How It Works: Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Words You Need to Hear

"GET OUT!" screamed Twilight. Sweat darkened the fur on her brow and her hooves were wrapped tightly in the blankets of the hospital bed. The tan stallion stepped back stunned hooves clicking on the tile floor.

"Get out," she screamed again tears pricking at her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore, the stress, the pain, the hovering of Flim. "I hate you."

Flim stumbled out the door, glancing over his shoulder at the enraged mare. Outside Fluttershy and Applejack looked at him with wide eyes. They were the only two who had arrived as of yet. "Wha happened?" asked AJ shocked.

"She…she kicked me out. She doesn't want me near her," he replied, his voice was choked.

"Oh, oh no," whispered Fluttershy. "Is she okay?"

"As fine as she can be," he muttered. "You two should go in there; someone needs to be with her." His eyes focused on the tiles beneath his hooves as he walked away, leaving the two mares.

Flim found a bench outside the doors of the hospital, and flopped down onto it. A large tree behind him covered the area in shade. He slammed his hooves onto the wooden slats in frustration. Emotions roiled inside him from anger to despair and he was forced to choke back tears. It was the sound of hoofsteps that grabbed his attention. Straightening up Flim looked to see the large shape of Big Mac coming towards him.

Clearing his throat Flim stood up to greet the stallion. "Hello," he said only a hint of a waver in his voice.

"Aj tol' me wha happened," he said his face remaining placid. "Figure ya needed somepony to talk to."

"I'm fine," Flim replied. "It'll take a lot more than that to hurt a sales pony like me," but his weak smile gave him away.

"Nopony would be okay afta that," the farm pony replied.

Flim's head lowered in resignation, as he followed Big Mac through the paths of the hospitals gardens.

"I didn' like ya when ah first met ya," said the red stallion. "You were trickeh, sneakeh, untrustwortheh."

"Really?" Flim replied sarcasm heavy in his voice.

Big Mac on grumbled in reply. "Now what ah was sayin' is that mah opinion of you has changed." Flim toed a rock in the path his pace slowing. "But eva' since you came back an' stayed to help Twilight. An' since then you've changed too."

"And how is that," Flim inquired.

"You've taken responsibiliteh. You've grown up. Aj's told me what you do for Twilight. Yah come by every day, see if she needs anything. If she does you'll get her whatevah she needs, and then some. Every night yah stop by tah make sure she's not up studyin, and if she is you wait and make sure she goes tah bed before you leave. You've impressed me, an' the others as well. No doubt you've made an impression on Twilight. I wouldn't take any weight as to what she says right now."

"Thanks," Flim muttered, "I just hope your right."

"There you two are!" cried the voice of a filly from behind them. Turning around the two stallions saw Scootaloo half running half flying towards them. "AJ told me to get you," she said looking to Flim, "Twilight's having the baby!"

Flim's eyes shot open and despite what Twilight had said to him, he knew he had to be there, for her and for the baby. Flim left a trail of crushed flowers behind him as he ran full to speed to the hospital entrance and straight towards the room where Twilight was staying.

Applejack stood outside the door, "Finally! Yer here now get in there!"

"Did Twilight ask for me?" he panted looking at the earth pony.

Applejack's eyes narrowed, "Just get in there!" she said and shoved him through the door.

He ran to Twilight's side and let her squeeze his hoof until he could no longer feel it. Screams of agony filled the room, but Flim kept his gaze on Twilight murmuring words of encouragement, trying to help the mare in anyway he could as their foal entered the world.