//------------------------------// // The Way Home // Story: Feathers of Blue and Gold // by Ruirik //------------------------------// The next morning, bright and far too early for Rainbow’s liking, Bifrost had dutifully returned to the hotel. There, after Spitfire had checked out and they had ensured that nothing was left behind, he escorted them to a waiting cab that took them to Manehattan’s Grand Central Station. He sat on the far left side of the bench with Rainbow in the middle and Spitfire on the right. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather spend the time in Cloudsdale?” Bifrost asked, looking to his daughter. “There’d be plenty of space for both of you.” Rainbow shook her head. “No offense, Dad, but your place is kinda small.” “Hey, it’s cozy!” Bifrost put a hoof over his chest, faking a hurt look. “Besides, you could always stay with Grandpa. He’s got plenty of space.” “Well, Grandpa’s loaded,” Rainbow mumbled. Spitfire eyed her marefriend, her face twisting into a quizzical expression. “Who is your Grandpa?” “Silver Lining,” Bifrost answered. Noting Spitfire’s wide-eyed surprise, he rolled his eyes and sighed. He brought his right wing up, holding his longest primary feather under his nose like a moustache. “Yes, the Silver Lining.” Spitfire could only mouth a silent ‘wow’. “Have you ever seen Grandpa without that moustache?” Rainbow asked, looking at her father’s antics with minor amusement. Bifrost shook his head. “Rainbow, your Grandpa was born with that moustache.” “Probably,” Rainbow agreed with a laugh. “How are you even gonna get up to your house?” Bifrost asked after a few moments. “Twilight’s got a balloon, I’ll just ask her if I can borrow it for a couple weeks,” Rainbow answered, her hooves fidgeting with her good wing. Her anxiety didn’t go unnoticed by her father or her marefriend. “Dash,” Spitfire gently nudged the smaller mare. “Something wrong?” “No... no,” Rainbow chewed at her lip. “I’m just nervous.” “About going home?” Bifrost asked, his large wing slipping around Rainbow’s back. Rainbow shrugged, her eyes looking to her marefriend. “It’s just... you know, looking them in the eye and telling them about us.” A rueful smile came over Spitfire. “Ahh, the old ‘coming out’ chat.” “Didn’t you ask Celestia to tell them you had a marefriend?” Bifrost asked, trying to recall the specific conversation. “Yeah, but I don’t know if she did.” Rainbow lowered her head, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Bifrost hid his disappointment for the most part, though he gave Rainbow a little squeeze with his wing. “Why haven’t you told them yet, honey?” Squirming like a worm on a fishhook, Rainbow avoided her father’s gaze. “It just never came up, you know?” Concern pulled at Bifrost’s features, and he gently lifted Rainbow’s chin with his hoof. “Are you afraid they wouldn’t accept you?” Spitfire took Rainbow’s hoof in hers, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “You told me your friend Fluttershy knew, and she’s still close to you, right?” “Yeah, but--” “Rainbow,” Bifrost interrupted her. “They’re your friends. They’ll understand, and they’ll accept you without a second thought. You know why?” Silence answered his question, though Rainbow’s eyes remained locked with his. With a tender smile, Bifrost tapped her nose with a hoof. “Because you’re perfect just the way you are, just like your mother.” Rainbow blushed, her free hoof wrapping around Bifrost and hugging him tight. “Love you, Dad.” “I love you too, hon,” he said, nuzzling atop her head. After a few moments, Rainbow pulled away from her father and leaned against Spitfire. “They’re your friends, Dash,” Spitfire added with an affectionate nuzzle. “True friends stand with you no matter what.” “Yeah,” Rainbow agreed, looking a little more at ease with the idea. “And if they don’t I can always kick their asses,” Spitfire said with a proud nod. Rainbow laughed. “I’m pretty sure that’d really make the Princesses angry.” “Can’t be any worse than running head-first into Luna’s ass,” Bifrost suggested. “It was a freakin’ accident!” Spitfire shouted in mortification. Rainbow glanced once at her father, and once at her beleaguered marefriend. Her lips pulled back in a toothy, impish grin. Revenge was in the air, and Rainbow’s mouth watered to drink of its decadent nectar. “So, Spitfire,” Rainbow began in a far too casual manner. “How’d it taste?” Spitfire groaned, placing her head in her hooves as Bifrost burst out laughing. “Cheesy,” she answered. Bifrost nudged Rainbow. “If you dump her, can I have her?” “Dad!” Rainbow smacked Bifrost’s shoulder. “Bifrost,” Spitfire reached past Rainbow and patted the older pony’s back. “You have literally nothing I want.” “Suit yourself, I’m easy.” Bifrost shrugged. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, all stallions are.” Spitfire smiled. “Ohh,” Bifrost put a hoof to his chest, “that one hit!” Spitfire saluted with a hoof. “All in a day’s work, Sir.” Rainbow let out a pained moan. It was going to be a long cab ride. Manehattan’s Grand Central Station was regarded by most as the pinnacle of earth pony architecture. Built of solid marble hewn from the finest quarries, its cavernous main concourse was a long barrel vaulted structure with intricate carvings and murals decorating it on almost every surface. It was an exemplar of earth pony design: strong, enduring, and practical. Hundreds of ponies moved through the vast space at all hours of the day. Earth ponies, unicorns, and even pegasi took advantage of the dozens of rail lines which linked Manehattan to almost every terrestrial city in Equestria. There was even a special line that took pegasi to a small town just south of Cloudsdale so as to minimize flight time for pegasi with young children, elderly ponies, or some kind of infirmary. Bifrost, after paying the cabbie, escorted Rainbow and Spitfire up the stairs and into the concourse. They trotted in silence through the crowd of commuting ponies until they came to the Ponyville terminal. Stopping, Bifrost turned and pulled his daughter into a tight hug. “You sure I can’t persuade you to come back to Cloudsdale while you recover?” he asked again. Rainbow wrapped her forelegs securely around his chest and gave a content sigh. “I need to go back home, Dad. At least for a little while, but I promise to visit soon.” She briefly turned her head to look at Spitfire, who offered a patient smile. “And when I do, can I bring Spitfire?” “Hmm.” Bifrost rubbed his chin, pretending to consider it. “I suppose.” With a soft giggle, Rainbow hugged her father again. “Love you, Dad.” “Love you too, Rainbow.” He smiled, holding her close before releasing her. After Rainbow had moved away, Spitfire approached him with an earnest smile, offering an extended hoof. “It’s been a real pleasure to meet you, Bifrost.” Bifrost tapped his hoof against hers and gave it a quick shake. “Likewise, Spitfire. You take good care of my baby girl now, and no funny business on the train. My daughter is an innocent flower of innocence.” Noticing both the irony and Rainbow’s blush, Spitfire sensed a perfect opportunity for righteous vengeance. “Don’t worry Sir, I promise I won’t knock your daughter up.” “I’m not worried,” Bifrost smiled, “hers is bigger anyway.” “I’m just gonna go lay down on the train tracks now,” Rainbow mewled, her face burning red. “Canterlot line, all aboard!” shouted an engineer from the far end of the terminal. “You two better go.” A sad smile pulled at Bifrost’s lips. “You don’t want to miss your train.” Throwing herself at her father, Rainbow pulled him into one last hug. “We’ll see you again soon.” Bifrost leaned down, kissing Rainbow’s head. “I’ll write you when I find out more about the appeal.” Saying their goodbyes, Rainbow and Spitfire made their way to the train and boarded. Spitfire had paid the extra bits for a first class car, having justified it as a worthwhile expense given that the ride would take the better part of three days to complete. Granted, at least half a day would be wasted on a Canterlot layover where they had to switch to the Ponyville Line. The interior of the cabin was paneled with rich looking cherry. Tables covered by white tablecloths and decorated with pristine silverware were tucked between bench seats that could hold two ponies each. The seats themselves had cushions that were a warm red color with intricate designs woven into the fabric. Rainbow climbed onto their assigned bench, giggling like a filly and making herself comfortable. “This is so cool!” “It’s nicer than I remember, but it’s been a long time since I took the train anywhere,” Spitfire commented, sitting next to Rainbow and pulling her into a sidelong hug. “Don’t the Wonderbolts take the train from city to city?” Rainbow asked. Spitfire nodded, leaning over to kiss Rainbow’s cheek. “Some of us do, but a bunch of us preferred to fly over as a group. We’d camp out at night, tell spooky stories, and be up early in the morning to keep flying.” “That’s so awesome!” Rainbow almost squealed. “Was it your idea?” “Nah, that was all Rapid.” Spitfire stole a little nuzzle on Rainbow’s cheek. “He likes long flights. Trains he’s not so fond of.” “Whats wrong with trains?” Rainbow asked. “The ride is smooth, there’s comfy beds, good food, and you get to hang out or sleep until you get where you’re going.” “I agree, but I’m not claustrophobic.” Rainbow blinked once; the ghost of a grin pulling the corner of her mouth up. “Rapidfire is claustrophobic?” Nodding, Spitfire couldn’t help a laugh in spite of herself. “Yeah. It made hide and seek when we were little really easy though. He’d never try hiding under the bed or anything.” “Your brother’s really cool. I hope we can all hang out again sometime soon.” Rainbow grinned up to her marefriend. “He certainly has his moments,” Spitfire said with an agreeable nod. “But frankly, I’m looking forward to just a little time for you and I to hang out.” She leaned in to kiss Rainbow’s cheek. “We’ve barely had any time since the accident.” Rainbow nuzzled against Spitfire, one hoof wrapping around the older mare’s waist. “I missed you too.” The two remained in that position until well after the train pulled away from the station. A few ponies in the cabin that spotted their affections shot them with disapproving glares, but never spoke up. Rainbow and Spitfire didn’t mind. They had each other, and the opinions of other ponies were far removed from their interests. “Rainbow?” Spitfire asked in a quiet voice. “Mmhmm?” she answered, her eyes closed and her head resting on Spitfire’s chest. “What…” Spitfire sighed a little. “What do you remember from that day?” Rainbow slowly opened her eyes; forelegs reinforcing their grip around Spitfire. “I remember waking up that morning. I remember we preened, and then Fleetfoot showed up and then I woke up in the hospital. The rest I know is from what you, Dad, and the doctors told me.” Spitfire forced a nod, biting her tongue as hard as she could stand. She held Rainbow tighter and took steady breaths to calm herself. What she wouldn’t give to forget that day. “Hey, Spitfire?” “Yeah?” she replied quickly, glad for the distraction from the memories. “What was it like when you came out to your friends?” Rainbow sat up a bit so she was eye level with Spitfire. “Terrifying,” Spitfire answered, her hoof taking Rainbows. “The only thing more scary was telling my parents.” Rainbow nodded once. “You nervous? About telling them, I mean,” Spitfire asked, bumping her nose against Rainbow’s. A sheepish laugh escaped Rainbow’s lips. “Kinda... yeah.” “It’s like your dad said, Rainbow. They’re your friends, and true friends are there for you always.” “You think so?” Spitfire nodded. “Well, unless it’s a poker game, then you’re on your own.” Rainbow snorted. “Gee, thanks.” An orange hoof pulled a crumpled old stenson back from blonde strands of mane. There the mare wiped away the band of sweat that had accumulated on her brow after a few hours of hard work. Applejack hummed to herself as she walked through her family’s orchard. Even though the year’s first apple harvest wouldn’t be ready for another month, at least, there was still plenty to be done. All things considered, this was possibly the most difficult time of the year for the Apple family. They had to check every field in the orchard constantly for weed growth or other plants taking root. They had to trim off the dead branches and keep the rows clean of detritus. Then there was the less enviable task of working the compost heap and fertilizing all the trees in the orchard, a task even Big Mac required a little help with for the sake of efficiency. That didn’t even count the other chores around the farm, or the livestock that the Apple family kept as well. That was before trying to wrangle the weather team into getting the proper amount of rain at the proper times. It was constant, long, and physically demanding work, but that’s what also made it so satisfying. Still, there was a simple reality of farming that Applejack couldn’t deny anymore. Every so often, they needed a little help. So it was with minimal surprise that Applejack found a strange pony waiting by her front door that morning. She was a washed out shade of blue and her windswept mane was an icy white. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the mare was that she was a pegasus instead of the usual earth ponies they got for help. “Lookin’ fer the weather team?” Applejack asked with a friendly smile. “‘Fraid yer in the wrong place, darlin’.” “I’m not good at weather work,” the mare answered quietly. “Really?” Applejack arched an eyebrow. “Well, I mean that’s great and all, but what brings a pegasus down to the farm?” “I’m just travelling around, trying my hooves at something different for a change,” the mare said with a simple shrug of her wings. “Have much farm experience?” The mare shook her head. “Nothing more than a garden when I was a filly. But I can fly up high and break off dead branches, I move really fast so I can relay messages from one end of the farm to the other, and I’m pretty strong, so I can help pull carts and supplies.” Applejack thought it over for a minute, her hoof pawing at the grass. “Well, why not. We could sure use the extra hooves. We can’t pay ya much, but we’ll throw a few bits yer way for the help. Y’all got a place to stay?” The pegasus shook her head. “If you could point me to a boarding house or hotel or something, that’d be great.” “Pfft, hay with that, sugarcube!” Applejack laughed the notion off. “We got us a nice spare room you can stay in ‘til ya get back on yer hooves. Or wings... I guess.” The mare gave Applejack a genuine smile. “Thank you.” “My pleasure,” the farmpony took the mare’s hoof and shook it vigorously. “What’s your name?” “Fleetfoot,” the mare answered, “my name’s Fleetfoot.”