Thoughts of the waking world brought Sunset to an odd numbness, that told her that her sense of touch had returned. Of course, the room she was in seemed to be spinning, disorienting any other sense that she still had. When the spinning finally slowed, she realized that she was looking up at a plain white tile ceiling.
Certainly not on the fringes of the Crystal Empire anymore, or if so, at least not outdoors.
Shouting could be heard, a sort of argument even that intrigued Sunset. She could not move her body, it being held in place by some cast of sorts, but she could move her eyes towards the source of the sound. She was in a hospital of some sort, with rows and rows of empty beds to her left, and a few more that were occupied on her right. She presumed that the blue horned visitor was Trixie, and that the other two were among the pegasi trio whom had saved them.
Her eyes drifted yet again in a vain attempt to look directly ahead of her, towards the only door in the entire room. A fire hazard no doubt. After failing to get a good look past the small wired window on the door, Sunset settled on merely listening in on the conversation; after all, she could learn more about her situation that way anyways, and she was not going to be moving anywhere while this cast had her bound.
"Lightning Dust, I thought I made it clear that you were not to be even associated with our military anymore." The voice sounded very angry, feminine, and almost lethal with sheer vice, "Not a single pegasus in the air yesterday had the clearance to actually kill any of the intruders!"
"In my defense, that dragon was going to maul civilians. Equestrian lives come before foreign policy." Lightning's rebuttal clearly had been well thought out and planned, as she sounded oddly collected and prepared. Or at least to Sunset it seemed rather odd that she was so put together.
"Most of the civilians on that train are still unaccounted for." The angry voice yet again, though this time it seemed as if less volume was being used and more tongue work on the consonants in order to get the point across. "Not to mention the civilians throughout Equestria. I would have expected a train wreck to at least produce more bodies rather than nothing."
"Maybe they escaped in the mayhem." Lightning seemed convinced of this herself, despite this likely not being the truth. Sunset was certain at this point, from what she last saw of Lightning Dust, that that back there had been more than just a mere coincidence.
"Or maybe your story does not add up." The voice had finally returned to a normal manner of speech, showing a shift in the conversation, "I find it very strange that every witness with you is either in a coma, in a cast or in a grave while you are still limping around like you got nothing more than a sprain."
Grave? Sunset assumed, from the earlier dialogue, that she likely meant the dragon; a lightning strike directly to the head would have lain out any pony. A dragon though? Maybe the dragon had not had any magical defenses in place. Coma? Well, it could not be her or Trixie as they were both in casts. Perhaps she meant the other two pegasi?
"Well ma'am, sometimes, fortune favors the headstrong."
The other speaker snorted rather loudly, likely not convinced. "When the shit fan stops spinning, I am going to order a thorough investigation of the entire incident. In the meantime: Soarin'!"
Some clopping of hooves and heavy breathing accompanied a pony who came rushing at this call. "You called Spitfire?"
"Keep an eye on our remaining witnesses. It would be a shame if they were to end up vanishing into thin air, and leave Lightning's testimony as the only account of what happened." This "Spitfire" clearly had no need to beat around the bush. "I am going to start working on the report to Celestia. We have the situation under control, but I don't want any underhooved shuffling of goods, if you catch my drift. Lightning, you are dismissed until further notice. If I catch you even within ten feet of Fleetfoot and Thunderlane, I will personally see to it that you never fly again. Got it?"
"Ma'am!" Soarin' and Lightning responded in unison, probably giving some sort of awkward salute as they did so.
Even as the sound of Spitfire leaving reached her ears, Sunset began to wonder why Trixie and her did not come up in the conversation as named guests. Maybe Spitfire was unaware of who the other two ponies in the room were? If that were the case, then Lightning must have either forged them different identities or simply not identified them, the latter seeming the most likely at this point. If so, then why not?
And where were they exactly? How did they even get them here? And just how long had they already been resting here? She could answer the last question with a level of certainty, as she was not yet stiff from constant stillness, and it sounded like Spitfire was just now being briefed on what happened.
Now that she thought about it, Sunset could also answer the second question as well. They had to have flown them here, as keeping them on the ground would have been quite hazardous considering what happened. They also couldn't have been too far south, as though the train had taken them quite some distance from the Crystal Empire itself, their transports would have had to fly them all the way to this hospital likely by wing. Not to mention the small size of the establishment.
Sunset had been so lost in thought over this that she had not noticed only a single set of hooves clopping into the room. A pegasus with emerald green eyes, dark blue mane, and a very pale blue coat, almost like Trixie's mane without the stripes, strode past Sunset and Trixie and down to a two sets of bed near the end.
He looked rather downcast, though he bore a small smile as he spoke, "Well, look who can't fly for the team now. Heh."
That weak and forced laugh at the end almost brought various substances from Sunset's near empty stomach. Even had she known the context at the time, it would have not made that comment any less sickening to her. Though what made her so sick she wasn't certain of at the time.
Soarin's eyes narrowed, a grim determination replacing his almost morbid demeanor earlier. "You will come out of this, Fleet. Just hang in there."
He gently nudged the mare with his nose, though where was beyond Sunset, as Trixie was blocking much of her view of the two. She could guess that it was a muzzle bump of sorts. Sunset had apparently been staring so hard trying to figure it out that Soarin' could feel it, for he turned his head to look at her straight on shortly after the muzzle bump.
His face became stern while he trotted over towards Sunset, stopping right at the foot of Trixie's bed. "About time one of you woke up. I am not sure if you are in the talking mood, but I think it would be easier for everyone if a fresh perspective was given on the situation. Lots of unknowns going around."
Sunset, completely cast from head to toe, could not have spoken coherently if she wanted to, and gave a deadpan expression that no doubt was largely hidden by her cast. Her slightly lidded eyes might would convey the same meaning, or so she hoped.
Soarin' chuckled and yawned, using a single hoof to cover his mouth. "Right. Yeah well, I have to keep an eye on all of you, so don't go anywhere."
Now Sunset narrowed her eyes more out of anger than anything else. Since when did Wonderbolts have this sort of sense of humor? If you could call it humor, as Sunset was very far from being amused.
The pegasus ignored the death look that he was getting from the still intact unicorn and instead turned towards the fourth bed on that side of the room; likely Thunderlanes', if Sunset had any cares left to guess.
"We did it. The intruders have been contained. Everything is going to be fine, and all can go back to normal in a few days."
This moment, touching perhaps if Sunset would have really been concerned about the situation, made it clear that the pegasi forces indeed were responding to some sort of threat, likely the appearance. And let Soarin' tell it, they had neutralized the main problem.
A new voice rang through the halls, interrupting the serenity of the moment. At first, it was difficult to make out, as both words and tone were jumbled in a way akin to someone trying to speak through a wall with the volume better used for speaking directly to the wall.
However, when it sounded again, it was both distinct and clear to Sunset's ears. "Is this where they are keeping her?" A feminine voice, sounding both highly concerned and high society at the same time. Likely a higher class pony, though It could be any number of ponies, especially since "her" could refer to at least three patients in the room, all with a different set of concerned individuals likely to miss them.
Soarin' did not miss this exclamation and trotted over to the lone door to investigate. Bursting through said door was a unicorn mare with a white coat, a pale pink mane, and light purple eyes. Although she could not see the cutie mark, Sunset could recognize who she was long before Soarin's shocked expression confirmed it.
"Fleur Dis Lee?" Soarin' smiled wide, his eyes practically blinking rapidly in disbelief.
Sunset would have frowned had she been able to. Sure enough, Fleur Dis Lee herself walked further into the room, looking around in clear disappointment. As if the very atompshere interfered with her very livelihood.
"Seems I missed Spitfire," she murmured, hardly paying the gawking Soarin' any mind, "The Captain of the Wonderbolts is as elusive as she is picturesque."
"You were looking for the Captain?" Soarin' seemed more alarmed, as if mentioning Spitfire changed the nature of her visit from when she first walked in, "What did it pertain to?"
"Business Soarin', business," Fleur replied, still searching the room as if Spitfire were hiding, inspecting the several casts in the room, "Dear, I came all the way out to this outpost simply to speak with her about her tastes." She took a particularly long glance at Sunset's cast, eye contact lingering for a few moments before moving on to Trixie.
"Tastes?" Soarin' seemed more confused than ever, and Sunset joined him in this confusion. Last time she checked, Fluer was not much of a cook, and even if she were, owning a restaurant would be news beyond the mare's flanks.
Fleur lingered near Trixie's before sighing in resignation. "Well, perhaps you will know." Fleur turned towards Soarin', granting him her full attention. "Do you know what Spitfire is into in her private time?"
Ah. Those kinds of tastes. Sunset should have known.
"Into, in her private time?" Soarin' blushed lightly, his eyes wandering the room in thought, "Well, they would not call it private time if it were public knowledge." Or his knowledge for that matter, or at least that was the subscript that he was trying to pass off.
"Which is why I trotted all the way out here to ask." Fleur seemed unusually talkative, but then again, Sunset noticed, she was neither followed by a camera crew nor on the back of some high society pony. "Surely one of her fellow Wonderbolts would know." By this point she had come a few feet closer to Soarin', as if that might would coax more of a favorable response from him.
"I don't know." Soarin' said without further hesitation, "You are going to have to ask Spitfire about that sort of thing." His body stiffened and tensed, his posture beginning to radiate discomfort with the conversation's direction.
Fluer seemed disappointed, and even Sunset had to admit, her pout face could probably melt the hearts of unsuspecting ponies. "Perhaps you can give me some sort of idea-"
Soarin' was not some unsuspecting pony, however, and seemed to reply even more negatively
"No, I do not have any idea." Resolute, Soarin' gestured with a wing towards the door, face still red as a tomato, "Now if you do not mind, I have some watch duty to finish."
"Hmph, that is not the thing you have to finish dear Soarin'. Perhaps there is something going on between you two?" Fleur had focused in on Soarin' like an eagle preparing to scoop a fish out of water.
Chest puffed out, Soarin' starkly denied the claim. "Listen Fleur, I do not know of what rumors you have been told, but I and Spitfire are purely professional. Heck, the nicest thing she has done for me recently is give me a coupon for one of your services as an apology for sending me all the way to the Griffon Kingdom by myself, and she hardly wanted to do that."
Sunset perked up at this, though her cast disallowed her to physically show this. What was Soarin' doing all the way in the Griffon Kingdom anyways? And more importantly, when did he go? He surely must have went a week or so ago to be back already.
Fleur seemed interested in this as well, though she continued on her previous track in an attempt to divert attention from this. "I will believe that when you return to your professionalism. Or perhaps thinking of Sunset and having me in the room a little too much for you?"
Now Soarin' flapped his wings aggressively, his patience likely wearing short with this dance. "Fleur, I am now asking you as a Wonderbolt to leave this room at once." He was missing an "or else", but by this point Sunset highly doubted that Soarin' would seriously go through with any of his threats anyways.
Fleur once again pouted, but this time she came within feet of the upset Soarin', who watched her every move. With a small smile, Fleur commented, "Well, I suppose that is fair. Can I get you to do me a favor first? Eyes up on the horn now you."
Soarin' rolled his eyes and complied, perhaps because he preferred this than the route of force. No sooner did he do so did her horn flash brilliantly, much like the burst of light from a camera. It was brief, but it was quite bright, so much so that even Sunset was slightly dazed from just looking in that general direction.
Soarin' blinked wildly, likely blinded by the flash, and staggered backwards. Trixie's cast opened up, and Trixie leapt from her place, landing nimbly on her hooves at the base of the bed. She seemed quite fine, with no bruises or cuts of any sort, and considering her landing, she was likely not internally injured either.
"Trixie did not need to see that," Trixie jested, trotting over to Sunset, her horn charged with magic, "What did you need to arouse him for?" Sunset mused that Trixie did not realize that, at the end of the day, being a model in Equestria had a tendency to lean in that direction, as is often the intent when attempting to sell clothing or scenery.
"I just can't help it," Fleur shot back, stepping over to the still dazed Soarin', whom put a hoof to his head, "It's my specialty." While Fleur used her magic on Soarin', Trixie undid the bindings on the cast that held Sunset firmly in place; it opened like a suit of armor, as if it had indeed been designed for restraint over protection.
Sunset rolled rather than hopped out of bed, feeling a stiffness that was only accented by the light burning sensation on her back.
Trixie made a break for the door, coming to a screeching hault when Lightning Dust, with a large saddlebag, came through it, blocking the exit. "Which one of you owns this thing? There is a book in here half the size of a pony that would take about a lifetime to read."
"Tch, pegasi," Sunset murmured, rolling her eyes as she took her saddlebags using her magic. Obviously this did nothing to assuage her back, but she did not trust any of the ponies in the room with them at this point. She had had about enough of this. Lightning and Trixie moved some distance away from the door and closer to Fleur and Soarin'.
"Alright, I still need to get to Canterlot," Sunset explained as Trixie and Lightning silently talked to each other, "Where are we now?" She was left staring in their general direction for some time, neither seemingly wanting to address her as of yet. After a few minutes, Lightning finally spoke up at a volume that Sunset could catch.
"A military outpost literally in the middle of nowhere," Lightning spoke, though it seemed to be directed towards Trixie, " Considering your actions in Ponyville, your best bet is to wait for Fleur to finish up with Soarin' and get your replacements in here."
Sunset would have asked about these replacements, but when she looked back, she saw that already the two casts had been filled; two unicorns of just the right size had already taken their place. Mildly impressed with this, Sunset reconsidered her earlier sentiments; as much as she had been tired of the delay, she had to admit, it did not take them very long to get things done. Of course, where these replacements had been hiding out at to have not come through the front door was a mystery, as unless they somehow slipped in with Fleur and around both Soarin' and Sunset, there was no reason they should have been able to get in.
When Sunset looked back over to Fleur, she noticed her flaunting her tail to Soarin's face as she strode back off. The poor stallion was already on the floor, but now he seemed to slowly be falling asleep as well. Whatever Fleur had done to him, it would likely leave a mark in his fantasy world.
"Sweet dreams Soarin'," Fleur cooed, whipping her tail in his direction one last time, "I hope we can play next time. Very worth my price..."
"Ahem." Fleur's attention snapped back to Lightning upon the pegasus clearing her throat. "Seriously?"
"Oh you would not understand, your head is always up in the clouds," Fleur practically spat, walking past the three mares and towards the door, " Military brats, always so serious."
"You better get those two out of here," Lightning threatened, pointing a hoof towards Fleur, "Or else-"
"It will be your wings getting clipped, not mine." Fleur huffed, much to Lightning's irritation.
Sunset had to admit, she would have been upset too, but she actually found humor that Fleur seemed so confident speaking to a potential rat like that. Then again, Lightning might be in too deep to make the report without her own hide being scorched.
"Sunset, are you coming dear? Lightning can handle Trixie, but Flash wanted me to make sure you made it to Canterlot in at least one piece." Fleur's words suggested that she was joking, but her tone made it clear that she was dead serious, even with the one piece part. "Now come on, I have not all day."
So she was the contact that Flash had set up. Sunset groaned; the last thing she needed was her face plastered on a magazine, if that had been the occupation that Flash had been hinting at. Then again, this mare knew Trixie and Lightning in a capacity less than their professional lives of magician and flyer, so there remained hope that modelling would not be the fate that had nearly gotten her killed on her way to Canterlot.
Sunset began to trot after her when Lightning called out, "Don't forget that you're under contract. Trixie will be joining you in Canterlot soon enough."
Sunset paused for a moment, only just now recalling that she had indeed signed a contract to be Trixie's partner. The implications earlier were very different than from now, as earlier she assumed that Trixie was a lone ranger of sorts seeking to make ends meet. Now, it seemed as if she was involved in something far larger. However, just as she had turned to comment, the two were already speeding past her, the sounds of their clopping hooves echoing in the emptier room.
Soarin' stirred, giving Sunset more than enough reason to gallop after them. Whether she liked it or not, she did not want to be the object of the Wonderbolt's attention when he came to.