//------------------------------// // A Gift That Keeps On Giving // Story: Ynanhluutr // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// “Hey Flares?” “Hmmmm?” The pegasus looked up from nuzzling Nick's chest. She snorted, then fell into a round of giggles. Nick paused stroking her shaved head and looked down at her, an eyebrow arched. “What's so funny?” “Oh, nothing,” she hummed, her eyes glistening in the starlight. She rested her cheek against his chest again. “I just like that. 'Flares.'” “Charming, isn't it?” “Stupid,” she grunted. “It's so you.” Nick shuddered, gazing aside at the rolling surf. “Jee, thanks.” “Heehee... just tell me what's on your mind, needlepoint.” He gulped and said, “I'd... like you to come back with me to Kihutaja.” She looked at him again, her expression blank. “Just... j-just to visit!” he squeaked. “Not to stay, or anything. I mean... unless you want to stay. I'd just like to show you my own world, y'know? Where I'm from and stuff.” He bore an amicable smile. “I won't keep you from your home or nothing. I know your heart belongs to the Atoll.” “Right.” She nodded. “And you will... come back with me?” Nick opened his mouth to speak, but he lingered. A distant sheen glazed over his eyes. Flare bit her lip. “You would rather... stay with your books and boredom.” She nodded. “I understand. Land walkers gonna walk, after all.” “No, I won't...” Nick stammered. “I mean... it's just that...” His ears folded back. “I've thought it.. I've felt it... but I've not actually said it until now.” “Said what, hmmmm?” She smirked playfully. Nick smirked back. “I don't want to go to the K.M.C.A. anymore.” His teeth showed in a jubilant grin. “I've seen too many high seas hijinks to feel otherwise.” “Heeheehee! Well, hijink me awaaaaay!” Flare hugged him close, wrapping her strong forelimbs around the stallion. A few beats later, her smile faded, and she blinked awkwardly into the horizon. “Verlaxion's sleet... that can't be an easy thing to do.” “It's an easier thing today than it was yesterday.” “Yes, but...” She sat up, squinting at him. “Your studies. Your career.” A heavy blink. “Your family.” “I might hurt the feelings of ponies who care deeply about me,” Nick said, nodding. “But... I think I'd rather do that than live my entire life doing stuff I only think is right... just to appease them when it's not making me happy.” “But... you won't be earning ribbons and bits like all your landwalker friends!” “And they won't know what it means to be alive,” Nick said, his smile a granite one. He gazed at Flare, then beyond her. “They will never have seen how wild and crazy this world can be... and how simple joy is.” He sighed gently. “I always built boats. I used to think it was because I was in love with them. Turns out—really—I'm just in love with the seas. And in love with the world.” “Mmmhmmm...” Flare cocked her head to the side. “And what about drop dead sexy natives?” “Oh yeah. You too.” “Hehehehe!” Flare slapped his shoulder. “Stupid trout!” “Owwww...” Nick winced. “Ow ow ow ow...” She rolled her eyes. “We're going to have to do so something about your soft shell, 'lil guppy.” “Trust me,” he wheezed, nevertheless winking. “It's hurt in... guhhh... all the right places.” She chuckled and nuzzled him again. A few breaths later... “I would love to see your land of stuffiness and books,” Flare murmured. “But... tell me...” She looked up at him. “What of your journey?” “Hmmm?” “And your friends,” she remarked. “If you're going back... then what becomes of them?” Nick glanced off into the lagoon. Starlight glinted off the tall, narrow tower formed in the heart of the inlet. “I think we've already become all we can be.” “I... I do not understand.” Flare shook her head. “Surely Rainbow Dash—” “She has friends in high places... or—more appropriately—deep places,” Nick said. “No matter how far we follow her, she'll always be on her own with her struggles... as a manner of speaking.” He gulped hard. “The best we can ever do is tag along.” “Surely she needs you more than you think,” Flare said. “Maybe. But... I-I think we needed her even more,” Nick thought out loud. He nodded to the stars. “Silly. My life was so plain and silly before she crash-landed into me. And it's more about the Blight being lifted or this crazy world being expanded. A lot of ponies on these waves—I believe—don't know where they're going. They only pretend to. But then here comes along someone like Rainbow Dash... and she's got it made. I mean, she really has it all together... and it's... it's inspiring.” He glanced again at Flare. “I could keep following her now... but it wouldn't be the same. I know where I'm supposed to be now, Flare, and it's not the same place she's going. I... I really don't think she needs the extra weight.” Flare swallowed a lump down her throat. “That... you must feel so sad.” He slowly shook his head. “Does anypony have any reason to feel sad?” He smiled. “Rainbow's salvaged another spirit. And...” He pointed out past the surf. “Just look at your Lagoon! Verlaxion's gift is brighter and bigger than before!” Flare shook her head. “No. No it isn't.” Nick blinked. “No...?” Flare smiled. “It's Rainbow Dash's gift. That is...” She wrapped her forelimbs around him again and cradled his head against her neck. “...her second best gift.” Nick clamped his jaw tight. He closed his purple eyes and buried his face against her coat, shivering a little. “... ... ...is Needlepoint going to cry?” Flare murmured. “Mmmmff... a l-little...” Flare chuckled, then nuzzled his forehead, careful to avoid the horn. “I certainly won't tell anypony.” A drop of drool trickled out of Rainbow's gaping muzzle, glistening in the morning sunlight. She dangled halfway off a hammock—snoring—and beneath her were three empty coconut mugs lying awkardly in the beach sand. The sound of crunching hoofsteps loomed closer, until a shadow crossed the mare's figure. “... ... ...ahem...” “Zzzzznkkkt-srnkkkk...” Rainbow continued. “... ... ...ah-ah-ahem.” A makeshift wooden cane made out of bound twigs slapped against the edge of the pegasus' dangling leg. Thwap! “Snakkkkt!” Rainbow's eyes bulged as she flailed. “Axan! Friggin' A!” Thwomp! She fell off the hammock, landing in a petite pony-shaped impression left in the sand overnight. Stumbling to her hooves, she sputtered, “Give it up, Shell! Where's... Golden Roarke... Platesmith... grghhh...” She blinked blearily into the sunlight, rubbing her skull. “Stabby stabs... cheesy Zaid tits... mmmff...” “Y'know, harpy,” an elder pony loomed above her. “I think one learns more from your delirious nonsense than in a sea trip full of monologues.” “Good morning to you too,” Rainbow grumbled, rubbing her fuzzy muzzle as she gathered her senses. “Mmmmff... what in the hay got into my head?” Her hooves brushed against an empty coconut shell or two. “Oh. Yeah. Right. Go me.” “Perhaps I have bothered you too early,” Sinrar said. “It will always be 'too early,'” Rainbow grumbled. “Only this time I was... was...” Her eyes blinked wide. She spun about. “Rares? Twi?!” She hyperventilated slightly. “Girls?! Girls, where the frig are—?!” A lavender light pulsed in front of the mare. Twilight materialized, flying sideways through an oblivious Sinrar. She turned about, yawning as she gazed thinly at Rainbow. “Rainbow... it's okay... we were just... were just...” “The... the place?!” Rainbow wheezed. “You were in the bright white place, right?” Sinrar's brow furrowed. “Are your ghost friends alright, harpy—?” “Shhhh!” Rainbow turned towards Twilight again. “That's it, huh? You were... y'know... recharging?” “Mmmmm...” Twilight nodded, smiling with dimpled cheeks. “So... sorry, Rainbow,” she mumbled, fighting wave after wave of unicorn yawns. “I would have warned you, but... b-but it was nighttime and you were already asleep and... and we can't exactly control it when it happens...” “It's... it's okay...” Rainbow said, shuddering. She turned once to nod at Sinrar with a frazzled smile, then faced Twilight again. “It's all okay.” She gulped. “So Rarity is... is...?” “She's in there,” Twilight said. “I heard you loud and clear, Rainbow. Mmmm... I-I suppose I'm more properly 'trained' than her.” “You... you sure she's—?” “Rainbow, I feel all the girls when I'm in that place,” Twilight said firmly. “Only...” She bore a gentle smile. “I feel Rarity even more... almost as if she's lying on the surface instead of submerged. Trust me. I know it may be hard to explain, but she's back. She's not left us since yesterday. Not even remotely. You have nothing to be afraid of. Just let her rest. This is as hard on her as you and me—if not harder.” “Yeah.” Rainbow gulped. “Yeah, okay. Okay...” She breathed easier. “How... how can I-I help you, though?” Twilight teetered, yawning again. “Nah, girl. It's fine,” Rainbow said. “You don't have to hang out anymore?” “Mrmmff... are you sure?” Twilight rubbed her sleepy eyes. “You don't look so good—” “Go to bed, egghead,” Rainbow growled. “Go to your... white... glowly... and-not-in-any-way-freaky space bed.” “Right. Will do.” Twilight drifted forwards. “Going—” FLASH! A pulse of lavender light overwhelmed Rainbow. She reeled for a few dizzying seconds. Meanwhile, Sinrar's amber eyes reflected a pulse of energy emanating from the pegasus' pendant. “Sacre bleu!” He shuddered. “You know, there are times when I think you are faking it... but then sparkly shit like that happens.” “You must not hang around mares that much.” “Pardon?” “Nothing.” Rainbow muttered, trotting closer to the stallion. “What's on your mind, Doctor Dude?” Thap! A bundle of maps landed right in front of Rainbow's hooves. She jolted to a stop, glancing down at the professor's intricate cartographic diagrams. Her hoofed traced the edge of it, then the tight ribbon holding them all together. The manuscripts were tightly compacted, small enough to fit into a satchel of Luna's saddlebag. With a gaping muzzle, Rainbow looked up. “Are...” She stammered, “Are these what I think they are?” “They are indeed, harpy,” Sinrar said, leaning on his crudely reconstructed cane. “They're your future,” he rasped, and then bore the surliest of smirks. “And my past.”