Sunset Shimmer groaned loudly the moment she first saw the farm where she would be staying for the time she and her companions would spend in Fillydelphia. The barn looked like it would collapse at any moment, the large fields that once held crops were shallow seas of mud and dirt, and the stone-covered path to the ranch house was obstructed by broken-down farming equipment. Sunset shot a frustrated look at Lightning Dust.
"This isn't a farm, this is a dump!" moaned Trixie. "I'm going to take my chances at that tavern."
Suddenly, there was a low rumble of thunder in the distance.
"Oh, yeah!" said Lightning Dust. "I forgot to mention that the town scheduled a rainstorm for tonight. I'd stay here for the night, unless you wanted to catch a cold."
Sunset Shimmer and Trixie gave a collective groan, and followed Lightning down the path. When they got to the wrecked farming tools on the path, Lightning took straight off to the ranch house, leaving the other two unicorns to deal with the obstacle.
"Shake a hoof, girls!" she called out to them from the other side. "Don't keep me waiting!"
"Do I look like a country mare to you?!" Sunset shouted back. "How about you come back and help us, before I use your wings to plow these fields?"
"Cool it, Miss Prissyhooves." retorted Lightning. "You're unicorns, aren'tcha? Why don't ya just use that telekinesis of yours to get rid of that junk?"
"Why don't we get rid of you, too?" Trixie called after Lightning Dust.
"Oh, will you two just shut up?" yelled Sunset Shimmer. "Let's get this over with, before I get rainwater in my mane!"
Her horn shone with a green aura, and the farming equipment was levitated off of the road. She approached the ranch house, with Trixie in tow.
"Uh-uh!" Lightning Dust shook her head. "You two can sleep in the barn."
"This really isn't the time to play games, Lightning." Trixie growled. "It's going to rain any minute, and there's no way I'm spending the night under a roof that looks like it could fall apart at the drop of a hat."
"Oh, that roof's just fine!" denied the pegasus. "I'll show ya!"
She ascended into the air, and landed on the roof of the nearby barn. She bounced on it a few times, before there was a loud crunching sound, and Lightning disappeared from sight with a shriek. There was a series of loud tumbling and cries of pain inside. The two unicorns gasped, and galloped in through the open reddish-brown door. Laying in a corner, under a large hole in the ceiling, was the unconscious Lightning Dust.
"By Celestia!" whispered Sunset Shimmer. "I hope she's okay!"
"Serves her right!" Trixie smirked.
Sunset gave the blue unicorn a very unamused glare.
"Okay, then." said Trixie, whose horn was now illuminated. "Let's go help her."
They formed a makeshift stretcher out of the hay-bales, pitchforks, and burlap sacks that were laying around the barn, and carefully levitated Lightning Dust outside, and into the ranch house. They laid her out on a sofa, and inspected her body for lasting injuries.
"Wow, she really busted herself up here." Trixie said, pointing at the pegasus's left wing, which was bent and bruised. "What should we do?"
"First, we need to clean the wound." advised Sunset. "So that it doesn't get infected."
She conjured up a pair of tweezers from a nearby cupboard. She directed it over the damaged wing, and attempted to remove the broken feathers. Suddenly, the entire wing sprang outward, smacking Sunset Shimmer across the face.
"Yow!" she lurched back, with a jump.
Trixie was laughing loudly, to Sunset's dismay.
"If you think you can do it better, then be my guest." growled the amber unicorn.
Trixie stopped laughing, and nervously took a white cloth off the table, and gently tried wiping the smudges around the broken feathers. The wing snapped back again, and Trixie was knocked off-balance. Sunset Shimmer leaned over to help her friend.
"Looks like it's going to take both of us to do it!" she said.
"Why do I have to do it, at all?" Trixie said, dizzily rolling her violet eyes.
"Because your smart-alecky behavior got her into this mess!" reminded Sunset. "If you didn't make such a big deal about the roof, Lightning wouldn't be in the condition she's in now!"
"Wow, you're right." Trixie frowned. "Sorry."
The two unicorns leaned over Lightning Dust, with the intent to press the wing down. But they pressed the wrong section, and the wing began swatting the two mares in a rapid-fire barrage of feather-lined blows. Giving up, Sunset Shimmer and Trixie backed away, frustrated.
"Why that little..." Trixie snarled, her horn glowing fiercely.
"Trixie, it's not her fault!" clarified Sunset. "It's an involuntary reflex! Most pegasi have them."
Trixie regained her composure, and sighed.
"Ah, yes." she muttered. "Restless Wing Syndrome. Truly, the darkest hour of Pressure Point's medical career."
"You know who Pressure Point is?" asked Sunset Shimmer.
"Who doesn't know who he is?" stated Trixie. "He's only the best doctor in Canterlot! He also happens to be my cousin...well, second cousin."
"You don't say." Sunset said, dryly. "Anyway, we're both doing this wrong. We need to tie those wings down. Do we have anything in this place that could bind them together?"
Trixie went out back to the barn, and returned with a long rope. She used her magic to tie it neatly around Lightning Dust's torso and wings, allowing the unicorns to inspect the pegasus's injuries without interference. Sunset plucked the broken feathers apart, and put a rag over the wound.
"There we go." she said. "That wing should be just fine, as long as Lightning doesn't try flying until tomorrow. Now, we should try reviving her."
Suddenly, a bucket of ice-cold water was dumped on Lightning Dust's head, and she began sputtering uncontrollably.
"Yes, ma'am!" she choked aloud. "Lightning Dust reporting for duty! Go, Wonderbolts!"
She rolled off the sofa, got up off the floor, and attempted to open her wingspan. When she realized that her wings were bound to her chest, she snapped out of her dream-like trance. Lightning turned to look at Sunset Shimmer and Trixie.
"So...what just happened?" she asked, putting a hoof against her head. "And why am I aching all over?"
"You fell through the roof of the barn, hit the ground hard, and bruised your wing badly." said Sunset Shimmer.
"No way!" denied the pegasus.
"Follow us." said Trixie.
The trio went outside, and entered the barn. Sunset pointed out the hole in the ceiling, which was the first in a number of similarly-sized crevices that went all the way up to the roof. Lightning's wings quivered, and her golden eyes widened.
"Woah..." she whispered. "I can't believe it. I could've broken my neck, or something!"
"And you're lucky we were here to help you." Trixie pointed out.
"I am!" agreed the pegasus, turning to look at the two mares. "Thanks for helping me. I'm so sorry about how I treated you two. Can you ever forgive me?"
"I can." Sunset said, leaning to comfort the shocked pegasus. "You know, the first step to friendship...is forgiveness. Lightning Dust, will you accept my friendship?"
"Sure thing." nodded Lightning. "You totally saved my life. I owe you one."
"And Lightning?" Trixie approached the two. "I'm sorry about what happened to you. I'm sorry I've been such a jerk to you. I didn't mean for you to get hurt."
"That's okay. I wasn't exactly a gentle soul, myself." said the pegasus. "If anything, I owe you an apology. So, we're cool now, right?"
"You're not going to burst into tears if I say 'no', are you?" questioned Trixie, darting her eyes at Sunset Shimmer.
"Nah, it's not my thing." said Lightning.
"Then I'd say we're ice-cold." chuckled Trixie.
The three mares laughed heartily together. There was a flash of lightning, which announced that they should prepare for the incoming storm.
"I tell you what." said Lightning Dust. "Why don't you two sleep in the house with me? I'm sure I could make a bed or two out of the couches. By the way, I don't think I ever got your names."
"Sunset Shimmer." said the amber unicorn with the reddish-blonde mane and tail.
"And I am the Grrrreat and Powerful Trixie...Lulamoon." said the blue unicorn with the silver mane.
"Well, it's nice to meet you guys. And I'm so glad that I have friends like you two." said Lightning Dust. "Let's go back inside. I was going to make some grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. You wanna join me?"
"Yes, please!" said the two unicorns in unison, when they realized how hungry they were.
The three mares returned to the farmhouse, just as the rain started sprinkling down.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Radiant Dawn was brought before Princess Celestia. Shining Armor accompanied him, intending to provide moral support for his former bunkmate.
"Radiant--er, Red Dawn." said the princess. "I trust that you got the information you were looking for from Twilight Sparkle?"
"I did, your highness." he said. "And now, I want to join the Canterlot Royal Guard."
Princess Celestia eyed him uneasily. Red had a feeling that he already knew what she would say.
"Red..." she said to him, gently. "I am not certain about this."
Shining Armor interjected his own input into the conversation.
"Your majesty, Radiant here has the potential to be a great addition to the royal guard." he informed her. "He was able to get Princess Luna's bat-ponies to listen to him, and without any magic or brute force."
"Yes, I have no doubt about that." she said. "But I cannot help but be concerned about how he may adapt to the schedule."
"Schedule?" Radiant asked. "Pardon me, your highness, but don't I just have to stand around, patrol some streets, and maintain law and order in the community?"
"That is correct." said Princess Celestia. "But the only shifts available to new recruits will last twelve hours straight, from sun-up to sun-down. And I understand that you often have trouble sleeping at night, so you may not be prepared for such a demanding schedule, come the morning."
"Ah, I see." said Radiant. "But with all due respect, I would like to check all of my options before I just give up and leave."
"There is also the Night Guard." said the princess, with a sigh. "They watch over the city when the Night Court of my sister is in session. But I fear that it would be a depressing and lonely job for someone as lively as you. Speaking of which, the Night Court will begin in five minutes. We shall discuss these matters in the morning, Red Dawn."
"Thank you, Princess Celestia." said Radiant Dawn, bowing his head. "And good night."
"Good night, young one." the princess called after the orange-red stallion. "May you sleep well tonight!"
"C'mon, Dawnie." said Shining Armor. "I'll show you to your quarters."
The two stallions ventured through the castle together, past the banquet hall, and up the flight of steps. When Shining Armor stopped, he telekinetically opened a door that led into a very spacious bedroom, with a window on the ceiling, looking out into the heavens above.
"I hope you like it." said Shining Armor, before turning his head to the left. "And look! You'll be right next door to Sunset Shimmer! Sure, she's away right now, but it's the thought that counts."
Red turned to see what Captain Armor was looking at. It was indeed the very same door that just a couple of days ago, he found himself standing on this side of, waiting to see his sister again for the first time in years. The door that had been slammed in his face shortly afterwards. Regardless, he couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks, my old friend." he said.
"Don't thank me. It was Princess Luna's idea." said the white stallion. "Anyway, sleep tight! I know that I will!"