And He Silently Painted A Rainbow

by WritingSpirit

Ninth Day: We Three Princesses

"He really is a natural."

Rainbow Dash nodded at Scootaloo's comment, the orange filly mesmerized by every articulate stroke that Taciturn produced on the canvas, her captivated expression reminding the cyan pegasus of the first time she had seen him back in the hospital. She smiled proudly at the patient, who was touching up the final portions of his painting, still wearing his Santa cap on top of his head.
They were in the Carousel Boutique, along with Applejack, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, anxiously waiting for Rarity's return from her trip to find a suitable place for their upcoming gallery. Taciturn had already finished five paintings to add to his collections ready for display tomorrow during their wait, only making them wonder if he would ever be depleted of any of his creativity and ideas.

"There goes number six..." Applejack muttered once the colt placed his brush down onto the table, before he proceeded to place it next to the window to dry. It was a little different from the rest of his paintings, consisting of retro-like circles filling the background and vectored, chromatic shapes flourishing from the corner, bursting out like a fountain in a panorama of colors. Despite that, it was amazing all the same to them.
Taciturn beamed with satisfaction at his creation, before settling back down onto the boutique floor, having sated his desire to paint. Rainbow gave a chuckle and teasingly ruffled his mane, the colt harrumphing almost immediately.

"Got tired, huh?" the cyan mare asked the blanched pegasus, who was staring at the door.
"Don't worry, bud. She'll come back with some good news. I hope."

Taciturn whimpered in response, his impatience already starting to shine through. He wasn't the first though; the anticipation was already getting to each of their heads while he was still painting. Apple Bloom was the first to crack, letting out a loud groan.
"When is she comin' back?"

"I'm already here~!" cried Rarity in a singsong voice, stepping through the doorway. Everypony's faces lit up once they saw her dance flamboyantly into her own boutique, settling right beside Sweetie Belle whilst wearing a beatific grin.
"We have our venue!"

The rest of them (except, of course, Taciturn) started to murmur with delight at the news, all rising up to the edges of their hooves once the fashion designer placed down a few photographs of the interior and exterior of their intended location, her friends taking a look while she explained:
"It's a two-storey manor around the outskirts of town, just across the marketplace. The width of it is adequate for a two floor gallery, and there will be a solitary room for the interview on the bottom floor, as planned."

"However," Rarity added, "it's in a state of disrepair, I'm afraid. The upper floor is on the verge of collapse, and there are putrid holes everywhere! The walls are just plain filthy and, for Celestia's sake...... the dust all around it..."

She suddenly sneezed, her horn glowing a pale blue to pull out a tissue as the rest laughed at her dilemma.
"But we can fix it, can we?" Sweetie Belle asked, gazing at her older sister with uncertainty.

"Are you kidding me?" Rainbow rasped confidently, crossing her hooves with her head held high, "Of course we can! We just have to tidy it up! It'll be easy with everypony's help!"
Flapping her wings, the sound catching Taciturn's attention immediately, she headed towards the door with an intrepid grin, peering back at her shoulder to shout:
"Come on!"

"We got a house to renovate!"

The excited murmurs and chatters from the crowd that stood before her was stunningly huge, as Rainbow Dash looked down at the residents of Ponyville from the podium she was standing on, unable to comprehend how many of the townsfolk had agreed to help out.
Taciturn was roosting right beside her, trying his best not to let out a loud scream once he saw the numerous amounts of ponies standing before him. The cyan mare assured him they were all here to help, however, and that was the only thing he needed to hear from his guardian.

"Hey, guys!!" Rainbow exclaimed into her microphone, the crowd responding with a loud, jubilant wave of cheers. She had never felt more excited about something such as this in her whole life.
"How are you all doing today?"

Another loud cheer, with many of them flailing their hooves vigorously about. The mare laughed at the sight of all the laughter and joy in around her, before she asked what's considered more important for the rest of her now. She turned to Twilight, who was also on the stage, giving her a nod; in response the violet mare beckoned her hoof to proceed.
"Now," she began, "I'm sure all of you guys know what we're here for, right?"

The crowd gave their nods. Without further ado, Rainbow pointed her hoof to the looming, derelict structure standing on top of a hill behind her: the very same one that they were planning to renovate.
"That," she yelled earnestly, "is the big boy! The one that we're gonna build back up before anything can break it down! You came here to see Tassee's gallery, but that will never happen unless we get this show on the road!"

"Come on, everypony!" she yelled, leading them up the hill.
"Twilight," she called to her lavender friend, who was responsible for organizing the renovation, just like she was responsible for organizing everything else in town.
"Your call now!"

"Alright," she began, clearing her throat while she announced from the list she unfurled in her hooves.
"Applejack, get Daisy, Cherry Berry, Bon Bon, Lyra, Pokey, Caramel and your family to deal with the bottom floor. Fluttershy and Rarity, the both of you are in charge of decorating along with Octavia, Vinyl, Pokey, Sea Swirl, Raindrops, Twinkleshine and the other unicorns or Earth Ponies not in charge with rebuilding the lower floors. Pinkie, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle & Scootaloo, all of you are in charge of refreshments for everyone with the Cakes, and Rainbow..."

"Fix the upper floor and roof with Cloud Kicker, Cloudchaser, Flitter, Thunderlane, Blossomforth and the rest of the pegasi!" the cyan mare exclaimed, giving her friend a salute.
"Got it!"

And so, every single pony set off to do their given jobs, with Rainbow heading towards the roof along, leading a group of pegasi following right behind her, all of them carrying sacks on their backs and toolboxes in their hooves. She smiled excitedly once she gazed down at the focus of the task, hovering herself down onto the cracking slate surface. Mimicking her motions, the rest of the pegasi did the same, awaiting for any orders from their assigned leader.
"Let's get fixing!" she cheered, swinging a hammer in her hooves as she settled onto the first gaping hole in the roof, slotting in a few slate tiles she picked from her sack. With that settled, Rainbow started hammering away, prompting the rest of them to do the same.

Soon enough, the sounds of construction filled the air, blaring into a cacophony of pounding hammers, cranking wrenches and, of course, the cheerful chatter of ponies everywhere. It wasn't long before Rainbow had to check up on Taciturn, who was probably watching the going-ons downstairs.
When she finally saw him, he was doing just that, though his glance constantly flickers between the busy scene and the easel on his lap and paintbrush in his hooves. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were huddling underneath his wings like he was a big, plushy teddy-bear, watching with wide smiles on their faces.

"Hey, guys!" she called out to them, earning their attention.
"You alright, Tassee?"

Taciturn gave a cheery nod, resuming his painting. The sight was heartwarming to her; it's not an everyday sight to see three of the most active fillies she had ever met quietly staring and admiring his work. What was more unusual was that he doesn't seem to mind their presence at all, only making her wonder if he got over a little bit of his reserved nature.
"Whatcha drawing, buddy?" she asked in a bout of curiosity, to which he turned his canvas over, revealing the painting of the three alicorn princesses: Celestia, Luna and Cadence, standing regally from one of the balconies of the palace and looking down at the city below them, shining brightly under an unfinished, mellow, golden sky of evening.

"It's like that Hearth's Warming Carol!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed happily.

"Which one?" Apple Bloom asked.
"There's so many carols Ah'm not sure exactly which one ya talking 'bout."

"You know! We Three Princesses Of Equestria Are!"
Breathing in loudly, the filly unicorn strode to the center of the room, stealing the attention of every working pony there. All eyes were upon her, opening her mouth as she started singing:

As if on cue, there was a small knock on the door, prompting Twilight to gallop towards the door and opening it, her face lighting up in surprise at the three ponies standing there.
"Princess Luna!" she exclaimed gleefully, allowing the cerulean alicorn to step inside, the princess of the night giving the lavender unicorn a warm smile. The ponies inside gave their bows once she entered the house, her head held high. Shining soon stepped in next, giving his younger sister a smile, and right beside him was none other than...
"Cadance!"

"Hey, Twilight!" her sister-in-law replied joyfully, giving her a tight hug before glancing around at the construction happening around her, slightly intrigued by their work.
"Look at what you guys are doing to this place!"

"It's for the special pony everypony's talking about. This way."
Twilight beckoned the two princesses and her brother forward at the direction of Rainbow, who gave them a welcoming, jubilant wave, with Taciturn refusing to glance up at them despite his guardian's attempts to coax him.
"Princess Luna, Shining and Cadance, this is Taciturn Bleach."

"I've heard," Princess Luna spoke with a solemn expression, gazing down at the shivering colt, who was gripping forcefully onto the Santa cap with his gaze still glued towards the floor.
"Celestia and I had been planning to meet him once we're here."

"Speaking of Princess Celestia," Rainbow asked, "where is she?"

"She's at the Town Hall right now," Shining answered with a stern tone, revealing the graveness of their mood.
"She's currently having an audience with the press and your uh... snitch. It's better we don't mention the details. As for the snitch, the pony will be remained anonymous, so as to prevent any trouble; in which case we hope you would understand."

The rest had no choice but to agree, judging from Princess Luna's darkening grimace, already making her feared expression more intimidating that it was. Cadance suddenly cleared his throat, before asking Twilight:
"So... what's with the musical?"

The lavender unicorn was startled at what she meant, until she saw the working ponies singing along with their job around them, shaking her head at Sweetie Belle; the ringleader behind their spontaneous ploy.
"They got a little carried away, maybe," she muttered, a little amused at the sight.
"At least they're still doing their job. The building's gonna be finished in no time!"

Another knock on the door soon sounded, prompting Twilight to gallop back again.
"Princess Celestia!" she called the pony's name, letting her teacher in. Immediately, the singing stopped, with everypony giving a prestigious bow, their voices echoing out 'Your Majesty' at her benevolent presence.

"Please, my little ponies," she ushered with a grin, her mane sparkling brightly.
"Continue your singing."

And of course, everypony did; at once, the sound of music and singing filling the air again, keeping the brief tenseness of the atmosphere at bay. The alabaster alicorn immediately trotted towards Taciturn, giving him a serene smile despite his aversion to her gaze.
"Taciturn Bleach," her voice murmured softly and consolingly, kneeling down onto her slender hooves while her sparkling mane danced around the cold air, her lips edging into a smile.
"I'm a friend."

"Rainbow," was his mere response, turning instead to the said mare. Rainbow Dash stepped forward at that, giving the alicorn a bow, before tending to the colt. She could feel Princess Celestia looking at her bruise, her taut gaze starting to make her shoulders tense, her ears drooping slightly.
She suddenly felt Taciturn's hoof reaching out to her, gasping silently once she felt it on her bruised cheek despite the colt himself staring blankly ahead the floor. He started to smile, the sight prompting Rainbow to do the same as well.

"He trusts you more than me," the princess said, the statement making the cyan mare turn in surprise.
"Justice has been served, Rainbow Dash. The both of you will be safer now."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," the mare replied, with Princess Celestia giving an understanding nod.
She quickly turned back to Taciturn, nudging him at the shoulder while the three princesses and the rest of her friends watched quietly at a distance, huddling away slowly to leave them alone with warm smiles on their faces.
"You hear that, Tassee?" she muttered, the two exchanging happy smiles. Rainbow could feel her eyes water a little, though she didn't bother to wipe them off; it felt better this way.
"No one's gonna bother you anymore."

"You're safe now..."

"Almost there... almost there...!"

Rainbow couldn't blame Pinkie's hyperactivity on the transpiring events that were unfolding. No mistake, it was an exciting one, and one that every pony in her vicinity was expecting. Even the three princesses were gazing at the night sky, mentally counting the time in their heads.
She peered at the back of her shoulder, smiling triumphantly at the finished structure of the art gallery, which was completed only half an hour ago. Now, they were all huddled in the snow, awaiting the very celebration that was coming to all of them.

The children were all asleep already, too tired from their contribution to the renovation (especially Sweetie Belle, whose throat was slightly sore from five rounds of singing during their whole project). Taciturn had also fallen asleep already with his art tools at the side, leaning onto Rainbow's shoulder with a light snore, the sight only tingling his guardian's heart.
A small cough made her turn, immediately facing with, much to her dismay, the three alicorns that had came to visit. She settled her patient slowly onto the mat they were sitting on, before quietly trotting towards the group, unable to look at their frowns.

"Does it hurt?" Princess Luna asked first.

"Not so much now," she softly muttered her reply.
"Thanks, I guess..."

"Taciturn Bleach would say the same," Princess Celestia spoke, giving a small nod.
"He trusts you as you trust him. He adopts your mannerisms and shows them in his own way. You are the only key that could connect him to the rest of us."

"Wh-wh... what're you saying?"

"He sees you as a special pony, Rainbow Dash."
Princess Cadance gave a smile; an encouraging and soothing smile that lightened her mood by a little. Just a little, yet it was fulfilling already. In return, the cyan pegasus gave her own smile, turning to her patient.
"Just as you see him, don't you?"

"If you mean guardian to patient, yeah..." she said with a shrug.
"But I'm not really that into him! He's just somepony that makes me happy."

"Don't lie to yourself, my little pony."
Princess Celestia's words caught her off guard, though there wasn't a hint of anger or frustration within it; there was only a forgiving tone, a good-natured one. She furrowed her brows as well, trying to give her message clearly.
"Taciturn Bleach trusts you more than he trusts the three princesses of Equestria. Some call him special and talented. Some call him degenerate and worthless, but I myself call him the future."

"The future...?"

"What he sees in you is what he trusts, and he, being such a wondrous pony of surprises, he knows what he sees, and he wants to show you what he sees. The question is, are you going to open your heart to him?"

"I-I..." Rainbow stammered, unable to give a smooth response.
"I just... I don't know... he's..."

"I see fear," Princess Luna's dark tone suddenly spoke, shunning her immediately, the mare gulping loudly while she step back on the mat, being careful not to trip over the sleeping colt.
"It came in black. It tried to seize you. To steal you away. To rip the innocence that you see in Taciturn and form an enemy you never wanted."

"Look, I appreciate all the advice," Rainbow began, smoothing her mane.
"But I can't really do much to alter the future or something, right? I'm just a pony! You... you guys are alicorns! You know what to do, when to do it!"

"And yet we are all but ponies."
The three of them soon stepped away, with their leader giving a small, languid nod, leaving Rainbow to look on in bafflement, unsure of what the triumvirate had just said.
With a shrug, she quickly sat back down beside Taciturn, brushing the ruffled mane of the colt to the side with a warm smile. The crowd around her started counting down loudly, though she never bothered to gaze up at the night sky; her attention was more onto the sleeping colt that she was assigned to take care of.

"Ten...! Nine...! Eight...!"

"Tassee..." she muttered, picking up his cap and his ornate paintbrush from his hooves. The colt stirred a moment, whimpering with disappointment once the items left his hooves, which flailed about in a blind attempt to get them back, before settling back in the solitude of sleep once more.
Her hooves gripped on a small mug of cider, forcefully chugging it down while her cheeks and jaw squirmed at the bitter taste. Taciturn suddenly gave a light snore, pushing out a giggle from her immediately, the mare nearly choking on her drink as she did so.

"Seven...! Six...! Five...!"

"Trust..." Rainbow murmured, placing the cap onto Taciturn's head while she absentmindedly stroked his mane, the colt stirring about before letting out a smile, voicing out his comfort.
He's the future, she thought to herself, remembering Princess Celestia's words from their recent conversation. A future... to what? A solution? A boost in the art industry? Some password for releasing a few nuclear warheads to destroy the remaining Changeling nests? She groaned at the last one: for Celestia's sake, she couldn't think straight.

"Four...! Three...! Two...! One...!"

Whatever it was, Rainbow promised an oath to be his guardian, and he's not going to break it, no matter whatever future or legacy he has been carrying. Like they had said, he trusted her with his life, and she did the best she can to help out. Look at the gallery behind your sore flank, she wanted to yell at a mirror.
"Happy New Year, Tassee..." she murmured with a grin, pushing the thoughts away. It didn't matter when Taciturn's around; all it matters is that he's safe, and that he would finally have what he wanted.

The fireworks started exploding over her head, filling the sky in a sparkling array of lights. It was a majestic sight, with the ponies around her letting out 'ooh's and 'ahh's of delight at the spectacle; one she only stopped to look at for one mere second, being disturbed by the questions she was pondering in her head.
He would finally have what he wanted. That doesn't sound right. She doesn't know his intentions, and he doesn't usually tell them the way that everypony else would. Rainbow sighed, asking him even though he was already in his deep sleep, the mare a little frustrated to know the answer to that one question:

"What do you want?"