I lifted her up carefully and wrapped her in my new cape. I then tucked the bundle under my shirt and dashed back through the snow as fast as I could. I ran all the way to the hospital, ignoring all the cold and energy drain trying to bring me down. I made it to the huge white building and staggered inside. I trudged over to the nearest nurse.

"Scootaloo... frozen... help..." I chattered as I handed her the bundle. She took it without hesitation, and dashed off into the hospital. I smiled in satisfaction, then collapsed and shivered on the floor.

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"Uuughhh... Celestia why won't you let me be unconscious longer?" I mutter as the world faded into view. I groaned as I came awake. Half the mane six were staring at me. "You guys... have the BIGGEST eyes..." Twilight hit me with her hoof.

"THAT'S FOR SCARING ME AGAIN!!!" Rarity hit me too. Then Fluttershy. Then RD showed up out of nowhere and kissed my cheek.

"And that's for saving Scoots." RD said. She trotted away, and I saw her go to another bed across from mine. The other mares next to me all hugged me.

"Did I get her in time? Will she be ok?"

"The nurse said you got her just in time, she's going to be fine." Twilight consoled. I sighed in relief. "Now, the better question is, how did you know she was in trouble?" I froze.

"I... Uh... Sweetiebelle told me about them trying to find their cutie marks and how the storm was really bad and Rarity didn't know Scootaloo's parents, so I assumed the worst!" I managed to pull that outta thin air pretty fast. The girls all (including the three at Scootaloo's bed) nodded in understanding. I forced myself to stand.

"S-sharky?! What are you doing?! Lay back down Mister!" Fluttershy scolded. I ignored her and walked over to Scootaloo's bed. She was wrapped up in a crap ton of blankets, and she had a little heat pad on her head. She was clinging tightly to my cape.

"Gosh... she still looks so cold..." I muttered. "I should've gotten there sooner..."

"Now don't be hard on yerself! If it weren't fer you this little filly wouldn't still be with us..." Applejack consoled.

"I should've figured it out earlier though! Then maybe I could have gotten her before she was even hurt."

"Nonsense dear, without you she'd... well, you know. It's a miracle you managed to piece together enough information to think of this!" Rarity said.

"Well... I guess you're right... I just wish I could've done more...."

"You did enough Sharky, that's all that matters." RD said quietly. "You saved her life... Now I understand so much..."

"What do you mean RD?"

"Now I know why you run off to save lives. I didn't get it until I found out that Scoots almost died... Now I know what it means." She turned her head to look at me. There were tears in her eyes. "It means you saved me too. If I had learned that she died... I would have too. Inside at least."

"Wow, that was... deep."

"Yeah, don't expect it often." I felt a tugging on my pants leg, and I looked down to see Sweetiebelle. Applebloom was standing a bit behind her, mouth hanging open as she looked up at me.

"She's right Mr. Sharky. We both wanna say thanks for saving out friend Scootaloo. We never even bothered to ask where she lived..."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure she would have hid the truth from you anyway."

"Well maybe, but we still shoulda asked..."

"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure Scootaloo will understand." I wasn't in pain persay, but I didn't feel like I should have been standing. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to lie back down..." I trudged back to the beds that had been pushed together, and laid down. "Goodnight girls..." I was out in a matter of seconds.

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Thursday, January 9th

I woke up in darkness. I felt like it was morning, but it was still too overcast outside to tell. I stood up off my beds and stretched. Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy were asleep on my beds. RD... RD was asleep curled around Scootaloo. I smiled in approval, and went to the little bathroom. I felt great today, obviously I was better now. I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror, and I had a purple horn. Twilight had been the first one to get to the hospital I guess. I shrugged my shoulders and left the bathroom. I snuck out of the hospital before anypony could see me leaving. The moment I left, Fang bounded up to me out of nowhere.

"Hey buddy! You missed a lot of fun, lemme tell ya." He yipped. A few nearby ponies gave him a wary gaze, but mostly they ignored him. Then, one of the nearby mares ran up to me.

"You're the one that saved the filly right?" She asked. She had a purple mane and a maroon coat. She was turned so that I couldn't see her cutie marks. She was an earth pony.

"Umm... yes I guess I am." I answered hesitantly. She jumped in excitement, and waved over a little crew of other ponies. They all had little notepads and old-fashioned cameras and were all unicorns..

"Ooooh goody!" She turned and I saw that her mark was a newspaper. "Now, what is your name?"

"Uhh... Sharky White?" All the ponies rapidly scribbled down on their notepads. One snapped a picture.

"Excellent, now, is it true that you single-hoofedly slew a violent manticore?"

"Umm... no, I had some help from my good friend Stormy... look I'm really not comf--" The ponies scribbled some more and a few more pictures were taken. I backed up a little in suprise.

"Ok, now, what is your relationship with the filly you saved?"

"I uh... only met her when I saved her. I don't know her personally. Look I shoul--" More flashes and scribbling, I rubbed my eyes.

"Oh! risking your life for somepony you don't know! How brave! Now, what is your relationship with all the mares that are visiting currently?"

"We're all good friends. I'm gonna g--" Damn flashes!

"Really? I don't belive you. I wanna hear the truth." The mare demanded. I frowned.

"Fang, scare 'em off." He started growling and snapping at the little news crew. They all shrieked in fear, and took off running after snapping a few more pictures. "Dang you're a cool pet!" I grinned and rubbed his head. "Well, what should we do now Fang?" He tilted his head at me. "Right, still a wolf.... HOLY CRAP WHERE'S UNITY?!" I took off running to the library. I ran inside and scanned the house. I found him in bed with Spike, there was a note attached to the bed. I picked it up.

Dear Sharky,

Knowing that you would most likely leave the hospital before I wake up, I've prepared this note to keep you from freaking out. I took good care of Unity, and only left after he fell asleep with Spike. No need to worry about me leaving him behind.

With love,

Twilight.

"Whew, at least she didn't just leave him..." I whispered out loud. I looked back down at Unity, and scooped him up. I walked to the kitchen to make him a bottle. After walking about 20 feet from the bed, Unity turned into Spike! "SPIKE!?" I yelled.

"What!? Who?! Rarity?!" He yelled.

"W-what are you doing?!"

"What are you doing?! Why are you holding me?!"

"B-but you're over there!" I pointed at the little bed, with Spike still sound asleep in it. I put Spike down, and grabbed the other Spike. I walked away from the bed, and he turned into a frowning Unity. "B-b-but... S-spike... U-u-unit-- AW FORGET IT!" I walked downstairs with the new Unity and made him a bottle. "Man, I need to get used to these tricks..." He drank the milk again, but the bottle went with it. "Annnd, now he drinks both... great." I burped him, and a little ceramic cheese flew out of his mouth and shattered on the ground. "GREAT!" I turned to Spike, who had followed me downstarirs. "Where can I get a broom?"

"Hmm? We don't have a broom, Twilight usually just levitates messes off the floor." Huh, I wonder why she didn't do that when breakfast stuff spilled everywhere...

"Well darn..." Fang walked over and started brushing the glass aside with his tail. "Hey! good idea boy!" I cheered. He gave me his wolfish grin and kept brushing. I found a trash can in the kitchen. It was mostly empty, so I turned it on it's side so that Fang could sweep the glass into it. We finished cleaning up the mess, so I sat down next to a bookshelf and contemplated what to do next. "Well, we could go see Blaze... nah, he's problably hiding in the forest... I can't go to work, it's too early..." *sigh* Well, the first time I've ever been here with nothing to do. "Hey Spike, would you teach me about dragons?"

"Umm... sorry, I don't know much myself... I grew up with ponies after all."

"Right... right... Well what do gems taste like?"

"I... really don't know how to describe it. You have to eat one yourself to find out."

"Huh... you don't happen to have any gems do you?"

"Nope. I do know where we can get some though! If you're up for it."

"Sure dude! Where?"

"There's a gem mine not to far from here. Wanna go?"

"Isn't it dangerous?"

"Well, there used to be a bunch of Diamond Dogs there, but they shouldn't be a problem for you!"

"Well... where am I gonna put Unity?"

"YOU LEFT AGAIN!" Twilight yelled as she trotted in. I grabbed Spike and winked at him.

"I sure did. Could you hold Unity a sec?" She levitated Unity out of my arms, and I used my newly freed hand to grab my axe which I had left in the corner. "Thanks, now as fair warning... I'M GOING OFF ON ANOTHER CRAZY UNEEDED ADVENTURE BYE!!!" I dashed out the door and slammed it shut behing Fang. Spike and I laughed and he pointed me to the mines.

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"Yes, he left AGAIN! Well, thanks for coming over and helping me with Unity, Fluttershy." Twilight complained.

"Oh, it's no trouble. So, did you get to see if he really likes us?"

"No! His stupid wolf wouldn't let me read his mind!"

"Hey! Be nice to Fang!"

"Sorry Fluttershy. I know Fang was just protecting Sharky, but it's... annoying to say the least."

"I understand... I'm really happy with the way those two bonded."

"Yeah... he seems to be getting along with Spike now too..."

"...Do you think Rainbow Dash is gonna be ok?"

"I don't know... I never really realized how much Scootaloo meant to her."

"Me either... she was so upset when we first got there... Sharky and Scootaloo in the hospital? Sharky alone made me cry..."

"I didn't cry... but I was pretty upset too. I can only imagine what this was like for her..."

"...You don't think Sharky will try and adopt Scootaloo too do you? It seems like something he'd do..."

"You know what? He'll try. I'm sure of that. I just don't think he realizes how little time he has to actually be around Unity alone! Scootaloo would be even more than that! Even with school!"

"... He'll find a way..."

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"So, what do these Diamond Dogs look like anyway?" I asked as we rushed to the mines.

"Well, they look like dogs..." Spike started.

"Yeah..."

"That like diamonds."

"Smart ass..." I grumbled.

"Oh, and they stand on two legs like me and you."

"You and I." I corrected.

"What?"

"Nevermind. So, is that a Diamond Dog?" We had almost reached the mines, and there was a Diamond Dog standing on the path.

"Umm yeah. You still have the axe right?"

"Yeah, but I don't need it." He gave me a puzzled look, but I just kept running towards the dog. He was just a bit taller than the average pony, and he reminded me of a pug.

"HALT!" He screeched. I slowed to a stop a few feet away from him.

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"These mines belong to the Diamond Dogs! Leave now!"

"Nah, I don't think I will. I only want two gems anyway. Is that too much to ask?"

"YES! The gems belong to Diamond Dogs! ALL GEMS!"

"Well, I'd really hate to hurt you to get them. Why don't you just let me pass? I promise I won't take big gems. I'll even let you choose which ones I get. How's that?"

"NO! For the last time, LEAVE!"

"You know, I really REALLY don't want to fight you."

"Then turn and run now, while we still allow you to have your life!" A bunch of Diamond Dogs jumped up out of the ground. At least 6 in total, counting the pug.

"I'm sorry, did you just say ALLOW me to keep my life?" I asked as I raised my axe.