Twilight’s Rainbow
Chapter 14
Epilogue: Promise
Twilight and Rainbow stood in the hall outside Spitfire’s office. There was hardly a sound in the building; the only noise was the steady ticking of a clock at the end of the hall. Rainbow stood, Wonderbolts uniform held under her wing, a hoof raised in preparation to knock on the door. Her breathing came in shallow breaths as she worked up the nerve to do what needed to be done.
“You don’t have to.” Twilight spoke from beside her, offering a comforting smile. Rainbow just shook her head.
“No, I need to do this. I promised you, Twi.” Rainbow took a final deep breath a knocked three times on the door. Three solid thuds rang through the hall, drowning the ticking of the clock. As the final thud’s echo faded from existence, the door opened, revealing the captain of the Wonderbolts with her trademark glasses.
“Rainbow Dash, I was wondering how long you would be standing out here.” She said knowingly, giving a small smirk.
“I… uh…” Rainbow fumbled with her words, trying to think of an excuse.
“Come in.” Spitfire beckoned, turning back into her office. Rainbow looked uncertainly at her partner. Twilight nodded comfortingly, and Rainbow stepped into the office after another deep breath, the door closing behind her.
Twilight sat back on her haunches and leaned back against the wall. She tilted her head to rest it on the wall, and stared up at the ceiling.
TICK… TOCK… TICK…TOCK
The clock continued ticking almost merrily, as if it were unaware of what was happening beyond the closed door. As if it didn’t know the dreams that were being crushed as it counted the time that flowed by. Un-halting and unforgiving, time would continue, no matter what happened in that office.
TICK…TOCK…TICK…TOCK
Rainbow didn’t have to do this; Twilight had told her that over and over again. And yet she insisted. Rainbow was hell bent on keeping a promise that Twilight no longer cared for. Twilight didn’t care anymore; all she wanted was to know Rainbow loved her, even if Rainbow wasn’t with her. But no, Rainbow had to go and quit the Wonderbolts for her. All of it was for her.
Again that tiny nagging in the back of her mind came back to her, poisoning her thoughts with guilt. It was her fault, she had started it all, and now Rainbow had to fix her mistake all over again.
TICK…TOCK…TICK…TOCK
And still the clock ticked and tocked as time kept flowing through the hall where the unicorn sat. Time was unyielding, even for the briefest of moments, no matter how much Twilight wanted it to stop. No matter how much she wanted to rewind the clock, time would march by. With or without her, time would go on.
TICK…TOCK…TI-
The ticking was halted forcefully as the now smashed clock was lowered to the floor in a purple glow. Twilight made a mental note to buy them a new clock when all this was over. She sighed heavily, straining her ears to hear the discussion going on through the door. Any attempt to hear the words was useless, the walls and doors were too thick to allow anything short of yelling to pass through into the now-silent hall. She began to miss the ticking of the clock.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a cyan pegasus stepped out. The Wonderbolts uniform was still clutched tightly under her wing and a relieved smile on her face. She stepped out fully into the hall, closing the door behind her. Twilight instantly shot off the floor and raced over to her marefriend’s side.
“How’d it go?” Twilight asked cautiously, putting a comforting hoof on her friend’s withers.
“Well, I’m not a Wonderbolt anymore…” Rainbow trailed off sadly, looking to the uniform under her wing, “But they offered me a position as an instructor at the academy they’re opening next month. It’ll be like a regular job, so I’ll be able to come home every night. I even get extended vacations during the winter when we aren’t training any new cadets.”
“My picture’s even going to be in the Wonderbolts hall of fame! It may have only been a few months, but I was one of their best fliers ever!” Rainbow explained enthusiastically, earning a smile from Twilight.
“That’s great, Rainbow. But your really didn’t have to-” Twilight was cut off as a hoof was rested gently across her lips.
“Yes, I did. I needed to quit, for you, and for me. I made you a promise, Twi, I intend to keep it.” Rainbow removed her hoof slowly. As soon as the hoof was clear Twilight opened her mouth to protest again, but was silenced as Rainbow leaned in and kissed her. It was brief, but passionate. When Rainbow drew back, Twilight was smiling.
“Come on, let’s go home.” Twilight offered as she turned and began walking down the hall. Rainbow rested a wing over her back, drawing her close as they made their way out of the building.
“Hey Twi, wasn’t there a clock there?”