"It's alright Scoots', jus' let all the junk out." Apple Bloom's voice sounded faint and distant to Scootaloo as every nerve in her body tensed up.
Scootaloo's stomach heaved and she forced her eyes shut, not wanting to see what was coming next. Tears squeezed out and beaded up, running down her cheeks as the hiccups pushed her ever closer to the edge. She felt Apple Bloom raise the bag up to catch everything that was about to come up. Scootaloo herself was frozen in place, not daring to move in the slightest and dreading what was about to happen. She drew a sharp breath and her entire body shuddered.
"URP-"
A big wet burp filled her mouth with slimy sick that rolled over her tongue. It was so thick and chunky she felt like she was going to choke. She coughed and drew in a raspy breath before another heave took her. Luckily the next one was a lot thinner with more liquid, coming up more easily. Even through the overpowering taste of bile and acid she could still pick out hints of what she'd eaten earlier, but it was wrong. Between the heaves she could hear the plastic crinkle as the bag filled up little by little.
"There you go," Sweetie said. "It'll be over soon."
Scootaloo's body twitched with every convulsion, but her friends did their best to keep her comfortable. Somepony, Scootaloo couldn’t tell which, lifted her mane out of the way when it drooped down perilously close to her mouth. For a moment Scootaloo thought it might have ended and she spat out some of the mush that had made it’s way under her tongue. Just as she did, another hiccup caught her by surprise and it continued, this time coming up as wave after wave of pure liquid.
Eventually the sick began to thin out, until there was nothing more to bring up. At the end she was just dry heaving to bring up the last bits of bile she still had, but her stomach was completely empty. She still didn't dare to open her eyes. She didn't want to see the bad food she had just spent the last minutes bringing back up.
Sweetie still kept rubbing her back and after it seemed Scootaloo was finished, she was the first to break the silence.
"Are you... done?"
Scootaloo didn't say anything, but she nodded a little. Or at least Sweetie thought she did.
"You did really well," Sweetie continued, as she levitated out a tissue. She used it to wipe the spittle and barf that had clung to the sides of Scootaloo's mouth. After throwing it in the bag she took another tissue and wiped away the tears, before pushing it up against Scootaloo's muzzle.
"Blow your nose for me."
The tissue came away coated in rather questionable looking snot that had some... bits... in it. Sweetie threw it in with the rest and then picked up the bag in her magic. "I'll... I'll be right back. Just gonna get rid of this now" she said, before getting up and leaving the tent, careful not to spill anything.
Scootaloo still had her eyes clenched shut and she was beginning to shiver. Apple Bloom took her friend in her arms nested her head against her chest. She had never seen her friend, or really anypony, so freaked out by anything. What should have normally been only unpleasant had clearly been absolutely terrifying in her mind. There was only one thing she needed right now.
Scootaloo's heart was still racing and not showing any signs of calming down. Feeling the last of her strength drain away, Scootaloo sniffled as she began to sob quietly.
"Shh..." Apple Bloom cooed. "It must've been real scary for you, but you were really brave."
“Sorry...” Scootaloo whimpered and hugged her friend tighter.
“It's alright Scoots', these things happen. I love you.” Apple Bloom said, stroking Scootaloo’s back. “I bet ya feel a lot better now."
Scootaloo nodded against Apple Bloom's chest, letting her friend hold her a little tighter. Apple Bloom ran her hoof through Scootaloo’s mane. Her forehead felt hot and clammy against her chest and her breath... well it smelled awful, but it was alright. The only thing that mattered was that she was there for her friend, just as she was sure her friends would be there for her whenever she needed them. It was all worth it.
Scootaloo shivered again and Apple Bloom pulled the blanket tighter over her withers. Her breathing had calmed down now and her heart was no longer pounding, she was just very tired. Apple Bloom picked up a water bottle and offered it to Scootaloo.
"You should have something to drink before you fall asleep. At least get the taste out."
Scootaloo took a couple of small sips and swirled it around her mouth before swallowing extremely carefully. It wasn’t much but it was better than nothing. She laid her head down on her friend’s chest again. Apple Bloom ran her hoof up Scootaloo’s back, soon finding that one spot that felt really good just under her wings. Scootaloo relaxed, melting into her friend’s warm embrace. Apple Bloom gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"You're the bravest filly ah know."
Scootaloo peeked at her friend from under her mane and saw Apple Bloom smiling at her. A small tired smile of her own crept up for a moment and she briefly smiled back at her. Then she closed her eyes again with a relieved sigh. It was going to be alright.