Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv_2x6JmuaE

Able...wake up....

Able...it's time to wake up....

Able, wake up.

I fluttered awake in a hospital bed. A sympathetic looking pony watching over me. "Able...we...we figured you'd want to be awake for this." The pony looked around. "When the princess brought you here...we...we did what we could. But you've got hours at best." The pony looked horrid. "I'm sorry...but...we--"

A shadowed man with a pair of black glasses walked behind the mare. "Your daughter's here." He slowly moved the pony out of the way. "Go on...I'll explain it." The man ushered the crying mare off. I simply tried to catch my breath, my mouth horridly dry. "Do...do you want to know what happened?"

I glared at the man. "Water."

The man left for a bit, coming back with a glass of water. "Careful...."

I yanked the glass from his grip and downed it. I took a moment to collect myself, shutting my eyes hard. "What...happened?"

"Medically induced coma...it was either this, or you would have just...well, you know." The man scratched his neck. "She said to try and keep you alive until your daughter got here." He looked over his shoulder. "I'll be outside, if...if you want to go back to sleep...just let me know." The doctor left, quickly replaced by the one face I dreaded more than anything.

"Able!?" Silver Spoon pressed her hooves hard against the bed. "Able...no...no no no!" She pushed off the bed and started running around. "No!"

"Silver...Spoon...stop it." I croaked, my body utterly exhausted.

Silver ran over and glared at me. "I hate you! Why-why-why wouldn't you tell me sooner!?" She screamed, pushing off the bed again and running head first into a wall. "I thought you hated me! I didn't see you for a month!" She slid down the wall, face slowly sinking down as her sobs filled the room. "And now you're actually leaving...."

"I...needed...to be ready...." I wheezed, my lungs struggling to expand. "Please...Silver...please." I swung my hand off the bed and let the IV rip out of my numb body. "Silver...please."

Silver Spoon refused to look at me, walking over and lifting my hand with her crown. "It's not fair." She hissed. "It's not fair!"

"Silver...stop it."

"But it's not! You- you're my best friend, who decides you just don't get to exist anymore!?" Silver put her hoof on my hand, sandwiching me between her hoof and head. "Don't leave...not yet."

I took a deep breath, trying to stabilize me encroaching death-rattle. "Silver...I'm sorry...god I'm so sorry." I pet her mane watching as her lavender eyes popped over the short bed. "Little filly...I'm so sorry."

"Able...stop it...."

I simply kept moving softly against her head. "I know...what it's like. You feel...trapped...no where...to go."

"Stop it!" Silver screamed, pulling free of my hand.

"But it's okay," I continued, "I know...you'll do what's right. With...or without me...." I took a deeply pained breath. "With...or without...your parents...."

"Able...why...?" Silver moaned, crawling onto my bed. "Don't leave...please don't leave."

"You'll do good. And...that's all I can ask." I put my hand on her cheek, feeling a soft dampness crawl down my thumb as she curled up. "You'll go far...little filly. And...I know...it's because...I was there...when you had questions." I remembered back to when I first found her. Hesitantly bullying a human child.

"You...and your friend, were...harassing a girl. I stepped in, remember?"

Silver grabbed my hands between her hooves. "Yeah...."

"You remember what I said?"

"...You asked about my parents."

I let out a short laugh, followed by a bloodied cough. "I- I- I remember how mad you got...you said you hated me." I covered my mouth between bouts of coughing. "You walked away."

"Able...please stay." Silver cooed, rubbing the top of my hand with her hoof. "I don't want you to go...ever...I take it back...I- I didn't mean it!" She shouted, holding my hand against her cheek and nuzzling my palm. "I'm scared...I'm scared Able."

"You...you came back the next day. To my lawn." I laughed hazily. "You just sat there...glaring at me."

"I'm sorry!"

"You started yelling at me when I walked over. You...you were bright red." I ran my thumb across her soft cheek. "Look at me Silver."

She slowly leaned her head against my hand, opening her eyes and looking at me as tears dampened my hand. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."

"You said...it was non of my business. Your parents...your life." I let out a short laugh as I wiped her eyes. "I asked you why you were in my damn lawn.... You just got madder."

"I never meant it!"

"You said...why do I care...and...I said...I- ...I..." I tasted blood as I tried to speak. "I said...because you're cute...." I laughed crazily as I leaned my head back. "You...you were so embarrassed. You kept coming back and yelling at me.... Then...you brought you friend...she left...and you just sat there."

Silver spoon stayed quiet, gentling petting herself with my hand. "Able...I'm so scared...."

"Do you...remember...what I said when you sat there? I asked you...inside." I felt my heart start to slow down. "And we talked...and talked...and talked...."

"Able...I want to keep talking...please...I- I don't know what to do next!" Silver bit my hand, stifling herself. "I need you."

I cleared my head for a final time. "And...the first time you left...you remember what I told you?"

Silver's voice caught in her throat. "Be strong little filly...."

"And look at you now...you have to be strong...without me.... And...I know...you...will be...." I took a gentle breath, feeling my lungs start to empty. "Be strong Silver Spoon. I trust you to be strong...."

I felt my hand gently drawn over her soft silver mane, the last bastion of warmth as I settled down. I was so tired. My body was done.

I was ready, lulled away by soft whimpers from the filly I was leaving behind.