//------------------------------// // Sunrise - Part Two // Story: I'm Still Here // by Ribe_FireRain //------------------------------// ''These are amazing! You know just how to do 'em right, Pinkie!'' Dash complemented her pink-coated party-going friend as she hoofed up another forkful of all-butter pancakes with almond drizzle, topped with the juiciest of blueberries and strawberry chunks. As a matter of fact, even both Fluttershy and Scootaloo were enjoying it, having ordered the same thing. ''Aw, it was my pleasure, Dashie! Besides, it doesn't hurt to enjoy a little sugary goodness every now and then!'' Pinkie said with a prize-winning smile of pride as she smiled warmly at her friends. She even giggled when she noticed Scootaloo submerge her face into the top of her stack, almost as if she was playing bobbing for apples. It was still relatively early in the morning, so Sugarcube Corner was mostly vacant at this time, all with the exception of Pinkie, the Cakes' and Rainbow's group that were all sat at the same table at the side of the bakery, located a short ways from the counter where Pinkie was currently behind, baking up a fresh batch of cinnamon swirls, judging from the smell of it. The time passed by rather slowly and the group of ponies ate in silence. The only sounds that were infiltrating the silence was the ambience of nature in the outside world. The birds were all waking up and greeting the day with their songs and the residents of the town of Ponyville were doing the same. The sounds of chatter and market stalls being deployed could be heard in the distance, preparing for yet another busy day of work. Although the time was still rather early, Ponyville wasn't known for being a lazy town. The second Celestia's sun breaches the horizon, pony-after-pony will already be making their start to the new dawn. There was never a minute to lose. Whilst Scootaloo was busy finishing off her breakfast on the other side of the table from Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, the pink-maned mare turned to her friend and asked, ''So, Rainbow,'' She began, her voice a whisper as to not allow the filly across from them hear their conversation. ''About when you went to Sweet Apple Acres, did you say anything to Applejack?'' ''No,'' Rainbow began, fully aware that it was a lie. Well, technically, a half-lie. ''Well, maybe not exactly about...you know what,'' She said, motioning with her eyes over to the orange pegasus across from them, still busy in the middle of eating. ''She didn't know about her living in the clubhouse.'' She said, frowning. In her gut, she could still feel a burn of anger. It wasn't much, but it was there. A part of her felt the need to give Applejack a smack upside her head and the other wanted to confront her on her absence of knowledge on the situation. ''Oh, dear,'' Fluttershy whispered, touching a hoof to her lips. Her eyes directed over to Rainbow Dash's lips and she gave a small raise of her brow. ''Oh, Dashie? Hold still, you've got something on your lip,'' She said, gently moving a hoof over to pick off a small spec of pancake that was resting on her lower lip and tucked into the side. ''Uhm, thanks?'' Rainbow said slowly, feeling a wave a heat tinge her cheeks as she found herself staring deeply into her friend's soft turquoise eyes. Fluttershy stared back, herself blushing. In the middle of their staring, a small voice broke them out of their trance. ''Hey! Dash? Fluttershy?'' The pair of pegasi blinked as they were brought back into reality and they turned to face the young filly across from them, whom was looking back at them with a raised brow. ''What's up, squirt?'' Dash asked, still feeling her blush. ''I was wondering, would it be alright if I can hang out with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom? It's been a while since we've last had the chance to spend any time together.'' Scootaloo asked with pleading eyes. ''Sure, we can swing by the farm later, kid,'' Dash said, ignoring the pang of guilt in her chest. Perhaps I could apologise to Applejack and her sister while I'm at it, she thought to herself. Picking herself out of her seat and leaving Fluttershy and Scootaloo on their own for a moment, Dash proceeded towards the counter where she handed Pinkie Pie some bits for the food. ''Thanks, Dash!'' Pinkie thanked her with a beaming smile and a wave of her hoof as she walked off back towards the table. ''So, then, are we all ready?'' She asked, looking between her two companions. The pair nodded and picked themselves out of their seats and headed towards the door. As Rainbow followed suit, she gave one final thanks to Pinkie Pie before leaving the bakery. In the back of her mind, Rainbow couldn't help but find herself to be combatting her thoughts on Scootaloo's parents. The diary kept flashing in front of her eyes, a particular sentence repetitively being spoken out loud in her head. Sometimes, I wonder if they left because of me. What kind of parents could like me, never mind love me? Being home never feels the same, anymore. I never want to see it again. Her mental voice read the sentence over and over, itching at the base of her skull. A plethora of emotions circled about the mare's heart. The very knowledge that such an entry was written at the hooves of a filly, one she considers her sister, wrenched at her heart. It made her eyes sting and her nerves itch with an angered heat. If there was anything that Dash wanted to know, it was where were her parents? Why did they abandon their only daughter? What possible reason could any pony in the wide, wide world of Equestria have for leaving behind a child with no means of defence? The very fact that ponies could have such a black, stone-encrusted heart made Rainbow sick to her stomach. In front of her, Fluttershy and Scootaloo were walking off in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Coming up beside the butter mare, Rainbow gave her shoulder a small nudge as she walked with her. ''Fluttershy, do you think you can stay with Scootaloo at the farm? I think I need to talk to Twilight to see if she can help us.'' She said, keeping her voice out of earshot of the filly. Fluttershy's lips parted a few times as if to say something, but she decided against it. ''I won't be long, I promise.'' Without a chance to say anything, Rainbow had already departed and headed off towards Golden Oaks Library. === Golden Oaks Library === In the large, hollowed out tree that served as both her home and the local library, Twilight Sparkle, a lavender unicorn with a royal purple and pink-striped mane and tail sat at her desk with a quill floating in her magical pink aura, scribbling down on some parchment. Her faithful assistant and dragon friend, Spike, had left her alone to make a trip to Carousel Boutique to help Rarity with her work. This wasn't something Twilight wasn't used to. Of course, it wasn't something Rarity wasn't used to, either. As a matter of fact, the entire town knew about his crush on the fashionista unicorn. Every so often or when Twilight had no need for his assistance with her studies or his chores were completed, he would always head on over to the Boutique to check up on Rarity. The puppy-like affection he displayed for her never ceased to make Twilight giggle. Just as she was finishing up with her writing, a series of knocks sounded at the door. She blinked and placed the quill into a nearby ink vial. Trotting over towards the door, Twilight opened it to reveal a serious-looking Rainbow Dash. Without an invitation, the rainbow-maned mare entered the home of the unicorn and skipped with the pleasantries. Twilight frowned as she watched the pegasus enter her home, closing the door with her magic. ''Um, good morning?'' She said slowly, albeit, her tone housing a small fraction of annoyance. Walking over to face the other mare, she was finally able to get a good look at her features. She did not look happy. ''Rainbow? Is something wrong? You look like you've got something on your mind.'' Twilight said, raising her brow in concern. Rainbow radiated with unease as she stared into the purple eyes of Twilight. In her mind, the previous few days were sapping at her thoughts and she struggled to find a way to form them into words. She gave a sigh and spoke softly. ''Twilight, yes, something is wrong,'' She began, continuing to stare into Twilight's eyes. ''Long story short, I really need your help.'' Alright, so far, so good, Rainbow. ''Oh?'' Twilight blinked in surprise. ''Do you want to talk about it?'' She asked delicately, to which the prismatic-maned mare gave a small nod. With her hoof, Twilight motioned for her to follow her up to the second floor, leading her towards a small area where a table and some chairs were set out. The only other objects on the second floor were Twilight's night sky-themed bed and sheets and Spike's basket. Once the pair pulled out a chair each and were comfortably seated, Twilight broke the ice. ''Alright, so what's on your mind?'' Okay, Rainbow Dash, try to keep it together. Be strong for your little sister, Rainbow told herself, already feeling a bubble of unease arise in her gut. Stay strong. Taking in a breath to calm her nerves, Rainbow Dash forced herself to look into Twilight's eyes as she spoke. ''It's about Scootaloo.'' She said, her voice evidently stressed. In her natural raspy tone, there was a trace of shakiness that didn't go undetected by the lavender unicorn. Her ear twitched. ''Scootaloo? What have the Cutie Mark Crusaders done this time? Did they go venturing off into the Everfree again?'' She asked, worry arising in the back of her mind. ''It's nothing to do with the Cutie Mark Crusaders or the Everfree, Twi. It's just about Scootaloo,'' Dash said, her tone off and tired. ''Twi, a few days ago, I found out something that I wish I never did.'' The unicorn across from her didn't say anything. Patiently, she sat and waited for Dash to continue, lightly rolling her hoof. ''Scootaloo has been living in the clubhouse on Sweet Apple Acres.'' The atmosphere in the room turned cold as those words left Rainbow Dash's mouth. Not a single sound pierced the veil of silence other than the quiet breathing of the two mares present. Twilight's lip trembled a few times, yet words never left her mouth. Rainbow supposed she couldn't blame her. ''Where is she now?'' She eventually asked, her voice emotionless. ''She's at Sweet Apple Acres with Fluttershy,'' Dash said. ''So, I take it that she's the only one that knows about this, aside from Applejack?'' Twilight asked. Rainbow shook her head. ''That's just it, Twi. Applejack didn't know that she was living in the clubhouse. Not even her friends knew about it. She never told them,'' Rainbow said with a bitter sadness. She could feel a heat behind her eyes, a warm tingle that she was all too familiar with. Fighting them off as best she could, she told Twilight about the diary and what she knew about the situation. Of course, Twilight's mouth hung agape in a mixed contortion of shock and disgust. Her own eyes had grown moist, but she managed to keep herself in one piece. ''Dash, that's horrible! And she lived like that for a few years?!'' ''I'm afraid so. I found her on her own in the hospital waiting room with no trace of a parent or guardian. Not even a sibling. I took her in after she got patched up,'' Dash said, wiping her eyes and giving a soft sniffle. ''I don't know what else to do, Twi, so that's why I came to you.'' Twilight gave Rainbow an unreadable stare. ''Dash, I know how much Scootaloo means to you, but I don't think there's anything I can do for her. Even if there was, I don't know if I could help you. I'm sorry, Rainbow,'' Twilight said, coming over to Dash's side and offering her hoof to her shoulder. Rainbow felt helpless and her heart ached. She could feel the tears begin to burn behind her eyes, yet she wouldn't dare let them break through. ''You can't even send a letter to Princess Celestia?'' She asked, her eyes hopeful. Twilight only shook her head. ''No, I'm afraid not. Princess or not, I doubt there's anything in her power that she can do to help with Scootaloo. Besides, even if I were to send her a letter, what would I tell her?'' ''You should tell her the truth!'' Rainbow said, suddenly shooting up out of her seat and slamming her hooves down on the table top, causing Twilight to jump back in surprise as Dash glared at her, her eyes like magenta daggers. ''Rainbow! Look, I know you're upset, but I can't do anything to help you. If there was, I would, you know that!'' Twilight said, watching the pegasus with concern. Rainbow, however, refused to listen. In her current state of mind, she wasn't willing to listen or reason. Instead, she gave Twilight a final, hurt glare and stomped her way down the stairs and out of the front door of the library with a reverberating slam, leaving a flabbergasted unicorn behind. ***  *** *** A loud slam of the door to the farmhouse reverberated as Rainbow Dash trudged in with her head hanging low, her lips pulled into a frustrated, helpless frown. Her ears were drooped down as she entered through the Apple's kitchen storm door and she passed through the open archway into the living room, where all of her friends were seated. Applejack and Fluttershy were involved in a conversation about something that went unnoticed by Rainbow Dash, whom was drowning in her deepest thoughts to find the need to care, and there was Granny Smith, rocking absentmindedly in her rocking chair, as usual. From where they were seated on the couch at the opposite end of the room, Fluttershy's head momentarily turned from Applejack's to face Rainbow upon her arrival. ''Rainbow Dash, you're back!'' She said, smiling, but her sweet smile soon pulled into a frown as she noticed the soured expression on Rainbow Dash's face. ''Rainbow? Is everything alright?'' Fluttershy then picked herself from her seat and headed on over to Rainbow, stopping in front of her worriedly. She eyed her for a moment and she observed her face. It was more than obvious that something was bothering her, and Fluttershy had learned to pick up on Rainbow's bodily movements and characteristics whenever something was getting to her and dragging her down. Seeing her like this, she was naturally concerned. She saw it in Dash's magenta eyes, the helplessness. ''Dashie?'' Fluttershy asked her quietly, dropping her voice down to a whisper. ''What happened? What did Twilight say?'' ''Nothing,'' Dash replied glumly. ''Nothing happened. Twilight can't help us,'' She said with a sad sigh. ''Where are The Crusaders?'' She asked, upon noticing their absence from the room. She had expected to see them the moment that she arrived. ''Don't worry, they're all upstairs in Apple Bloom's room,'' Fluttershy said. ''I figured it would be best if they stayed up there to spend some time together. Celestia knows that it'd do some good for Scootaloo to have her mind taken off of her situation for a while,'' She said sadly, her heart going out to the young pegasus. Dash sighed. ''I don't know what else to do, Fluttershy,'' She said. ''If she told us sooner, then we might stand a better chance at helping her, but I'm all out of ideas! I'm not sure what else we can do to help her or if anypony can shed some light on this,'' She said, glancing momentarily over Fluttershy's shoulder to view Applejack. ''Somepony must know something, at the very least. Shouldn't they?'' Fluttershy's hoof raised itself up and touched lightly against Rainbow's shoulder, her eyes vibrant and caring as she stared almost motherly into her eyes. ''It'll be alright, Dashie,'' She said assuringly. ''We'll find a way to help her, sooner or later. All we can do now is make her feel comfortable and safe. She deserves to feel appreciated and loved for a change,'' She said, and Rainbow's ears raised a little, he soft and ginger tone of Fluttershy's voice brushing away some of her doubts. She didn't know what it was about her voice, but, whenever she heard it, it always sent tingles down Dash's spine, and she felt safe, warm and happy. It was one of the things that Dash loved about her the most. ''I suppose you're right, Flutters,'' She said, using her friend's nickname. Fluttershy giggled at the use of the name. That was another thing that also tickled the lining of Dash's stomach - Fluttershy's sweet, little giggles. It warmed her right up every single time, warm like a Hearth's Warming fire and as sweet as one of Pinkie Pie's cupcakes. ''And Applejack?'' Applejack's head turned to face Rainbow Dash upon hearing her name. Dash then walked around Fluttershy and came to a stop in front of the orange farmpony. Applejack climbed off of the couch and she stood in front of the cyan mare, her green eyes curious about what she was going to say. ''Applejack, I owe you an apology,'' She said, her eyes momentarily glancing down in shame. ''Apologise for what?'' Applejack asked, confused. ''For taking my anger out on you. I know that I shouldn't have accused you like that, but I was just so angry and frustrated about Scootaloo that I...well, you know how I can get sometimes,'' She said, blushing embarrassingly. ''I'm really sorry, AJ.'' Applejack's hoof found its way beneath Dash's chin and she slowly raised it up, prompting Dash's eyes to make contact with hers. She found that Applejack was smiling tenderly and that her eyes housed an understanding expression, long accustomed to the brash pegasus' behavioral pattern and antics. ''Well, shucks, sugarcube,'' Applejack began. ''Don't you go fretting about it. Fluttershy's already let me in on what's been goin' on with you and Scootaloo, and I guess I'm sorry, too. You know, for not realising somethin' was up sooner.'' No sooner did Applejack pull Rainbow Dash into a friendly embrace, holding her closely and tightly, resting her chin on her shoulder. She was able to feel how tense and knotted the muscles in Rainbow's back had become, and it concerned her. Applejack did feel guilty about not noticing something out of the ordinary sooner, but she wondered on if something similar happened with one of her own flesh and blood, how worried she'd be if it was her own sister up there and alone in that clubhouse. Applejack dreaded the thought, feeling tears prick at her emerald eyes at the thought of her little sister stuck up there all alone through every single season, cooped up and fighting for warmth and survival against the elements. She pictured little Apple Bloom huddled in a dirty, unwashed sleeping bag, her tiny form shivering and shuddering as the cold bit and clawed at her fragile being, stealing away what little warmth she had managed to conceal in the insulation of her sleeping bag. She quickly shook the dreadful thoughts way. In a way, she couldn't blame Dash for the way that she reacted and how much it was affecting her, mentally and physically. The stress didn't go unnoticed and it practically glowed behind her eyes, heavily masked and pushed away, concealed from view of the others, but it was still detectable and evident. Rainbow Dash was in pain over the matter, and it was clear that she was taking the discovery pretty harshly. That poor girl, Applejack thought. She loves that filly to bits, and anypony can see it. I can't imagine to know what it must be like for her to go through. ''Thanks, Applejack,'' Rainbow Dash said, pulling away from the friendly embrace. ''It means a lot to me. To both of us, actually,'' Rainbow motioned between herself and Fluttershy. ''Fluttershy offered to help me with taking care of the little squirt while we figure something out, and we're both at a bit of a loss. The kid's been through so much, and it's been tough on her,'' Rainbow momentarily glanced towards the stairs to the right of the living room, checking that nopony was spying before she spoke again. ''I've read her diary, Applejack,'' Applejack's body twitched at that. ''You what?'' She asked, surprised, but keeping her voice down. ''Ya'll went and read Scootaloo's diary and invaded her privacy? Dash, how could you?'' She said, her tone holding light traces of anger at knowing that Dash could have stooped so low. Rainbow sighed. ''Yeah, yeah, I know, Fluttershy already gave me a lecture,'' She rolled her eyes. ''But what was I supposed to do? Applejack, if that was your sister caught up in all of this mess, then what would you do?'' She asked, and Applejack's face became thoughtful, and her eyes became softer and pondering. The question at put her at a stalemate, and it showed clearly on her perplexed face. ''Well, shoot, I guess you've got me there,'' She said, defeated in her reasoning. ''But it still doesn't excuse you from rummaging around in some pony's private life, Dash! She doesn't know, does she?'' ''No, of course not!'' ''Well, what if she does?'' Applejack countered. ''Did you stop to think how much it'll hurt her feelings when she finds out that you went snoopin' where you weren't supposed to be sticking your nose?'' ''Oh, for...'' Rainbow was getting angry now, heat rising to her cheeks. However, she managed to hold it back, forcing her anger back down and taking a deep breath to recompose herself. ''I'm not proud of it, AJ, but I didn't have a choice! It was obvious that something is wrong here, and all I want to do is help her. When we were at the hospital, Scootaloo told me that she broke her hoof riding her scooter and that she didn't have any parents, but when I read her diary, she said that they abandoned her!'' She said, stepping closer towards Applejack as she nearly pushed her snout up against her own. From behind her, Fluttershy's hoof gently touched upon Dash's side, prompting her to glance back at her. Fluttershy's eyes were full of a sad but understanding emotion. She knew where Dash was coming from, and she only wanted to help her, but she knew it wasn't going to be easy. Applejack's face became unreadable as she tried to think up an answer, but her brain had failed her. Fluttershy had only told her what she knew, only mentioning that Rainbow had brought home Scootaloo's personal belongings from the farm and that she had turned up on her doorstep a day after leaving the hospital, but not about Scootaloo's parents leaving her to fend for herself. How in the world could any parent leave their only child like that? How? The very idea struck a chord in Applejack's heart, and it angered her, wounding her and giving way to a deep sympathy for the young girl. Being family oriented, Applejack couldn't even begin to attempt what it must feel like to be abandoned by your parents, or any of your kind, for that matter. As far as she knew, Scootaloo didn't have any blood relatives living in town or close to Ponyville that could care for her, and if she did, she wouldn't be able to reach them, anyway. What if somepony with rotten intentions came along and kidnapped her, or what if she became sick and had no place to hide so that she could recover and regain her health? Looking back on it all, it amazed Applejack that the little girl was even still alive! ''Her parents abandoned her?'' Applejack finally said, her voice hollow. In her eyes, Rainbow saw that there was a glimmer, a deep sadness, an emotion that the tough farmpony never displayed. She was good at hiding her emotions and keeping herself in-check at the right moment, but this story had moved her something fierce. ''I'm afraid so,'' Rainbow said. ''I'm trying to figure out where they might be. I don't know if they're still in town or if they moved somewhere else, and I'd sure like to know what kind of a lame excuse they have for abandoning their only daughter like that!'' Dash said, anger once again flaring behind her eyes, causing them to burn and glow hotly. ''Simmer down, sugarcube. Look, no matter what, you need to keep it together, for Scootaloo,'' She said soothingly, patting Rainbow's shoulder. ''You won't be able to help her all at once, and you're going to have to accept that. All you can do now is keep her happy and comfortable until you can figure something out. One day, you'll find an answer, Dash. And I'll help you any way that I can if it means that we can gain some closure on the matter.'' Rainbow Dash remained still as she processed Applejack's words, and the cogs and mental gears within her brain began to turn and click as she broke each and every word down. A part of her was restless on the matter of getting to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Scootaloo's parents abandoning her in the way that they did while the other told her to listen to Applejack and to be reasonable about the subject. Scootaloo looked up to her as both an idol and a big sister, and Rainbow Dash knew that, deep down, she had to set a good example for Scootaloo if she was going to be the one looking after her. It wouldn't be very sisterly of her to not be responsible for her, would it? Besides, she didn't have a clue on how long it would take to settle the issue of Scootaloo and her parents and getting a straight answer on the matter, and she did have to make some preparations for the duration that they might spend together in both her own home and Fluttershy's home. For Rainbow Dash, money wasn't much of an issue, seeing as her Wonderbolt status and her weather team supervisor job on the side brought in a steady enough income to support a large family, and, being a single mare, she typically had more bits laying around than she knew what to do with. She had more than enough to buy a few things for her dear little sister to make her happy and comfortable in the meantime, and she was going to do all that she can to ensure that she has a happy life and a healthy lifestyle. Rainbow Dash, with thanks to Fluttershy's professional medical knowledge and care, can even transport the little filly back and forth between homes, allowing her to spend time with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle during the day while going back up to her cloud home to spend the night. However, despite her wing feeling better, and as much as it might have irked her, Rainbow knew that she shouldn't be flying anytime soon, and that she should wait at least a week or two before putting strain onto her bones and muscles before they can have the chance to set properly. It was a lesson that she had learned the hard way from stunts in the past. ''Thanks, Applejack, but what about Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle? Don't they know about this? I mean, they did see us in the clubhouse going through Scootaloo's things,'' Dash said, weary for their knowledge on the matter. That day when Rainbow confronted Applejack and headed into the clubhouse that Scootaloo had been sleeping in for the past couple years of her life, Apple Bloom and Sweetie had stumbled in at the wrong time. It was hard to truly understand how much they heard and what they knew already. It was something that they were too young to comprehend, and it would only lead to disaster if they knew the truth about their friend. It was best to leave it until another time to come clean, and, even then, maybe not at all. ''Don't you worry none, you two,'' Applejack said to both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. ''They don't know anything about it.'' ''So, do you want to go ahead and tell Scootaloo it's time to head back home, or do you think they can wait a little longer?'' Applejack asked, and Rainbow Dash smiled. ''No, if it's alright with you, I think it'll do her some good to spend some time with her friends. The girl deserves a break,'' She said. ''I agree,'' Fluttershy nodded. ''So, um, I was wondering...if the kids are going to be here for a while, would you like to come back to my cottage with me, Rainbow? I think I should give your wing another application of that healing cream to make sure it heals up well.'' ''Huh? Oh, yeah, sure, sure,'' Rainbow Dash said, glancing at her lightly bandaged left wing. The fresh gauze and the healing cream did seem to be doing it some good, and it didn't ache or hurt as much as it did the previous day. ''Will you be alright watching them for a while, Applejack?'' ''Not a problem, Dash. Watching out for all three of them isn't any harder than keeping track of Apple Bloom by herself, so you needn't worry about hurrying on back,'' Applejack said confidently. ''Great! See you later, then, AJ!'' Rainbow Dash said, looking forward to being able to spend some time alone with Fluttershy. They didn't have much time to spend together, and, under the circumstances, a little alone time to catch up was just what the doctor ordered. ***  *** *** Back at Fluttershy's homestead, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were upstairs in her bedroom, Rainbow resting comfortably on her stomach atop the plush sheets of her friend's bed. It wasn't as comfortable as the cloud beds that Dash was accustomed to, but she still found herself to be melting into the cushiness of the sheets. Fluttershy was sitting beside her, gently humming to herself while she slowly and carefully worked at Rainbow Dash's injured wing. She had peeled back the fresh layers of gauze and bandages she had applied the other day, and she was currently working in some of the healing cream she had gotten from Zecora. After this application, Rainbow Dash's wing was sure to be back to its original state, enabling her to fly once more, albeit, with a couple or so days to allow the healing cream to take effect and work its way into her bones and muscles. Rainbow winced a little as Fluttershy's tender hoof nicked against a slight bump in her wing were she had bruised it, and she always soothingly hushed her, and she suddenly forgot about the pain. She didn't know how Fluttershy did it, but she was an absolute miracle worker when it came to medical attention, and she had this natural motherly vibe about her that apparently worked just as well with ponies as it does with her animals. It was a rather interesting quality she housed, and it made her very approachable and trusting. ''Feeling better?'' She asked Rainbow as she finished rubbing around her wing, making sure to work in the cream around every last inch of her injured wing. ''I'll say!'' Rainbow said with a smile. ''My wing feels great! At this rate, I'll be back in the skies in no time!'' She said with a longing tone in her voice, anxious for that day to arrive. Fluttershy tutted and gently tapped her shoulder. ''Not so fast, Rainbow Dash,'' She began, confusing the cyan mare beside her. ''Not on my watch, you're not. Your wing still needs time to heal, Dashie, and you'll still be grounded for at least a week until you regain all of your strength. You need to rest that wing and keep it unstrained, otherwise, you'll be right back where you started,'' Fluttershy said, motioning down to her wing, and Rainbow winced as it gave a twinge. The magical properties in the healing cream produced a light burn on Rainbow Dash's wing, an invisible fire in her nerves, as it absorbed into her skin and worked its way deeper into her system. It didn't hurt, the heat being no different than if she were standing in front of an open hearth, and it tingled, almost tickling her with unseen feathers, and it gave a twinge of minor pain here and there as her aching muscles unknotted themselves and her bones slowly reset into position. ''You sound just like Dr Stable,'' Rainbow Dash grumbled. ''It's for your own good, Dashie. Once that wing heals up, then you can fly around as much as you like,'' Fluttershy said, tenderly smiling down at her while she transferred her hooves to her back and she began to apply pressure, gently rubbing them in circles. ''Fluttershy, what're...'' ''Shh, just relax. You're really tense, Rainbow,'' Fluttershy said soothingly as she began to press a little harder, working her way from Rainbow's rump up to her middle back. She had done this procedure multiple times in the past with her animal patients, mainly, Harry the Bear, when she had to remove kinks and knots that had formed in his muscles. She didn't like to brag, but it always did the trick when it came down to pushing the reset button on a patient. Rainbow Dash's ears flapped and her eyes fluttered as she melted into Fluttershy's expert touch, losing herself in the circles as they released blissful sensations that she had never experienced before. Resist as she might, it was futile, and her tough exterior proved no match for Fluttershy's hooves as they continued to press into her strained back, ironing out the creases. ''How's it feel?'' Fluttershy asked from over her shoulder. ''Mmm,'' Rainbow murmured, finding it hard to put up a fight as she was worked over. When her friend's hooves worked up into her middle back area, releasing the tension that had built up around her wing area, right between her shoulderblades, oh, Celestia, forget about it! Man, even Aloe and Vera don't give massages half this good! Rainbow thought inwardly. Fluttershy's an absolute miracle worker! I never knew that she had such firm and professional hooves for this job! I've never felt anything like it before! Oh, right there, Fluttershy, that's it, right...oh! There it is! Rainbow Dash released an audible moan of pleasure as Fluttershy pressed into her flesh directly between her wings, unfurling a giant knot as her hooves circled around it and applied pressure. The tip of Fluttershy's hooves were like magical wands, bringing the highest form of euphoria and ecstasy wherever they poked and prodded, and, as much as Rainbow would never like to admit it, she found herself enjoying herself and the bliss that her mind was rolling around in. Oh, she found my soft spot! Rainbow could have sworn that she heard Fluttershy giggle at her reaction, and she quickly blushed and pursed her lips together. She suddenly felt embarrassed and exposed, her guard let down and allowing her soft side to spill through the gap, something that she fought to remain hidden, especially around her friends. ''Oh, Dashie, it's alright,'' Fluttershy began, catching on to her sudden change of mood. ''If it feels good, then there's no shame in showing it. You'll feel better once your muscles relax and you get some rest.'' Fluttershy's hooves began to work around Rainbow's neck area now, and the nerve endings in the back of her neck were all crying out for her tender touch. Once again, Dash's lips parted, unable to resist as her personal masseuse rubbed and stroked expertly around her shoulders and the back of her neck. Never in all of her life did Rainbow Dash ever expect somepony such as Fluttershy to be this fantastic at giving massages! Fluttershy was quiet and timid, afraid of her own shadow and usually reluctant to enter into a conversation. As long as Rainbow Dash has known her, she has never seen Fluttershy perform any kind of act such as the one she was involved with right now on another living pony. She usually reserved this kind of therapeutic treatment for her injured animal friends, never letting even her closest friends see this side of her, but Rainbow Dash was apparently not just one of her closest friends. Rainbow Dash was Fluttershy's best friend in the whole world. Rainbow Dash's head gingerly lowered itself onto the plush sheets beneath her as her muscles all gave a relaxed sigh, and her eyes fluttered drowsily as her body felt like it had been giving a thorough and deep cleanse. She felt like a newly-oiled gate, all freshened up and as loose as a goose. She didn't realise how tense her body really had become, and in the middle of her strained mind trying to stretch itself in all directions to find a solution to help Scootaloo, only to run into dead ends and empty answers, she had forgotten about her own personal needs and requirements. The added stress of finding Scootaloo that day in the hospital all alone had kicked her mind into overdrive and set her out to find answers without a shut down switch to snap her out of it. Rainbow Dash didn't know just how much she needed that tension release, and she instantly felt a million times lighter than she did once Fluttershy's hooves had worked their magic on her. Man, that felt so awesome! Rainbow Dash thought blissfully, biting her tongue between her teeth as her cheeks became rosy and her eyes half-rolled into the back of her skull in the middle of the pleasure coursing through her. I wouldn't mind having seconds! I feel like I can sleep for a millennium right now! Fluttershy, you beautiful mare, you're a miracle worker. ''F-Fluttershy!'' Rainbow Dash managed to push out as she fought against the temptation of losing herself to sleep in the cushiness of Fluttershy's bed. ''That was amazing! We should do this more often!'' ''I figured as much,'' Fluttershy giggled cutely. ''Do your wings feel any better?'' Rainbow Dash gave her wing an experimental and gentle flap, flexing it first at the tip and then bending it slightly in the middle. To her surprise, she didn't feel any pain from the minute movement in her muscles or hollow bones. As a matter of fact, they felt great! Factory fresh, actually! They felt like they had been replaced with a more durable set of wings and the bones beneath the flesh felt reinforced and more durable, but that was probably just the healing properties talking as they worked on fixing the damage to their structure. ''Are you kidding? They feel great!'' Dash said, grinning. ''They feel brand new, and it's all thanks to you, Flutters!'' Rainbow Dash pulled herself up and she didn't hesitate to throw her hooves around Fluttershy's neck and pull her into a hug. ''I'm glad to hear it,'' Fluttershy said, nuzzling Rainbow's cheek before pulling away. ''So, I know that you've been under a lot of stress with Scootaloo and her parents,'' Rainbow's eyes dimmed a little at that, but Fluttershy held her shoulder and continued. ''And I was wondering how you're holding up.'' This was another one of those things that Rainbow loved about Fluttershy - she was always so selfless. If she saw that somepony else was sad and in need of some help or a friendly ear to vent into, then she would be the first one in line to ask if said pony wanted to talk about it and get it off of their chest. It was no different with her friends, but when it came down to Rainbow Dash, having known her the longest out of all of her friends, she could read her like a mere text book. Rainbow Dash had this little thing where she would kick at the ground or drag her hooves and pout her lips while hanging her head low whenever she was sad or upset by something, and Fluttershy noticed it very frequently as a filly. Whenever something was bothering Rainbow Dash, her ear would twitch and her eyes would become dim and less vibrant, and she would become distant and anti-social. And whenever she was feeling helpless and lost due to an obstacle or a set-back in her life, she would usually hang out on clouds and lose herself in her thoughts, sometimes never coming down until the day was done. Fluttershy had learned all of these from her time growing up with Rainbow, and considering that she was her only friend growing up, they hung out more frequently, which gave her more opportunities to scout out her individual emotions and pay close attention to her mood swings. By this point in time, there was no emotion or little trait or detail in Rainbow's being that went unnoticed by Fluttershy's eye, and seeing her upset actually hurt the butter mare, and she wouldn't feel better until she can offer her assistance. ''Well...'' Rainbow began, clearly unprepared for the question. ''I'm fine, I guess. I'm feeling much better now,'' She said, pointing down with a hoof towards her wing. ''How about you? Are you feeling okay?'' ''I'm alright, Dashie. Thanks for asking,'' Fluttershy said appreciatively. ''But it's you that I'm worried about. You've hardly even given yourself the chance to rest since the day you came here with Scootaloo. You're going to burn yourself out at this rate.'' ''I'll be fine, Fluttershy. Don't worry about me,'' Rainbow said reassuringly. ''But, as much as I hate to admit it, Applejack's right about one thing.'' ''What's that?'' Fluttershy asked. Rainbow's ears drooped. ''I can't help her all at once. It's impossible, even for me,'' She gave a defeated, tired sigh. ''I can't just ignore this, Fluttershy, you know that. I can't let it go like it's no big deal, and there has to be something that we can do about this. Like Applejack said, I can't do everything all at once and I have to stay strong for Scootaloo. I don't like waiting for the answer to come and find us, Fluttershy. I feel like there's so much more that I could be doing right now!'' Rainbow's hooves lightly threw up and bashed onto the cover's of Fluttershy's bed with a soft pompf! ''Oh, I know, Rainbow,'' Fluttershy cooed, leaning in and pressing her cheek against Rainbow's. ''But nopony knows when an answer will turn up or when,'' She said sadly, and she held Rainbow's hoof while she snuggled into the side of her, generating warmth. She didn't realise how cold the cyan mare had become, despite the warm temperature inside of the room. Being this close to her, minus the tense muscles and skin, Fluttershy sensed the impatience surrounding the prismatic mare. It was thick and it lingered around her like a toxic cloud, but she supposed she couldn't blame her. Aside from being able to detect the emotions of Rainbow like a bloodhound sniffing out a missing foal, Fluttershy could smell the rain on her being, a rather typical scent for a pegasus. She smelled like the dampness just before a downpour and her fur contained undertones of an earthy smell, along with some kind of sweet, fruity smell, presumably some kind of conditioner or perfume that Rainbow was wearing, like blue raspberry. ''You really love her, don't you?'' Fluttershy eventually asked, cradled between Rainbow's neck and her hoof. Rainbow Dash gave her a surprised expression from the question, but she also seemed to be a little taken aback by it. ''Of course I do,'' She said confidently, somewhat flabbergasted that she could even be asked such a thing. ''I love and care about that filly more than anypony else can even comprehend, Fluttershy! As far as I know and as far as she knows, I'm all that she's got in the way of family!'' Rainbow Dash said, her voice now taking on an angered, semi-annoyed tone. ''Why wouldn't I stand by her through all of this? For crying out loud, I'm her sister, Fluttershy! Without me, she'll still be living in that clubhouse and freezing to death! She likely wouldn't survive another winter!'' ''Rainbow Dash!'' Fluttershy said, her voice amped up to just under a shouting level, enough to snap the other mare out of her tangent. Rainbow Dash fell silent almost immediately, and Fluttershy pulled away from her, now staring hard and firmly into her eyes, begging her and pleading for her to listen. Although Rainbow's eyes were hard with determination, she knew that she had to listen to what Fluttershy was about to say to her, whether she like it or not. ''You listen to me, Rainbow Dash,'' Fluttershy grabbed her by the shoulders and steeled her nerves. She felt Dash's muscles tense beneath her hooves upon making contact with her body. ''You need to stop beating yourself up about this, and you need to stop right. This. Instant!'' She shook her friend's shoulders with each word, rattling her like a ragdoll in her firm but loose grip. ''You know you can't go back in time and change the past, and what's done is done, you're going to have to accept that, Dashie! You're right that Scootaloo likely wouldn't survive much longer on her own, but if you want her to pull through this, you need to learn to hold yourself together and stop letting your anger take control of you! You're better than this, Rainbow Dash! You need to learn to swallow your emotions and save it for another time, but right now, Scootaloo needs you and you're going to be of no use if you keep going about this the wrong way!'' Fluttershy pressed her snout up against Rainbow Dash's and she stared at her long and hard while Dash remained speechless, shocked and surprised by the sudden motherly-strict firmness in Fluttershy's voice. The level of depth and bite in her voice as she spoke locked Rainbow's attention onto her, reeling her in, forcing her to listen to reason. She has never seen this side of Fluttershy except in the dire moments that it becomes necessary, and it scared her. Oh, did it scare her deep down inside, and she knew that she was right. Fluttershy never acted in this way unless she knew that she really had to, and with Rainbow Dash in this very moment, it was one of those times. Rainbow Dash didn't like to admit it or open up about it, but she knew that she had a bit of a temper problem, and she's known this ever since her days as a filly. She didn't know where it came from, but she never was good with concealing her emotions, often leading to scraps here and there in the Cloudsdale schoolyard. Ever since becoming friends with Fluttershy, she has gotten a little better at keeping herself collected and calm under pressure, but there was this off moment when she would snap every now and again if provoked in the correct way. And so, in this moment, rather than say anything, Rainbow Dash did the only thing that she could think of - cry. Rainbow Dash's eyes welled up and her lips trembled while her nose wrinkled a few times. Eventually, she succumbed to her repressed emotions and they all came surging up in a giant tidal wave of pushed back feelings, and she threw herself into Fluttershy like a helpless little foal that had dropped their lollipop in the middle of the street. Fluttershy, being the motherly and caring type, began to shush her and pat her back soothingly, giving it a gentle caress to calm her down. Rainbow Dash buried her face into Fluttershy's soft chest and she bawled away, releasing all of her emotions, both recent and not-so-recent, her floodgates crumbling and her guard completely let down. ''Oh, Dashie,'' Fluttershy cooed as she rubbed the cyan mare's back tenderly, cradling the mare in her hooves while she leaned into her. ''No, no, it's alright, Rainbow, don't cry,'' Fluttershy said, resting her chin atop Rainbow's head. She began to stroke the back of her head, lightly running her hoof along her silky, multi-coloured mane. Rainbow Dash cried in Fluttershy's embrace for almost twenty minutes, hardly showing any signs of stopping, and her tears only became more frequent and faster as she cried harder. Eventually, after a few more minutes, Rainbow's tears of woe and internal sorrow slowly ceased and she became calm enough to take control of her breathing. She finally regained the ability to speak and she hugged Fluttershy tightly as she spoke. ''I-I'm sorry, Fluttershy!'' She sniffled. ''I've b-been so selfish! I'm s-s-so so-sorry, Fluttershy!'' She gave a racked sob as her body shuddered and she held back a sniffle. Fluttershy only continued to cradle and cuddle her, comforting her with a pat on the back. ''It's alright, Dashie. Don't worry about it,'' She said softly, gently pulling Dash up so that she could face her fully. Her magenta eyes were now red and puffy, her blue cheeks matted and stained with tears leaking down her face like miniature waterfalls. She looked like a hurt child, and her pupils were large and puppy-like, a clear display of her internal misery and helplessness. ''It's alright,'' Fluttershy repeated. ''But it's not!'' Rainbow retorted. ''No, it's not! What about Scootaloo? How's she been dealing with this?'' ''We'll worry about that later, Rainbow. There's still plenty of time to sit her down and talk this out, but our main concern right now is making sure you're fully rested and back in good health. Understand?'' She asked, her voice never wavering once out of its motherly firmness. Rainbow Dash sniffled and she wiped her nose. ''Uh-huh,'' She uttered. Fluttershy wiped the remaining tears away from her eyes and she smiled sweetly at her. ''Good,'' She said, and she hugged Rainbow briefly before she slowly layed her back down onto the bed beside her. ''We've got a while before we go and pick up Scootaloo from Applejack's farm, so how about you stay here and rest for a while?'' ''That sounds nice,'' Rainbow Dash said, smiling gratefully towards her most gracious host. Fluttershy, now that Rainbow was seeing her clearly in the afternoon sunlight pouring in through the window of her bedroom, was angelic in appearance and posture. From those heavenly pools of warm turquoise eyes to that sweet and tender, white-toothed smile to those flawless and adorable cheeks and that flowing curtain of pink mane, she was a gorgeous and pretty young thing. She had never noticed it before, but in the glowing orange-yellow aura of the sun's light, Fluttershy's eyes glowed brightly as she was hovering slightly above her as she laid herself down in bed, like a guardian angel watching over her. She was always there for her, night or day, and Rainbow Dash knew that she could always count on her. There was literally no other place that Rainbow Dash would rather be right now than right here in the presence of her dear Fluttershy the Angel Pegasus. Fluttershy, you're so beautiful, Rainbow thought. What did I ever do so right to deserve a friend like you? I swear, one of these days, I'll make sure that you know just how much I appreciate you for all that you've done. You're everything to me. Not a moment too soon did Rainbow Dash feel her eyes grow heavy and slide closed slowly. In the presence of Fluttershy, she felt safe and protected in this little cosy cocoon known as her cottage's main bedchamber, and all of her worries were left outside of the walls of the comfortable confines of the butter mare's hospitality, separated by wooden walls and care, love and peace. She loved it here. She felt Fluttershy's hoof make contact with her head as her hoof began to gently caress her mane up and down, coaxing her into a peaceful slumber. Rainbow Dash didn't put up a fight or show any resistance towards the act of affection, and she let out a content, relaxed sigh as she allowed peace to overtake her, carrying her off to the realm of sleep. ''You deserve a rest,'' Fluttershy said, curling up beside her. She wrapped her long, pink tail around her flank and she extended a wing to drape over Rainbow Dash's back for added comfort and warmth. She saw Dash's lips curl into a small smile at the contact of her yellow-feathered wings making contact with her body, and the sight warmed Fluttershy's heart. Applejack wasn't going to be expecting them back for at least an hour or two, so they both had a little time to spend until they had to pick up Scootaloo. Fluttershy was going to make every minute count, and she knew that Dash would appreciate the company. And so, Fluttershy snuggled herself up beside Rainbow Dash on top of the bed and she rested her head next to hers, right before she closed her own eyes and drifted off to sleep.