//------------------------------// // "Blackbird" // Story: Jukebox Scribbles // by Timaeus //------------------------------// Song Prompt - "Blackbird," by The Beatles Twilight looked out to the darkening horizon from her place on the memorial hill by the Ponyville General Hospital. A small stream of tears flowed down her cheeks and she watched the sky turn from blue, to an array of golds, reds, purples, pinks, and oranges, and finally to that deep midnight blue signalling the end of the bright day and the beginning of the dark black night that followed. She wore a sad smile as she recalled the events of the past several weeks. The multihued sky turning black served only to remind her of Rainbow Dash and everything that had happened. It all started a little over a month ago now, when Rainbow received a letter about her application to the Wonderbolts. Twilight could recall every detail vividly of that day… Twilight sat at her desk, scribbling away on some project assigned to her by the Princess. It was research on wing spell development and mechanics, a topic of interest to Twilight ever since she first attempted the spell on Rarity. Rainbow burst through the open window (after the last few crashes which could have ended better, it was mutually agreed to be best to keep it open to minimize further damage to either Twilight’s home or her marefriend), tackling Twilight in a hug and forcing them both on the floor in a heap of hooves and feathers. “Twilight! It came! It came!” “Ow! Rainbow! Get your hoof out of my spleen please!” Twilight yelled in surprise. “Oh! Heh-heh, sorry about that,” Rainbow got off Twilight and helped her to her hooves before kissing her on the cheek, “forgive me? I just got a little carried away there.” Sighing and rolling her eyes, Twilight smiled, “I can’t seem to stay mad at you.” “I can imagine it’d be hard when you have as awesome a marefriend as me,” Rainbow puffed her chest out in pride. Giggling, Twilight asked, “So what came that’s so important you needed to tackle me to the ground?” The smile all but vanished from Rainbow’s face, and it looked like she almost deflated a little, as her once confident demeanor was replaced by an uncharacteristically sheepish and nervous expression. Pawing the ground with her hoof and breaking eye contact with Twilight, Rainbow mumbled out, “It’s a letter from the Wonderbolts, from Spitfire, about my application to join the team that you helped me send out…” “Oh that’s great Rainbow! Have you read it? Did you get in?” Twilight asked excitedly. “No…well, no I haven’t read it yet. I’m kinda nervous. It showed up early this morning, but all I can do is stare at it…Will you read it for me? Please?” There was no chance in Tartarus that Twilight could turn down such a pleading look, especially from Rainbow and especially now. This was her dream, and even the smallest chance that it wouldn’t come true was terrifying for her. “Of course I will,” Twilight smiled understandingly. Rainbow looked uncertainly at Twilight, but when she did look in her eyes, all she could see was love and affection. Her resolve strengthened, she gave the letter to Twilight and closed her eyes as it was opened and Twilight began to read… “Dear Rainbow Dash, We appreciate your application to join the Wonderbolts. You are indeed one of the best fliers Equestria has ever seen, and we still remember and are grateful for you saving our lives last year. However…” Twilight stopped reading as a look of horror flashed across her face and she raised her head with a look of…was that pity? No, it was despair. Rainbow’s smile had been growing with every word until then. “I am afraid that the Wonderbolts are not looking for any new members at this time, and we will not be for a long time to come. Best wishes, Spitfire.” Silence filled the room, silent tears trailing down Rainbow’s face. Twilight couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Rainbow was devastated, and although Twilight did everything in her power to be there for her marefriend, she could tell it wasn’t enough. Things only got worse from there. Not with their relationship, in fact, after a couple weeks Rainbow started to get over the whole Wonderbolt fiasco. No, things went from worse to horrible when Twilight met her parents. In short, her parents did not approve of Rainbow and Twilight’s relationship, and demanded that Rainbow break up with Twilight and find a ‘more suitable partner.’ They threatened to disown Rainbow if she didn’t comply. Twilight expected Rainbow to do as they asked. They were her only parents after all, they brought her into the world and raised her. Twilight was surprised when Rainbow said no, and chose to stay with Twilight. It was the most meaningful thing anypony had ever done for Twilight, and she loved Rainbow more than she ever had at that moment. However, all of Twilight’s love could do nothing to soften the blow. First her dreams, then her parents. Rainbow was devastated. She watched as her life slipped away from underneath her hooves with only Twilight to anchor her to reality. Then, Rainbow got into an accident. A bad accident. The doctors said it would be a miracle if the surgery was successful. If it wasn’t, then she could never fly again. First her dreams, then her parents, and now her sky were all being taken from her. Despite all of this, Rainbow never gave up. And now, Twilight sat here on the hill, watching as her marefriend soared through the sky once more, tears of joy still flowing freely. Rainbow came in for a soft landing, still recovering, and embraced Twilight under the dusk sky, kissing her like she never had before. “Thank you,” Rainbow whispered in Twilight’s ear. “For what?” “For being there for me. I wouldn’t have made it through without you. You kept me going, and I love you.” She’s going to be okay.