I could barely breathe, not wanting to disrupt the icy, cool calm of that December morning. My lungs tingling with the crystals that hung in the air. Days like this were meant to be savoured, stored into the mental memory book for other days. Letting you shed a tear at it's sheer beauty, and that you'll never have a moment exactly like that again. My wings trembled and my mane stood on end as I heard hooves crunch the frosted grass blades. I saw a gleam of blue fur out of the corner of my eye, joy slamming into me like whiplash, my face feeling like it was going to split with such a huge smile. My heart pounded against my rib cage.
"Dash! You're out!" I twirled around and hugged the cyan pegasus. But then I noticed something... her wings, they were wrapped up in sterile white bandages. My heartbeat turned from happiness to pure dread. I didn't want to hear her say anything, afraid she may break if she did.
"Hey kiddo, what's up?" Rainbow Dash said, her voice trying desperately to sound normal, but was fatigued beyond imagination. Her rainbow mane was more rumpled than normal, and hung limp and gray.
"Dash, what's wrong with your wings?" My chest felt like a team of earth ponies slamming repeatedly into it.
I think I saw a tear on her eyelash as she murmured her reply. "They had to do surgery, an-"
She didn't finish. She couldn't even look at me. I wanted to speak, but I couldn't. I could only stroke her back with an orange hoof. I stole a glance at her wings, which weren't fully covered. Her feathers were ragged, a warning sign. Rainbow always keeps her wings preened. Her wings were just a sad sight, feathers destroyed and some pink-blue skin showing where the frame of her wings were assaulted by doctors. But what disturbed me most was a long scar on her left wing, fresh, maybe a few days old, and stitches. My mind was working furiously, and I regret saying it when I figured it out.
"So, you can't fly anymore?" My voice cracked ever so slightly. I will never forget the look in her magenta eyes. Seething hatred, yet knowing nopony can ever truly be blamed.
"That or my life... doctors said life was more important." Rainbow hissed slightly. I could only look at her. I can't say I know how hard it was, but I can't fly yet and that just kills me everyday, it must just tear that rainbow speed demon apart.
"So, kid, how's life been? School been kind to you?" She smiled, her eyes attemptoing to hide the hurt.
"N-nice. G-good." I said, surprised somewhat. My wings ruffled a bit. Pressure was getting to me... wat. Why was I pressured? Speaking with Rainbow
shouldn't be this hard. Our idle chitchat continued for some time.
And then she said it.
"Have you been adopted?"
"No," I spat as I crawled off. She must have known not to talk. That would have made it worse. I could feel her eyes piercing my back as I walked off.
***
And today we learn repeatedly slamming your head into a desk does not solve anything, especially figuring out what presents to give Rainbow for Hearth's Warming Eve.
"Dun't she like the Daring Do series? Get her the Christmas book!" Apple Bloom suggested.
"No," I said. "Twilight told me that's what she's getting her. Maybe a Wonderbolt scarf..."
"Rarity's got that covered." Sweetie Belle mentioned grimly.
"If only I could help her fly." I muttered, thinking of her flying again.
"THAT'S A GREAT IDEA!" Apple Bloom yelled, slamming the table.
Sweetie jumped, "How's that even possible?"
Apple Bloom gave us a devious smile. "A unicorn, a mechanic, and somepony who knows everything about a certain rainbow-maned mare."
You could understand why the two of us shrunk under the table. Honestly, the actual plan was kinda alright. Kinda. It was really funny watching Apple Bloom trying to put this delicate, intricate device together, though.
"Screw," She would demand.
"Screw," Sweetie would answer, and hoof her a screw. I don't think they heard me suffocating on my laughter in the back of the barn, though.
They didn't need me until the very end.
"Scoots," Apple Bloom said monotonously.
"Scoots," Sweetie-bot answered, pushing me over. They quietly strapped it onto my back. I expected some heavy contraption, but it was light as air.
"Hollow tubes, like pegasus bones." Apple Bloom explained. "And sheets of thin metal for feathers."
"How do you know how to make fake wings?" I asked, amazed by the quality of her creation.
"Granny says I'm good with makin' n fixin' stuff." She blushed before suddenly becoming serious. "We need to see Twilight."
"Why?" Sweetie asked.
"You'll see," Apple Bloom smiled again.
***
"You want me to power this device?" Twilight asked hestiantly.
"Eeyup!" Apple Bloom answered,
"What's it for?" I couldn't blame her for questioning us, we had took advantage of her magic before.
"A gift for Dash," I answered, "To help her fly."
Twilight stared at us for a moment. "Fine,"
My heart lept as her horn light up. The wings crackled at first and stopped. Twilight looked regretful, but smiled at our faces.
"Dash will have the best Hearth's Warming Eve ever."
***
I didn't want to wake up, the warm bed was better than the cold Orphanage. I knew I had to, though. I slowly slipped off, eyes wanting to keep closed. I opened my wings and flapped them. I fell when I remembered. It was Hearth's Warming Eve.
"Oh buck yeah!" I yelled, everypony downstairs. I didn't even brush my mane, I flew down the stairs. I'd give Dash my present later. Little did I know she was ready to give me mine.
Under the tree, all I saw for me was an envelope.
Meet me at my house.
~Rainbow Dash
My mind was a whir. I dashed out the door, not thinking at all. My hooves hit the ground with more and more force as I sped towards her grounded cloud house.
"Boo!"
I screamed and jumped to the side, seeing Rainbow in a bush.
"Da-ash," I moaned playfully.
"Merry Hearth's Warming Eve, kiddo." She smiled, pulling something out of her bag.
It wasn't, it couldn't be. She handed the papers to me. As Chrysalis would say, this day has been just perfect! It was adoption papers. Rainbow Dash was going to be my mom.
Rainbow Dash!
Excuse me as I faint.
When we went back to the Orphanage to grab my stuff, I remembered her gift.
"Hey, Rainbow," I said.
"Yeah kid?"
I handed her the large package. "Merry Hearth's Warming Eve."
Her eyes teared as she saw it. "Merry Hearth's Warming Eve."