//------------------------------// // Patch-up and Fall-out // Story: Rainbow Unicorns: Boast Blasters // by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof //------------------------------// "You're very fortunate," Nurse Redheart stated as she finished wrapping the now awake Rainbow Burst's legs in bandages. "Most of the cuts are superficial, and the worst of them won't even require stitches." She reached up to tap a hoof against Rainbow's horn. "You also exerted yourself pretty hard. You seem to have overcharged your horn and exhausted a large amount of your magic stores. After some proper rest and a few good meals, the headache will fade, and you'll be at least partially recharged." "Was... was anypony else hurt?" Redheart looked at Rainbow Burst, who was not making eye contact. "Lightning Blast," she answered. "Worst injury is a scratch on her cornea, but nothing permanent. Otherwise, some cuts on her face and overexerted magic as well." "But noponies in the crowd?" "No," Redheart said. Her brow then narrowed. "You mean you don't remember?" "Remember what?" Rainbow asked, looking up at the nurse with a raised eyebrow. "The shield." Tilting her head, Nurse Redheart raised an eyebrow of her own. "Just before the explosion, you threw up a shield to protect the crowd." Rainbow let out a sigh of relief as she flopped back onto the hospital bed. She did feel a little bad about Lightning getting hurt, but not very much. After all, they had brought it on themselves really. The crowd, however, was a different matter. They were just innocent ponies that were there to watch the duel. If any of them got hurt, it would be her fault. "There are some ponies waiting outside for you," Nurse Redheart said, pulling Rainbow from her thoughts. "Do you feel up to having some visitors?" "Yeah, sure." "I'll let them know." A few seconds later, Spike came running in. "Rainbow!" the young dragon cried out as he ran to the unicorn, throwing himself onto the bed and wrapping his arms around her. Gripping her tight, he buried his face against her fur. Rainbow could feel the warm wetness of tears against her chest. "Hey," Rainbow said as she wrapped a foreleg around him, pulling him into a hug. "Come on, Spike. I'm fine. You've seen me go through worse." "What are you talking about?" Spike asked as he pulled away to wipe his eyes. "I wasn't worried." He then smirked. "Besides, you're too thick-headed to be taken down easily." "You're one to talk," Rainbow retorted, poking at Spikes forehead with a hoof. Her smirk faded as she looked at the bandages covering her leg. "Is it true, Spike? Did I really throw up a shield to protect the crowd?" "You don't remember?" Rainbow shook her head. "No. What I remember is that one moment, I was being squeezed like a lemon. The next, there was a pop like a water balloon exploding, and then everything hurt. Next thing I know, I'm here." She motioned at the hospital around her. "Well you did," Spike said as he moved to get more comfortable. "Just after the bubble of Lightning Blast's magic popped, your magic did kind of explode outward. At the same time, a wall of your energy popped up in front of us. It was hard to see what happened after that, but when it vanished, you and Lightning were on the ground..." Rainbow gripped the dragon and pulled him into a hug again. "I'm fine," she repeated. "Just a couple scratches and some magical exhaustion. I'll be out of here tomorrow, and back to normal in no time." "Well that's nice to hear," Rarity said from the doorway. She stepped into the room, followed by the others. "Sorry for intruding, but we have been waiting out there a while for... a proper moment." "How long have you been waiting out there?" "Not long," Applejack answered. "Soon as the nurse told us, Spike took off like a dog after a jackrabbit." Spike looked away and blushed at the comparison, but did not argue. "We also brought you a few things," Rarity said as she stepped forward. "I brought you something especially interesting. It seems that putting up the shield was not the only thing you managed to do." She then pulled out a stone, holding it up. Rainbow took a hold of the stone, looking at it closely. It was smooth and glossy, like crystal or glass. The surface of it gleamed and glowed, the color shifting through the spectrum from red, through yellow, to violet, and back to red. As Rainbow held it in her hoof, she could feel the magical energy humming off it. "Wow," Rainbow whispered as she pulled it closer to look. Her eyes were wide, the glow of the stone reflecting in them. "I didn't think I would ever see one outside of Canterlot, to say nothing of making one myself." "What is it?" Twilight asked. "It's called a Mage Crystal," Spike answered. "According to Princess Celestia, when some rock or earth is exposed to large amounts of raw magical energy, it can sometimes absorb it. The result is that the stone pretty much becomes something like this, --" he motioned toward the stone in Rainbow's hoof "-- taking on the colors of the pony's magic, and pretty much becoming a crystal or gemstone." "This is awesome," Rainbow said. "I have to send this to Princess Celestia." "I brought you something to read," Twilight said as she stepped forward and held up a book. "Daring Do?" "A tale of a brave and brilliant pegasus, who travels the world, solving puzzles, finding artifacts, and battling villains," Twilight declared. She grinned. "It's one of my favorite series." "My turn, my turn," Pinkie called out as she popped up beside the bed. "Well, not just me." Reaching into her mane, she pulled out a small bakery box and opened it to reveal a frosted cupcake. "A zap apple cupcake. Courtesy of Applejack and myself." "Heh, thanks," Rainbow said, grinning down at the treat. She then stifled a yawn as she set the treat and gemstone aside. "We're glad you're okay," Flowershy said. "We'll let you get your rest now." Several looked reluctant, but none of them were willing to argue. With comforting smiles, they moved away from the bed and headed for the door. Spike was the last at the bed, giving Rainbow Burst one last hug before hopping off and following the others. Flowershy gave a gentle smile before silently heading out, shutting the door behind her. Alone in her room, Rainbow Burst flopped back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. She felt tired -- exhausted even -- but doubted she would be able to get to sleep any time soon. Her gaze drifted toward the cupcake. It did look rather tasty, and it would help her replace some of the energy she had lost during the duel. She was not feeling very hungry, though, and it seemed like too much sugar to eat on an otherwise empty stomach. With little other options, Rainbow picked up the book and started reading. "So that's how it is," a voice interrupted before Daring had even finished deciphering the code on the ancient map. "You blow us up and nearly blind me, and get treats and gifts, while I get shoved off and forgotten." Putting the book down, Rainbow found Lightning Blast standing in the doorway. One eye was covered by the bandages wrapped around her face, and the other narrowed as she glared at Rainbow. "Lightning," Rainbow said as she set the book down. "Save it!" Lightning snapped. "I don't want to hear whatever you have to say after nearly killing us." "I nearly killed us?!" Rainbow yelled, sitting up more. She pointed a hoof at the other mare. "You were the one who didn't want me to break loose from your stupid clay, so you wrapped me in more magic!" "So you're saying it's my fault?" "As much as mine, if not more so." "Whatever," Lightning snorted, rolling her eye. "Not like I expected somepony like you to own up to your mistakes anyways." Rainbow's ears pulled back as she scowled at the other unicorn. "So, what do you want?" she growled out between clenched teeth. Some part of her felt she should have been nicer. After all, they were both hurt, and Lightning had lost her home before that. Plus, Rainbow was supposed to be learning about friendship, its benefits, and values, which should include forgiveness, right? She should forgive Lightning. Maybe even try to make friends with her. But something about the other mare just pissed her off to no end. "First, you didn't win," Lightning declared. "It was a draw due to dual knockout." "Fine," Rainbow sighed. "Whatever. I don't really care right now." "Pft, sure. Just keep telling yourself that." Shifting in her bed, Rainbow looked around for things she could throw at the other mare. The book was a gift, and she did not want to imagine what would happen if Twilight or Celestia found out she had damaged one. The mage stone would shatter, or maybe explode? Either way, it would be lost and she would not be able to send it to the princess. The cupcake would create a nice, messy splat, but would mean that she would not be able to eat it. There was a bedpan nearby... "Second," Lightning continued. "This isn't over." She moved closer. "It may take a while, but I'll be back. And when I do, I'll show you and everypony in this town who the better unicorn is." Rainbow fell back onto her bed as she burst into laughter. "What?" Lightning asked, blinking in confusion. "What's so funny? Why are you laughing?" Rainbow's laughter subsided, leaving her sitting there, panting. She looked at Lightning and burst into another fit of giggles. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she managed to snicker out. "It's just..." she snorted, bringing a hoof to her mouth to control herself. "It's just, you sound like a cheesy villain from a bad play. All you're missing is the mustache to twirl and the maniacal laughter. Well... that and the outfit..." The image of Lightning in a top hat and black cape, twirling a blond mustache sent Rainbow into another fit of laughter. With a huff of frustration, Lightning Blast turned and stomped her way toward the doorway. "Wait, wait!" Rainbow called out, getting the other mare's attention. "Shouldn't you say something dramatic like, 'I shall return!' or 'you haven't seen the last of me!' or something?" She then broke into another round of laughter as Lightning stormed off.