"Papa?"

"Yes, Derpy?"

"...will it hurt?"

I smile at her. "No. No, it won't hurt at all." I bend down to kiss her on the forehead. "I promise, sweetheart."

"Okay..." I back away, and step into the observation room - along with Barbara and the ponies. Charles would come, but he's doing...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qYlpa9mJyMk&t=16]

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Besides, this is an upbeat chapter anyway.)

As the small bed holding Derpy is retracted into the machinery, I feel something soft brushing against my hand. I assume that one of the ponies are trying to grab my hand, but when I look down to smile at them, I see that it's Barbara. I look up at her, and she's staring straight at the machinery, an intense blush on her cheeks. I feel a blush of my own creeping into my cheeks as I turn my attention back to the room, and firmly grasp Barbara's hand.

A little while later, Derpy is crying and complaining about how noisy it was. I smile as I comfort her, and bring everypony back to the hospital room as we wait for the results to be thoroughly analyzed.

As I sit on the couch, the world becomes a sort of haze. I barely notice the ponies giggling and playing with each other as I wait for the news. Barbara entertains them as I struggle to fight off a panic attack.

It's another half hour before a doctor finally walks in. I immediately stand up, accidentally knocking a napping Rainbow Dash off of my lap, who immediately wakes up. She manages to gain enough altitude to stick her tongue out at me. I don't notice her as the doctor is sort of the only thing I'm focusing on.

He motions for me to follow him, and I look to Barbara, who nods. I gulp as I follow the doctor to the back of the room, where the ponies can't hear me.

"So...what's the...thing?" I'm unable to think of the proper words due to my incredible confusion.

"It's good news," the doctor immediately announces. I sigh, and my shoulders sag in released tension and relief. "The tumor is only in her left occipital lobe, which means that it could be removed without fatal damage." I start to grin. "Unfortunately, it could result in the loss of vision in one eye, and a lack of coordination as she matures."

I shake my head. "Whatever," I respond. "I think that's worth not having a brain tumor."

He smirks, and exhales in amusement. "Yes, I believe that it is." He extends a hand towards me. "Now, go celebrate with your daughter. I've got more paperwork to fill out, unfortunately."

"Wait," I stop him. "I don't get it - how was Barbara's scan so inaccurate? From the center of the brain to the occipital lobe is a pretty big jump..."

He shakes his head. "When it comes to equipment as old as the stuff she used, it's not as big as it seems." I wonder just how outdated Barbara's equipment was. "I'll let you talk with your family for a little while, but I'll want to see you on when the removal should take place later."

I nod, and after saying a temporary farewell I quickly return to Barbara and excitedly share the good news. Elated, she throws her arms around me in a hug. I hug Derpy and kiss her and I begin to cry as I hold her.

"Papa, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay," I respond. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Papa."

"Daddy, I'm hungry!"

I smile at Rainbow Dash. "Alright, sweetheart. Barbara will bring you back home now, alright?"

"Why can't you come home with us?" Twilight complains.

"Yeah, Uncle Charles isn't fun like you!" Vinyl Scratch adds on. I smirk at them.

"Well, you'll just have to deal with him," I respond. "And he's plenty of fun. Now, go on and follow Barbara - it's getting late, and it's close to your bed time."

The ponies whine and complain about ending their adventure early, but I stop them with a smile. They eventually agree to leave, and I kiss each of them goodbye as they turn to go.

Well, I try to, but Rainbow Dash, Big Mac, Applejack, Celestia, Luna, Trixie and Twilight all push me away, claiming that they're "too old for bye-bye kisses". I smile as I agree with them, and tell myself not to take it personally. It's difficult.

Once they're gone, and Barbara has given me an awkward good-bye peck on the cheek, I sit alone with Derpy in the room. She's fallen asleep, and I smile as I give her a kiss on the forehead.

"Goodnight," I whisper to her. I grin as I curl up on the bed and begin to fall asleep. For the first time since we came to the hospital, it's a happy and sound slumber.

Author's Notes:

Yeah wrote this just to write it.

Have fun, fuckers.