The stench of mold clung to the damp air within the cool confines of his cell. The only indication of the passage of time was his own physical needs and the regular changing of the guard. Without time and stimuli to guide him, he retreated into the deep recesses of his mind. The series of events replayed from his memory over and over again until familiarity dulled the consequences.
His only persistent companion was the sound of water from the dripstones surrounding his cell. The steady, unwaning beat of each drop truthfully reminded him of the inevitable decay of his own beating heart. Perhaps his psyche hadn’t quite grasped the concept of stone walls being his only company for the rest of his days, despite the circumstances.
Hushed voices whispered through the caverns and pricked his ears. The faint calls of acknowledgement. The steady echo of shoes upon stone joined the endless dripping of water, growing ever closer. Just as it seemed its loudest, the hoofsteps stopped.
“Fixer.”
He turned his head slowly from the wall. His eyes red and bloodshot from his lack of desire to sleep. Through his blurred vision, he made out silver upon blue and a flowing mane of stars upon the night sky. For the first time in ages, he knew the night had come.
“Agent Fixer, ” Luna repeated in a leveled volume.
His muscles ached and his joints complained. Fixer groaned to his hooves from his hunched sitting position and faced the Princess of the Night. He bent his forehooves forward and dipped his head in a clumsy bow. The weakness of his physique after ages of self-induced atrophy forced him to crumble to the floor shortly thereafter.
Stifling a weak yelp of pain, he pulled his face up and smiled lamely. “I’m no longer an agent, Princess Luna. Just your run-of-the-mill traitor to Equestria.” His smiled darkened with his complexion and his eyes narrowed. “I assume you’re here for more than just a chat.”
His voice was raspy and strained after too many hours muttering to himself and ignoring the water placed within his cell. A frown from the eternal diarch pierced his vision. He winced and stumbled back to his hooves. His back thudded against the familiar comfort of the stone wall he spent so many hours staring at and his face contorted in pain.
“Fixer, since my sister enjoys specializing in subtle suggestion and subvert knowledge, I’d like to share with you what I feel you deserve to know. I suspect you are more intertwined with the machinations of your plight here than you are consciously aware.”
He closed his eyes and his mind confirmed his fears. The documents from the ministry, the directives from the panel, the dividend payments from each successful mission—it all added up. Caught up in the limitless potential.
“I believe your time here has given you ample opportunity to think. What has taken me days to work out after poring over records must have dawned on you immediately after your arrest. For a pony as smart and capable as you, I imagine you would’ve gone far. Instead, they used—”
A spark of rage trembled within the confines of his soul and his eyes flared open. “I wasn’t used!” His anger tore out of his body and his voice echoed the magnitude of his discontent. Forgetting the pain in his body, he slammed his forehooves against the solid rock and beat upon it until his body whimpered for forgiveness. As the adrenaline drained from his body, he slumped down until his head thudded against his chest, burying his face in his foorehoves. “I wasn’t used,” he whispered out quietly into the cold.
The echo of his voice waned and disappeared. Only the teardrops of the weeping dripstones and his panting breath remained. For a long time, neither pony spoke. He pondered the silence but knew it wouldn’t last. The princess was here for a reason.
“I’m sorry,” came the soft response, the volume so low it barely echoed in the confines of the dungeon.
Fixer shook his head. “I don’t want your sympathy. We all pay for our mistakes.” He didn’t need to open his eyes to hear the sharp intake of air from the princess. Nor did he heed the warnings his mind screamed to him. It was one thing to wallow in self-depreciating anger, but it was entirely different to needle a goddess. He sighed and opened his eyes. He could still hold onto his pride.
“I’m sorry, too. What do you want from me, a pony formerly in the service of his country?”
“Straight to the point. How refreshing. Very well, I’ll ignore your transgression and get to the matter at hoof. Why do SonicCraft Corporation’s records indicate an allotment of one hundred shares to you?”
“You tracked down one hundred shares out of the millions issued?” Fixer asked incredulously.
Luna responded with a chuckle. “I did mention poring over tax records.”
“It was a gift, an unreported gift because the value of the shares amounted to less than ten bits at the time.”
“Why did you accept it? From your background information, I’ve found nothing but consistent reports of steadfast devotion to your job and the country.”
“I didn’t have an option to refuse it. When the largest bank in Equestria grants you a portion of their investment in a company as a sign of goodwill, you don’t exactly spit in their face. Development and growth takes bits. The United Equestrian Bank is known for having bits. Simple as that.”
“I see.” Luna nodded and pressed for more information. Fixer was surprisingly compliant given his situation. She mentally thanked the stars—fishing for information in dreams was much more complicated compared to just asking a pony.
* * *
Pinkie stumbled into her dressing room teetering on three of her four hooves. She collapsed into a chair and leaned her head back over the backrest so she could stare straight up at the ceiling. The world spun around in a swirl of color before fading to darkness behind her closed eyes. Her body relaxed and she drifted away to a sunny place filled with smiles. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. The words flitted in her head to music she wished to share, the melodious notes flitting about her mind.
When I was a little filly and the sun was going down...
The lyrics wavered across her lips in hushed tones. She tried to remember back to the smiling faces of her friends as she sang to them. She tried to remember the cheerful music which rang loudly in her ears. Instead, visages of cold, uncaring, and selfish ponies inundated her mind. They surrounded her and demanded more and more—like the swelling of music, she allowed the rising crescendo to carry her away.
The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown...
The icy cold washed over her and sucked the heat from her body. As the walls closed in on her, she frantically dug her hooves between the cushions of the chair for the tube of cake frosting hidden between the cracks. She yanked it out swiftly and popped the cap off. A steady stream of sweet sugar flowed into her mouth and over her tongue. She lowered the tube, now nearly empty, with trembling hooves and swallowed the messy substance.
Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall, learn to face your fears...
The sugar trickled through her system and the voices became clearer. The music grew louder. She opened her mouth to sing. The magic of song and boundless optimism would carry her through just like every night before. But the words didn’t come. She could barely whisper out each word through her parched throat. Even if she could consume all the sugar in the world, it wouldn’t settle her fears anymore. It was impossible to face them alone without the laughter and her friends.
You'll see that they can't hurt you, just laugh to make them disappear...
The haunting visage of Twilight’s forced smile replayed again and again in her mind. She had seen Twilight and Rainbow in the middle of her show. In her shock, she abandoned her stage, her girls, and her post. Instead, she sought the solace of her dressing room so she could think. Her friends were back, but there was no enthusiasm, no happiness. In fact, she was scared. The last vestiges of her song faded from her lips.
Laugh...
She opened her mouth to laugh, but nothing issued forth. A little voice in the back of her mind whispered warnings of the dangers. She battled against her doubts. She was Pinkie Pie. If anypony could make this city smile, it would be her. But it seemed she lost the ability to make her friends smile in the process. She could tell Rarity’s smiles were those of concern, and she promised herself she’d make Rarity really smile again as soon as everypony else smiled with her. After so many years, it just didn’t seem to want to happen.
“Pinkie! Pinkie, dear, are you in there? The girls are worried about you. I’m worried about you. You’ve never left the stage early before.” Rarity’s voice filtered through the door with muted strength, the words accented by firm but delicate knocks.
Pinkie didn’t respond.
“Are you quite alright in there? I’m coming in.” The door handle clicked down and the hinges whined as the wooden barrier shifted away. “I do apologize for intruding, but I simp—” The measured speech ground to a halt.
A swift platter of hoofsteps upon the floor greeted Pinkie’s ears. Soft hooves cupped her face and stroked her cheek. She felt a cloth gently wiping her lips.
“Pinkie, please speak to me.”
Pinkie’s eyes opened with a flutter and she stared up at Rarity’s tear-specked eyes. Her tongue traced along her teeth and moistened her lips so she could speak. “Rarity, I saw them,” she whispered. “I saw Twilight and Dashie.”
“Shh...it’s okay, Pinkie. Are you alright?”
“I’m half right, not all right. I thought I was making ponies smile. Twilight wasn’t smiling, not really smiling at least.” Pinkie shuddered and curled her legs around herself in a self-hug. “I don’t want to lose the smiles of my friends. They’re the smiles I love the most.”
“Oh, Pinkie...you haven’t lost the smiles of your friends. I’m here for you.”
Pinkie’s frown trembled upwards as a pair of white hooves wrapped around her.
* * *
Twilight weaved her way through the mezzanine back to the concierge desk near the front of the club. Most of the ponies she walked past were clustered up in groups of twos or threes. At around the fourth group, Twilight realized a pattern: The groups always included a bow-tied pony and a pony with a hoofband. As they approached the reception desk, Rainbow stepped forward.
“Twilight and I want to see Pinkie Pie. Not Madame Pinkie Pie, but Pinkie Pie as she is without the funny outfit, music, dancing, and audience,” Rainbow demanded, her hoof tapping against the desk to emphasize each listed item.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but Madame Pinkie doesn’t take visitors. She prefers to keep interactions equal between all her patrons.” The concierge pony cracked a smile.
Rainbow wasn’t about to be dissuaded by a rejection and a smile. She pressed herself forward and invaded the pony’s personal space. “Look, we’re old friends of Pinkie. Just tell her Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash are here to see her.”
“I’m afraid it just can’t be done. Madame Pinkie specifically asked for time to rest after each show. She expends a great deal of effort every performance and needs time to rejuvenate herself.” The pony raised her hoof and eased Rainbow back slowly away from over the concierge desk. “I’m very sorry.”
Rainbow snorted and looked to Twilight for support. “C’mon Twilight, back me up here. This feels like your library all over again!”
Twilight blinked and shook her head, as if freeing her mind from some concentrated thought. She looked to Rainbow and then to the pony behind the desk. Sighing, she fished out the credit chip from her saddlebags and slid it in front of the pony. “I don’t suppose you could convince Madame Rarity to see us? I’m sure you are aware of the emblem upon this credit chip.”
“A state-issued credit chip. Interesting.” The pony tittered and slid the credit chip back across the table to Twilight. “Las Pegasus isn’t particularly interested in royalty considering we handle most matters on our own. However, madam Rarity is still interested in the happenings of Canterlot. I’ll send one of the girls up to let her know you’re here.”
“Thank you.” Twilight picked up her credit chip and tucked it safely away into her saddlebags once more. She stepped away from the desk and was pulled to one side by Rainbow before she got a few hoof-lengths away.
“Twi! How did you know Rarity was here?” Rainbow asked in a hushed voice.
“Educated guess?” Twilight rubbed the back of her head and grinned at Rainbow. “That, and I realized only Rarity could squeeze so many sequins into an outfit without it blinding everypony.”
Rainbow cracked a grin and hugged Twilight. “Alright, for a second I thought you gained some sort of crazy god-like power and I wanted in on it.”
Twilight laughed and nudged Rainbow away from the desk with a hoof. “Don’t be silly, Dashie. Everything I do is steeped in logic and reason. For example, let’s get away from the crowd so we can chat without disturbing any of the other patrons.”
Away from the crowds, Twilight settled on a couch with Rainbow and leaned into her constant companion. “What did you think of Pinkie’s performance?”
“It was...” Rainbow paused, searching for the proper way to describe the unique show she just witnessed. After a moment’s hesitation, she responded lamely with a single word. “...neat?”
“Neat?” Twilight pulled away and tilted her head curiously at Rainbow.
“Yeah, I’ve never seen a show like that before. Pinkie pulled off some pretty interesting dance moves in Appleloosa, but this was on a whole different level.” Rainbow shrugged her shoulders and fluttered her wings distractedly. “To be honest, I feel a little weird now that I think about it. I would have expected more confetti flying through the air than bits from the ponies watching the show.”
Twilight nodded in agreement. “That’s exactly what bothered me about the whole thing. I’m not sure if Pinkie was actually having fun up there. I hope Rarity has some answers.” She raised her eyes and surveyed the room. Noticing the concierge pony waving to them, she nudged Rainbow and worked her way through the massed ponies back to the front desk.
“Did you get a response from Rarity?” Twilight asked eagerly.
“Yes, she’ll see you two now. Just take the elevator on the right to the third floor.”
“Thanks for the help,” Rainbow responded and made for the elevator.
Twilight offered a word of thanks and hurried after Rainbow. She stopped at the elevator door and admired the care and craftsmanship in front of her. The frame of the elevator was set expertly into the wall and finished with shiny red paint. The lacquered gateway gave way to a brightly lit interior lined with velvet-like fabric. She followed Rainbow into the elevator and nodded cordially to the bellhop pony.
“Three, please.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the pony responded and tipped his red bellhop cap to Twilight. The elevator jerked and began its ascent. A bell dinged merrily with each floor. With the second ding, the moving box groaned to a halt. The elevator attendant pulled open the gate for them and Twilight stepped through into the waiting room with Rainbow.
It was easy to see Rarity’s influence all around them. A lot of the stylings found in the old Carousel Boutique dotted the room. From the flowing drapes obscuring the city light outside to the shimmering crystal chandelier, the room radiated elegance.
“Twilight! Rainbow! It’s wonderful to see you two again!” Rarity swept into the room with a wide, nervous smile. Her mane was frazzled in addition to the barest streaks of runny makeup trailing at the edge of her eyes. Without another word, she pulled Rainbow and Twilight into a hug and squeezed them both firmly.
“Twilight, you’ve lost weight! I hope you’ve been taking good care of yourself. A mare your age should be looking out for your figure. Not that you don’t look absolutely fabulous already. Oh, and Rainbow! Your colors are still absolutely brilliant in this placid light. It’s certainly amazing how much you can brighten a room.” Rarity squeezed her friends again before pulling back with a small sniffling sound.
“I do admit, you’ve caught me at a bad time. But when one of the girls mentioned your names, I simply had to see you both right away. It’s the proper thing to do, after all.” Rarity grinned wider and tried to straighten her mane with a free hoof. “You see, Pinkie and I are taking care of a few things for our little theater here and we’re horribly short-staffed.”
“Rarity...” Twilight began slowly. “If now’s a bad time, we can always—”
“Absolutely not, Twilight! I wouldn’t think of letting you two out onto the streets without a proper show of our hospitality. I’ll arrange rooms for you two, for as long as you need. We can catch up properly over mid-morning tea tomorrow. Prancy, the bellhop, can answer any questions you might have about your accommodations.”
“Rarity!” Rainbow shouted and stomped her hoof forward. “What’s going on? Why are you talking so fast?”
Rarity flinched back and sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, dears, I’m just under a terrible amount of stress right now. I’m really happy to see you both. I really am. I just don’t quite have enough time.”
“It’s Pinkie, isn’t it?” Twilight concluded simply.
“Ah, well. Yes and no. I-it’s a complicated situation,” Rarity stammered and looked away. “I really don’t want to burden you two with this, seeing as you’re guests.”
“We’ll help. We’re your friends, not your guests. I know it’s been a long time, but that shouldn’t matter. Please,” Twilight pleaded and reached forward with a hoof.
“Twi’s right! I’m not budging until you agree to let us help with...well, whatever you need help with!” Rainbow extended her hoof as well and placed it over Twilight’s. She turned her head and smiled confidently at Twilight. The smile she got back warmed her heart and widened her smile into a grin.
Rarity looked at them both and their outstretched hoofs. After a moment’s hesitation, she sighed and placed her hoof gingerly on top. “Well, if you two insist. I suppose it can’t hurt. Though, I really need some time to compose myself. It’s been a rather trying evening.”
“Sure, we can wait a few minutes.” Rainbow tossed her mane back casually and retracted her hoof.
“That’s not quite enough time, Rainbow. I’ve had a very trying evening. Anything short of a few hours just won’t do.”
“A couple hours!” Rainbow exclaimed as her wings extended. “What do you need a couple hours for? Just throw some water on your face and wipe it down with a warm towel.”
“What? The very idea!” Rarity fumed in mock horror. “That’s the last thing I want to do!”
Twilight placed a hoof on Rainbow’s side and pulled the pegasus in. “Dashie, let’s go see Scootaloo at the Aerodrome and give Rarity a little time. I’m sure she’ll explain everything in full tomorrow.”
Rainbow snorted irritatedly and retracted her wings. “Fine.”
“Thank you, Twilight. I promise I’ll be completely forthcoming tomorrow. I just need a little time to myself tonight.”
Twilight nodded. “Of course, Rarity. Come on, Rainbow, let’s get to the Aerodrome. It’s a national transport hub, so there should ponies around at all hours to help us find Scootaloo.”
* * *
Scootaloo’s wings twitched almost imperceptibly within the metal sheath encased around each of them. The stiff pinions shifted with a practiced precision which had garnered her numerous comments of jealousy. She’d never thought ponies would look at her modest wings with any level of desire, much less envy.
In her mini-service craft, she flitted around the docked airship checking each exhaust nozzle and servo. She used her wings to guide the craft to the underbelly of the airship to inspect all the crucial interconnected steam pipes powering the massive engines. Finding a whistling valve, she tightened it with the wrench clutched in her mouth until the sound ceased. Dropping the tool in a convenient compartment near her head, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. It was tough work keeping every single airship in her docking bay in tip-top condition.
Satisfied with a job well done after a final pass, she directed her craft with a flick of her wings to the small service station tucked away from the dock and prying eyes. The sensors around her wings translated her miniscule flaps into forward motion. The slightest tilt of her wing allowed her to bank around tight corners with the agility few could muster. She had never been a very swift flyer, but in her tiny craft, it became a part of her. And for a time, she was the best damn flier in the whole Aerodrome.
Coming to a rest in the grimy service room, she carefully slipped out of the craft and flexed her wings a few times. It always felt good after a flight even if she was working the entire time. She shook loose her limbs and looked around for her boss. Mr. Highwind, as he prefered to be called, had agreed to take her on as an apprentice after months of pleading on Scootaloo’s part. Her lack of natural flying aptitude held her back from many of the remaining jobs in the sky for pegasi. But when she strapped herself into Missy, as she liked to call her craft, it wasn’t long before Highwind recognized her talent. What she lacked in speed and power was made up for with precision and agility.
A clock in the distance chimed the time: eight o’clock. Her twelve hour shift was finally over. She grabbed the oil lamp resting on the worktable and brought it over to her tiny flyer. The night was never complete without a proper check and tune-up for Missy. It was small and fairly valueless, but it was hers, and she took great pride in that.
“Scootaloo. You have visitors,” the familiar voice of her boss rumbled from behind her.
Scootaloo nodded with a wrench still clamped between her jaws and mumbled out a response. “In un m’ment, gotta ch’k up Missy.”
“Hey, squirt, I thought you’d be more excited to see me,” Rainbow quipped from the background.
The wrench clattered to the grate metal floor. Scootaloo spun around and gasped. Rainbow and Twilight stood side-by-side in front of her. She stammered incomprehensibly as her wings shot out in surprise from her back. Her boss chuckled faintly to the side which triggered a faint blush on her part.
Recovering from her initial shock, she trotted forward with a skittish smile “R—Rainbow Dash! What’re you doing in Las Pegasus?”
Rainbow flicked her mane casually and grinned. “Just helping Twi out with a few things involving the princess. We dropped by Apple Bloom’s earlier this month and picked up a letter for you.”
“Apple Bloom?”
“That’s right!” Twilight responded cheerily and levitated the letter out of her saddlebags to Scootaloo. “She says thanks for the parts, and she wants you to come by Appleloosa sometime to check out her latest invention. It’s a pair of wing-braces which we infused with magic to reduce the air resistance a pegasus flyer experiences. It also has stabilizing elements built into the frame to allow the wearer to fly longer, farther, and faster. Basically, you get all the maneuverability benefits of being a pegasus with all the speed and distance benefits of an airship. It was so exc—”
“Twi...” Rainbow prodded Twilight lightly on the flank and gestured to the glazed-over-looking Scootaloo. “I think you lost her.”
“Oh!” Twilight blushed and rubbed the back of her head. “Sorry, I’m just really proud of this particular inventions since I helped design it, and Dashie—”
“Twi...” Rainbow rolled her eyes and prodded Twilight’s rump again.
Twilight yelped and blushed. “Heh, sorry.”
Scootaloo shook her head and grabbed the letter with her teeth. “Mmf-kay.”
Mr. Highwind cleared his throat when the conversation dwindled and asked a question of his own. “Twilight and Rainbow, was it? How do you two know Scootaloo?”
“Scootaloo grew up with Twi and I in Ponyville a few years back. In fact, I was there for her first flight. You should have heard how loud she squealed.” Rainbow grinned and prodded Scootaloo with the tip of her wing.
Scootaloo dropped the letter onto the nearby table and pushed the wing away with her own, blushing furiously. “Rainbow! Stop trying to embarrass me in front of Mr. Highwind.”
“No need to worry about that. I’m going to head home. Don’t work too late. I’ll see you in the morning.” The older pegasus grunted a good night and stalked down the steps out of view.
Twilight exchanged a quizzical look with Scootaloo and Rainbow. “Did we upset him?”
“Naw, he’s just a grump. He’s been working on airships forever. He just doesn’t like the new stuff, says they lack soul.” Scootaloo shrugged and glanced to the side at her little maintenance craft. “I guess I can’t blame him. When I strap myself into Missy, it feels like I become a part of the craft. I can almost feel the wind against my feathers from the force-feedback actuators inside the wing-drivers.”
Scootaloo turned her head up toward the massive airship resting against the sky dock. “The new ones? They feel so cold and lifeless. They’re just designed to be big or flashy. You can’t feel the love of flying in them because when you’re in one, you can’t even feel you’re flying. You may as well not be moving at all.”
Rainbow nodded and rubbed her right eye with a hoof. “Scoots, I thought I was the only one who felt that way.”
“You might have known if you’d taken the time to keep in contact with me,” Scootaloo whispered under her breath.
“Scoots...” Rainbow frowned.
“Why, Rainbow? You missed so much.” Scootaloo turned her head and gestured to her flank, now adorned with a cutie-mark. “You even missed this. I sent you a letter and everything. Pinkie threw me a huge party, but you didn’t show.”
Rainbow sighed and shook her head. “Scootaloo, I didn’t want to miss it. It just wasn’t a good time of my life then. I didn’t want you to see the pony I’d become.”
Scootaloo rose up to the tip of her hooves, her hackles bristled in a confused rage. “What? You were a Wonderbolt! That’s amazing! And I already thought you were awesome before you were a Wonderbolt! I wouldn’t have mattered if you were in a rotten mood or anything. I just wanted you to be there! Is that too much to ask of my honorary big sister?”
A long forgotten wound stitched closed within Rainbow’s heart unraveled under the needlelike prick of Scootaloo’s words. She sought to plug the slow trickle of guilt flowing from the wound. “Scoots, I’m sorry, it was a mistake, but I’m trying—” She couldn’t bring herself to look eye-to-eye with Scootaloo.
Scootaloo cut Rainbow off and hid her eyes with a spare hoof as she rubbed them. “Thanks for the letter, Twilight. I’d like to chat more, but I have a long day of work tomorrow. See you around, Rainbow.”
Caught off guard being suddenly addressed, Twilight blurted out, “Oh! No problem.” She smiled awkwardly, but Scootaloo had already turned away.
Rainbow extended a hoof toward Scootaloo’s back. “Wait! Scoots! Where are you going?”
“Home. I live in the Aerodrome because it’s the best I can manage on an apprentice’s wages. Goodnight, Rainbow.” With a buzz of her wings, Scootaloo took off to the upper rafters of metal substructure.
“But I—” Rainbow’s extended wings slumped down and she dropped to the cold metal floor. “Let’s go, Twi.”
Twilight leaned down and nuzzled Rainbow’s cheek. “Are you sure, Dashie?”
“Yeah...”
“Alright...”
* * *
Rainbow walked in silence with Twilight following close behind from the Las Pegasus Aerodrome back to P-Three. Twilight had attempted to spark a conversation with her, but she could only muster noncommittal single-syllable responses. After several attempts, Twilight fell into a subdued silence which only furthered Rainbow’s melancholy.
She scarcely noticed the diminished crowds in P-Three as she stalked through the club. Her head hung low, Rainbow pressed the elevator button and waited in a reserved sullenness. She regarded Prancy with a frown when he smiled cheerily at her.
“Welcome back, Ms. Rainbow Dash! Madame Rarity has arranged for you and Ms. Twilight Sparkle to stay on the sixth floor. I’ll take you there straight away.” Prancy waved them into the elevator and pressed the designated floor. He continued to chatter amiably on the various aspects of the city, if only to fill the awkward stillness between him and his guests.
Rainbow grunted and leaned against the polished bronze banister set away from the red-padded velvet walls of the elevator. She caught Twilight smiling at her in the corner of her eye. It took all her willpower to smile back, though it was half-hearted at best. The stifling air in the ascending compartment wore on her nerves and she shot a glare at Prancy. The bellhop got the message and shut up immediately.
The remaining floors passed with nary a sound beyond the occasional ding of the lift mechanism. With a screech, the elevator ground to a halt and the metal grating slid open into a well-lit hallway. Prancy directed them out and presented them each with a key.
“Room 602 on the left is for Ms. Rainbow Dash. Room 603 on the right is for Ms. Twilight Sparkle. If you need anything, use the magical communicators located in your rooms by the beds to speak to the concierge. Goodnight.” Prancy bowed his head and backed into the elevator. One ring of the bell later, he was gone.
Rainbow looked to the metal numbers nailed firmly into the polished wooden door in front of her room. “Goodnight, Twilight. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sure, goodnight, Dashie. If you need me, I’ll be right by you. Y’know, because my room is on the right...” Twilight laughed nervously at her poor attempt to lighten the mood.
Rainbow cracked a slight smile and nodded to Twilight before unlocking her room with the quick touch of the keycard against the door. She slipped into the darkness and shut the door behind her, leaving Twilight standing alone in the hall. The room was cold and expansive. She fumbled around in the inky blackness until her eyes adjusted and she could make out the outline of a bed near the rear of the room.
She trotted over to faint silhouette of the bed and collapsed onto the mattress. The comforter laid out scratched at her belly uncomfortably. She rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling—now her feathers itched. She sighed with irritation and kicked the comforter off the bed. The sheets were smoother and didn’t have the distinct smell of of detergent from being overwashed. She buried her head into the pillow and hoped for sleep.
Sleep didn’t come.
Rainbow couldn’t help the uneasy sensation of nostalgia which washed over her body as she laid in bed. She grabbed the spare pillow on the sizable bed and squeezed it to her chest. The plush cushion gave way but provided little comfort. Pondering her predicament, she realized Scootaloo’s mention of her time in the Wonderbolts inspired a flash of sentimentality which resurfaced memories she longed to forget. Memories of long sleepless nights alone. Dreams of the ponies she missed and the loved ones which awaited her return. And one very particular pony.
Twilight.
She gasped and pushed the pillow away. It didn’t have to be like that anymore. Scrambling to her hooves, she stumbled out of her room and winced as the harsh light of the hall assaulted her eyes. She shielded her eyes with a spare hoof and knocked on Twilight’s door a little too loudly.
Scarcely more than a few seconds passed before the door swung open to a very frazzled looking Twilight. “Dashie...”
“Heya, Twi...I’ve been really—”
“Dashie, it’s okay. It’s been a trying day for both of us.” Twilight leaned forward and traced her nose along Rainbow’s cheek in a light nuzzle. The touch traveled lower and rested against the back of Rainbow’s neck. Just a hint of pressure, and she pulled Rainbow toward her with her nuzzle until both of her companion’s forehooves rested within her room. The remaining two hooves needed no further urging. A brief sparkle of magic and the door clicked shut.
Slightly breathless, Twilight drew away and smiled faintly. “Couldn’t sleep?” She didn’t need to wait for the response. “I couldn’t either.” Her hooves shifted nervously on the carpet as Rainbow’s sullen eyes stared at her. “I wanted to knock on your door earlier, but after what happened with Scootaloo, I wasn’t sure if it was statistically safe to bother you.”
“Twi...” Rainbow leaned forward to return Twilight’s nuzzle from earlier. “Thank you. For everything. I’m sor—I shouldn’t have gotten all mopey when you were there for me. But, Scootaloo’s right. I’ve been a lousy sister all these years.”
“But, she still adores you. You saw how she reacted at first. She just needs a little time. I’m sure she’ll come around.” Twilight reached up and draped a forehoof over Rainbow’s neck.
Rainbow took a step forward to adjust for the additional weight and Twilight responded with a step back. In a matter of seconds, Twilight had backed into the bed and they tumbled onto the mattress together. Panting slightly, Rainbow brushed Twilight’s mane away so she could gaze unobscured into the eyes of the unicorn beneath her. “Do...do you really think so?”
“Yes,” Twilight responded breathlessly.
Rainbow didn’t need anything more to reassure her. Somehow the simplicity of Twilight’s response spoke volumes more than any long-winded reasoning. She fell to the side and pulled Twilight against her chest, squeezing the pony tightly within her hooves.
Twilight snuggled up against Rainbow’s chest with a contented sigh. She tilted her head up and gently pressed her lips against the neck of the pony next to her. “You aren’t alone anymore, Dashie.”
Rainbow shuddered and squeezed Twilight tighter, her eyes moistening until an unsteady stream of tears trickled from her eyes and dripped down her face. She cried until the soothing words of Twilight drifted out of her consciousness and the years of pining washed away.
Not alone.
Together, surrounded by the unfamiliar, they fell asleep in the familiar hooves of one another.