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// Chapter 3 Decision Point 
// Story: Oh Captain, My Captain! 
// by Akashic Brony 
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	Rainbow’s eyes opened to a white light. Was she dead? As her eyes adjusted, she smiled internally knowing that they were the familiar hospital lights. Her youth’s many daredevil stunts had made her a frequent guest of the same institution. The sterile smell of medical alcohol and bandages hit her. She felt a dull pain as she moved. It was countered by the pleasant warmth of another body in her bed. Wrapped around her hooves was Twilight.
Rainbow feigned sleep as she saw Twilight stirring.
Luna landed on the balcony of the hospital room. Tapping the window, she woke Twilight. Twilight gently pried herself from Rainbow’s hooves and joined Luna.

Twilight shivered at the cold; the fresh air, though was invigorating. The rising of the gentle moon against the clear evening sky was a welcomed sight.
“Any more news?” asked Twilight.
Luna grimaced. “Mine Captain reports the enemy Commander hath evaded capture. Our border scouts detected no further incursions. It would seem this pretense of peace shall continue.”
Twilight looked over the balcony to the distant horizon. “This holiday celebrated a great Pegasi victory and a greater Griffin defeat. I guess we should have expected this,”
Luna nodded. “The Griffins art the obvious suspects. Yet if they wanted war, they would have captured my sister, Celestia, as she was on her diplomatic mission to their Isles. We suspect more nefarious forces move in the backdrop.”
“Maybe they didn’t capture Celestia because their plan here failed. They denied all responsibility.” said Twilight.
Luna stomped her hoof, cracking the hospital floor tile work. “This flagrant violation of our sovereignty cannot stand. We may not press them directly, but we swear there shall be repercussions.”
“Were it not for Rainbow, I don’t know what would have happened.” Twilight looked back at Rainbow resting in her room.
“Thy Captain, her injuries would hath placed any lesser soldier in shock.”
Twilight smiled. “Rainbow’s definitely awesome… I don’t know if she’s mine…”
Luna smiled. “Art thou certain?”
Twilight swung around to see Rainbow behind her. “Twilight, I…”
“Rainbow, you shouldn’t be up!” Twilight saw some bandages that had been caught by the bed and were unraveling behind Rainbow.
Luna left Twilight as she tended to Rainbow.

Rainbow rolled her eyes as Twilight played the neurotic nurse. Twilight was nervously arranging every detail down to the flowers in the vase. Rainbow was surprised that Twilight was the restless one. She suspected it was because of her injuries that she wasn’t a match for Twilight’s energy. Rainbow knew, though, Twilight was never normally so nervous.
“Twilight,” Rainbow called.
Twilight busied herself fluffing Rainbow’s pillow.
“Twilight!” Rainbow called out again.
The purple Alicorn stopped at last. “Yes?”
“Let’s talk,” said Rainbow, swallowing.
Twilight became meek. “Rainbow, I know. We have our duties, we can’t afford dangerous distractions. Maybe when our careers are-”
Rainbow leaned in and kissed Twilight. “Relax.”
Twilight’s wings deployed and she jumped back. “Rainbow?!”
Rainbow recoiled at Twilight’s reaction. “I know I’ve hurt you, Twi…”
Twilight nodded, then smiled. “Rainbow, you raced for me though!”
Rainbow lowered her head. “I raced to give you a choice; you’re not a prize to be won. I should have given you a choice in the first place; instead I made it for you.” Rainbow rubbed her mane furiously. “I just tried again when I kissed just now. I’m so sorry.”
Twilight shook her head. “Rainbow, no. You have your own feelings and desires. The choice is also yours. I never considered what it would mean for our careers. Your points were real valid concerns. You’ve really grown. You took the mature option, while I was a love struck school filly thinking everything would be sunshine-”
“-and rainbows?” The Pegasus smirked.
Both girls shared a light laugh. Their giggles died down and the awkward silence that followed caused them both to look away.
“Twilight, I caused this whole mess… I’ll be loyal to whatever choice you make. I’m willing to try.”


The decision is yours.
Twilight rejects Rainbow go to chapter 4, link!
Twilight accepts Rainbow go to chapter 5, link!