Ok so it turns out the only thing harder than flying through a storm, was flying through a storm with an alien!!! It was a long and arduous journey back to Rainbow Dash's home in the clouds and the storms intensity was still fierce. The storm was still throwing winds her way, and the torrents of rain didn't cease, but at least the lightning had died down a bit. A good thing to the pegasus had enough lightning to last a life time, as it was she was pretty sure her fur was noticeably singed, she did not need to be evading even more while carrying another, albeit smaller, passenger.
She had to take the full brunt of the storm though, and brought the creature as close to her as she could trying her best to shelter the fragile looking thing from the ferocity of the storm. Putting the alien on her back was out of the question, so she was left ferrying it in her front hooves against her chest, like she was hugging the creature for dear life. Apparently, the creature shared that notion because it wrapped it's own limbs around her as tightly as it's little arms would allow.
An onlooker would say Rainbow Dash still held a look of conviction. But unlike previously it was a determination to safeguard another life, not a determination that was to prove something to anypony. She flew less recklessly and was very mindfull of her occupant. Her goal was to get her and the alien softly to her home. The creature, which Rainbow deduced to be an infant, was snuggled against her chest, occasionally letting out a whimper. She had to admit she was impressed, she expected the creature to be having a fit, or at least try to bite her.
Instead the creature seemed to have accepted Rainbow Dash almost immediately, and seemed to trust her enough to fly the both of them through a storm. It did let out the occasional whimper of fear though. She just held the creature even closer, trying to assure it that as long as she was there she wouldn't let any harm come it's way. She even began to speak to it.
"Shh we're almost there, it's going to be alright. I promise it's going to be alright," Again and again she continued this mantra for the duration of the journey ,"I promise it's all going to be okay".
For some unfathomable reason she couldn't bear to see this creature upset. Everytime it whimpered or let out a sound of distress Rainbow Dash's heart fluttered with worry, everytime it tightened its grip on her she felt it's soft heartbeats, "thump-thump...thump-thump...thump-thump". Every pause between heartbeats was nerve-wracking, she almost couldn't stand it.
"How could something so fragile live in such a hard, harsh world?" Thought the athletic pegesi offhandedly as she continued battling the elements. She stole a glance at the creature in her hooves. It glanced back at her with those impossibly big brown eyes. The thought of something happening to this poor, creature strengthened her resolve. Rainbow Dash inwardly swore that by Celestia herself she wouldn't let anything hurt this innocent creature.
~~~~~
Eventually, by Celestial's grace they did make it back to Rainbow's cloud home. She placed the creature on a sofa and retrieved some towels to dry the creature. Which turned out to be quite a feat, because it kept squirming, but through persistence she finally managed to dry it of the rain water.
As she was drying though, she began to notice certain things about the creatures anatomy. At first it resembled a furless Diamond Dog, but upon closer inspection Rainbow decided the creature entirely different. For one it wasn't entirely furless as she had previously believed. It had small tariffs of fur on it's head, that was brownish in color, although not nearly as thick as a ponies fur.
Next she examined it's limbs. It had four of them like a pony but had...weird attachments to them. The upper limbs didn't resemble the lower half at all! The upper limbs had longer appendages while the lower half had longer limbs in general. Rainbow Dash also noticed it had five of those 'appendages' on each limb! That made...times the four limbs by five made...holy smokes it had twenty 'appendages'.
She continued drying the infant...and with a blush discovered it was a boy.
"Oh so your a guy eh? So you a Casanova or what? You gonna grow up and get all the mares eh?" Rainbow Dash said playfully tussling the infants hair.
He giggled and let out a joyful yelp. Then he grabbed on to Rainbow's hoof and began hugging her nudging his head against her fur. "Awww" Rainbow thought inwardly. Despite how alien this infant looked to her he still managed to look adorable. Really it was unfair, with it's big doe-like eyes, soft-squishy skin, and those adorable sounds it made how could even the tomboyish pegusi athlete resist cooing?
"Woh there little romeo I'm a bit to old for you...but I think I know someone who's just your type." She said with a wink.
Then she disappeared into into her room to look for something, after a while the creature grew restless and began whining. The baby stopped though when Rainbow Dash appeared shortly afterward, but this time holding something in her mouth. It was an old Wonderbolts doll. To be specific it was one of Rainbow's favorite dolls as a filly; General Firefly. General Firefly was slightly tattered apart sported many patchworks, and stiches as well as button eyes. Rainbow Dash figured that if she enjoyed General Firefly as a filly, the alien would find some enjoyment in her old doll...at least she hoped he would he was getting just a little bit rowdy, and Rainbow Das desperately wanted to catch some Zzz's. She presented the creature with the doll, and...it promptly snatched it from her and began squeezing the poor doll.
"You take good care of that doll okay? Her name is General Firefly and she's a very brave, and loyal friend. I had it ever since I was a filly and now I'm passing it on to you ok? ." Honestly she had no idea if the infant could even understand her but she'd like to think it did on some level. The baby alien merely continued to squeeze General Firefly. Suddenly Rainbow Dash was struck with an idea.
Once again she ran into her room, but this time came back with a camera. She snapped a picture of the alien hugging General Firefly. Unfortunately, the flash had frightened the alien infant, and it started crying. She quickly scooped him up in her forelegs and tried rocking him, but to no avail.
"Oh Geezs. Oh come on don't do that. Come on, give me a break kid" Rainbow Dash pleaded. Her mind scrabbling she tried to recall how her father would calm her down when she was a filly. Then suddenly she remembered. He use to sing a lullaby!
"Now how did it go again? Uh...something about crying...and hearts....OH YEA now I remember!
"Ahem....just let me gather myself...(cough, cough)... ok here we go
"Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hoof
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
You seem so strong
My hooves will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more..."
Midway through the song the alien baby had stopped crying, and by the time Rainbow Dash had finished singing the baby was fast asleep. Rainbow Dash picked up General Firefly and placed her in the babies grasp gently kissing him on his forehead. Then she curled herself and slept next to the baby, sure their were lot of questions to answer but Rainbow Dash was really tired. Answers could wait till the morning.