//------------------------------// // chapter 18 // Story: Silent Night // by cerealkiller78 //------------------------------// Upon arriving back to the castle in Canterlot, Celestia called for Discord. "Discord!" There was a short pause, before Discord poofed into the room, wearing a towel, and holding a rubber ducky. "Seriously Celly, can I not even take a bath without you calling for me?" Celestia ignored him. "I need you to teleport those students you previously brought here, back to where they were before, and I need Rainbow Dash here." "Oh, one moment..." His bath attire poofed into a waiter's attire. "Anything else you would like to order?" "Just do it Discord..." Grumbling, he snapped his fingers. Rainbow Dash poofed into the room, looking confused, while at the same time, staring in awe at the grand room she now found herself in, before her gaze found Celestia, and her expression turned to one of fear. "Done Celly, may I kindly get back to my bath now?" He asked, clearly annoyed. "Yes, that will be all Discord." He grumbled before disappearing, leaving dozens of little lips making "bracking" noises at Celestia before disappearing. Rainbow would have questioned about the strange creature, but she was too petrified with fear of the pony in front of her. Celestia wasted no time, and went straight to the point. "You are here because Sunset has requested you sent back to your own world...Congragulations, you are being set free at the request of the one you helped set up." Rainbow didn't say anything. She couldn't. What could she say? She was speechless. "She has also requested to see you." "She...did?" Rainbow asked meekly. "Yes, and we are going right now." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainbow stood at the doorway to Sunset's hospital room. It felt so good to be human and back in her own world, and she owed it all to Sunset. Taking a deep breath, she put her hand on the doorknob and turned it. The door opened up, revealing the room. Yes, Rainbow had already been in this room, but it was going to be a new experience altogether now that Sunset was conscious. Her legs feeling like rubber, she approached the bed. Sunset was awake, and turned her head and gaze to the rainbow haired girl. Neither said anything for the longest period of time. A pindrop could have been heard. Finally, Rainbow dropped her gaze to the floor in shame. That was when the silence finally was broken. "Look at me Dash." Sunset said quietly. Rainbow shook her head, refusing to look back at Sunset. "Why? Did they beat me to the point that I am too hideous to even look at anymore?" Rainbow burst out in sobs at that moment. "I'm sorry Sunset! I-oh God, what have I done? I should be the one in that bed right now! I'm so, so sorry! I'm the hideous one. You're beautiful and amazing Sunset. You're a better friend than I'll ever dream to be! Forgive me Sunset." There was a long silence before Sunset finally spoke again. "I forgive you Dash...but only for my own sake and sanity." Sunset said quietly. "Because I know that if I don't let go of what has happened this past month, it will eat away at me for the rest of my life. But this does not mean we will ever see eachother again after this meeting right now...I'm going back to Equestria, and I have no intention to return...in fact I mean not to." Rainbow nodded in understanding, not showing how much this answer broke her inside. "You go wherever you feel happy Sunset. I'm going to jail right ater this. It's where I belong..." Sunset didn't say anything. After another long silence, Rainbow turned to leave. As she put her hand on the doorknob, she looked back one last time. "Thanks for having them bring me back here. I can't imagine why you would want me out of there after what I did...It means the world to me...literally." Again, Sunset didn't say anything. Rainbow put her head down, and closed the door.