//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 - A Night Journey, New Friends and Heavy Thoughts // Story: Under Her Wing // by Tinyweasels //------------------------------// Chapter 14 - A Night Journey, New Friends and Heavy Thoughts. After music time was over, most of the crowd remained and chatted while the foals went off to an adjoining room for snacks. The matron smiled at Rainbow as she sipped her tea. "Rainbow, that was quite remarkable playing. I recall we tried to get you interested in music when you were little." "Well, my dad on Otherside taught me and at first it was just a bonding thing, but when I saw him playing on stage it all just clicked. And he gave me this guitar. It's a family heirloom. Dad wanted me to keep the family's tradition of music alive." When it got late the parents took their foals home and Rainbow, Scootaloo and the matron headed back to the castle. At the castle the matron turned in early, having spent a good part of the day in Canterlot with the princesses. Rainbow and Scootaloo ended up in the library, sitting on a pile of cushions. Scootaloo listened, enthralled, as Rainbow read to her. Shortly after she began, Spike took a seat nearby, reading on his own. Rainbow stopped her story and looked to Spike. "Dude, you're not fooling anypony. Get over here. You totally want in on story time with Rainbow." "I'm too old for that," he protested. "Dude, centuries from now when you're a huge dragon in a dark cave lying awake on your treasure horde, unable to sleep, you'll wish you still had Rainbow around to read you a story." Spike stared at his book for a few moments longer, then put it aside. "Okay, okay. Just don't tell Twilight." Rainbow got comfortable and was surprised when both Spike and Scootaloo settled in against her. "How about a new story, a sort of improv story," she said, putting aside the Daring Do book. "What kind of story?" Scootaloo asked excitedly. "How about the amazingly awesome adventures of... the awesomely amazing pegasus Prism Flash and her adventures with her Horseville pals and how they stopped the Queen of the Night," Rainbow replied. Spike giggled. "It all began one normal, awesome day. Prism was leader of the local weather team and she'd been charged with making sure it was nice for when the Sun Queen arrived for a big holiday party. All of Horseville was busy, including Apple Apple, Pinky Piecrust, Fluttercry and Dramarity. They were all really super busy getting things ready and it was all crazy, so the Sun Queen sent her apprentice Twiglike Sprinkle and her assistant, Spork the dragon." "Dude, seriously?" Spike grumbled. "Just roll with it, trust me," she replied and continued her story, becoming more animated as she told it, occasionally stopping to make asides to her audience. Rainbow leaned over toward Scootaloo. "It was a big secret that Spork actually had a huge crush on Dramarity," she said and the little pony giggled. Spike made a sarcastic snort. "Was his crush anything like Prism's crush on Big Apple?" Rainbow made a nervous laugh and grabbed a cushion and covered Spike's head with it. "Um, as I was saying, there she was, facing the deadly manticore! I punched, I mean, she punched the manticore right in the face! Which didn't make the manticore or Fluttercry very happy." The kids followed her tale with rapt attention. "When Prism went on ahead to make sure it was safe for the others, the Night Queen was there and she tempted Prism with her heart's desire to get her to betray her friends, offering to turn her into a..." Rainbow said and trailed off, not having intended to share as much as she had. "Into a what?" Scootaloo asked. "Into an alicorn," Spike said, coming to Rainbow's rescue. "Yes, an alicorn! Thanks Spike," she said in relief and gave Spike a smile as she resumed her story, building up to the big finish at the castle ruins. "When the dust had settled, there stood Prism and her friends, standing victoriously over the unconscious bodies of the Moon Queen, Disco, Queen Bugaboo, King Sombrero and Tallwreck. Prism's awesomeness had unlocked the Elements of Awesomeness and together with her friends they had rescued Princess Woona." The story had gone longer than she expected, she noticed Spike had fallen asleep and Scootaloo was almost there. "When the battle was over, the others ran up to Prism and gave her a group hug," Rainbow said, her voice getting softer. "Prism had always kept other ponies at arm's length, 'cause deep down she was afraid of letting others get close to her—afraid if she did they'd leave her, like others had before, but the five friends she made that night stormed the fortress around her heart and became her best friends. The end," she said with a smile. She picked up one with each arm and carried them out of the room. She put Spike to bed and tucked him in. "Sleep tight, little bro," she said softly before she left the room. When they got to Scootaloo's suite, Rainbow tucked her in then did a monster check. She looked back at Scootaloo and saw the filly just looking up at her, smiling, with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Rainbow,” Scootaloo said. “That was an awesome story." Rainbow smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. "You're welcome, kiddo. I hope you don't mind that I invited Spike along on that adventure. He forgets he's still a kid sometimes." "I don't mind. I like Spike," she said sleepily, still looking up at Rainbow. Scootaloo sat up and hugged Rainbow. "Thanks for everything, Rainbow," "You're welcome. Sweet dreams, Scoot," she said, returning the hug before she left the room. *** At the intersection the green '68 Mustang Fastback pulled up behind the black Dodge Charger that the killers drove. Rainbow's hands gripped the wheel tightly, waiting for them to make their move. The killers made a high speed break for it, pulling out into traffic. Rainbow put the car in gear and began a high speed pursuit through a faded cinematic 60's San Francisco. She followed tenaciously, the Charger unable to shake her as they jumped hills and took a twisting and turning path through the city. "You know what they call a Big Mac in France?" she heard Princess Nightmare ask. Rainbow gave a start, turning to see an anthropomorphic Nightmare Moon, wearing a black suit, sitting in the passenger seat. "Le Big Mac," she replied with a laugh. "Wrong movie, princess. This is Bullitt. Best chase ever filmed," Rainbow said the moment before the car crested the hill at high speed and went airborne, the Charger ahead of them. "You humans dream so much more vividly than ponies," the princess observed, with what Rainbow thought was perhaps a hint of anxiety in her voice as they began a series of high speed jumps at each of the terraces along the long, steep hill, hot on the trail of the Charger. The Mustang bottomed out at the final jump at the bottom of the hill and then Rainbow turned a hard left at high speed. The only soundtrack to the chase was the loud squealing of tires and the roar of engines. "So what brings you into the dream, princess?" Rainbow asked, keeping her eyes on the road as they followed the Charger onto the highway and began swerving in and out of both lanes trying to keep pace with the other car. "You will forgive my intrusion into your dreams, friend Rainbow, but I felt you should be aware that Luna found Scootaloo wandering the Everfree Forest in the middle of the night, looking for the Tree of Harmony." Rainbow lost control of the car and skidded into the dirt on the side of the road. "She did what?!" Rainbow demanded. "She wished to commune with the Tree." "That's insane! What was she thinking? Is she okay?" "She is unharmed and has been returned to Twilight's castle." Rainbow put the car in gear, floored the gas and resumed her pursuit. She weaved in and out of traffic, including oncoming traffic, as she continued her chase. "Thanks for telling me, princess. Oh man, only a crazy pony would go in the forest at night." "Yes, not without her five friends," "Ouch. Okay, good point. But did she see the Tree?" "Yes. Luna and I took her to see the Tree. Forgive me if I keep in confidence what her petition to the Tree was." Rainbow finally cleared the traffic and it was now just her and the Charger. She began slamming into the side of it, trying to force it off the road. "Gonna need to watch out, princess." "For what?" Nightmare asked as a moment later the windshield was peppered with buckshot. "They dare raise arms against the Queen of the Night?" she said in outrage and her horn lit up and she leaned out the window and a moment later the Charger exploded in a huge fireball. Rainbow slammed on the brakes and the car went into a wild spin until it finally came to a stop after crossing both directions of traffic. The burning wreckage of the Charger rolled into a gas station down the road and that too exploded in a huge fireball. Rainbow got out of the car and leaned against it, watching the conflagration in the distance. A somewhat shaken Nightmare Moon sat on the hood of the Mustang, watching the blaze as well. "Thanks for looking after her, princess,” Rainbow said. “With me as her role model I guess I shouldn't be surprised she did that." "Having heard her petition, I understand her reasoning. Speak with her tomorrow, friend Rainbow, and let us keep this in confidence between you, I, Luna and Scootaloo." Rainbow nodded, turning back to her Mustang. "I will, princess," she replied, looking over the damage to her car. "We're gonna need a new set of wheels.” Nightmare smiled and the world around them seemed to turn fluid. Rainbow found herself sitting in the backseat of a black 1999 BMW E38 753i. Looking around, she realized they were in Paris and in the distance French police cars were approaching. The driver of the BMW turned to look at them. "Buckle up, ladies," Jason Statham said before he put the car in gear and floored it as the chase began. "Ooh, good choice, princess," Rainbow said, a smile of anticipation forming. Nightmare smiled back. "Yes. I find him strangely enticing." "Yeah—he's pretty hot, for a human." *** Rainbow dragged herself out of bed far earlier than normal, but she was a mare on a mission. When she sat down to breakfast at Twilight's castle, Lady Golden Meadow and Twilight discussed the overhaul of the orphanage system while Rainbow kept an eye on Scootaloo. When their eyes would meet, Scootaloo would look away with a childish "guilty secret" look. Rainbow didn't want to bring it up in front of Twilight or the matron, but she knew they'd need to talk about it. After breakfast they left the princess and matron to continue discussing their business and the two went for a walk around town. Rainbow took note of Scootaloo's unusual silence. She glanced around to make sure nopony was near. "So, Scootaloo, Princess Nightmare told me about your little adventure last night," Rainbow started in. That startled the little pony so much she stumbled. "She-she did?" Scootaloo responded in alarm. "Yeah, but relax. She didn't say more than that you went to see the Tree of Harmony. If I'd known you were really that desperate to see it I would've taken you. It's a lot safer in daylight. So, what did you want to see the tree for?" "It's kinda personal," the little pony hedged. "You wanted answers, most likely. Did you get any from the Tree?" "Sort of, but it wasn't a very helpful answer." "Be glad you got any response. Usually it just sits there looking pretty." "It said to just be patient." "It actually spoke to you?" Rainbow asked in surprise. "Not with words. It was more like it said them to my heart," Scootaloo replied. "I hate having to be patient. That's never fun." A cute squeaking voice called out to Scootaloo and they turned to see Sweetie Belle and her friends galloping their way—they explained they had an idea for a way to get their cutie marks and when Scootaloo asked if she could go, Rainbow just smiled and wished them luck. Rainbow sighed as she watched them rush off. "I'm really going to miss you, Scootaloo." "You two are like peas in a pod," the matron said, startling Rainbow. She came up beside Rainbow as they watched the kids run off. "Yeah, she's a pretty cool kid," Rainbow said, still looking in Scootaloo’s direction. "You two fit very well together," the matron said, ending with a pregnant pause. It took Rainbow a few moments to realize what the matron was getting at, and then she turned in alarm. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Your Jedi mind tricks won't work on me, ma'am." The matron smiled knowingly. "What did you foals call it, my 'orphan sense'? The special ability I have to find exceptional matches for families, foals and fillies." "Hey, I'm not mom material," Rainbow protested. "You know I have that ability—It's that ability that found you the right family. Do you trust me and my judgement, Rainbow?" "Yeah, of course, but you gotta be wrong," Rainbow pleaded. "Rainbow, all those years ago I didn't just look at Fullbright Dash's mane and decide that was good enough. When I look at ponies it's like looking at pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and I can see how those pieces fit together," she said and gestured to her cutie mark, which was a heart with four interlocking jigsaw puzzle pieces inside. "I could have made a fortune playing matchmaker to lonely ponies, but I chose a far more important calling. I put together families and I'd say from the way you turned out, I do a very good job," the matron said with a bit of pride. "But I'm a wild mare living on pure adrenaline. I can't put on the brakes and be stuck at home raising a kid. What happens when Element business comes up?" "Your friend Twilight raises a child while doing her duty as Princess of Friendship and Element of Magic. How does she balance it?" Rainbow opened her mouth, but then closed it. "Okay, you got me there. It's not always easy for them. Sometimes Spike feels neglected when she gets too deep into her work." "I would go so far as to say that a child can feel neglected even when they have their parents. Do Spike and Twilight reconcile when they do have those times?" "Sure." "Is Spike happy with the family he has?" "Yep. He once went off to connect with other dragons—that was a total disaster as it turns out dragons are really huge jerks. I had to beat up a bunch of dragon punks when Twilight, Rarity and I had to get him out of there. After that, Spike basically embraced ponykind as his people rather than dragons. It was kind of sad in a way, but I know exactly why he made that choice, as I made it myself," Rainbow said with a sigh. "That's why he's my little bro. Two aliens in a world of ponies." Lady Golden Meadow put a hoof on Rainbow's hand and gave her a kindly smile. "All I ask is that you give it some thought, Rainbow. I want the best for Scootaloo. I don't want her raised by ponies who will merely teach her to endure life with a disability. I want her raised by somepony who will inspire her to be a champion, even if she is never able to fly." "Wow, that's some heavy stuff to think about." "I know, and I do apologize for that," the matron said with a smile. "Still, I have a very strong feeling about this."