"Aah, that was wonderful. We gotta do this again sometime, sugar. If only ta see ya squirm," Applejack said with a sly grin as the two of them left Ponyville's spa. Rainbow didn't really care for it, but that didn't matter for her. She was willing to make small sacrifices for the greater good. Failing that, Applejack's mood and mental well-being were equally honorable causes.
Applejack let out an annoyed groan as she noticed the first raindrop out of many to come falling onto her muzzle. Rainbow Dash wasn't surprised by the change in weather, of course. She was the one who had commanded for it to happen. Rather, she was glad that the weather team had managed to follow the schedule properly while their leader was absent on more important business, napping, for instance.
"Why, it's been fun and all, but Ah really gotta get back home now. Let's hope Apple Bloom's had jus' as good a time as us."
Dash extended her left wing in order to shield Applejack from the starting rain. She never talked about it, but Dash knew she was somewhat afraid of water after nearly drowning as a filly. Rainbow didn't like her wings getting wet, but she'd hate to see Applejack soaked.
"I'm sure she has. But, just to make sure, don't think I'll leave your side 'til we've seen she's alright. I insist, 'master'."
"Heh, fine by me. If ya can keep up, that is," Applejack exclaimed before galloping off with the grin still remaining on her face. Of course, neither their marriage nor her sister's possibly terminal illness could quell her need for competition with her wife. Said pegasus wouldn't have it any other way, though. Their friendly quarrels were what had led up to their current relationship, after all.
After a few minutes of Dash speeding towards Sweet Appple Acres while trying to keep her friend dry by flying just above her, they reached the farmhouse. Rainbow meant to know, but Apllejack simply went past her and through the door, leaving it open for Dash to follow while she joined their, since two weeks, mutual brother in the kitchen.
"So, anything changed 'bout lil' Bloom?" Applejack asked the red stallion.
"Nnope," He replied.
"Still asleep?"
"Eyup."
"Eugh, probably better that way. Even though Ah'm constantly afraid she might... jus' not wake up... But seriously, that's what we'd want for her if Twilight... right?"
"... Eyup."
"Sheesh. Expanded your vocabulary recently?" Rainbow Dash joined the conversation.
"My dearest sister-in-law, I must express my great displeasure at your quite sarcastic comment." Big Macintosh was, somehow, suddenly wearing a stylish top hat and a monocle. Rainbow suspected a pact with Discord or, worse even, Pinkie Pie being involved. After she blinked and looked again, the accessoires had vanished. "Other than that, nope."
"Okay, so MY new sis is alright. I'd love to stick around and chat, but I gotta meet somepony. Take care of her and yourselves."
"Take care, heartless angel."
Dash had to exercise a great deal of self-control in order not to stop in shock at the combination of words Applejack had hit by accident. It was just a coincidence. She had heard her nickname in the Brotherhoof and decided to respond with the same clause Rainbow had used. Nothing more than that. She did an awkward step out of rhythm and left the house.
As well as lying to get out of an uncomfortable situation would suit Rainbow Dash, she really had somepony to meet, though their appointment wasn't due for two more hours. As the time wasn't too well for that somepony, they had rescheduled it in order to avoid the rain. Flying in bad weather wasn't fun, anyway. Even if it was, Dash needed to talk about something she couldn't tell anypony about, not even her wife. Surely, she thought, Twilight would service her needs.
Following a knock on the door, the paler of the two unicorns groaned and went to answer.
"Who could this be? Midnight, take over for a second, will you? Oh hey Rainbow Dash. Did you calm down Applejack? 'Cause I told her to waste your time instead of mine. I mean..."
"Yep. If you want to know, she dragged me right to the, ugh, to the spa. That's why I'm there to spend the rest of my life together with her, I guess. But that's not why I'm here. This is on my own business... Twilight, can we talk?"
"I dunno, I'm kind of busy averting the apocalypse..." One unicorn looked at the other, causing the other to shrug and motion for the one to do what she must. "Thanks. I love you. Okay, so, what's on your mind, Rainbow?"
"Same thing as everypony else. I mean, what if you don't find the cure in time? What if there is none? I'm sure Applejack will get infected, the way she's acting right now..."
"Tsk, nonsense. Don't worry, I've made great process today. I'll be done by this time tomorrow, I promise. I'd also be faster if ponies could stop interrupting me when I'm at work."
"I second both claims. The Flow has commanded for this sample to die," Midnight called over after inspecting a tube filled with a glowing green liquid.
Rainbow was about to question Midnight when Twilight just rolled her eyes and whispered, "Magic. If something happens that's not supposed to happen, it's magic."
"Darn right it is! And the real world at the same time. Not that there'd be any difference, of course."
Twilight giggled. Her marefriend surely had some interesting quirks, including, but not limited to, constantly claiming that the legendary power source of all magic was real, sentient, and whispering to her, but that was only another reason why she liked her so much.
"Yeah. I got this. Just go home or to SAA or wherever you want and relax. There will be no more victims."
"Thanks Twi', I appreciate your efforts. You're the best kind of friend a pony could have."
While Twilight was politely acting like she was embarassed at the compliment or thought she didn't deserve it, something loudly exploded behind her. Next to one of the experimentation tables, Midnight stood, green fluid on various parts of her body, but no apparent damage.
"I... can explain... hopefully," She stammered as she tried to clean the color off, which turned out to be quite resistant. Rainbow Dash knew she was not interested in any more business at the library and departed. She could still fit in a quick nap before she was needed again.
Thus, another cloud gained the attribute of giving ponies walking by a slight case of paranoia by snoring lightly. There were still a few raindrops coming down, but Dash didn't care. Back within the hollow tree, both unicorns finished cleaning one of them with a mix of magic and towels. Midnight was lying on her side on the floor for convenience.
"Hey, on the bright side, the sample's dead."
"That's bad. Given that what you say is correct, I mean, I'm not doubting you, that was supposed to... erm, kinda lost it. The point is, wouldn't we want it to die because the cure's working instead of you trying... something?"
"I'm an expert in practical medical care, biology, chemistry, and teleportation, and possess basic knowledge of physics, history, general magic, and quantum mechanics. How should I know it wasn't going to work?"
"By asking me, for example, or using common sense. Of course using your special mending spell will only supply the bacteria with more energy to grow."
"You're grumpy," Midnight stated as she rose back up and started to clean the walls using a levitated globule of water out of the experiment's water supply.
"I... yeah, I am. Blame me, in the current situation."
Midnight dropped off the dirty water in a bucket, then turned around and gave Twilight a short, comforting kiss on her cheek.
"That's why you have me. I'm there for you, always, remember that."
Twilight exhaled, and with the air, all of her doubts and worries seemed to leave her. "Marry me..."
"Hm? Later, sugarcube. I assume you didn't mean that literally yet, anyway."
"No, no, of course not. I mean..."
"Let's get back to work."
"Agreed."
"Come on, is that all you got? I did that as a baby!"
"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash... I can do this." Scootaloo got back up from the moist grass, shook her head, and started galloping for a good start.
She wasn't going to do it this time either. Dash could see a failed attempt coming before the filly even started flapping her wings. Things went as they had to and Scootaloo once again crashed face first into the meadow just outside of Ponyville, no matter how much her wings buzzed. She sighed and glided down. Scootaloo still hadn't raised any part of her, but Rainbow knew she was just acting it. She was fine. There was no way that such a tiny drop could harm her.
"Seriously, what's going on? You're usually far better than that." Dash offered Scootaloo a helping hoof, which she gladly used to pull herself up.
"I'm fine, I just..." Scootaloo coughed once. "I just need a moment... catch my breath," She said while panting heavily.
Dash paced around her impatiently, "No, you're not. Don't try to hide anything from me. I know, I know, I'm so awesome you forget everything else around me, but that's no reason why you should work yourself to death so that I won't be disappoint. Honestly now, what's wrong?"
Slowly, Scootaloo got back onto her shaking legs, "I don't know... it's nothing. I guess I'm exhausted, but that's all."
Rainbow Dash put a hoof on the filly's shoulders and lowered her head down to her level, "Stop. It. You know who's my special somepony for life, yes? And if I've learned anything from the Element of Honesty, it's that I can't stand ponies lying to themselves. Look, kiddo. You can barely even stand. Do you really want me to believe you're fine?"
"Alright, I guess I'm kind of tired since I woke up today. So what? I didn't sleep well. That doesn't stop me from..." Scootaloo countered her own argumentation by going into a cough, sneeze, cough, sneeze combination, during which she flapped her wings so hard she actually lifted herself off the ground quite far and would have landed on her head if Rainbow Dash hadn't caught her.
Gasping for air, she reopened her eyes to see blue feathers in formation come in and out of view while the landscape in the distance changed from green hills to brown houses.
Then, Scootaloo blacked out.