//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Just Friends // by lonewolf.007 //------------------------------// Perhaps it was a few minutes, perhaps a few lifetimes. The world carried on around the five friends as they waited for news. The wait was agonising, but necessary. So necessary. It was like the need to breathe. But the room felt like there was no air in it. Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy glanced at each other every now and again. They were worried, not only for Rainbow Dash, but for Applejack too. The work pony hadn't moved from her spot since the explanation, her emerald eyes boring into the OR doors as if she could see right through them if she tried hard enough. Applejack's entire mind was set on what was happening on the other side of those double doors. Her heart pounded, but she knew nothing could have happened. Not yet. She knew nothing has happened or should would have felt something happening. But ya didn't feel anythin' when Rainbow crashed, did ya? Applejack pushed the thought away. And she waited. They all did. Waiting for the loyal Pegasus, their friend, to make it through. It was late evening when there was the sound of movement behind the doors. Hoofsteps, and then one door swung open to reveal a pink maned, white pony. Nurse Redheart. "IS RAINBOW OK? IS SHE ALRIGH'? IS EVERYTHIN' GOIN' TA BE OK?" Applejack immediately began to bombard Nurse Redheart with questions, half-terrified of the answer. "Applejack! Calm down!" Twilight came up beside the orange pony. "What's the news, nurse?" The other three joined them, milling around the nurse. She looked tired, but at their worried faces, she smiled warmly, and said "She'll be fine. She was a fighter, and she made it through. But she'll need plenty of rest, and she's still sleeping off the anaesthetic. You can go and see her in a moment." The five friends all sighed with relief, the tension in the room evaporating as the news sunk in. Applejack almost collapsed as the realisation hit her. Rainbow Dash was alive! Pinkie Pie's hair sprang up instantly, Rarity tottered over to sit on one of the seats, Fluttershy smiling shakily, and Twilight rubbing her face with a hoof in relief. Nurse Redheart gave them a moment to overcome their overwhelming feelings of relief. Then she asked, "But first, I must ask you some questions, if that's alright?" Twilight glanced at the other four, who nodded back. "Of course. What is it you want to know?" "There were some unusual injuries on Rainbow Dash's body. They couldn't be contributed to her fall. It looked as if she sustained those injuries earlier, and they caused her to crash. Would you know anything about that?" The five ponies looked at each other, confused and worried. "No idea, Nurse Redheart. We didn't even know Rainbow was here until we heard the crash. We don't know where she's been or what she's been doing for the last three years." Applejack closed her eyes at those words. The memory of Rainbow leaving again was too much for her to handle, and a single tear leaked out of her eyes. She hurriedly brushed it away before anyone could see, and turned to the nurse again. "I see." Twilight was nodding at the nurse's words. "When can we go and see her?" "You can see her now if you like, but she'll be sleeping. She still has about two hours of anaesthetic in her blood stream. It was a big operation." Twilight gave another nod. "Thank you very much, nurse. You saved our friend." "It's what we're here for," the white pony replied, smiling. "Just through the door, second on the left." The five stood up and came together. The nurse stepped aside and let the friends through. Two doors down, turn left. They came upon a room marked "No.2". Pausing outside the door, they all looked at each other once more, before Twilight reached out with a hoof and pushed down on the handle. Swinging open, the door swung away to allow the ponies to see a white hospital bed, covered in crisp white linen. And under them a rainbow coloured mane peeked out. Rainbow Dash was fast asleep, facing the opposite wall, the white sheets moving ever so slightly with the Pegasus's deep breathing. Softly, the friends moved into the clean, white room, all eyes on the sixth member of their group. Pinkie Pie bounced – silently – to the bedside. Both Rarity and Twilight were already there, the smiles on their faces evident as they knew their friend would pull through. Fluttershy glanced back at Applejack, the only one who hadn't moved from the door. Making her way back to the orange pony, Fluttershy looked at her friend carefully. "Are you alright, Applejack?" Fluttershy's quiet voice was even softer than usual, to make sure Rainbow wouldn't be disturbed, even while the last of the knock-out gas ran through her bloodstream. Applejack didn't respond, couldn't respond. She could only look at the rainbow mane that stuck out from under the blanket. Not one to usually be completely oblivious to her surroundings, Applejack was blind to anything and everything around her. All her attention, her focus, was on the pony lying in the hospital bed on the other side of the room. But what else could she do? What could she do but stare at the sleeping Pegasus? Three years. Three years since Applejack had last seen to Rainbow Dash, three years since they last spoke. Three years since their agreement to remain friends. Where have ya been? Where did ya go? Why did y'all leave? Questions circled Applejack's mind, as she watched the form of her love breathing gently in dreamless sleep under the sheets. Millions of questions. Trying to forget Rainbow had been pointless. She knew that, had always known that. Her attempts to try and forget the colourful rival, pushing thoughts of her away, would never, and had never, worked. Every night, Applejack would climb into bed and wonder at where Rainbow was, and what she was doing. Wondering why she left again so soon after. And why did Rainbow leave? After leaving the first time, Rainbow had come back. But not for long. After her return, and their agreement to remain as good friends, like they used to be, Rainbow was like she always had been. Everyone had been overjoyed with the brash Pegasus's reappearance. And Applejack had her special pony in her life again. Each morning she'd get up to work in the orchards, and she'd often look up to see the rainbow blur above her, keeping the skies clear again. The sight brought a smile to the Earth pony's face every time, even if it was accompanied by the pang of longing. But Rainbow was there. Then, two months and three days since her return, Rainbow left again. No warning, no ceremony. Just a letter left behind in her cloud home. She knew that eventually someone would go up to check her house when she disappeared from the scene. Fluttershy had found the letter, and brought it down to the other four. It had been short and terse, and all the more worrying for it. Heya guys, I'm sorry. I have to go somewhere, and I don't know when I'll be back. I'm sorry I didn't tell any of you in person, but I promise I'll explain when I get back. This is really important. I hope you understand. Don't worry about me. I'm the Element of Loyalty, I'll be back before you know it! I'll never my friends hanging! Your Pegasus, Rainbow Dash Applejack remember the feeling she had gotten when she heard the letter, read out by Twilight. As if someone had bowled her over, making her dizzy and winded. Rainbow gone again. But she knew that Dash was the Element of Loyalty. And that she'd always come back. And now she had. Oh, Rainbow, what have y'all been doin' all this time? Why did y'all have ta come back in bandages? Where, what, why Rainbow had gone were a mystery, but that could wait. Applejack watched the sheets shift a little in sleep, and wished she could go over, and crawl under the sheets with her beloved Pegasus. Hold her close and bury herself in the strong pony's body. Hear the words that Rainbow used to whisper into her ear whenever they were alone together. She wanted to run her hoof through the mess that was Rainbow's mane, feel her wings wrap around them both, look into the magenta eyes, so warm whenever they spent time together. The golden-haired pony blinked, and her vision vanished, leaving only a wisp of the sweet madness that had given rise to it. Applejack quelled it, and ignored the pain she could feel in her heart. But that only left the worry, over Rainbow's wellbeing. And the strong cowpony couldn't fight the tears that came to her eyes as she could almost feel the sting of whatever injuries Dash had sustained. Holding them in, she finally came to her senses. Her four friends were now looking at her, anxious at Applejack's lack of response. Applejack shook her head a little, and looked at the concerned expression surrounding her. "Ah'm fine. Jus' a little… tired…" Applejack looked down at her hooves, the little white lie struggling to pass her lips. She was tired, but that wasn't why she had been so out of it. She knew the others could tell instantly, but they didn't question it. Then, "Visiting times up, girls. You can come back in the morning." Nurse Redheart peered around the door. "We'll take good care of Rainbow Dash." "Thank ye' kindly, Nurse Redheart," Applejack replied first. "Yes, thank you again for saving her," Rarity added. The five ponies all turned to the bed again, smiling at the hidden occupant. Pinkie Pie whispered a farewell. "You know she can't here you, right, Pinkie Pie?" Twilight looked at the random pony. "She'll hear me in her dreams!" Pinkie said, grinning her Pinkie Pie smile. The two left, with Rarity and Fluttershy, all smiling at the return of their friend, and the reassurance of her safety. Only Applejack stayed back, casting one more look at the sleeping Pegasus. "Ah'll be right out, nurse." The nurse nodded gently at Applejack, withdrawing to give her, them, a little privacy. Applejack made her way over to the bed, and could make out Dash's face in the moonlight. Leaning down, she planted a kiss on her love's cyan cheek, before she whispered, "Ya came back. Jus' like ya said ya would. And this time, Ah'm not lettin' ya go until ya tell me why." Applejack then turned, looking back once more at the lump under the blankets. Rainbow Dash was asleep, didn't hear Applejack's words. But she didn't need to. Applejack smiled, closing the door behind her. Note: Posted onto FiMFiction by Arby Works with permission from Lonewolf.007. All credit goes to him for his fanfic, please check it out here or on FanFiction. Mr. Masato/Arby Works.