//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: I Just Hope She Likes It // by KathAud //------------------------------// Misty and Soarin weren’t long into their return flight the next morning when High Winds and Pizzelle came back for them. Misty was grateful for their enthusiastic reception. If they judged her for taking such a risk they didn’t say so. Taking it in turns to support her on her left side, they were able to head straight back without stopping. Soarin insisted on escorting her to the hospital while the other two headed to HQ to inform Spitfire. Dr. Spring Flight sighed deeply when he peeked at her wound. “More stitches for you.” He shook his head. “Somepony will take care of it shortly. For now, lie down in here.” He was off before she could ask if Lyra was around. Soarin shrugged and guided her into the room the doctor had indicated. “So, who do you think gets to us first?” She climbed onto the hospital bed which, while it was certainly no cloud, was much more comfortable than old seat cushions. Soarin grimaced. “Dash is faster,” he acknowledged. Sure enough it was Rainbow Dash who swept in first, looking fit to be tied. “What happened to you?” She asked Misty, without any semblance of real concern. “I got a little clawed up. The doctor said I’ll need stitches. My wing’s a bit damaged but I think it’ll be fine in a few days.” She jerked her chin towards Soarin. “Are you okay?” “Yeah, I’m fine. Where is -“ He was cut off by Rainbow crashing into him, the unexpected attack knocking him back onto the flimsy bedside table, which promptly collapsed under the weight of both pegasi. Rainbow Dash was incandescent with rage. “What were you thinking!?” She shrieked, slamming her hooves down to the floor on either side of his head. “Did you spare even one thought for her? Even one tiny fucking thought???” “Rainbow, for Celestia’s sake!” Misty shot out of bed, grabbing Dash’s tail and hauling backwards. She was still sore though and Rainbow was disproportionately strong. When her hooves scrabbled for purchase on the smooth hospital floor she latched onto Soarin. “You’re way out of line, Dash.” With one rough shove Soarin dislodged both mares and scrambled to his feet. Rainbow brushed Misty back with a snap of her metal wing, which she then swung at Soarin, who deflected with his hoof. “WONDERBOLTS - FREEZE!” Misty complied instantly at the familiar boom of Spitfire’s voice. The fiery Captain landed in the middle of their small group, forcing everypony further apart with her wingspan. “Rainbow Dash,” she growled. “Tell me I did not just see you attacking a superior officer.” “Superior my ass,” Rainbow snorted. “If there is any concern with the Commander’s decisions in the field it will come from myself or the Princess. Do I make myself clear? This doesn’t involve you.” Rainbow’s jaw dropped. “Doesn’t involve me!? Applejack is my best friend, my last best friend, who happens to be about 100 months pregnant with this asshole’s foal!” “I talked to AJ myself this morning,” Spitfire said firmly, “and she was doing fine.” “You don’t know her like I do.” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at Soarin. “None of you do.” There was a slight twitch in Soarin’s tightly clenched jaw. “Applejack is my wife, Rainbow Dash. Back. Off.” “Captain Spitfire!” Dr. Spring Flight appeared in the doorway, looking aghast. “What is the meaning of this commotion? The shouting is disturbing my patients, who should be at rest!” He pointed his hoof sternly. “That includes you, young mare!” “I’m sorry, Sir.” Misty scrambled back into bed and yanked the covers up to her chin. She didn’t know the doctor well but she knew that Lyra enjoyed working with him and admired him deeply. She felt like she should try and make a good impression. “I apologize for our poor behavior, Dr. Spring Flight.” Spitfire smoothly angled herself so that she was blocking the view of the broken table. “We’ll be leaving soon so Misty Fly can get her rest.” The doctor harrumphed and marched off. The collected Wonderbolts waited until his hoofsteps receded before turning on each other again. “Rainbow Dash, if you’re going to be mad at anypony it should be me,” Misty said more calmly than she felt. “Oh believe me, I’m pissed at you, too,” Rainbow growled. “Risking both your lives and nearly widowing my best friend for a fucking harp!?” “It’s a lyre.” Not helping, Dizzy. “Can’t you see I don’t care!? Whatever it is it’s not worth it! What were you thinking!?” “I was thinking I’m in love with her, okay?” Misty couldn’t prevent her voice from rising. “I love her and I wanted to do something nice and unexpected and thoughtful and I… I just…” “You wouldn’t understand,” Soarin interrupted coldly. Rainbow Dash’s face turned crimson. “You take that back,” she hissed at him. Misty had never heard her voice sound so strangled before. “Do you want to tell me where my wife is, Rainbow Dash? If not, I’ll find her myself.” “This has gone too far already,” Spitfire cut in. “Soarin, AJ went to the farm this morning. You and I are going discuss this later but for now, go.” Rainbow’s eyes glistened with furious tears. She shifted slightly aside, crossing her forelegs as her glare refocused on Misty. Soarin stormed out of the room without a backwards glance. “Was that really necessary?” Misty snapped. “For fuck’s sake, Crash, you pretty much just told him he’s a shit husband.” “There’s no ‘pretty much’ about it, after last night - he is a shit husband and you’re a shit for brains for thinking this was in any way okay!!!” “Rainbow Dash, it’s time for you to leave,” Spitfire ordered. “Go back to HQ and stay there until I get back. And if you so much as even glance in Soarin and Applejack’s general direction on the way I will have you court-martialed. Understood?” “Yes,” Rainbow mumbled. “Yes what?” “Yes, ma’am.” “Dismissed.” Rainbow Dash flew off mumbling and Spitfire came to sit on the edge of Misty’s bed. “So,” she sighed. “After all that, did you even get the Celestia-damned harp?” “Lyre.” “Don’t contradict me.” “Sorry, ma’am.” Misty lifted the edge of her pillow to show Spitfire where she’d tucked the instrument. She had been so pleased with herself in that brief moment of finding it before everything went sideways, and then Soarin’s reassurances had gotten her back to a good headspace about it. Now though, her efforts seemed foolish again, tainted by the scene at the hospital. “I hope she’ll appreciate what you went through to get that for her.” “I feel pretty shitty about the whole thing right now,” Misty mumbled. “You know,” Spitfire mused. “On a technicality I haven’t got much to punish you for. We’ve all grabbed shit from below on occasion. You had permission from your CO. You got into a tight spot, yeah, but you got yourself out again. And there’s probably nothing I could do to Soarin to make him feel any worse than Dash just did. Mother of Celestia, that got ugly.” “He didn’t deserve that,” Misty stated firmly. “If things had gone worse, that would have been on me. He was just trying to help a friend.” Spitfire sighed and pressed her front hooves firmly against her eyes. She sat like that for so long Misty started to fidget. “Um, Captain? Are you….crying?” “Nah.” When she lifted her head, her eyes were tired and bloodshot but, indeed, dry. “This isn’t enough to make me cry. Though, honestly? It’s been such a long time, I don’t think I’d remember how to cry if I wanted too.” “I cried last night,” Misty confessed. “I felt so guilty about everything that happened.” Spitfire shifted to face her fully. “You know, the Wonderbolts haven’t had one single casualty since this disaster started. Not one. Why do you think that is?” “Because you trained us well,” she replied quickly and loyally. “Because you’re smart and talented and so are we.” “Could be.” Spitfire half smiled. “Dr. Whooves told me it’s a statistical anomaly. Here’s the thing, though. Here’s what I think about all the time, every night. Especially last night when you didn’t come back. The day one of us goes down? It’ll be my fault. Mine because of something I didn’t drill into you hard enough. Mine because I scheduled the mission and sent you out there. Mine because I maybe wasn’t there. If I had to tell Lyra you were gone? If Soarin and AJ’s kid grew up without a dad? That would have been on me and me alone.” Misty Fly was shaking but she had no response. “I’m truly just glad you both are okay. I truly don’t blame you for any of it. If everything had gone right we’d all be hoof bumping you in the locker room about it and saying you were going to get lucky tonight. Instead, shit happened. But you took care of it. Because, yeah - I trained you well and you’re smart and talented. I hope that’s what Lyra sees.” Misty smiled a little sadly. “She probably has no idea I was even missing.” “Actually, she does. When I saw Applejack this morning, she said she told Lyra last night. Not about the harp, or whatever, but that you hadn’t come back on schedule.” “Really?” She perked up. “Do you know how she seemed? How she took the news?” Spitfire scowled. “Do I look like the ‘how did she seem’ type? I’m sure she’ll come by as soon as she hears you’re back. Actually I bet everypony has heard by now, thanks to Dash. Heh. Maybe you’ll still get lucky tonight.” She punched Misty’s side. “Hey! I just got clawed there!” “Yeah, I know.” She rose into the air, snickering. “And by the way, you’re paying to replace that table.” “Yes, ma’am.” Spitfire paused on her way out the door and stage whispered over her shoulder. “Incoming!” Misty heard her exchanging greetings in the hallway, and a moment later Lyra walked in.