That One Time Too
Chapter Twenty four: Of Caring Hearts and Morning Plans
Written by TheCrimsonDM
Rarity felt like the world's biggest failure. Sitting there on the floor staring up at the couch where Twilight sat glaring at Rarity, Celestia, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. None of the others being glared at felt any better. Even with Rarity applying makeup to hide the black eye Celestia had from her little tumble on the race track, there was no way to completely mask it since it was also puffy and swollen.
Twilight spoke in a low growly tone. "You girls allowed her to get hurt." It was not a question but a judgmental statement tinted with the fury of storm clouds.
Rainbow Dash spoke up. "We weren't there when-"
Applejack punched Rainbow Dash in the leg. "Shush you."
Twilight's eyes narrowed. "You, weren't, there? To protect my Celestia, you weren't there?"
Rarity spoke up. "Twilight, darling, she wanted to go racing. To have some thrill and excitement."
Twilight snapped at her. "We have thrill and excitement at home."
Rarity lowered her head. "I'm sorry."
Twilight harrumphed. "Well at least one of you is sorry." She then looked at Celestia. "And you, you go out, do this crazy roller derby thing, and come back hurt. Do you know how much I worry about you?"
Celestia let out a sigh of defeat. "I'm sorry."
Twilight reached out and touched Celestia's eye with her hoof. Celestia winced in pain. "Shhh, I'm taking a look. It doesn't look too bad, but still you're an adult. You’re more adult than all of us. You can't just go out and get hurt like that. You scared me half to death when you came home."
In the background Rarity had to ignore their audience. Luna, Pinkie, and Fluttershy were all eating popcorn and watching the lecture like it was a show. Luna booed. "I expected more shouty, not touchy-feely stuff."
Twilight grumbled. "Those three are getting a right and proper lecture after this." She pulled back and straightened up. "Anyway, I love all of you very much, but please don't be too reckless again."
Celestia spoke up. "But tomorrow is Rainbow Dash's day to spend with me."
"Then spend it peacefully. Enjoy danger from a safe distance like Fluttershy does but don't jump in the middle."
Fluttershy cut in. "I d-don't enjoy danger."
Twilight shot a glare at her. "Tell me that the next time we watch sea-lions preying upon a school of fish."
"That’s d-different, their animals so it's majestic."
Twilight scowled at the memory. "It's vile and brutal and nature is du-" she cut herself off before saying something that would either end up with a broken nose, or a crying Fluttershy. "-dangerous."
Fluttershy nodded. "It can be I suppose."
Only Celestia was giving her the look that said she knew exactly what Twilight was thinking. The knowing look was somewhat marred by her swollen eye. Twilight let out a sigh."Listen, I'm sorry. I just care a whole lot. Just, please try and be more careful."
Celestia smiled. "Twilight, I am immortal, but, for you I'll be more careful." she added as a mere whisper that she must have thought Twilight didn't hear. "Not to be caught next time."
Twilight decided to ignore it. She was literally telling the goddess of the sun how to behave and the fact she had not been smote was probably the best she could hope for. These other slackers on the other hoof... well... ugh, she couldn't stay mad at them either. She just deflated in her seat. "I feel tired. I need cuddles."
Rainbow Dash perked. "Oh, cuddles!"
Everypony looked at her. Twilight was half expecting Rainbow Dash to jump onto the couch herself from how excited she sounded. Instead Rainbow Dash walked over to Fluttershy, picked up the mare and then carried her across her back to Twilight and then tossed her onto the couch. "There, now cuddle."
Twilight had to say she was not disappointed with the results. She looked at Rainbow Dash. "Thanks, champ."
Rainbow Dash grinned like the proudest filly in all the land. "No problem, it's my job."
That got a laugh out of everyone, thus shattering the tension that had built up. Well at least things were okay, not only that she had a pony that smelled like popcorn to cuddle.
***
It was late at night, and all through the town, not a pony was stirring, not even a mouse. Well okay, at least one pony was stirring. Luna found herself sitting on the rooftop again and looking out over the city. The night life here didn't exist quite like it did in Manehattan and Canterlot. It typically got real quiet and real dark. Yet even in the darkness, lit up only by the pale light of her moon, the buildings had a reflective shimmer to them that was stunning.
Once upon a time, many, many years ago. She had come here with her sister. After the previous ruler, an alicorn much like Cadance was slain. An immortal slain by an evil corrupt monster named Sombra, they came as the two sisters to save the day. They smote their enemy, just barely but then the city was taken out of time and space for a thousand years.
What actually happened to the ponies here, where did they go? Nopony knew. But it was known that their hearts had been darkened, and it took Twilight and friends combined efforts to bring back the light to their hearts and fill this place with love.
This city was in a strategic position too. It was here, in a prime location to stop the threat of the wendigo. An ancient evil that could only be stopped by love and kindness and friendship. Where they'd come from, no one knows, where they went when defeated numerous times, again no one knows. What was known was that every, single, time the love of Equestria faltered, they would return and their vast numbers and powers never changed. It was like fighting a flood. Yet they'd survived and won countless times.
She just hoped she would never see them again.
She heard a door open behind her, and the soft sound of a smaller pony's hooves clipping against the tiled rooftop. She spoke warmly, gently. "Sorry if I woke you up."
She felt a pony sit next to her and lean into her side. Luna wrapped a warm wing around them like a blanket and looked down. She was surprised to see Rainbow Dash there of all ponies. Rainbow looked half asleep.
"Hey there," Rainbow mumbled. "Stars are pretty."
Luna giggled. "Why yes, yes they are."
Rainbow Dash closed her eyes. "Just like Twilight."
"I suppose you're right about that."
"And like you."
Luna's heart skipped a beat. Few ponies had ever called her pretty. Beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, a backstabbing shrew, but never pretty. "you... really think so?"
Rainbow Dash mumbled as she nuzzled into Luna's fur. "Yeah."
Luna felt her little cold heart swelling with pride. This one little pony had done more to lift her mood than most anypony had been able to do in the past. She wasn't sure what she could do, or even would do in the future. So long as she had ponies like Rainbow Dash in her life, she would feel just fine though. "Thank you. That means a lot for me to hear."
Rainbow Dash let out a quiet noise.
Luna listened in relative silence for a moment. Soon that noise became a quiet snore. Poor thing must have woken up worried about her. The element of loyalty indeed. Well Luna lifted Rainbow Dash up with her magical aura and then began the process of carrying her back downstairs.
Rainbow Dash kicked her legs in the air. "N-no, I wanna cuddle."
Luna let out a sigh of defeat and laid Rainbow Dash over her back. "There you go, you big baby."
Rainbow dash continued to snore. She put on a tough exterior but she was really just a big ol' softie. Then again, Luna wouldn't have it any other way.
***
The next day had come and breakfast was about as normal as it could get. Rainbow Dash had woken up happy, warm and near a sleeping Luna, though she wasn't really sure how she ended up there. She had vague memories of looking at the night sky and thinking of Twilight.
She quickly pushed those thoughts away when she saw Celestia at the table. Not only did Celestia look completely healed, alicorn healing right? But, it was also clear that today was her day to have fun with the princess of the sun. Oh yeah, arena combat here she comes.
Going up to the table Rainbow Dash sat herself down and looked up at Celestia. "So, are we doing the thing today?"
Celestia grinned. "We are totally doing the thing today."
Twilight, who was next to Celestia, stared at them both. "What, exactly, are you doing today?"
Celestia smiled. "Oh, I'm sorry for this, Dashy. But our believed, protective, and 'eavesdropping' pony here wants to know what we're doing."
Rainbow Dash groaned. "Don't tell her, she won't let us have fun."
Celestia gave her a wink, and Rainbow Dash was reminded of the time they worked together to prank Luna. Oh the fun they had. Well these two mischievous ponies could get up to some real fun.
Celestia spoke up. "First we are going to have breakfast. Then we are going to go out and explore the town for a moment-"
Twilight cut her off. "Excuse me, Princess Celestia, you have this written down for me don't you?"
Celestia let out a sigh. "Of course I do, but honestly, not everything needs to have a plan written out in bullet points." Her horn lit up with a golden light and a long list appeared out of thin air. It landed on Twilight's side of the table so she could easily pick it up and read it.
Celestia continued. "Our first stop will be at a diner, there’s a local one that has amazing breakfast. Then we're hitting up the antique shop."
Rainbow Dash groaned. "Antiques?"
"Yes, dear. They have cool ancient weapons and armor there."
"Oh, that sounds like fun. I'll hit that place up with you."
Celestia smiled. "We're not going to hit the place, we're simply window shopping. Next we're going to go to the arena for a quick view of the scenery and to learn about its deeply rooted history in Canterlot."
Twilight's eyes were skimming further down the list and growing wider as each moment passed on. "C-Celestia, y-you're planning to do what at the castle?"
"Twilight, you're getting ahead of me."
Rainbow Dash felt something was wrong. "Yeah, me too."
Celestia let out another sigh. "This is a surprise for Rainbow Dash, but fine, I'll spoil it for my spoiled little princess. After the arena we plan to go to the castle, request a large, and very private room for just me and her. Then I will proceed to start by-"
Rainbow Dash heard the words coming out of Celestia's mouth. Twilight heard the words coming out of Celestia's mouth. The details, and the things, and the oh my. Rainbow Dash was pretty sure she went from blue to red from embarrassment alone. It didn't help that she started to explain what some of those things were in great, explicit detail to Twilight. Everypony in the kitchen was listening by that point and all eyes flickered with expressions of playfulness to horror from Celestia to her soon to be victim Rainbow Dash.
Only once Celestia finished did she say, "-once the massage is complete, she will feel very good. And that's how Equestria was made. Any questions?"
Twilight gave the list back to Celestia and made a few squeaking sounds. She then looked at her bowl of food. "I... I will never ask what you do with another pony again. Now excuse me as I go vomit."
Twilight left the table and walked to the bathroom door.
This left Celestia smiling proudly. Luna leaned in. "I did not know you knew half of those things existed."
"Oh, I asked Cadance to teach me a few techniques. I fear Rainbow may break though, the tickling will be hard on her."
Rainbow Dash was about to run away when a golden aura held her down tight. "You can't run away from your wife. Not when she's the goddess of the sun and the ruler of Equestria."
Luna laughed. "You’re so mean."
"Oh I only jest... mostly. I really do want to tickle her hooves. She seems like she'd laugh a lot."
Rainbow Dash squirmed in her seat. How did she end up like this?
Celestia leaned forward. "Don’t forget that you were the one to egg me on in the race yesterday. Because I haven't."
Oh... the sun's revenge was a long-lasting and brutal one. Rainbow Dash let out a sigh of defeat of her own. "Fine, do your worst. I'm so awesome I can deal with it. The Wonderbolt hazing was worse... probably. I hear they don't just tickle you, but they tie you up and cover you in tar and rainbow feathers."
Celestia giggled. "Oh my, they still use my old playbook. So childish, I have advanced my torture techniques."
That was a bad sign.