. Mine and Rarity's arguement; I finally remembered what had made me run into the streets in the first place. My worry soon was replaced with anger once again.

Stupid Rarity, I thought, tears filling my eyes again for about the hundredth time that day, I can't believe she would do this, and NOW I'm in a hospital, all because of our stupid argument, which is HER fault.

I looked up at the ceiling. But....maybe I was too angry with her, maybe I sh-

I shook my head. No Sweetie Belle, SHE was the one who forgot your birthday, SHE was the one who ruined your dress, so SHE should be the one to apologize.

I nodded in agreement with myself. I looked in the direction where the door was. It was ajar just enough that I could see the shadow of what looked to be one of the doctors.

"Um...excuse me..."

A pony's head poked in from around the corner of the door. The nurse's eyes, who I recognized to be Nurse Redheart, widened in shock.

"DOCTOR! She's awake! Come quickly!"

All I could hear was about 20 hooves running along the hospital floor, getting louder as they approached the room. The doctor, my parents, Applebloom, and Scootaloo all piled into the room, my two best friends asking about a million questions.

"Sweetie Belle! Are you okay? What happened? Anything broken? Do you have your cutie mark?"

"Slow down girls!" They quieted down, " Um...I'm okay, it's kind of a long story, nothing is broken, and really Scootaloo? What would a cutie mark for being in an accident even look like?"

"Sorry," she smiled sheepishly, "Just trying to lighten the mood, I guess."

I smiled at her, "Well it's working. I can't feel the pain in my head anymore," I raised my hoof to my head, feeling a slight tingle where my horn is, "Oops, spoke too soon."

My mom ran over and pulled me into a soft hug. That's when the real pain set in; the feeling of a thousand needles penetrating my skin and digging their way around in my flesh. Everywhere on my body hurt, and my mother sensed this, because she quickly pulled away.

"Oh, sorry my baby." Her face fell and tears began to fall.

"It's all my fault," she started sobbing uncontrollably, "I couldn't make it home for your birthday, and now you're...."

I carefully lifted up my hoof and placed it on my moms shoulder, "No it's not mommy....everything will be okay now.."

I looked down at my chest. There was a thick layer of bandages around it. It was then that I finally decided to look over to the mirror on my bedside, to take a look at the damage.

I looked like something a cart had hit (no pun intended). My body was full of bandages, even on my horn, and the bags under my eyes had bags. I started crying, and soon had my muzzle in my mom's chest.

"Shhhh, it's okay." She pet my head with her hoof.

I looked up at her. "Where is Rarity?" I don't even know why I asked, after everything she has said and done.

My parents looked at each other with worried looks. "S-she said she wanted to talk to you...alone. She told us what had happened...and feels so guilty. We talked to her as well, but I say that with the condition you're in, to wait until tomorrow."

"No." I said firmly, "There is something I need to say to her."

"Sweetie, are you sure? From what she told us, you were very upset. Even enough to run out into the street."

"Mom," I looked over at her, "Dad," I looked back at my dad, "This is something I have to talk to Rarity about, and it is really important that I say something to her."

They looked at each other, then at Scootaloo and Applebloom.

"Okay," my dad said, "Would that be okay Doctor?"

The doctor looked down at me and smiled, "Sure, that would be fine. Just make sure you're not too long. I still have some tests to run."

"Thank you," My mom smiled at the doctor, then looked to me, "We'll tell her you want to see her. Come on girls, you can talk to Sweetie after."

"Good luck Sweetie Belle." Applebloom said.

"Thanks."

They walked out into the hallway, not very far though, because I could hear their muffled voices outside. It sounded like Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack were there too, probably to be there for Rarity. My parents said something to her and then footsteps could be heard coming towards the door. When I saw the door creak open a little, I turned towards the window, not wanting to look at her just yet.

"Sweetie Belle?" She walked into the room, "H-how are you feeling?"

I could hear the nervousness in her voice, "....Fine.."

"O-okay, that's good, very good, very good....." She started mumbling to herself something.

"Swee-"

No Rarity." I interrupted her, "There is something I need to say."

I finally looked over at her. Her mane and tail were a huge mess of hair, and what seemed to be a brush sticking out, probably from trying to fix it, getting stuck in the process. Her were cheeks still damp from freshly made tears, and her eyes bloodshot, from what seemed to be caused by hours of crying.

"Rarity, I looked up to you, for so long. We were the best of friends when we were younger and we would always be together. You were my best friend....but after you started running the boutique by yourself, you never had anymore time for me. I felt so alone, even now, with Applebloom and Scootaloo....I feel so lonely, knowing that when I go back home, you would just be locked up in your room, too busy for me, but for some reason, never to busy for your other friends. YOU HAD TIME TO SAVE EQUESTRIA, BUT CAN'T EVEN SPEND TIME WITH ME FOR AN HOUR?!?"

My anger was rising, so I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, wincing a little from the pain in my chest, as I remembered the state I was in, "Look, I'm sorry about almost burning down the kitchen, and for accidentally ruinning one, maybe two dresses, and everything else I have done over the last few years... but I am definitely NOT sorry for the things I said, because it was something that I needed to say, and that I wanted to for a long time, but really, is it my fault that I just want to spend time with my sister? But then you even ruined my dress! How could you?!? You always fixed it up for me when my birthday came around...and it was the only thing that I had to remind me...that you still loved me."

By this time, both me and Rarity were sobbing, letting out all of our anger and sadness.

"Oh, S-Sweetie, I wish I had known that before. I am so, so sorry for everything I have done to hurt you. But..."

She looked at the ground, "The reason I cut up your dress, wasn't for a new one for a client."

"...what?"

"Well, you came home earlier then I expected, and I panicked and said it was for a client's dress. The fabric even looked the same so it worked out, but I never realized how much I would be hurting you."

"But, what did you use the fabric for then?"

She held up a large bag with her magic, and pulled something out, "To make this."

It was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. The fabric of my old dress, that had been dyed and recolored to a beautiful lavender, was incorporated with a beautiful silk, white fabric that flowed down around the bottom. She had placed finely cut diamonds around the bottom of the dress, just above the satin sticking, and with it was the most amazing necklace with a large amethyst in the middle, and small diamonds surrounding it, the amethyst in the shape of a music note.

"Oh...Rarity...." I felt so guilty. I had just assumed that Rarity had forgotten. I never even asked, or would even listen to her. I felt like an idiot. My tears were flowing down my face even harder than before. I jumped up out of the hospital bed, ignoring the pain that I felt, ran up to Rarity, and pulled her into an almost backbreaking hug.

"R-RARITY!!" I sobbed, "I-I'm s-s-sorry. I-I had n-no idea t-t-that..."

She rubbed the top of my head, "Sweetie Belle, it's okay. If I were you, I would have done the same thing. I never realized how much you were hurting. When I had realized it was your birthday and that I had forgotten, I felt just as guilty as you do now," She lifted my chin and smiled.

"I wanted to redo the dress again, but since you were turning 10, I realized that you deserved something more special. When you came home, that was the first thing that came to mind, and when I said it, I immediately knew that was wrong. I am also so, so sorry that I hit you too. I just...let my anger get the best of me, because when you started yelling, I thought to myself 'How ungrateful. I'm making this dress for her and she is yelling at me,' totally forgetting that you didn't even know. I love you, Sweetie Belle. You are the best sister anypony could ever have, and if you give me a chance, I want to prove to you that I will always care about you, and that I will do anything for you."

She wiped the tears from my eyes with a tissue she levitated in front of me. I smiled. "I love you too, Rarity. I could never hate you, and I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry."

She pulled me close and hugged for about 5 minutes, until it hit me.

"I just remembered something important." I said.

"What is it, Sweetie?"

"I am in immense pain right now."

I pulled away wincing a little. We laughed a little.

"Sorry," I said, "My sadness made me totally forget that I was hit by a cart."

Rarity smiled, "Well just you wait, within a few days, that pain will be gone."

"I hope so too." A voice said.

We turned around to see the doctor standing in the doorway. I smiled, a little embarrassed. "Oops, sorry doctor. I know I should be in bed, but-"

"It's quite alright," He smiled, "How about you hop back into bed. I need to speak with your sister for a moment...just don't literally hop back into bed, okay?"

"Okay!" I let go of Rarity, who insisted on helping me back in bed, and lid down.

"Don't worry Sweetie, I will be right outside if you need me. Twilight and the others are also there if I'm gone away for a minute, so don't be afraid to sing out to them or Nurse Redheart, okay?"

"Okay sis." She turned to walk away, "I LOVE YOU!"

She turned around, "I love you too."

I lid down, and quickly fell asleep.

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Meanwhile, after I had fallen asleep, Rarity had walked outside of my room, to speak with the doctor.

"So doctor-"

"Please, call me Time Turner."

"Okay. Time Turner, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?"

"Follow me, your parents are in my office. We can talk there."

He led her down the hallway, passing many doors that led to other patient's rooms. The walls were just as white as the rooms, and many medical kits lined the walls, in case any medical emergency happened. They walked for some time until they reached a door at the end of the hallway. The door read:

Dr. Time Turner

Rarity and Time Turner entered the room. Surprisingly, the walls were a pale blue, lined with many Masters and Bachelor degrees from the Canterlot University of Medicine and Nursing. In the middle of the room was a desk, with family photos of what seemed to be the doctor, and possibly his wife and daughter, who happened to look a lot like Derpy and Dinky Hooves, but that was probably just a coincidence. Along the wall was a sofa, which was were my mom and dad were sitting, waiting for Rarity and the doctor to arrive.

"Doctor Time Turner." My dad shook his hoof.

"Mr. Belle, it has been some time."

"Father? You know the doc- I mean, Time Turner?"

My mom looked over at Rarity, "Your father and Mr.Turner were friends in college. The business and medical universities were very close to each other, and they had meet when they were on their way to their classes. They have been friends ever since."

"Yes, and you don't look a day over 20, Timey."

"Thanks, too bad you look old enough to be Sweetie's grandfather."

They laughed for a minute, Rarity and my mom just looked at each other and sighed. Colts.

"Well, I do believe you know why you are here?" They all sat down, Time Turner sitting at his desk, and my sister, mom, and dad sitting on the sofa.

"Well," He brought up her charts, "She does have a fractured rib, and a slight crack along her horn, but that is nothing that won't heal within 2-3 weeks. The pain should be gone within a few days."

"That is great to hear," Rarity sighed with relief.

"But," He fumbled at his desk, grabbing a few more papers, "There is still a major problem we have to deal with."

My parents faces went pale, and Rarity began to panic, "What do you mean?" Rarity leaned forward in her seat.

"Now, you said that she hasn't been able to use magic since her magic fluctuations as a filly, right?"

"Y-yes, but what does that have to do with all of this?"

He brought up another chart, "Do you see this lump in the frontal lobe of her brain?" They all nodded.

"Well, apparently when she was born, that lump was a small tumor. It wasn't there right at her birth, but as she developed more, it began to get bigger, but not enough for doctors to even pick up traces of it. After a while, it had stopped growing, but it still grew enough that it affected her magic. You see, magic is a mixture of both energy, and psychic brain waves manipulated into a physical form that is visible to the naked eye."

"Everypony has some magic within them, but as we all know, in different ways. Unicorns tap at that energy through their horn, the bone situated right above the part of the brain that holds all of the brain's psychic abilities, which is why unicorns are better at fully using that energy as a visible substance than a pegasus or an earth pony, but their magic is still used, just in smaller increments; pegasi through their wings, and earth ponies through their hooves, giving them that strong connection with nature and the earth. Now, as you can see, the tumor in Sweetie's brain is situated right below the horn, within the frontal lobe. When she was hit by the cart, it must have triggered something in that part of her brain, and now the tumor has now begun to grow again. I am so sorry, but she will need to have an operation in order to remove it."

They just couldn't believe it. My mom and dad were embracing each other, mom, and even dad, were crying. My sister was just staring at the floor. "W-what will happen if she does get the operation."

"Well, we would be able to remove the tumor, but there is still a high chance that she could either lose her magical ability and be paralyzed for life, or even die."

"How high of a chance?"

".....An 85% chance.."

"WHAT?!?!" They all stood up.

"Isn't there another way?" My dad shook him by the shoulders, "Please, I don't want my little girl to die."

"...There is another way...but it is a big decision that you all must make.."

"What is it.?"

"She can get a brain transplant. It would have to be from another unicorn, but the chances of her living and keeping her magic are 100%. She could live a normal life, just as she used to."

"Are you kidding me?" Rarity wondered, "Isn't it impossible for a pony to replace their brains? Wouldn't that just be like pulling the plug on them all together?"

"Actually," Time Turner pulled out a number of newspaper clippings, "Because of the advancement in technology and magic in recent years, if done correctly, it is very much possible. Just a few months ago the surgery was performed on a young unicorn stallion who became brain dead after suffering massive brain damage. Within a week, he had a new brain and was even ready to leave the hospital."

He passed over the article to Rarity, who read it over. It depicted a beige unicorn with a short, blue mane who had apparently been in an accident involving a pegasus moving company, when a piano fell on him. The next page was actually a few pictures of the stallion after the surgery, who looked to be perfectly fine, minus the bald head and stitching.

"That is...remarkable. So, it will definitely work?"

"Yes. As I said, it will be a 100% success rate."

"Oh, my baby is going to be okay." My mom cried with joy.

"However, there is...one problem with this."

"What?" Rarity asked.

"....it would have to be the brain of a still developing unicorn. Ponies don't fully mature and finish developing until they are 25. You would not be able to donate it, since your brains have already stopped developing. If she were to receive a fully developed brain, her body may reject the new organ, and she could become brain dead."

"Would you be able to find a pony willing enough to donate?"

"That's the thing though. Not many ponies that age WANT to donate. They still have their lives ahead of them and are not ready to die. They only donors we have at the moment are above the age of 45."

My parents looked at the floor, defeated. "I don't want to lose another child. She was our miracle baby. I was lucky enough to even give birth to her. And now to know that she might die? I-I can't accept it..."

Rarity looked at the doctor, then at my parents. Lose her sister? She had finally been able to apologize to her. She was not ready to say goodbye. She thought for sometime. Because they didn't have a donor, Sweetie couldn't get the operation. They needed a unicorn; She was a unicorn. They needed the donor to be under 25; She was 19.

I know what I have to do....