Rainbow Dash idly looked out of one of the windows, her mind wandering. Fields filled with tall, wild grasses and dotted with bright flowers, broken only by the occasional tree, drifted by without a care as the train chugged towards its destination. In the distance, she watched the snow-capped mountains stand still as the train rocked along, heading further and further away from Ponyville. The steady rhythm of the train steaming along and jostling the car was dampened by the magic enchantments, almost transforming what would have otherwise been a minor nuisance into a lullaby capable of lulling her to sleep.
The track and scenery were familiar, even if she'd only taken the ride a couple of times before and hadn't paid much attention to the view. Those trips had been filled with the joyous laughter and happy conversations between her group of friends and herself, but this time, it was quiet. It made the trip feel longer and surprisingly, much calmer. Without the laughter and conversation, there wasn't much to do, nor was there anything to really focus on since there wasn't a dangerous threat they were headed to confront. Because of the calm, Rainbow felt almost secluded and isolated, despite the bright sun shining down on the world and the clear skies accompanying it.
She looked away from the mountains and looked around across the sky. Occasional patches of fluffy white clouds had no disruptive effect on the sunny day as it marched on, guided by Princess Celestia's magic. She could see a couple of small dots in the sky, perhaps birds or pegasi, but she couldn’t make them out for the distance. Her mind drifted to thoughts of flying. Her lips lifted into a smile, then fell as the thoughts twisted inside her mind, turning into a sharp dagger which cut at her heart.
Rainbow's heart throbbed with regret. The pain made her gaze slip from the window, then glide over the body of the lavender alicorn resting on her side. Twilight was sleeping peacefully as the train trekked along, her chest slowing rising and falling every few seconds with her relaxed breaths. The alicorn's head was nestled against Rainbow's side, right below where her wing met her body. Her muzzle was tucked in against her neck as if she was trying to curl herself into a ball to make herself as small as possible. Rainbow's right wing laid over Twilight's shoulder, like a blanket, covering and protecting her, sheltering and securing her. She smiled as the sight erased the pain in her heart and left her feeling almost giddy in its place. She calmly stroked Twilight's back with a feather, sliding it along her back just beside her backbone. She watched Twilight’s coat part as her feather calmly slid along her back, leaving a subtle indent in its wake.
Twilight's lips twitched up at the feeling, drawing Rainbow's attention. Her attention was so stolen that her feather stopped tracing down Twilight's back. The smile on Twilight’s lips dimmed as Rainbow’s feather stopped, but the warmth lingered, leaving Twilight with an expression confirming that her dreams were both peaceful and worry-free. It was a stark contrast with the empty, almost haunted look normally in its place.
Her mane, an inky blue in color, accented with a pink and a purple highlight running down its length, was disarrayed, yet still mostly straight. Her highlights mixed in with the darker blues of her mane, and some of her hairs stuck out of place, but it still flowed gracefully from the back of her head, unbroken in its majestic beauty. Her tail was draped over the side of the couch and hung there unmovingly as she napped.
Rainbow couldn't help but look down at Twilight's side. Her smile vanished as she stared. Twilight's side looked so foreign, even with the months that had past. She’d never get used to seeing it; she knew it in the very core of her being. It was wrong. The gash may have healed, but the memory lingered in the back of her mind, like a scar that tormented both of them.
She blinked several times in rapid succession to fight back the images bubbling forth in her mind. A shiver ran down her spine. She fluffed her wings to banish the memory from her mind.
While Twilight's side had healed, her wing was still gone. Her coat had regrown and covered her skin, but it was distinctly different from what it had been. The fur was shorter, softer, and lighter in color, but the only way somepony would notice the color difference was if they looked closely. In the center, there was still a little bit of a light pink spot where her coat hadn't fully come back in, leaving her pale skin visible. Her coat having regrown made it look so much more permanent, only further reinforcing the wrongness.
Years ago, she wouldn't have batted an eye at Twilight's barren side; she had been a unicorn, after all. But instead of bringing back warm, fond memories from years past, the sight of Twilight's baren side made her feel apprehensive and on edge, like something inside of her own body was off. It made the atmosphere feel tense and brittle. It left her feeling like breathing could cause something bad to happen without warning.
Her eyes glanced back up at Twilight's bare forehead. With neither her horn, nor her right wing, and with her laying on her left side, she could have been mistaken for an earth pony, rather than seen as the alicorn that she was. Her missing horn only further added to the twisted wrongness that she felt. Twilight’s body had been violated, and it left Rainbow wanting to cry.
Instead, Rainbow swallowed and wrapped her wing around Twilight’s shoulder. She sheltered the alicorn under her wing, protecting her while carefully avoiding her side. She held Twilight close in her feathery embrace, hoping that somehow, it would make everything better, but knowing it wouldn’t. Her wing couldn’t magically heal Twilight, but it gave them both some semblance of comfort; Rainbow knew Twilight was safe under her wing, and Twilight knew Rainbow was there, right beside her, never going to leave her.
Twilight rubbed her head against Rainbow’s side, unconsciously nuzzling her in response to feeling the pegasus’s comforting, feathery embrace.
Rainbow slowly looked away from Twilight, blinking as she looked back out the window. Despite her unease, she was content to hold Twilight with her wing while she laid on top of her. She could relax and let the tension melt away as she simply held Twilight. The alicorn’s weight resting on her body comforted her. The alicorn’s warmth radiating into her body reassured her. It was a reminder that Twilight was there with her, and that was enough to make her happy. The alternative was unthinkable.
Twilight’s shoulders shifted in her sleep, drawing Rainbow’s attention down to her. She wiggled into a new, more comfortable position, sliding further up onto her Pegasus pillow. Rainbow smiled and leaned down to tenderly nuzzle into Twilight’s mane, touching the tip of her nose to Twilight’s head, then gently rubbing her muzzle up and down, just barely touching her. Her smile brightened as Twilight’s soft, silken mane slid back and forth against her nose.
After a few seconds of loving nuzzles, Rainbow lifted her head away from Twilight and went back to watching the landscape as it flew by. Eventually, the view started to bend as the train turned to the left. The mountains disappeared, but their destination was still out of sight. The trip would last a few more days before they arrived at the Crystal Empire.
"She's still sleeping?" Starlight Glimmer asked at length.
Rainbow looked towards the light purple unicorn and nodded. Starlight's brow was creased and she halfway squinted at Twilight. Her mane hung casually down her neck in a style reminiscent of Rarity's, with her bangs curling over itself before partially hiding one of her blue eyes from sight. After a few seconds, she leaned to the right, then continued into the main room from the passageway. Spike walked out behind her, already looking in Twilight's direction. There was a slight hesitation in his step before he followed on after Starlight.
Starlight walked to the couch across from Twilight and Rainbow. She levitated an apple from a basket set on the counter to the right of the couch, then jumped up onto the couch. She took a bite from the apple and chewed it as she watched Twilight with a worried expression. Spike climbed up onto the couch and sat down beside her.
Rainbow glanced back at Twilight, then looked at Starlight. “Hey uh, do you have any idea why she’s been so tired lately?” she asked. Her wings fluttered in apprehension and unease, rubbing against Twilight’s coat and causing the alicorn to nuzzle into her side. Rainbow glanced at Twilight from the corner of her eye and smile, then she looked back at Starlight. The smile faded and she swallowed. “I mean… I know she’s been tired since… you know, but…” she trailed off with a frown. She pulled her gaze away from Starlight and looked at the alicorn blanketed beneath her wing. The sight helped ease her discomfort, and her frown faded, but a hint of it still lingered on her lips. “It just seems like it’s getting… worse.”
Starlight grimaced. "I 'm not sure..." she trailed off, tilting her head to the side. "Is she any more active than she was before?" she asked curiously.
Rainbow looked back at Starlight and shook her head. "No. If anything, she's less active now, but she's taking naps like all the time..."
"Have the doctors said anything about it?" Starlight inquired.
"Not really," Rainbow answered. "They have commented on it, and Twilight's talked to them, but they're not really sure. Doctor Manner seems to think it's because she lost her wing, so she doesn't want to do anything now..." She swallowed, though it didn't help with the tightness growing in her throat, forming a painful knot. "And she's recovering from... that..." she reluctantly breathed out. "That... that was hard on her..." she whispered to herself. She forced down the knot and closed her eyes, then took a deep breath before exhaling.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow," Starlight said in a soft, sympathetic voice. "It's not your fault. None of us could have stopped it..." She sighed, then shook her head. "I don't know why she's so tired. There's a whole host of things that could be causing it. Sleep deprivation, sleeping poorly, eating poorly, not getting proper exercise, doing nothing, doing too much..."
Rainbow spaced out as Starlight continued on, listing possible reasons why Twilight was so tired.
Twilight shifted again. Rainbow's eyes darted over to her. Twilight's muzzle scrunched up before she let out a soft groan. After a couple of seconds, she instinctively nuzzled Rainbow's side, then groggily cracked open her eyes. Her eyes looked perfectly normal and well rested, yet she acted like her eyelids weighed as much as a grown pony. She struggled to keep her eyes opened, and it looked like her eyelids lagged behind her eyes in their movements. She looked even more exhausted than when she had fallen asleep hours ago.
Rainbow leaned over to Twilight and nuzzled her again. She pulled back and smiled as she looked at her alicorn. "Hey, Twi," she greeted softly.
Twilight closed her eyes and her lips pulled into a bright, loopy grin that showed both her joy at Rainbow’s affection and her exhaustion. After a few seconds, she took an abrupt deep breath, then let out a long, tired yet content sigh. Her eyelids parted about halfway. Her eyes looked around lazily, glazing over and ignoring all of the details except for the blue coat beneath her muzzle.
"'s good..." Twilight mumbled, her eyelids drooping again. She yawned and a bit of moisture gathered in the edges of her eyes. She let out a weak, quiet groan, then rubbed her head into Rainbow’s coat and brought her right foreleg up to rub her eyes with the back of her forehoof. Eventually, she pulled her forehoof away, then slid her left foreleg back and placed her hoof flat on the couch and pushed herself up slowly.
Her left wing instinctively flared out, brushing against Rainbow's side, as she sat up. She wobbled unsurely, almost violently, as she struggled to correct for her lack of balance. She tipped to the right and jerked to the left to correct, forcing her to twitch back to the right instinctively, sending her toppling over.
Rainbow reacted immediately, shooting up and grabbing Twilight with her right wing to pull her against her side. She pressed Twilight against her body, forcing her to lean against her for support. Twilight’s muzzle drooped towards the floor. “Easy, Twi,” she cautioned in a soft voice.
Twilight reluctantly glanced at Rainbow, then scooted to her left, pressing her body up against Rainbow’s. She looked away from Rainbow in shame. She stared at the floor for several seconds, then closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, then finally opened her eyes all the way. She lifted her head up. She slouched tiredly as she let her eyes roam the room, refusing to move her head. Eventually, her gaze settled on Starlight and Spike across from her and Rainbow.
"You have been eating meat, right?" Starlight asked seriously.
Twilight reluctantly nodded. “Yes.”
“I know we’ve asked this before, but uh… any ideas why you’re always so tired?” Rainbow asked. “It’s… it worried me.”
Twilight looked over at Rainbow, then let her head limply fall onto Rainbow's shoulder. She closed her eyes and relaxed. "I'm just... tired," she said at length. "There's... a half a dozen reasons as to why I could be tired," she stated, "but it's probably just a combination of what I've been through and the fact that I'm still recovering."
Rainbow leaned her head against Twilight’s head. She closed her eyes and tenderly nuzzled her, then she lifted her head back up and watched the now-smiling alicorn. “Twi, it’s been like four months since you… got sick.” Twilight’s smile faded at the reminder. Rainbow swallowed and licked her lips. “Shouldn’t you be better by now?”
Twilight stayed silent.
Rainbow tilted her head and watched Twilight. For a few seconds, she was convinced her alicorn had drifted back to sleep, but then Twilight’s eyes cracked open. “Maybe I should be eating more meat,” she mused. “I know it would help, but… I just… I really don’t feel like it,” she muttered. “Besides, I’m not having problems with feeling sick, I’m just… tired.”
Starlight grimaced. "Are you sure you feel up to this trip? It's a little late now, but, the Crystal Faire is going to be pretty active... And with you being as tired as you are," she hesitantly drawled.
Twilight's eyes drifted to the ceiling, then back down to the floor. Several seconds passed in silence. "If I take it easy," she said, "then it should be fine. I don't want to miss this..." she trailed off softly. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes again. “Besides, I’m sure that the Crystal Ponies will understand, they’re very sympathetic. I want to be here for this… I probably just won’t be out very much.”
“I’ll be with you the whole time, Twi,” Rainbow said. “I wish the girls were coming with us, though. It kinda sucks that they can’t make it,” she commented. “It’s just not the same.”
Twilight’s lips twisted into a grimace and she nodded in agreement, nuzzling Rainbow’s shoulder and neck in the process. Rainbow smiled from the feeling of Twilight’s nuzzle making their coats rub together. “Every other time we’ve been to the Crystal Empire, it’s been all of us…” Twilight whispered. “It… won’t be the same without them,” her voice came out strained and disappointed.
Rainbow shifted her weight and took a deep breath as her brow twitched down. She looked at Twilight and gently stroked the length of Twilight’s upper body with her wing, tenderly brushing her feathers across Twilight’s soft fur. “Hey, we’re not drifting apart. It just didn’t work out this time, that’s all,” she replied.
Twilight opened her eyes and glanced at Rainbow. For a short moment, the two simply looked in each other’s eyes. Twilight was the one to break eye contact and look away. “Yeah, maybe.” She didn’t sound convinced. She closed her eyes again, then lifted her head back up. She wobbled, leaning away from Rainbow and nearly falling over again, but Rainbow’s wing was there to hold her in place.
Twilight eyed the floor apprehensively, her heart racing in anxiety and fear. She scooted closer to Rainbow, pressing their flanks and sides together. She jerked in surprise, her eyes shooting over to Rainbow, as the pegasus’s tail flicked around her back and fell down her right flank before coming to rest on top of her tail. After a few seconds to recover, she smiled at the gesture and nuzzled her. Rainbow returned the nuzzle, and the pair rubbed their muzzles together in slow, long strokes. After several seconds, Twilight broke the nuzzle and looked over at Starlight and Spike.
Starlight vigorously munched on her apple and idly looked out of the window above Twilight and Rainbow. Spike held an open comic in his claws and his eyes eagerly darted across the pages. The cover of the comic had a stylized pegasus wearing a fake horn on her head, surrounded by an icy blue glow. Her wings were spread out and angled downward, and her gaze was determined. Behind her were five other ponies. The caption read 'Power Ponies!'
Twilight's right side itched. She glanced away from the other couch and looked down at her baren side. She shifted uncomfortably as the itch seemed to rhythmically pulse and grow, then fade before pulsing and growing again. She frowned at the tingle accompanying the itching and shifted her body, trying to make the feeling go away.
"Twi, you okay?" Rainbow asked.
“Yes, it’s just itching again,” Twilight answered. She glanced at Rainbow, then looked down at her left forehoof. She reluctantly leaned to her right, testingly putting her weight on Rainbow’s wing. The pegasus’s wing held firm, keeping her from falling over. The way Rainbow’s wing held her and kept her propped up reassured her. She slowly lifted her foreleg up, then hesitantly looked over at her side and brought her hoof around. She held her forehoof a few inches away from her side, right where her missing wing would have met her body. She took a deep breath and tensed up, then slowly touched her side.
Her body jerked slightly at the unfamiliar, unwelcome contact, even with knowing it was coming. She exhaled, then slowly massaged her side. She carefully scratched at the itch, doing her best to avoid injuring herself or making it hurt any worse than it already was. The tingling and itching slowly subsided. Once they faded, she put her forehoof back down on the couch and fidgeted in place.
Twilight looked around and blew air out of her mouth before she settled on looking out the window and watching the scenery.
Twilight watched out of the window as shimmering crystal spires passed by at an ever-slowing rate. The train’s braking gently pushed her body into Rainbow’s side as they neared their destination, and they both welcomed the feeling of closeness it brought. Rainbow embraced and held Twilight protectively with her ring wing, letting Twilight know she was safe and secure.
Eventually, the spires slowed to a stop and the force pushing Twilight into Rainbow's side faded. A few seconds passed where nopony did anything, but then Starlight inhaled and hopped off the couch. She turned to her left and started towards the hallway- "I'll get our things if you can take care of Twilight," she said casually.
"Yeah," Rainbow answered. She looked over at Twilight and took a deep breath. "So... you ready for this?" she asked.
Twilight bobbed her head slowly, her movements subdued and drowsy. She reluctantly opened her mouth and stopped bobbing her head. “I guess…”
Spike jumped out of his spot on the couch across from them and then headed down the hallway. "I'll get the...-" he tapped his claws together and his step hesitated "-uh... you know," he commented. He cast a nervous glance aside at Twilight and Rainbow, then scurried off down the short hallway.
Once Spike was out of sight, Twilight glanced at the empty space where he had stood, then looked down at the floor in front of her. Her eyes drifted closed and her head limply tilted forward until she barely held it up. Her muzzle nearly pointed straight down. Rainbow rubbed her wing up and down Twilight’s shoulder, stroking down her side about halfway, careful to never brush lower than where Twilight’s wing had been. Twilight’s lips turned into a smile, though her head remained in place and her eyes stayed closed.
As the sound of Spike’s claws scraping on the floor informed of his return, Twilight lifted her head back up and opened her eyes halfway. She closed her eyes a second later and steeled herself. She blinked her eyes several times in rapid succession, attempting to wake herself up and keep her eyelids from closing.
Spike walked over to Twilight with measured steps, each one neither too fast, nor too slow. He carried a lavender pack in his claws as he approached. The pack had a black strap bundled up on top of it and a sleeve where the excess could be tucked into. The color of the pack was nearly the same as Twilight’s coat, but the strap stood in sharp contrast.
Twilight cautiously shuffled her weight and leaned away from Rainbow. Her left wing instinctively lifted an inch from her body, and her jaw tightened, visibly strained beneath her coat. She held herself rigidly, trying to keep herself as still as possible as she forced her wing back against her side.
Rainbow hesitantly slid her wing across Twilight’s back, then lifted it from her and folded it to her side. She stood from the couch and then stepped over to Twilight and turned to face her. She watched her closely as she sat there precariously, her body threatening to topple over without her support. Twilight simple stared down at the floor, trying to stay as still as possible while trying to avoid everypony’s gaze. “You doing okay?” Rainbow asked.
Twilight's eyes glanced up at her, then immediately darted back to the floor. The alicorn stayed silent. It was an apprehensive, almost haunted silence.
Rainbow's lips drew into an even line. Her eyes shot down to her hooves for a brief second before returning to Twilight. "Right..." she whispered to herself. She looked over the pack Spike held. He stepped slightly to the side, then hopped up on the couch beside Twilight. Rainbow reached out with a foreleg and her free wing to unwrap the bundled strap. Spike then carefully lifted the pack up to Twilight’s side. Seconds passed as he carefully touched the pack to Twilight’s side, trying to make the contact as gentle as possible. Twilight still jerked at the contact.
Rainbow immediately caught Twilight with her right wing, preventing her from falling. “Easy there,” she cautioned. She gently pressed her left wing against the pack on Twilight’s side, then embraced her with her wings, gently pulling her close and holding her in place so she wouldn’t fall. Twilight smiled faintly, and Rainbow smiled back. “I’ve got you,” she promised. Twilight nodded, then let her forehead rest against Rainbow’s chest.
Spike threw the strap around Twilight’s back. Twilight slid her wing forward, then folded her wing back into place over the strap to hold it in place. She leaned into Rainbow’s embrace and pushed herself up just enough to give Spike room to reach under her body and grab the strap. Once he had the strap, he pulled it under her stomach and then threaded the belt through a metal clasp to secure the pack to her side. He pulled the strap tight and then slid a claw under it to make sure it wasn’t hurting Twilight. He easily slipped his claw between the strap and the alicorn’s body, and a quick tug on the pack reaffirmed that it wasn’t going anywhere. Once he finished with that, he tucked the slack into the sleeve.
Twilight glanced aside at Spike as he hopped down, then she looked back at Rainbow and slowly lifted her head back up.
Rainbow scrutinized Twilight’s expression. She regarded the pack warily, faintly scowling at it, but recognizing that she needed it. She shifted her weight and sat up straighter, almost rigidly, so that her weight wasn’t on Rainbow’s wings. Rainbow reluctantly lifted her wings from Twilight’s sides in small increments, not wanting to risk Twilight falling over even if the pack was in place. Twilight sat patiently on the couch, no longer wobbling unsurely nor threatening to fall over at the slightest unbalanced twitch.
She hesitantly folded her wings, then stood up and turned so that her body was parallel to Twilight. She offered Twilight a forehoof and smiled. Twilight glanced at her forehoof and smiled a strained smile. She reached out and took the forehoof offered to her, then stepped down onto the floor.
Twilight’s hooves made dull thuds as she landed. She perked up slightly, some of her exhaustion fading, as she looked around more eagerly. It was like simply moving was enough to wake her up, but her motions were still sluggish and tired. Her eyes focused back on Rainbow, then she glanced down at her left forehoof. A second passed before she leaned to her right, then ever so slowly lifted her hoof up. She didn’t immediately lose her balance, but her caution remained, even with the pack secured to her side. She took a hesitant step forward. Rainbow matched her stride, staying right beside her.
A few steps later, Twilight ruffled her left wing and reluctantly glanced back at the pack. Her eyes wandered over the bag. Despite how much it helped her, she still scowled at it. The pack wasn’t heavy; it had just enough weight to help her balance so she wouldn’t fall over. Without it, she couldn’t walk on her own. Several bruises had taught her that lesson the hard way.
But even though the pack balanced her so she could walk, it still wasn’t comfortable. Her side cried out in agony. The fabric was unbearably harsh, constantly rubbing against her side with each step she took. As long as the pack was there, she could feel it. Every single second, she knew it was there. There was no way she could get used to its presence, even after having it for over a month. It was impossible for her not to notice. Her injured nerves knew it was there, constantly irritating her injured side. Her body knew it was wrong. Her body knew what it was missing. Rather than a welcoming, comforting feather appendage to protect her, the fabric overstimulated her sensitive side. Rather than feeling secure, the pack made her feel so incredibly vulnerable and exposed. Instead of feeling natural, it was artificial. It was foreign. The phantom sensation of her wing still being at her side only further distressed her when she wore the pack.
She swallowed and looked away from the bag, unable to shake its unrelenting presence. A heavy, distressed breath escaped her lips. She pulled away from Rainbow and crossed the car as quickly as she could. Rainbow’s expression wavered as she watched Twilight limp across the room. Twilight didn’t notice it, but it was there. She favored her left foreleg; her left gait was longer than her right, so her body would lurch with each step. A long left step, then lurching to catch up, like she was falling forward and trying to catch herself. She carried herself as if she was afraid to put any weight on her right foreleg, like she was afraid it would give out beneath her and cause her to fall, or perhaps that putting weight on her right leg would cause pain. Rainbow swallowed as she continued to watch her. The alicorn came to a stop at the other couch and she looked out the window. Her eyes traced over the sharp crystalline outlines of the train station.
A few seconds passed in mutual silence, only to be broken by the sound of Starlight’s hoofsteps. All three of the room’s occupants looked over at her as she approached. Twilight and Rainbow, in particular, looked over the three pair of saddlebags and the five suitcases levitating in Starlight’s magic. “Well, I think that’s everything,” Starlight commented idly.
Twilight nodded in affirmation, then turned towards the door. “If it’s not, then we can come back,” she said. She took a long left step forward and tilted her head to the right. She looked back at Starlight and Rainbow, then headed to the door.
In the blink of an eye, Rainbow was right there beside her, opening the door for her. Twilight glanced at Rainbow and received a warm, reassuring smile from the pegasus. Twilight's lips instinctively twitched upwards at the edges. She broke her gaze away from Rainbow and scrutinized the gap between her Royal Caboose and the next car.
As with every train car, the two cars were connected by a heavy-duty metal cusp. The metal connector was about five hooves wide, but that really wasn't a lot of space to walk across, especially at speed when the train would have been jostling from its motion. To make up for the limited walking space, there was railing extending from both cars which surrounded the connector, nearly meeting in the middle. The railing gave added security to help prevent any accidents from occurring, and the vertical rails were close enough together that even a foal couldn’t slip through. The gap between the railing could be crossed in a single step since it was such a short distance, but she still regarded it with disdain. One could simply step across the gap since it was such a short distance, but she still regarded it with disdain.
If it wasn’t for the railing, there would have been no way Twilight would have attempted to cross the gap, even if the train wasn’t moving and she had the pack on. The idea of crossing the gap still made her uncomfortable despite the railing and pack on her side. Fortunately, she didn’t have to cross through the rest of the train to disembark. There were stairs on each side of the gangway that she could walk down and then hop off onto the train station’s platform.
She walked out onto the gangway and then stepped to the right and turned. Rainbow was right there beside her, and the pair walked down the stairs and onto the platform in unison. They waited for a few seconds while Starlight and Spike walked out onto the gangway, then they took a few steps forward, their heads swiveling around as they scanned the station.
Ponies meandered about after disembarking from the train. They walked every which way and tended to their own business. Crystal ponies were the most common, followed by unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies, who had just arrived. The crystal ponies stood out, their coats gleaming as a result of their magic and the sunlight. Their shimmering coats displayed their eagerness and joy for the whole world to see.
Twilight frowned. Notably absent from the crowd was anypony she recognized. Neither guards adorned with the gray steel armor of the Crystal Empire, nor guards clad in the shining gold-plated armor of the Royal Guard were present. Try as she did, she couldn’t see her brother or sister-in-law anywhere. Nopony was there to greet them. Twilight’s frown faded and her expression blanked before a subdued, disappointed look replaced it. Her ears folded back and her body almost visibly slumped. The eagerness perking her up faded, and her exhaustion crept back in to her features. Her head fell a few inches and she stared at the crystal beneath them. Rainbow stroked Twilight’s back with her wing and offered her a gentle smile.
"Wasn't your brother supposed to meet us..?" Starlight asked curiously as she stepped up beside Twilight.
Twilight glanced at Starlight, who came to a stop at her left. The unicorn looked around aimlessly, completely missing Twilight’s downcast expression. Twilight silently sighed. “Yes,” she answered, “but the train arrived early…”
Starlight and Spike looked over at Twilight. Starlight winced when she saw the disappointment written on her features. She nibbled on her lip, unsure about what to do or say. Spike looked away and tapped his claws together.
Rainbow's wing brushed against Twilight's side. The alicorn fidgeted on her hooves and looked over at Rainbow. Rainbow studied Twilight with a serious look and took a step over towards her, closing the gap between them. "Hey... are you doing alright?" she asked quietly.
Twilight's head leaned forward and then limply hung toward the ground. She closed her eyes and sighed silently, then lifted her head back up. "Let's just go..." she coaxed.
Rainbow slowly nodded, pulling her head away from Twilight but continuing to watch her. “Okay,” she relented. She glanced at Twilight’s body, then wrapped her wing around her and pulled her close. Months ago, such a display would have made her nervous and jittery, months ago, her heart would have been pounding in her chest. Months ago, she wouldn’t have done that in public, but months had passed.
Twilight’s softhearted smile made it worth it. “Come on,” Rainbow encouraged. She looked ahead, then walked forward. Twilight fell in sync with her and stayed close beside her, careful to avoid separating from her. With Rainbow there beside her, her gait wasn’t as uneven. She didn’t limp; her steps were sure. It was caused by a combination of knowing that Rainbow would prevent her from falling and having Rainbow to lean on. Starlight and Spike casually trailed behind them, giving them space, but still staying close enough that they were a group.
As they made their way through the crowd occupying the train station, ponies parted before them. The Crystal Ponies looked at Twilight and Spike with a sort of reverence that the pair had earned by saving them from King Sombra. The gazes of the other ponies lingered on Twilight a little longer; they were still respectful, but they still looked worried about their princess. even if it was for a brief moment.
More than a few glances were directed at the pegasus sheltering Twilight with her wing. They watched her escort the princess along curiously, but their expression warmed to see that there was somepony there for her. Twilight could almost see the gears in their minds turning, as if they wondered if there wasn’t something more between the pair. It was daunting, but their smiles were reassuring.
Twilight shifted her weight and walked closer to Rainbow. She forced herself to keep her head straight, but her eyes darted around nervously, observing the crowd of ponies watching them. Even if they did continue about their own business, all of the looks at Rainbow and her made her heart beat faster, reassuring smiles or not.
Eventually, they made their way through the train station and out onto the wide-open crystal streets. Beautiful houses made of blue, white, and pink crystals lined the sides of the streets, shining brilliantly in the cheerful sunlight. In contrast to the busy train station and platform, the street was nearly deserted. The exception was the first few blocks, where ponies who had just disembarked dispersed from the station. A few crystal ponies calmly strolled across the streets as they went about their day. The main road which stretched out before them lead right to the center of the Crystal Empire., and at the heart of the Empire was a massive Crystal Spire reaching out for the sky- the Crystal Palace.
The crystal structure was simply massive; it could be seen for miles around, standing proudly as a beacon of love and of hope, and of peace and prosperity. The structure put Twilight’s castle to shame; it dwarfed the small crystalline tree is size and appearance. The crystals were colored so much more brightly and welcomingly than the crystals composing Twilight’s castle; instead of darker blues and greens, the Palace’s crystals were light blues, soft pinks, and whites.
If somepony had not seen the Crystal Palace before, it would have taken their breath away. It was a stunning sight. Even with having seen the Crystal Palace before, all four of them stopped to take in the sight. As Twilight watched the gleaming pillar of hope, she felt a sense of ease and calmness wash over her; the sight of the structure helped calm her nerves. That, and she was looking forward to seeing her brother, sister-in-law, and her niece, but mostly her niece.
After a few seconds, Twilight glanced at Rainbow and waited for her to take the lead. Rainbow grinned as she took the lead. Twilight fell in sync with her, never once breaking stride, nor falling behind, lest she leave Rainbow's side.
"I can't wait to see Sunburst again," Starlight commented casually.
"Yeah, I wonder how he's doing," Spike replied. He looked over at Starlight as he walked. "Hey, don't you two stay in touch through letters?"
Starlight nodded. "Yes," she answered. "He said he was doing well the last time I heard from him. He mentioned that he had ordered some books on genetics recently," she explained. "He said he was going to look into alicorns a bit more. Specifically, he wanted to learn more about Flurry Heart being an alicorn," she stated.
Twilight glanced over at Starlight. "He could just ask," she stated flatly.
Starlight blinked and looked over at Twilight. The alicorn was already watching the sides of the street again as they walked along. She stared at Twilight for a few seconds, absent curiosity filling her features as she waited for Twilight to continue. Eventually, she shifted her weight when she realized Twilight wasn't going to offer any further elaboration, at least not without coaxing. "What do you mean?"
Twilight looked over at her,"I'm assuming he's wanting to know why Flurry Heart is an alicorn, rather than a unicorn or a pegasus," she answered calmly.
Starlight nodded. "Yes, that's what I took from his letter."
Twilight looked back ahead. "Alicorn genetics take precedence over other pony species," she replied. "Since Cadance is an alicorn, any of her foals will be alicorns, so long as the father was a pony," she lectured. "I don't know how that would work if the father was... say a griffon. In theory, the foal should still be an alicorn. Or at least a hybrid alicorn hippogriff."
Starlight blinked. "Okay... why?" she drawled.
Twilight frowned. "It's... just an alicorn thing..." she said at length. "Any alicorn having foals would have alicorn foals, it's genetics," she stated. "On the other hoof, it is possible for two unicorns to have a foal who isn't a unicorn. It's unlikely, but it can happen if they both have... say... a pegasus in their lineage, then they could have a pegasus foal if the conditions are right. With alicorns, that can't happen..."
"How do you know that?" Starlight asked.
Twilight inhaled. "I did some research after Flurry's birth..." she trailed off. "And I talked to Celestia about it. It's kind of a hard theory to test, since..." she trailed off rather pointedly. Her left wing fluffed apprehensively. She inhaled and her eyebrows lifted up. "But, it lines up with what we know about alicorns and alicorn physiology."
"Huh, okay..." Starlight replied. "I guess he'll probably want to talk to you about that, then."
"That's fine," Twilight replied. "I'd probably enjoy talking to him. He's intelligent and well-read."
Starlight nodded. "You two would probably get along quite well, actually," she admitted. "It's a shame you two didn't get to spend as much time together the last time we were here."
"Well, we're going to be here for several weeks, so maybe this time I'll get a chance to talk to him a little more," Twilight mused.
Rainbow fidgeted beside Twilight and glanced at her. "So uh, does that mean that uh, any... foals... you'd have would be... alicorns?"
Twilight froze. Rainbow's wing slid up to her shoulder before Rainbow came to a stop and looked back at her. "Uh... Twilight?"
Twilight clenched her jaw. Her lone left wing fluffed at her side nervously. She shifted her weight from right to left, back to right again and glanced around, avoiding looking directly at Rainbow. She slowly turned her head left, then back right, gradually looking down at the street.
"S-sorry... I uh, didn't mean to..." Rainbow trailed off, wincing and shifting her weight. "I-I didn't mean that I..." she trailed off. "I was just curious!" she defended.
Twilight took a deep breath and rigidly lifted her head back up. "Yes," she stated. She hesitantly looked at Rainbow and met her eyes. "If... I were to... have foals... they would be... alicorns..." she acknowledged quietly. She broke eye contact and looked away, her jaw relaxing, but a grimace twisting her expression. A glimpse of pain sparked through her eyes. She swallowed and licked her lips.
Starlight and Spike shared an uneasy look before looking back at Twilight. The alicorn was visibly tense and uncomfortable, despite her jaw relaxing.
"But... it's... we..." Twilight started, only to go quiet again.
Rainbow's cheeks warmed up. A little bit of a flush was visible beneath the short light-blue hairs of her coat. "I-I..." she shuttered, then closed her eyes. "I didn't mean that," she insisted. "I just... I know that bothers you... I remember how you felt about that when your parents..." she trailed off. "I'm sorry, I was just... curious..." she groaned.
Twilight closed her eyes and shook her head. "It's not important," she stated hastily. "We've.... not been together that long and... I'd rather not talk about... that..." she said at length.
"Y-yeah..." Rainbow stuttered in agreement. "I-I just... If... you uh... want to talk about it..." she trailed off as Twilight glanced at her.
Starlight took a quick deep breath and looked at Spike. "Well. This conversation got awkward," she acknowledged.
"Yeah," Spike deadpanned in agreement. "Can we go now? Really. I don't want to be here for this conversation. If you two are going to have foals together, that's fine, but I don't need to know about this conversation."
Twilight tensed even more and pointedly looked away from Rainbow, Spike, and Starlight. She tilted her head downward and stared down at the clean, crystalline road. She did her best to ignore everypony and focus entirely on the road. Despite her best attempts, her eyes betrayed her and drifted towards Rainbow's forehooves, then up her legs.
"That's... not what I meant, I just wanted to know if..." she trailed off with a sigh. "Come on, let's just go..." Rainbow groaned, shaking her head. She coaxed Twilight back against her side, then took the lead once more.
Twilight hesitated for barely a second, then lurched forward in a desperate attempt to stay beside her pegasus as Rainbow's wing moved out of place. Rainbow slowed and glanced back at her. Twilight nibbled on her lip and nervously glanced at Rainbow before looking away from her.
"Come on, Twilight, relax..." Rainbow coaxed in a soft voice. She brought her head over and gave Twilight a short, tender nuzzle.
Twilight took a deep breath, then nodded hastily. Despite her agreement, she didn't relax. Instead, she walked on as rigidly as before, pressing herself as close as physically possible to Rainbow.
Starlight and Spike eyed Twilight warily but soon enough resumed walking after her and Rainbow.
Every single door in the Crystal Palace was composed of a single, solid crystal. The intricate details of the crystals and their ability to serve so many roles was a result of the exceptional crystal craftsmanship and the magic woven together into the creation of the palace.
The entire structure of the Palace was one single crystal too; it was the largest crystal known to exist anywhere. Were it not for the crystal's natural strength and the powerful enchantments in place, the Crystal Palace would have likely collapsed due to its design where there were four supports on which the palace was suspended, leaving a massive open plaza protected beneath it.
Twilight smiled at the familiarity of the Palace's hallways. The gentle colors were easy on her eyes, welcoming, and inviting. Sure, every time prior she had been to the Crystal Palace something had gone wrong, but that didn't stop the flood of fond memories trickling through her mind. Her brother, sister-in-law, and niece lived in the Palace, after all. The atmosphere was relaxed and calming, aided in part by the scent of lilacs and spring filling the halls, despite it being the wrong season.
Their hooves quietly clicked on the crystal floor, producing a serene peace as they walked along, undisturbed. While Twilight missed the rest of her friends, she had to admit that it was nice to get away from the rest of them. Just walking the hallways with Rainbow and Rainbow alone was lulling. Twilight's eyes drifted closed, then pulled back open, though her eyelids remained halfway down. She leaned a little more on Rainbow, pressing up against her, as they walked on.
Rainbow gently caressed Twilight's wing and side with her feathers. "Hey, you doing alright? You're looking kinda tired," she said softly.
Twilight groaned quietly and nodded. "Yeah... it's just..." she trailed off, taking in a deep breath. She yawned and her eyes watered. She blinked several times, trying to wake herself up, but to no avail.
"You better not fall asleep before we get to the dining room, Twi," Rainbow cautioned. "Seriously, we're like one turn away from it," she added flatly.
Twilight snorted and smiled. "Sorry. I'm just... tired. I should be fine once we get there," she replied. She leaned away from Rainbow slightly and stood up straighter as they rounded the corner. Two guards stood beside the doors to the dining room. One stood on each side of the large crystal double door. Both guards were crystal ponies, wearing the same heavy steel armor as always. Despite the weight of the dull gray armor, both of them stood there proudly.
At Twilight's approach, a warm smile replaced their stoic expressions. "Princess," the one closer to them acknowledged. Both guards fell into a calm, practiced bow. Even if Twilight wasn't technically a princess of the Crystal Empire, they would treat her just the same. Twilight was royalty; she was a member of the Royal Family. She was one of only five alicorns. They held a deep respect for her friends and herself, spurred on by their accomplishments, saving them from King Sombra, and the bonds they shared with their Prince and Princess.
Twilight brightened up. "Gentlecolts," she greeted kindly. She gave a slight, courteous nod to them.
A few seconds passed before they reached the door. The two guards moved and pushed the doors open, making them part in the middle and silently glide inward to grant them entrance. They both stayed in place to hold the doors open while Twilight and Rainbow walked inside. As soon as they were within, the doors closed behind them.
Four ponies occupied the room, sitting at the far end of the dining table. The chairs were pulled out so that they were all sitting where they could easily look at each other, while still close enough to the table to actually use it. Princess Celestia sat at the right corner, facing the doorway. Her sister, Princess Luna, sat to her left, also facing the doorway. Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor both sat beside each other, watching Celestia.
"Twilight, Rainbow," Celestia greeted calmly. A pleasant, welcoming smile laid across her lips as she looked at the pair with a thoughtful, caring look. Her soft, vibrant pink eyes were filled with warmth, yet it was subdued and calm. She was sitting down on her haunches, yet still taller than everypony else in the room. Her multicolored mane was made up of three light colors: pink, green, and blue, all gently billowing in a nonexistent ethereal breeze, spurred on by her magic. She held one foreleg to her chest, cradling a small, fluffy pink ball that stood out against her pristine white coat.
Twilight's eyes abandoned Celestia's visage and took in Flurry Heart. The young alicorn filly slept peacefully in Celestia's motherly embrace. Twilight's smile grew warmer.
Shining Armor looked away from Celestia and beamed as his sister walked into the room beside Rainbow. The tall stallion had a white coat, similar to Celestia's, yet nowhere near as pure. While Celestia's coat seemed to sparkle, Shining's coat looked dull in comparison. His mane and tail made up for it, however. Both were a beautiful shade of blue, accented with a sharp teal highlight and a darker blue streak running through their length. "Twilight!" he called out. He hopped out of his chair and trotted towards his sister.
Rainbow glanced aside at Twilight, then hesitantly lifted her wing off of Twilight and stopped where she stood. Twilight took a few steps forward, then paused and glanced back at Rainbow. Uncertainty was etched into Twilight's features, but after a second, she swallowed and turned back ahead. She hesitantly leaned to her right, then took another step forward.
Rainbow watched Twilight's uneven gait for a few seconds. Her jaw tightened as the sight brought back bitter memories. Shining met Twilight halfway across the room. Both of them sat down and Shining pulled her into a hug. Rainbow's muscles relaxed. She fluffed her wings and took a deep breath, then walked towards Twilight.
"How are you doing, Twily?" Shining asked.
Twilight hesitated, then slowly nodded. Her eyes darted across the floor beside her brother. "Fine..." she answered hesitantly. She looked back up at him. "Just... tired."
Shining frowned but nodded. "Well... I'm glad you were able to make it. It wouldn't have been the same without you!"
Twilight smiled softly again. "Yeah..." she agreed. Her smile wavered as her thoughts drifted back to the four missing ponies who normally accompanied her to the Crystal Empire.
Seeing her distant, disappointed look, Shining reached out with his forelegs and embraced her again. He squeezed her tight, giving her a big, brotherly hug. Twilight leaned into the hug and closed her eyes, content to let her brother love on her. "Hey, it'll be alright. You'll get through this! Nopony's tougher than you, little sis!" he whispered.
Twilight's lips instinctively flared up into a smile at her brother's praise, but it eventually faded. Whether Shining could tell or not, she didn't know, but he did tighten his grip. After a few seconds, he let up, then slowly pulled back. "Thanks," she replied softly.
Cadance hopped out of her chair and approached Twilight. Shining glanced back at her, then stood up and stepped aside. Twilight slowly stood up and smiled at her sister-in-law. "Cadance," she greeted.
Cadance's eyes, like Celestia's, were filled with a warmth that could make anypony feel right at home. Her coat was a soft pink, and her mane and tail were composed of a sharper pink, a purple, and a light yellow color. The colors in her mane combined to give her an extravagant, yet simplistic beauty. She stood taller than both Twilight and Shining Armor, but neither as tall as Luna nor Celestia. She wrapped her forelegs around Twilight and gave her a warm hug. Twilight returned the hug and embraced her. The two nuzzled each other for a few seconds, then parted.
Twilight's smile fell and turned wry. "I'd do our dance since it's tradition, but I'm pretty tired and I don't want to fall over," she apologized. Her smile teetered on the edge of collapse for all of one second before fading. Her expression emptied as she looked at Cadance. She swallowed and took a deep breath.
Cadance slowly shook her head and grimaced. "That's alright, Twilight. We didn't do it the last time we saw each other, either..." she said softly. She hesitantly glanced away from Twilight and looked at Rainbow. She pondered the pegasus for a few seconds, making Rainbow shift her weight under her scrutiny. When she looked back at Twilight, she could see Rainbow relax out of the corner of her eye. She felt a bit disappointed by Rainbow's reaction; She'd love to give them advice and help them out in any way she could. "Where are Starlight and Spike?" she asked.
"They're taking care of luggage. And Starlight wanted to see Sunburst," Twilight replied casually. "Spike will probably find a spot to sit down and read his comics," she added.
Cadance hummed thoughtfully to herself. "Well, we weren't expecting you until tonight, but you're welcome to stay and join us for lunch."
A little of Twilight's smile returned and she nodded. "I'd like that," she answered. She looked back at Rainbow.
"Fine by me," the pegasus answered. A moment later, she shifted on her hooves. "Uh, you going to eat..." A slight grimace pulled at her lips and she bobbed her head. "...You know..?"
Twilight fidgeted and gradually looked back at Cadance.
"We have salmon," she answered. "If you wanted any meat," she added.
"Maybe tonight," Twilight replied hastily, casting a nervous glance back at Rainbow.
Cadance nodded in response. She turned and then walked back to her chair, followed by her husband. "So... how are you and Rainbow getting along?" she asked casually.
Twilight's left wing fluttered at her side. "We're doing... fine..." she answered cautiously. Cadance hummed a little again, almost teasingly. A few seconds passed; Rainbow closed the distance and stood beside Twilight. The alicorn gave her a little smile, then walked around to the other side of the table. Rainbow followed her, then she pulled out the chair immediately to Celestia's right. Twilight smiled happily and gave Rainbow a quick nuzzle. She climbed up into the chair and sat down on her haunches. Almost immediately, her attention turned to Celestia and Flurry.
Rainbow pulled out the empty chair beside her, then pushed it up against Twilight's chair so that they touched. She climbed up into her chair, then sat down beside her alicorn. She looked at Twilight and unfolded her left wing. She lightly slid her feather's across Twilight's side, below her rib cage, drawing Twilight's attention away from Celestia and the young alicorn cradled in her forelegs. Twilight looked at Rainbow from the corner of her eyes, her eyes holding a curious glint to them. Rainbow flashed her a smile and dragged her feathers across Twilight's back, then gently caressed her body and wrapped her wing around Twilight's side, pinning her wing to her side.
Twilight sighed softly and closed her eyes, relaxing in Rainbow's warm embrace. She opened her eyes and turned her head towards Rainbow, smiling, then leaned into her, pressing their coats together. She laid her head on Rainbow's shoulder and closed her eyes once more. She gently rubbed her muzzle into Rainbow's neck. After a few seconds, she blinked and yawned, the feeling of warmth and safety putting her at ease. Her eyes watered a little as her eyelids drooped. She nuzzled Rainbow tenderly as the weight of her drowsiness caught up with her. In a few short seconds, she fell asleep in Rainbow's embrace.
A few hours had past, and now only three ponies beside Twilight occupied the dining room. With the Crystal Faire coming up, Cadance and Shining Armor were in high demand to see that things were being handled properly. Ponies also wanted their royals' approval of what they were doing, and as such, they, along with their daughter, left to tend to the needs of their ponies. With the exception of the occasional pony who would check in on them to make sure they were doing okay, that left Rainbow, Luna, Celestia, and Twilight alone in the dining room.
The four of them sat in relative silence, relaxing and enjoying their peace and company. For Celestia and Luna, it was nice to be able to get away from the bustle of Canterlot and ensuring that Equestria would continue to run smoothly. Luna sat calmly with her eyes closed and a wearing pensive expression. She seemed to be meditating, although her horn was glowing with her comforting blue aura. Her breathing was relaxed, with her chest gently rising and falling every few seconds.
Celestia's horn was also aglow, but unlike her sister, she was holding a small crystal teacup in her magic. The lightly colored crystal shimmered as it levitated in Celestia's golden magic. She precisely raised the teacup to her lips and gently tipped it up, taking a small drink in silence, then levitating the cup away to refill it.
Rainbow, for her part, sat silently beside Twilight, content to serve as the alicorn's pillow. Twilight sat beside her with her body pressed into Rainbow's body. She was leaning her weight on the pegasus, and Rainbow in return had blanketed Twilight with her left wing. Despite the comforting embrace and peaceful atmosphere, she felt anxious. Each passing moment, her anxiety grew. She nibbled on her lip and looked over at Celestia.
Celestia saw Twilight's look and anxiety. A warm, reassuring smile grew on Celestia's lips. It was the sort of bright, welcoming smile that she used to let ponies know it was okay and that they were safe. It helped Twilight relax ever so slightly. "Yes, Twilight?" Celestia asked.
Twilight slowly looked back at the table. A second passed. She opened her mouth and inhaled in preparation to speak, but then she closed her mouth and exhaled in defeat. Rainbow nuzzled her head. She smiled, though it faded even before Rainbow stopped nuzzling her. She hesitantly lifted her head off of Rainbow's shoulder and leaned away from her. Rainbow's wing continued to hold her in place, but she let her sit up. "Can we...-" she looked at Celestia who regarded her with a gentle, caring expression "-talk?" she asked hesitantly. "Alone..." she drawled.
Celestia inclined her head. "Of course, Twilight," she replied. She set the teacup down silently on the table before rising from her chair in one graceful, unassuming motion. Her gentle, calming smile never faded.
Twilight glanced aside at Rainbow, still keeping her muzzle pointed at Celestia.
Rainbow gradually lifted her wing from Twilight's side, yet her wing still lingered above Twilight instinctively; she couldn't let Twilight lose her balance and fall over, so she didn't fold her wing. "Do you want me to come with you?" she asked at length.
Twilight was visibly conflicted. She grimaced and clenched her jaw. Her left wing fluffed. For several seconds, she stared at the table, her head almost unnoticeably bobbing from side to side. "No..." she eventually said, her voice just barely above a whisper.
Rainbow still hesitated, but she slowly nodded. Ever so slowly, she gradually folded her wing to her side. "You going to be okay? I know you don't... like being away from me..." she trailed off, looking at Celestia. Celestia's expression had softened, but there was a distinct, happy and grateful smile directed at Rainbow. Rainbow managed to smile back at Celestia. Rainbow may not have shared the same bond with Celestia that Twilight did, but they were still friends.
Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I... should be fine. I'll be with Celestia, and it... shouldn't... take very long." Although she said it aloud, it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself, rather than Rainbow or anypony else. A few more seconds passed before Twilight stepped down from the chair. She held herself rigidly and seemed to wobble on her hooves, despite the pack still being in place. With nopony standing beside her, the alicorn trembled. She seemed to shrink back, and she looked so vulnerable. Anything could have gone wrong, and nopony was right there beside her to protect her.
"Twilight, if it's too stressful for you to be away from her, I can teleport us back here as soon as you say so," Celestia said softly.
Twilight nodded apprehensively. Though it went unsaid, she knew the context. Ever since that night where she lost her wing and Rainbow rescued her, she had never been away from Rainbow's side for more than a few minutes at a time. Those minutes were hard on her; they were impossible for her to relax or stay calm. Even knowing that Princess Celestia, arguably one of the most powerful beings in existence, was right there with her to protect her, she didn't feel safe. While she trusted Celestia completely, it wasn't the same. She felt vulnerable without Rainbow being there beside her. She wasn't secure.
It was something she knew she needed to work on and overcome, but it was insurmountable. It made her feel like a little filly, afraid to leave her mother's side. She stared down at the floor and nodded hastily, then swallowed. "L-let's go," she said in a high-pitched voice.
Celestia nodded calmly and stepped beside Twilight, then unfurled her wing and draped it over Twilight's back, attempting to provide the same comforting protection that Rainbow did. Twilight relaxed under Celestia's wing, but not as much as she would have if it had been Rainbow's wing. Celestia could still feel Twilight's tense muscles as she pressed up against her, but her trembling had nearly faded.
Twilight hesitantly took a few steps forward, still pressing herself up against Celestia as best she could, despite their height difference. Celestia matched her steps, keeping Twilight at her side and refusing to let her wing leave Twilight's back. As Rainbow watched the two of them, she couldn't help but feel like Celestia was trying to protect Twilight like she was her own foal. The sight was endearing, and it helped put Rainbow's mind at ease. She could smile, trusting that Celestia would take care of Twilight.
Twilight lifted her right foreleg again but hesitated. She stopped and held her hoof in midair. Her head slowly turned around, and her gaze rested on Rainbow. She looked at her with a longing expression. Rainbow's smile faded as she saw all of the nervousness written on Twilight's features. Her trembling came again, but then Celestia slowly slid her wing over her side. The touch helped calm her. Twilight's eyes dropped to the floor in shame. Her ears pinned back, but her head turned back and she reluctantly resumed her pace.
Rainbow watched as Twilight weakly limped towards the door. Each step only further reinforced just how vulnerable Twilight was. Celestia opened the door with her magic, then the pair left the room. Rainbow continued to stare at the door even after it shut.
For a few minutes, silence dominated the room. Eventually, Rainbow looked away from the door and stared down at the table. "You are afraid of not being with her, aren't you?" Luna asked softly.
Rainbow licked her lips, then hesitantly broke her gaze away from the doors. She looked over at Luna. The alicorn regarded her casually. "I... kind of, I guess," she answered quietly. "I don't like not being there with her, and I know that she..." she trailed off in a whisper.
Luna nodded. "She may be like this for a while, Rainbow," she cautioned. "She's been through a lot... I have seen her nightmares before I have stopped them... She will not recover from this overnight, however, it is good that she is at least taking this small step." She shifted her weight. "Rainbow, you... have my thanks for taking care of her. You may not realize this, but I truly appreciate that you are there for her," she said.
Rainbow looked at her and nodded. "Well... yeah, she needs me..." she trailed off.
Luna nodded in agreement.
Rainbow sighed, then slouched and laid her head down on the table. "Any idea why Twilight's wanting to talk to her alone?"
Luna pursed her lips, then inclined her head. "Yes..." she drawled. "However... it is not my place to say what..." she added cautiously.
Rainbow frowned at that but nodded. "Right..." she muttered. She took a deep breath. "So... how have you been?"
Luna bobbed her head casually. "Well enough, I suppose. Twilight should be sleeping fine, correct?" she asked.
Rainbow nodded slowly. "She's not having any nightmares," she affirmed. "Thank you for that..." she added softly.
Luna smiled gently and nodded once. After a few seconds, the smile twisted into a grimace. "If I was not protecting her dreams, I am certain she would be in far worse shape than she is. I..." she trailed off and pursed her lips. She studied Rainbow's expression curiously. She let out a soft sigh. "I have tried my best to console her, but... As much as I would like it, I cannot constantly be there for her, Rainbow. I can use my magic to banish her nightmares and ensure her dreams are pleasant, but I cannot always talk with her during her dreams. There are other ponies who need help..." she stated.
Rainbow nodded and looked down at the table. "Yeah, I know..."
"Have you two...-" Luna hesitated and turned her head aside ever so slightly, regarding the topic she was approaching cautiously "-talked about what happened?" she asked.
Rainbow winced, looked up at Luna, shifted her weight, and sat up. Her wings bristled at her sides. "No," she replied slowly. "She's... not ready for that. I can see it... I brought it up before and she just... I don't know... shut down?" she asked. "She just sort of sat down on her haunches and her eyes just like... spaced out or something..." she said quietly.
Luna nodded hesitantly. "She has... not discussed what happened with me, either..." she added. "I may know some of what she has gone through, but," she trailed off and shook her head, "that is based entirely on what I have seen in her nightmares..." She hesitated a moment before adding, "I truly wish I could do more, Rainbow... but there is only so much I can do. If I could have taken her place, I would have. She, along with you and the rest of your friends, saved me."
Rainbow smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah..."
Celestia quietly shut the door to her bedchambers behind her using her magic. Twilight was right beside her, still pressed against her body. She could feel Twilight's heart pulsing, and her legs were shaking again. Her chest ached from knowing there was no easy way for her to erase Twilight's anxiety or fear. She closed her eyes and for a brief moment, and she let her head fall a few inches lower.
She took a deep breath, then steeled her resolve. She crossed the room, coaxing Twilight to follow her. Eventually, she reached the bed. Twilight hesitated for a moment, then slid out from under Celestia's wing and climbed up onto the bed. As soon as she was on the bed, she laid down and stared at the blue bedsheets, avoiding looking anywhere else.
A moment later, Celestia climbed up onto the bed and laid down beside her. She extended her wing again and laid it over her friend's back. Twilight relaxed but she still stared at the blankets. "Are you doing okay?" she asked softly.
Twilight shook her head. "No, not really," she answered. "But, what else is new..." she muttered bitterly. Celestia's lips twitched downward and her ears folded back. Twilight closed her eyes, then took a deep breath. A few seconds passed, then she exhaled.
"What do you want to talk about, Twilight?" Celestia asked softly. She looked over Twilight and stroked her side with her majestic wing. The feeling of Celestia's silken feathers brushing over her side and wing helped put Twilight at ease, and she managed to get her shaking under control.
"Several things, I suppose," Twilight answered. She swallowed and licked her lips. Her eyes darting all around across the bedsheets but ignored every detail adorning them. She knew that Celestia could feel her muscles tighten. After a moment, her body relaxed, and a wave of exhaustion rolled over her body. She slumped forward and laid her head down on the bed. Her eyelids fell to the point of her eyes nearly closing, but she forced them to stay open.
Seeing Twilight's tired state, Celestia pulled her closer with her wing. "Twilight, I can teleport us back if you need," she reminded.
A few seconds passed before Twilight slowly turned her head to the left, then to the right and then finally back. "No," she said quietly. "We... need to talk."
Celestia laid beside her silently, patiently waiting for her to continue.
"I... don't even know where to begin," Twilight said hesitantly. "This should be simple. It should be easy, but I guess it's easy to say that..." she trailed off.
Celestia lowered her head, bringing it down closer to Twilight. "What's bothering you, Twilight..?" she asked softly. "This is something other than... what you've been through, isn't it?"
Twilight's eyelids drifted down and closed. After several seconds, she opened her eyelids and blearily lifted her head up. She nodded, then scowled. "Really it's...-" she started to shake her head and grimace "-it's just stupid..." she hissed.
"Twilight, you can talk to me about anything," Celestia coaxed. She gently touched her muzzle to Twilight's, then she gave her a tender nuzzle, slowly brushing her muzzle back and forth across Twilight's muzzle. Twilight's grimace and scowl faded as she relaxed into the nuzzle. Eventually, Celestia stopped but kept her head down close to Twilight. "You're... practically like a daughter to me," she whispered.
Twilight paused. She lifted her head up and stared straight ahead at the wall. Several seconds passed as she mulled over what Celestia said before her eyes fell back down to the bedsheets. "I just... I can't thank Rainbow for... everything. I... would not be here if it wasn't for her..." she said at length. "If... it wasn't for her..." she trailed off and leaned away from Celestia, her muscles tensing up.
Twilight nodded slowly, then shook her head dismissively. "The reason I wanted to talk to you in private was that..." she trailed off and bobbed her head. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "If... Rainbow and I..." she started, opening her eyes. "...she would be... coronated... correct..?" she asked hesitantly. After a few silent moments, she looked at Celestia.
Celestia nodded and picked her head back up. "I... did not believe you two were discussing marriage," she acknowledged.
Twilight bobbed her head and grimaced. "We... haven't," she stated. "I just... I'd... like... to..." she closed her eyes, slumped forward and groaned. "I want her to be coronated anyway," she relented. "I know it's out of the blue, and I know that it's a bit..." she bobbed her head and lifted it back up off of the bed. "Untraditional, but... still."
Celestia was silent. After a couple of seconds, she looked away from Twilight and scrutinized the bed. "Have you discussed this with her?" she asked.
"No," Twilight stated. "I... wanted it to be a surprise."
Celestia nodded in understanding, but there was a reluctance in her nod. She looked back at Twilight. "Perhaps you should discuss this with her. I may not know her as well as you do, Twilight, but... that doesn't seem like something she would be okay with," Celestia replied.
Twilight grimaced and nodded. "I know... I just..." she trailed off with a sigh. "See?" she asked, "I told you it's stupid..." she muttered.
"Twilight," Celestia sighed. She leaned over and comfortingly nuzzled Twilight's cheek again. "I am not against this... as my sister has said before, all six of you are worthy of being princesses of Equestria... I am simply concerned about how Rainbow would react. I think she would rather earn it than have it just given to her."
Twilight nodded slowly and looked down at the bedsheets in between her forehooves. "I... know. Really, I just... I want to thank her somehow, and... I can't. I just cannot thank her. There's nothing I can do, no way I can truly thank her for all of this..." she trailed off.
Celestia stroked Twilight's side with her wing. Though Twilight tried to hide it, Celestia could see it. If she wasn't so exhausted, she would have been crying. "Twilight, I think you're worrying too much. You love Rainbow, and Rainbow loves you. You two share that. I don't think she needs any thanks."
Twilight looked at Celestia. "I-" she leaned in and lifted her eyebrows up "-want-" she pulled back and relaxed her expression, "-to do something to thank her," she specified. Eventually, her expression fell again and she turned away from her to stare down at the blankets again. "And... I can't."
Celestia pursed her lips and nodded hesitantly. "Perhaps... you should talk with her... and Cadance," she offered.
For a few seconds, Twilight was silent, then she nodded reluctantly. "Okay..."
Celestia looked back at Twilight with a tender expression. "Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?" she asked softly.
Twilight bobbed her head and grimaced. "I don't suppose you know why I'm always tired and... how to deal with... what I've been through, do you?" she asked evenly.
Celestia shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I don't..." she replied. Her lips pulled into an even line. "However... I can... maybe... offer you advice... I... did lose Luna for... for a very long time," she said quietly.
Twilight looked over at Celestia and watched her. Celestia tilted her head to the side and looked up at the ceiling. A sort of calm, subdued sorrow dulled her features, making her eyes look longing, and her coat seemed to lose its shine.
"It's... not like what you've been through, but... that? That was hard for me," Celestia added. She swallowed and licked her lips, then looked at Twilight. "I had to banish my own sister for a thousand years. That is a very, very long time, Twilight. We had both been around for... a while... before that, but..." she shook her head, a weak smile pulling at her lips. "One thousand years is a long time, no matter how long you've been around."
"You've never really... talked about this before," Twilight commented carefully. "Well, you have, but... not a lot. I think the only time I really remember you talking about it was the first Summer Sun Celebration after I had ascended..." she trailed off.
Celestia nodded and smiled. "I almost didn't banish her. Even knowing what would have happened if I didn't... I almost didn't use the Elements on her..."
"How did you deal with it?" Twilight asked. "Losing your sister for... so long?"
Celestia shook her head. "At first, I didn't. It took a while for me to actually comprehend what I did. Knowing and realizing are two different things," she stated. "And of course I didn't talk about it much. It hurt too much. Eventually, I did talk to my closest friend about it. That... helped so much more than I would have thought. It... was like a burden being lifted from my back. I felt so much lighter for it... It's a bit silly, I suppose..." She looked down at the bed and studied the blankets. "Just saying it, telling somepony... having somepony to talk to..." she trailed off. "And then I worked through it. I took it one day at a time..." she said softly. "There were good days, and there were bad days, but I kept going because I knew she would return," she stated. She smiled softly and looked at Twilight. "You will get better, Twilight. If you do not believe that, then you will be correct and you will not get better," she stressed.
Twilight looked away from Celestia and stared down at her forehooves. "Even if my wing grows back, even if my horn grows back, it doesn't change what I've been through," she stated.
"No... but that is why you have friends who are there for you. You can talk to us, Twilight," Celestia coaxed. "Nopony just recovers from something like that. It will take time, you'll have good days and bad days... but you will recover."
Twilight sighed. "I... guess I can... talk to Rainbow tonight..." she trailed off, tensing up. "I-I'm not sure I'm ready to, though..." she whispered. Try as she did, she couldn't stop her legs from trembling again.
"Twilight, I know you're scared, and I know that you're scarred because of what Chrysalis did. You do want to get better, don't you?" Celestia asked in a non-accusatory manner. Twilight nodded slowly. "Then take small steps. Talk to Rainbow... Out of all of us, she is there for you the most."
Twilight nodded. "O-okay..." she replied. She closed her eyes, then leaned back against Celestia. "Thanks... I guess."
"Of course, Twilight..." Celestia said softly. "If... you ever need anything else, just let me know, alright?" she added.
Twilight nodded, then looked at her. "Can you... teleport us back, now?"
Celestia smiled and nodded. "Of course, Twilight." She lit her horn, and a moment later, a quick flash of golden light signaled their departure.
A similar flash of golden light and a popping sound signaled their return to the dining room. Both of them appeared standing, with Twilight at Celestia's left side, sheltered under her wing. They were facing the table. Luna and Rainbow turned to face them.
As soon as Twilight caught sight of Rainbow, her entire body lurched forward. She bolted over to Rainbow, and in a blur, she sat down in her chair again and desperately pressed up against Rainbow. The pegasus grunted and nearly fell over from the force at which Twilight pressed them together, but she managed to keep her balance.
Rainbow smiled nervously. "H-hey, Twi..." she greeted. She fidgeted her wing from out between them and then wrapped it around Twilight protectively, hugging her close. "A-are you alright?"
Twilight hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah... I just... missed you, I guess... sorry..." she apologized. After a few seconds, her tense body relaxed in Rainbow's embrace. She laid her head on Rainbow's shoulders, and her eyelids drooped once more. She nuzzled into Rainbow and smiled a soft, innocent smile.
Rainbow smiled at her, then leaned over. She gave her a tender nuzzle, then kissed her forehead.
Rainbow opened the door to the room they were staying in. She cautiously peered into the darkened room, looking around and searching the darkness for anything that shouldn't be there. As she expected, there was nopony occupying the room, although she was still cautious about it. Just because the room was guarded didn't mean that there couldn't be any danger inside, after all, there was still a balcony that was unguarded. She shook her head and tried to banish the concern. It had been long enough now that she really shouldn't have to worry about anything attacking Twilight, but she was still nervous at times.
The room beyond the doorway was large and open, befitting a princess's home, rather than just a room for guests. The wall on the right side of the room was broken by a doorway which led to the bedchambers, while the opposite wall was empty and unadorned. The wall across from the door they stood in had two equally spaced windows. The only light illuminating the room came from the soft moonlight that the transparent crystals let inside. Looking out of the windows, she could see that the moon rested lower in the sky than it did in Equestria, showing just how far north they were.
She looked back at Twilight. The exhausted alicorn could barely stand, even though she was leaning on Rainbow for support. Her head was limp against Rainbow's neck, and she wore a faint, content smile. She leaned over and brushed her muzzle against Twilight's, eliciting a giddy, tired smile from Twilight. After a few seconds, she stepped into the room, bringing Twilight in with her.
Twilight limped into the room beside Rainbow, and the pair took a few steps into the room before stopping. Rainbow leaned over and nuzzled Twilight again, then closed the door with a hind hoof. She looked back at the door and scrutinized it for a moment, then flicked her wing to lock the door.
With the door locked, Rainbow looked back at Twilight. Now that they were alone, she could see Twilight relaxing her guard, keeping herself held together all day hadn't been easy for her. Her eyelids lingered about three-fourths of the way open, but she could barely keep her head upright. Her eyelids drooped more, and her left wing limply fell from her side. Her muzzle slowly fell to point down at the floor as more exhaustion set in.
Rainbow watched silently as Twilight limped forward a few steps, then sat down on her haunches. Twilight looked like she would pass out as soon as she laid down in bed. Her eyes were unfocused, and her head kept leaning forward, then jerking back a few inches. Rainbow cautiously walked around and studied Twilight's expression. Her eyes looked absent and empty, dull and lackluster, unfocused. Her eyelids drooped, her forehooves slid forward a little, and she slouched. Rainbow swallowed. "T-Twilight?" she asked.
The alicorn didn't react or respond. She was silent.
A tightness gripped Rainbow's throat, gradually building up and forming a knot that she couldn't swallow down. She licked her lips, then walked around in front of her alicorn. Without saying a word, she sat down on her haunches in front of her. She studied Twilight's empty expression for a moment, then she wrapped her forelegs around Twilight's neck. The alicorn relaxed and fell into her embrace. Rainbow smiled a little as she held Twilight's noodle-like body. She gave her a tender, loving nuzzle. For several seconds, she just held her tired alicorn close.
Twilight closed her eyes and pressed her forehead into Rainbow's chest. Ever so slowly, she lifted her forelegs up off of the floor and reached up to wrap them around Rainbow's withers.
"Are you okay?" Rainbow asked solemnly.
Twilight shook her head.
Rainbow sighed internally. She laid her head down in Twilight's mane and stared at the door. She brought her forehoof up, then started to brush the edge of her hoof through Twilight's mane in tender strokes. Her strokes were long and slow, drawn out so as to comfort Twilight as much as possible. With each stroke, she could feel Twilight grow ever closer to drifting off to sleep in her embrace. It brought a smile to her lips, knowing that Twilight felt safe there with her. "Do you need me to get you anything?" she asked softly.
Twilight's grip on her tightened, and she shook her head even quicker than before. "D-don't leave me... p-please..." she pleaded.
Rainbow gently squeezed Twilight back to reassure her. "Hey, it's alright, Twilight, I'm here," she whispered. She wrapped her foreleg around Twilight's neck, then nuzzled into her mane. She unfolded her wings, then wrapped them around Twilight's body. She could feel Twilight shiver slightly at her touch, but almost immediately, her body relaxed more. While her wings weren't nearly large enough to completely cover Twilight's body, it was enough to reassure and protect her.
Despite the security Rainbow's embrace offered, Twilight whimpered softly.
Rainbow griped Twilight tighter and held her close. "Hey, it's okay, Twilight. I'm not going anywhere." She waited a few seconds, then lifted her head off of Twilight's head. She cautiously slid a hoof down, then brushed her hoof along Twilight's jaw.
Twilight hesitantly looked up at her, though kept her muzzle pointed down. Her eyelids were fully opened and her eyes were wide. Her exhaustion was gone, but her eyes were glossy, fully displaying her emotionally vulnerable state. Her body trembled slightly.
Rainbow continued to slide her hoof along Twilight's jaw until she reached the end, then she gently coaxed Twilight's muzzle up. She offered Twilight a soft, warm smile, then slowly leaned in towards Twilight. Twilight glanced down at her lips, then her eyelids drifted closed. Rainbow lightly touched her lips to Twilight's, giving her a soft, tender kiss. The warmth of their lips mixed and radiated into each other, making a serene calmness seep into their bodies. As the kiss lengthened, Twilight's trembling slowed to a stop. After a few seconds, she pulled back. Twilight slowly opened her eyes and shyly stared down at Rainbow's chest.
Rainbow used her other forehoof to brush through her mane once again, then she gently touched it to the back of her head, and softly pulled her head to coax her back into place against her chest. She laid her head on top of Twilight's head and waited silently for Twilight.
Several seconds passed before Twilight swallowed, then opened her eyes. "I... thought this would be easier," she stated, her voice even yet strained. "I thought that I wouldn't be so tired since..." she trailed off.
"It's okay," Rainbow replied calmly. "It was a long day. I know how they can... make it hard for you."
Twilight licked her lips. Her tongue slowed as it ran over the phantom sensation of Rainbow's soft, warm lips on her own. The feeling of her lips and their warmth lingered, making her lips almost tingle. Eventually, she finished licking her lips and swallowed. She timidly looked up at Rainbow and pulled her head out from under hers. Rainbow looked at her with a gentle, reassuring smile. "Can we just... go to bed?" she asked quietly.
Rainbow nodded. "If you're ready," she answered.
Twilight nodded tentatively. She looked towards the bedroom door and waited. Rainbow stood up, then walked around to Twilight's right side and laid a wing over her back. Twilight took a deep breath, then slowly stood up and leaned against Rainbow.
Rainbow hugged Twilight with her wing, then headed into the bedroom with her. The bedroom was a slightly smaller than the first room, but it was still large. The right wall was broken by a door to the bathroom, and the left wall was broken by a door which led to the room's balcony. The balcony was positioned so anypony on it would be facing Equestria. There were two windows, one on each side of the balcony. As with the study, the only source of light came from the moonlight which the windows let in.
But the most attention-demanding part of the room was the bed. It was large enough that it put Twilight's bed in her castle to shame. It was roughly the same size, but it was far more extravagant in design. The backboard was a rich, imported wood she couldn't put a name to, and it had an engraving of a heart in the center. The bed's frame stretched up and covered the top of the bed, giving it a canopy from which silken, light-blue curtains hung. The curtains were bundled up, but could be pulled around the bed to offer more privacy, although they were thin enough that they were see-through, which negated any privacy they would have offered. The bedsheets were a rich, vibrant red in color, and the material had a sheen to it that was revealed where the moonlight struck it.
The bed was nice, but Rainbow found herself intimidated by the extravagance. She pushed it aside and continued forward, bringing Twilight along with her. If anything, as they walked into the new room, Twilight pressed up against her side even more. A certain jitteriness filled Twilight, making her eyes dart around nervously. Her legs trembled slightly as she limped ever closer to the bed. Rainbow frowned at Twilight's nervousness but didn't bring it up.
Eventually, they came to a stop. Twilight hesitantly placed a forehoof on the bed and slowly swiveled her head to the left and then to the right, unsure about the bed. Eventually, she managed to make up her mind and pull herself up onto the bedsheets. She sighed tiredly and sat down on her haunches. Her body slumped forward, but she caught herself before she fell. Her eyelids fell until her eyes were closed.
A few seconds passed before Twilight opened her eyes. Her head drifted to the right, then her eyes fell on the lavender pack attached to her side. For several long moments, Twilight's empty eyes lingered on it, then they darted to Rainbow in an instant. Twilight's expression was empty and unreadable, but Rainbow understood.
Both of them stayed silent as Rainbow sat down and skillfully used her forehooves and wings to loosen the pack before slipping the strap off from Twilight's body. As soon as the pack wasn't touching Twilight's side, Twilight closed her eyes again and limply fell forward, collapsing onto the bed in a controlled, exhausted manner.
Rainbow set the pack down near the nightstand, then she placed a forehoof on the bed and pushed herself up. In a few short seconds, she climbed up into bed with Twilight.
Twilight rolled over onto her left side, then weakly pushed herself to the aside, offering Rainbow a spot to lay down beside her.
The soft bedsheets welcomed Rainbow's body. To her surprise, the sheets actually felt better than Twilight's coat. She rolled over onto her right side and looked over Twilight, her eyes tracing over the alicorn's outline. In the soft moonlight, Twilight's beauty was unrivaled. It perfectly complemented Twilight's soft lavender coat, and the shadows only further added to her appeal. In contrast with the moonlight and surrounding darkness, her eyes regained a vibrancy replacing the dull emptiness present over the past few months. They were stunning, despite the lingering pain, but there was still a certain nervousness present that normally wasn't there.
Rainbow smiled and laid a forehoof on Twilight's neck, then gently brushed her hoof up and down through Twilight's mane. Twilight smiled at her as her nervousness faded, then she yawned and nuzzled the pillow. Rainbow giggled softly. Twilight tiredly opened her eyes to watched Rainbow. As she continued to watch Rainbow, a soft, innocent smile slowly grew on her lips. Rainbow leaned in and nuzzled Twilight tenderly, slowly rubbing her nose up and down Twilight's nose. When she pulled back, Twilight cheeks held a hint of crimson to them, and her smile was even fuller. Rainbow grinned at Twilight and relaxed. She let her eyes wander over Twilight's body. Eventually, her eyes settled Twilight's side. Her smile wavered, slowly fading. Twilight shifted her weight uncomfortably. "Sorry..." Rainbow replied, tearing her gaze away from her barren side.
Twilight simply stared at her blankly. After a few seconds, she blinked, then looked away from Rainbow's face and stared at her chest. "It's fine," she replied quietly.
"No... it's not. I'm sorry... I know how much you hate that since it reminds you and..." Rainbow trailed off, sighing as her ears folded back.
Twilight continued looking away from her. After a couple of seconds, her eyelids slowly pulled down.
Rainbow scooted closer to Twilight, causing Twilight to open her eyes again. "Hey," she said softly.
"Yes?" Twilight drawled.
Rainbow leaned in and pecked Twilight on the nose, giving her a quick kiss. Twilight smiled and nuzzled the pillow. "You want me to shut the curtains?"
Worry flashed through Twilight's eyes, immediately vanquishing the prior exhaustion. "N-no!" she answered. She swallowed and closed her eyes. "N-no. I... it's fine... I... don't want you to go..." she said softly.
Rainbow waited a few seconds, then nodded. "Alright," she replied. She pulled Twilight close against her so that their bodies were pressed together. Twilight closed her eyes, smiling as she snuggled up against Rainbow's body. Rainbow slid her right wing under Twilight's body and draped her left wing over her, covering her barren side. It still felt foreign, but Twilight's warm body helped put her at ease. She pulled Twilight close so that they were chest to chest and belly to belly and she wrapped her legs around Twilight, making sure she was wrapped in a protective, loving embrace.
Twilight sighed softly and tucked her head in against Rainbow's neck, then nuzzled her.