Chapter 8: Fixing things
The next morning as Drake walked downstairs at the inn, Pinkie stood near the stairs. She had been waiting for this little ranting do Drake. "What was that all about yesterday, Drake?" He raised an eyebrow, pretending to not know what Pinkie was talking about. "Yesterday?" Pinkie shook her head. "Yesterday evening, Moonshine went to bed with tears in her eyes after your talk. And not the happy kind, Drake. You broke her heart. Faking to kiss her, I figured you were better than that." Drake rubbed his arm awkwardly. "Look, I'm sorry about it, Diane. I wasn't able to let go of Spectrum, afraid to forget her as soon as the kiss would have happened." Pinkie sighed at this. "How would you ever forget about Spectrum? Just look at Hot Shot." She smiled softly when she mentioned the colt's name. "He has his mother's eyes, Drake. If you take a look in those, that's your greatest memory of Spectrum. And one that'll last for good." The stallion nodded at Pinkie. "Diane, you're right. I suppose I don't have to let go.." The pink mare nodded back.
"Now, about Moonshine. How do you plan on fixing things?" Chuckling, Drake winked at Pinkie. "I may have an idea. Gotta have to talk to her first, though." Pinkie pointed her hoof up. "She's in her room. You know where it is." Drake nodded and went upstairs, softly knocking on Moonshine's door. Silent sobbing could be heard. "Wh-who's there?" Drake took a deep breath. "Moonshine, it's me, DrakeFang. Can we talk?" Moon wanted to say no, but said yes before even realizing she did. Drake entered the room, trotting over to the couch that Moon was sitting on. "Hey, Moon." was all Drake could say right now. Moon hesitated but replied "Hah." He sat next to her on the couch as an awkward silence filled the room. "You OK?" Moon was hugging her pillow. "Ah've bin better..." Guilt began filling Drake's heart. "Look, Moon, I'm sorry about yesterday if I upset you." Moon shook her head in denial. "It ain't yer fault, Drake..." How was this not his fault? She seemed to have been crying all morning because of him! Drake began changing the subject.
"Seeing how you're a pegasus, Moon, I gotta ask. Do you enjoy flying?" Moon shrugged. "Mah father's been beating me up since ah wus 10 years old. Ah dunno much about flyin'." Drake tapped his chin. "Would you like to?" Moon's ears perked up and she smiled brightly at Drake. This could be her chance to watch that DragonWing form of his from close up. "Can y'all do that?" Drake chuckled. "I can't." The mare's ears dropped. "Buuuut..."- they perked up again - "Perhaps Diane can help you by fixing those wings of yours. Then I can teach you how to fly!" Tears of joy filled Moon's eyes and she hugged Drake tightly. "That's won'erful! Thank you sooo much, Hero!" She giggled when she gave him the nickname, and blushed slightly as Drake was actually hugging her back. She never noticed before how strong Drake's arms actually were. Then again, he was an Earth stallion. They tended to have better developed muscles. Happily, Moon hopped downstairs.
Pinkie watched the two curiously as they came downstairs. Or, well, 'curiously'. Thanks to Pinkie's magic ablilities she had been able to hear the entire conversation. "Pinks, ah need yer help." Pinkie stopped her talking by raising her hoof. "I know, I know. You want your wings to be fixed. Can I see them for a second?" Carefully, Moon opened up her wings for Pinkie to examine them. "Hm... That's pretty messed up, Moon. But nothing I can't fix." Moon sighed in relief. "Though I'm not gonna lie to you. It'll hurt. A lot. Are you absolutely sure you want this?" She shortly glanced at Drake and nodded. "Ah'm ready." Drake grabbed her hoof, making Moon blush a bright shade of red. "In case it hurts, Moon, you can squeeze my hoof. I'm here." Pinkie smiled. The two really did make a cute couple. She couldn't wait until those two would be dating. Moon was already squeezing a little. The poor mare was hurting, but not on the outside though.
As Pinkie waved a hoof, magic emitting from it, Moon could hear and feel the bones in her wings crack and bend. She shut her eyes tight and squeezed Drake's hoof tight during the process. As tears rolled off her cheeks, Drake wiped away one of them, calming her down. "Just a little more, Moon. Hang on, I'm here." In his mind, he was telling her he'd always be there for her, protect her for good from any harm. For a moment, PInkie read his mind, another ability she had. Her hoof stopped glowing, and Moon's wings had healed completely. Drake held her close against him, and Moon sobbed on his chest. Comfortingly, Drake stroked her mane. "It's OK, Moonshine, it's over..." She looked up at him, and Drake looked in her eyes again. She still had hope in them, and he noticed a slight hint of happiness there. He was making progress. "I-It hurt so much, Drake...", she stuttered. "I know, Moon...But it's over now."
Softly, she smiled at him. "So uh...y'all wanted to teach me ta fly?" He laughed and winked at her. "Let's say... 7 o' clock tonight, at the park?" Moon's eyes widened and began showing even more happiness. Did he just do what she thought he did? Did he actually ask her out on a date? Or could flight lessons be considered a date? It didn't matter to her that much. She would finally get private time with the stallion she dreamed of. She trotted upstairs, giggling all the way like a high school filly.
Pinkie giggled along for a moment. "You're some guy, Drake." He blushed slightly at that remark. "Hey, if I need to apologize to someone, I make sure I do so right." Another giggle followed. "But Moon's not just 'someone' to you, is she?" Drake nodded. "She's special, Diane. Tonight, I'll show her just how special." As Pinkie walked back to her own room, she waved and told him "good luck with it" in a playful tone.
Luck? As Card Trick said, he's DrakeFang. He wouldn't need any luck to pull this off the right way.