Rainbow Dash looked around the hospital room. The bed at her back was just as comfy, yet scentless and sterile-feeling, as she remembered, all white with an ochre comforter tucked over her. The beeping machine was beeping normally. A stand to the right side of her bed held a bag with some sort of clear fluid, which drained through a tube into her right foreleg. A window let in light - just after dawn, apparently - but she knew from experience that it was glued shut to prevent obstinate patients, like herself, from sneaking out. A shelf with medical instruments lined the wall furthest from the room's only door. Next to the door was a poster showing the major differences between unicorn, pegasus, and earth body, as viewed from inside the body. The door swung just a bit, as if somepony was sneaking in, but she could not see anypony pass through; perhaps it had been left ajar. So far, so normal.
Next she took in the not so normal things. On her left, Twilight slept on the stone tile floor next to the bed, under a blanket with a pattern of white cotton rabbit faces on yellow cloth, which Rainbow figured for one of Fluttershy's. Rainbow's body was still blackened, but did not hurt as much; she had played with fire enough to know her blue coat would return before long, and a couple weeks for her mane and tail to regrow to proper sleek-but-fluffiness. Her wings were another matter, now sporting feathers in cream yellow, lavender, orange, and white - likely from Fluttershy, Twilight, Scootaloo, and the two griffons. She was trying to figure out why they would donate feathers when a pair of small figures pounced up from behind the foot of her bed.
"GOOD MORNING RAINBOW-" two voices greeted her mid-jump.
On pure instinct, she bucked her blanket up, intercepting her assailants, then curled up at the head of the bed as the two landed a bit below the middle.
"-MMPH," they concluded, before proceeding to extricate themselves.
Scootaloo got free first, giggling as her head poked out of the blanket. "Did we getcha?"
Bertha, more practical, walked backward out of the folds. Her voice held no less mirth. "Did we get Rainbow Tash?"
Scootaloo frowned and shot Bertha a look. "We talked about that."
Bertha blinked, then worked her mouth. "Sorry. Raiiin booow...Dah, ash." She looked at Scootaloo, who nodded in approval, then Bertha continued, "Make my mowth feew aww funny."
Before Rainbow could reply, the door slammed fully open, showing an irate Beatrix. "Chil-DREN! Stop harassing the sacred hero who has saved us all once again."
"Aww," Scootaloo and Bertha pouted, but complied quickly when Beatrix walked up and raised her claws as if to drag them off herself.
Rainbow shot Beatrix a look while recovering her blanket and snuggling in under it. "Could you tone it down? I'm going to have to get my awesome back before I can..." She blinked. "Wait, all? I just patched up Twilight."
Beatrix inhaled, forming a reply...
"And I wish to know how you did it."
...which died on her beak at Celestia's annoyed tone. Slowly she turned around to see the alicorn filling the doorway.
Twilight, Rainbow noted, could project her presence with a spell, but Celestia was presence incarnate when she chose to be. Rainbow had never heard Celestia get truly angry, but Equestria's principal sovereign could project menace well enough that Rainbow had reason to be grateful her bladder was not particularly full. Averting her gaze, Rainbow saw the other four - Twilight having woken up during the commotion - were having the same reaction, judging by their expressions.
Celestia stepped fully into the room, eyes on Scootaloo and the griffons. "Give us some privacy, please."
Rainbow had to hand it to Scootaloo: the young one could really move when she wanted to. In seconds only Celestia, Twilight, and Rainbow remained in the room.
Celestia kicked the door closed, then whirled on Twilight. "Tell me you're not the Nightmare."
Twilight blinked. "I'm...not the Nightmare?"
Celestia exhaled, letting her tension go. "Thank goodness. I hoped I would never see that spell again. When Spike described it, I hoped he was wrong, but it was a perfect match. I am going to have words with my sister for teaching it to you, but you are never to tell anyone else how it works, not even me. Is that clear?"
"Actually," Twilight responded, "that's what Luna said. She didn't teach me; I figured it out."
Celestia froze, mouth open for a second.
Twilight blushed. "I really wanted to impress a pony...or two." She looked at Rainbow. "But it just kept getting easier to use, wanting to be used, until I couldn't stop it."
"I see." Celestia looked at Rainbow. "And how DID you stop it? I can believe Twilight reverse engineered one of my sister's most powerful spells, but your talents lie elsewhere."
"I know. Luna said I needed to seal it, so..." Rainbow waved a hoof. "I just kissed it and made it better."
Celestia mulled this over, then smiled at Twilight. "So her kisses mean that much to you now?"
Twilight suddenly appeared very interested in the floor, her blush having turned up two degrees.
Rainbow blinked. "Uh...I know my kisses are awesome, but...what's going on?"
Celestia allowed herself a grin, then looked at Rainbow again. "I'm afraid there aren't simple words for this, and that is partly my fault. I have discouraged research into this topic, for fear that others might discover Luna's Nightmare spell. But in short, you are important enough to Twilight that her soul accepted part of yours to fix itself. Think of it like using water to paint over a crack in ice, and now you're frozen together. You might find yourself thinking the same thing more often for a while. You will definitely be sharing dreams..." She half-smiled, half-glared. "...and nightmares. I strongly advise you not to abuse Twilight's trust, for your own sake as well as hers."
"You mean I'll know when she's in danger, so I can swoop in to save the day?" Rainbow grinned.
Celesta smiled approvingly. "That can happen. But she will be facing more powerful threats than you can handle. There will be times when swooping in would only add mourning to whatever challenge she faces."
Rainbow frowned, slid a bit further under the covers, and looked away in silence.
Celestia looked at Twilight, trying to make eye contact with the younger alicorn. It took three tries before Twilight noticed. Attention thus caught, Celestia quickly nodded toward Rainbow, but Twilight just blinked in confusion.
Still looking away from both of them, Rainbow spared Celestia from having to further prod Twilight to ask about it. "I know," the pegasus finally replied, "I'm just a candle to Twilight's bonfire. She's going to do all these awesome things, and...and get more awesome, and more and more. I just..." The hint of a sob crept into Rainbow's voice. "Twilight, I just want to be with you now, while we still have anything in common."
Twilight teleported to the other side of the bed, right where Rainbow was looking, only for Rainbow to point her face away. "Rainbow Dash. Look at me." Twilight waited a few seconds. "Look at me." A few more seconds, then she leaned to the side to put herself in Rainbow's field of view, and gently lay a hoof on Rainbow's chin to prevent Rainbow from looking away again. "I promise you, I'd never leave you behind like that if I can help it. Not now, not ever. Besides, I don't think that's going to happen. We won't always be able to help each other in everything, but you will always be important to me, Rainbow Dash, for the rest of our lives."
Rainbow's eyes widened just a touch. Her heart skipped a beat. Then she hugged Twilight with all her strength, burying her face in Twilight's mane.
"I'll leave you alone." Celestia walked to the door, but stopped one step short. The shadow of a disappointed frown graced her face. "AS WILL OTHER PONIES!" A sudden mad scrambling of hooffalls came from beyond the door. When Celestia opened it a few seconds later, the hallway was empty, with only a few fading dust clouds as evidence of how many had been listening in.
Celestia's order bought Rainbow and Twilight complete privacy until almost noon, when the doctor - a stern-looking snow-white unicorn with red mane and tail - finally finished the paperwork generated by treating a Princess, and decided Celestia would forgive her for intruding upon her other patient. At least Celestia's command had cleared out all the well-wishers and visitors, returning the clinic to blessed peace and quiet. She knocked on the door and peeked in, then cleared her throat at the display in front of her. "Hey! Hey! No spells in here."
"Er! Sorry!" Twilight grinned sheepishly, letting her horn's glow and the corresponding aura over Rainbow fade. "I was a bit out of practice with healing spells, so I figured..."
"Emergency use only," the doctor reminded. "If you overuse them your patients' bodies might get reliant on magical healing. And this is one of the worst places to have a spell malfunction. Or do I need to remind you about yesterday?"
"I'm fine! Seriously! My magic's not getting out on its own."
Sighing, the doctor walked up to her patient and examined. "Rainbow Dash, how are you feeling?"
Rainbow had laid on the covers to let Twilight work her magic, but now rolled off the bed into a standing position, looking at herself. Rather than black she was now dark blue, her fur having started to grow back in. "Good enough to go for a walk." She looked at her wings, which still sported the transplanted feathers. "Nooot quite up to flying yet. Why am I wearing my friends?"
"Your wings were burnt the worst," the doctor noted. "Whatever hurt you..." She glared at Twilight, who guiltily looked away. "...they must have been the closest to it. When you came back - and I have to say, I've never had a patient walk out of here clinically dead before - I could save most of you but your wings would have been a loss without transfusion. Your feathers wouldn't grow back without something to keep the follicles intact until your own feathers return. Your friends were very eager to donate to save your wings. I couldn't say no to any of them. I'd never done a feather transplant before but it wasn't hard, just tedious. Make sure to thank Rarity: she took your left wing while I fixed your right. I guess she found it similar to weaving a dress."
Rainbow flexed her wings. Her left did feel a little smoother and stronger than her right. "I'll do that. But why Rarity, not Twilight?"
Twilight felt the eyes on her - curiosity from Rainbow, accusation mixed with sympathy from the doctor - as if they were burning searchlights. "I...w-well, you see..." She inhaled, held it, then exhaled, but still did not feel calm enough to make eye contact. "I tried to keep my head straight so I could get you to care, but once you were here...a-and seeing what I'd done to Celestia...well..."
The doctor smiled. "I had Fluttershy and Applejack hold her down in the corner. Many ponies wanted her away from the Princess - err, the OTHER Princess, Celestia - but I figured she would be less likely to snap if she could see you. But I wasn't going to trust her with surgery in that state."
"I see." Rainbow grinned. "So did Applejack break out the rope and tie you up?"
"Rainbow Dash!" Smile went to glower on the doctor's face in a heartbeat. "That is not an appropriate-"
"She waits too long once you've calmed down," Rainbow continued, ignoring the doctor's outburst. "Remind me to show you how to slip her knots."
"Thanks, but I just used my magic." Twilight's courage finally restored, she ventured an inviting look at Rainbow. "But if you're offering to tie me up..."
"No way." Rainbow returned Twilight's expression in equal measure. "I like it when you move around."
The doctor facehoofed. "Not. In. My. Clinic. Rainbow, you are discharged. Twilight, PLEASE take her home. Now."
It was the limits of Rainbow's politeness and courtesy that she waited until they were outside the clinic, and the doctor had slammed the door behind them, before laughing. "Did you see the look on her face?"
"Well, it got you out of there. C'mon, doctor's orders, I'm taking you home." Twilight began trotting off.
"My apartment's the other way."
Twilight kept walking.
Rainbow fell into formation behind her. "You're going the wrong way."
Twilight smiled, not looking back, but listening carefully to Rainbow's pace and tone.
"No. Twilight. Please. I...I can't go back there." Rainbow kept walking despite her protests.
Twilight finally stopped. "Look. I know you want to protect Scootaloo. I know you're worried she'll get hurt again trying to get in to see you. But don't you think giving up your house is a little much?"
Rainbow looked at the ground. "I...I dunno. She was hurt bad, Twilight."
"And she's fully recovered now. I talked to her; she promised to use the ladders."
"What ladders?" Rainbow blinked.
"The waterfalls?" Twilight pantomimed a climbing motion. "The ones that evaporate so you can climb up them like clouds?"
"Oh. Oh, yeah! Aheh, of course that's what they're for!"
Twilight gave Rainbow a questioning look.
"Okay, okay, so I never really thought about why Cloudsdale has them. They just looked cool, so I added them to my place. The few times I've had my wings clipped, somepony put in stairs until I could fly again." Rainbow sighed. "Thanks, Twilight. I was starting to miss my house."
Twilight smiled as she resumed walking. "I had your things moved back from that apartment. Although there IS a second reason you might be reluctant. You've got house guests."
"Who...?" Rainbow's mind worked as she followed Twilight around a corner, then winced as she saw her house. "Aww, no, not those two!"
The house itself appeared as Rainbow had left it. The rainbows and waterfalls twinkled in the sunlight, radiant as always. What invited Rainbow's dismay was on the outskirts of the cloud, where a familiar mother-and-child griffon pair were sculpting a cloud statue in an unmistakable likeness of what Rainbow saw in the mirror every day, Bertha using the flat of her sword to smooth out a feather. Beatrix and Bertha paused as they spotted Rainbow approach, hopped down to the ground, and bowed.
Rainbow sighed as she approached. The statue was not bad, but even Rainbow's ego thought having a triple-sized version of herself on display was a bit vain. "Alright, you've seen me. Now can you please go home already?"
Sad eyes were a common sign of upset and pleading, but there were few true masters in Equestria, though many children dabbled in the art. It was said the highest masters were to be found among those few changelings who shunned their hives and integrated with pony society, mixing their emotional sensitivity with malleable appearance. Rainbow just thought of them as "Fluttershy Eyes": Rarity might employ them more often, but her accompanying theatrics dulled the effect. For a moment, Rainbow wondered if Fluttershy had taught the two griffons the expression they now turned in unison upon Rainbow.
"Oh, that's right, no home," Rainbow muttered. "I...look, you can't stay here, okay?"
The eyes continued their pleading stare, shining as if on the verge of tears and unblinking.
"Gaaah!" Rainbow looked away, shielding her face with a wing. "Twilight, DO SOMETHING!"
Twilight chuckled. "They owe you their lives. I can understand them wanting to live with their hero."
"Yeah, yeah." Rainbow peeked through her feathers briefly, saw the griffon eyes still staring at her, and looked away again. "And I owe you my life...oh, hey, that's right! You did bring me back! Umm, I offer you their life debts in payment of mine?"
"Well, normally we don't keep life debts like they do, but in this case I'll make an exception." Twilight stepped forward. "You heard her: your debt belongs to me now. I know you seek refuge. Do you swear, in front of a Princess..." She put her hoof on her chest. "...to live in harmony with the citizens of Equestria, by our laws and decrees?"
Beatrix blinked. "Just like that? You'll let us stay?"
Twilight nodded. "I was planning to. Do you swear?"
"Oh! Yes, yes of course, we swear!" Beatrix placed one foot over her heart and nodded to her daughter, who did the same.
"Then I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, do grant you leave to settle in Equestria." Twilight smiled. "In Cloudsdale."
"Thank you your high-" Beatrix blinked. "What?"
"If anygriffon is out to finish your clan, as you fear, you'll be much better protected there than in Ponyville. I know the weather factories could use strong wings like yours. Besides, that's where Rainbow Dash is from. If you really want to live where she did, you may find such a place there that isn't still owned."
"Nah," Rainbow countered. "Cloudsdale recycles places that aren't being used. Althooough there might still be that one apartment. Ask for Storm Builder. Tell him I sent you. He can hook you up with a place."
Beatrix sighed, eyes downcast. "If we must."
"Hey. HEY!" Rainbow marched forward, put her hoof under Beatrix's beak, and gently pushed up. "Chin up. Twilight's right: you'll like it better there than here."
"And besides," Twilight added, "Cloudsdale moves around. It's not like you'll never see your hero again. But if you want to live in her glory, she was there longer than she's been here." She pulled out a small bag and tossed it to Beatrix. "Here's enough bits for two train tickets. Ask for the Cloudsdale Express; that'll take you near wherever it is now. It should get you there within a day. Before you go, stop by the library and ask Spike to write you a letter of recommendation to the weather factories. Tell him I said it's okay."
Beatrix sighed again, but half-heartedly, unable to suppress a smile. "As you wish." She bowed again, Bertha following in perfect imitation. "I hope we will meet again, Princess, Sah." With that, she took off, accompanied by her daughter.
"That takes care of that." Twilight leaped up to the cloud, only flapping her wings once, then winced. "Err..." She dropped back to the ground. "Here. You climb up; I'll follow."
Rainbow had not noticed, watching the griffons depart. "Hmm? Oh, right, ladders." She walked to where a rainbow spilled over the cloud's side and nearly touched the ground, placed a hoof on the surface, and measured its solidity. "That was cool what you did for them. But you know what's even cooler?"
"What's that?" Twilight watched Rainbow begin to climb.
"She called you 'Princess' and you didn't even flinch." Once Rainbow was sure the rainbow fall would take her weight, she scrambled up to the cloud, then lay down on it and peeked back over the side, trying not to show that even that much effort had her breathing a bit harder. "If kissing you can fix so many problems, I should've started a long time ago."
Twilight looked up and shrugged. "It's what I am. I suppose I'd better get used to it. Just like you need to get used to what you are."
Rainbow blinked. "And what's that?"
Twilight grinned. "Mine." She jumped up in one powerful swoop, grabbed Rainbow as she passed, and winged her way through the front door, the wind of their passage closing the door behind them.