Medical Procedures

Sunrise hit the land like it always did, with powerful rays that turned the green grass a distinct morning gold and made all the little ponds below shimmer with tiny sparkles gifted from the magic coming off of Celestia’s lifting orb in the orange and deep red sky. One particular feature some ponies in the town just stirring awake noticed that day was a rather giant, though very familiar hot air balloon making its way through the clouds, headed for what many knew to be Rainbow’s sanctuary in the sky.

Twilight and Spike sat within watching the sun peak over the horizon and enjoying the small sounds of slightly potent winds hit the basket they sat in. Every once in awhile, Spike would get up to adjust its direction, only to return to Twilight’s side and resume waiting with her, not particularly enjoying the awkward silence they floated in, but knowing good and well Twilight prefered to stay in thought for the moment.

Besides, the dragon knew if his friend wanted to say something, she would. Eventually, after so long of saying nothing at all since their departure, she finally spoke softly, and told Spike what they were doing, and why she needed to go to Rainbow’s fluffy establishment in the first place.

“Rainbow asked me to pick up a few things,” Twilight said, not really gazing away from her mentor’s miracle, but not giving it all her attention either. “A ball, some of her favorite snacks, and Fluttershy couldn’t stop by today to feed Tank, so I promised Rainbow I’d do that for her as well...”

Spike nodded, rubbed away more sleep from his heavy feeling eyelids and asked, “But, why couldn’t you just teleport on over, Twilight?”

She huffed, looked out at the mountains to the east and mumbled her answer, almost being too quiet for Spike to understand her. “Because that would’ve user up too much magic, and the spell that lets me walk on clouds took so much out of me already.”

“Oh...” The dragon put his claws on the edge and gripped it a bit, then laid his head down in boredom. “And you needed me to come along because...?”

For a moment, Twilight had to think about why that was, but soon remembered the reason. “Because I missed your company.” She glanced over at him; he did the same, and they both began to chuckle at each other. It’d been a good few days since Twilight had been off from her new job, so of course, she’d been away from Spike. Though she knew he could handle the house on his own, Twilight hadn’t really noticed just how much she’d started missing theyoung dragon.

As he shifted him frame back up and let go of the sides, he sniffled a bit, a blush calmly spreading to his cheeks and asked, “So, how is your work? It’s not too strenuous, right?”

The unicorn sighed and said, “It’s nothing I can’t handle, but Rainbow being there’s been a slight pain...”

“How so?”

She scratched her neck and thought about that, how to put it delicately, but the best way to do so was bluntly. “She’s calling me at every second of the day, wanting me to practically be at her side... all because of the uniforms.”

Spike giggled at that. “Right, those magical outfits that make anypony attractive. That’s ironic, how Rainbow’s attracted to you more than the doctor now.”

“Dr. Stables can’t be affected by the garments,” Twilight reminded. “Only earth ponies and pegasi, and I suppose crystal ponies too, but I’m not sure.”

Spike teased her a bit with, “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you.”

Just when Twilight was about to argue with him, she saw his eyebrow raise in a joking manner which made her relax. For a few more minutes, they floated on in the air. Every once in awhile, the two would pass by a silver lined cloud and admire how breathtaking the world was that day.

Twilight hadn’t had the slightest chance to relish in the morning since she’d started work. Though her hours varied, and she had certain days off, the time away from work was mostly spent at home studying up for a possible test, or visiting her friends who she’d been away from.

Even Spike felt distanced from her, as though Twilight being gone made him forget just who she really was in his mind. She’d just get home and be so exhausted from the day that she couldn’t do anything but go right to bed without barely saying a word to him. In the morning was practically the only time he had the opportunity to say hi, and for her to hastily say bye as she went out the door.

To Spike, he knew she hadn’t time to spend dwelling around him and the others, but still, he wished there was some way for her to fit at least an hour in her day for her friends as well, but even though he knew that might not happen, he still wished there was some way she didn’t need to be at the Ponyville Clinic so much.

Just as they ascended passed a dense cloud and started to reach the port of Rainbow’s home, Spike asked Twilight, “Could... you find some way to ask Dr. Stables for more time from work?”

All Twilight did was take a deep breath while magically grabbing the rope and fastening it to the cloud. As she jumped off, Twilight looked down at the far off ground below and sighed, “I’ll see what I can do... I know you’ve missed me too, but I have a responsibility to Rainbow Dash, even though she’s been a real pain...”

She walked away and headed into the house after that, leaving Spike alone once again, but this time, inside a hot air balloon. During his wait for her, he occasionally watched the clouds waft by the mountains in the distance and thought about Rarity, particularly in that beautiful nurse outfit. Even when he hadn’t seen the uniform be worn by Twilight for quite awhile, he still kept on fantasizing about it, and couldn’t take his mind off the image in his head.

Rarity was gorgeous to him, sure, but envisioning her with those clothes on only made her seem even more lovely than normal. He wished there was some way to get her into it, but knew that would probably only happen in his dreams.

As minutes passed by, Twilight kept up her tedious search for Rainbow’s room. Her house was much bigger than Twilight imagined it would be, with her getting lost and winding up in the kitchen every so often. Upon her fifth round, she sighed and turned back, took one of the only turns she hadn’t tried and thankfully found Tank sleeping in his pet bet, a blanket over his shell and a food bowl right in front of him. Twilight noticed it was empty, and wagered he probably knew more about which way Rainbow’s room was.

She kindly nudged him with a hood and asked, “Psst... Tank, I need your help.” As he peeked open an eye, Tank looked at her before giving a powerful yawn, then stood up. His helicopter strap powered on and up he went. “I need to know where Rainbow Dash’s room is. Could you help?” Twilight smiled, hoping he’d understand her. “I’ll be able to feed you if I knew where her room is...”

Tank smirked and went down the hall. A few short turns, and the two had reached their destination. Twilight sighed in relief, looked under Rainbow’s pillow, snatched up the toy, grabbed the food that was in her friend’s closet, and was just about to head out when out the corner of her eye, she was the piece Rainbow had on her nightstand. Daring Do’s next book in the saga, this one being one of the books the clinic hadn’t gotten their hooves on yet. She grinned and brought that along with her, knowing Rainbow would be content about having this to read while waiting to recover.

Soon, Tank was fed, Twilight had gotten everything she needed, and she was all set to go. As she left the structure and closed the door behind her, she saw Spike standing at the edge of the basket. Twilight hopped on and approached him, not really noticing any such movement or reaction from her hopping on board. The flight machine slowly descended, but while it did, Twilight chose to try talking with Spike one more time about her current situation.

“Spike?”

“hmm?”

The dragon seemed distant, as though lost and irretrievable from the land his mind wandered in. “Are you okay?” Twilight asked sympathetically. All she got for an answer was him shaking his head. He couldn’t even glance over at her which only made Twilight even more worried about his wellbeing. “Care to talk?” She requested.

For a moment, Spike almost seemed like he wasn’t going to say a word, but just when Twilight decided to leave him be, he whispered, “I’m... kinda curious...”

“About what?”

He took a deep breath, looked over at Twilight and confessed, “Ever since I saw you wearing that nurse outfit, I’ve wanted to... well...”

Twilight blinked. “... Yes?”

He had to consider his words carefully, but finally said, “I’ve wanted to see... R-Rarity in them...”

The mare huffed with a giggle in her voice, looked back at Spike after a second of her laughing and asked, “That’s all?”

Spike didn’t find it as amusing. He kept fiddling with his claws and held the same anxious face about him. “I can’t explain it... I know it’s kinda awkward for me to be telling you this, but... I had to tell someone, you know?”

Twilight looked back at the world they floated above, chuckled again, and offered, “I could probably get Rarity in as a substitute for me, if you want to see her that badly. I’ve been meaning to catch up on some of my studies anyway, and Rarity will probably be just fine with that... What do you think?”

She glanced back at him with a smile, and he did the same. Just when they hit the ground, Spike formed a pleased expression. “Thanks. I’d really like that, Twilight.”

The two soon entered the tree house. Twilight double checked Rainbow’s things in the bag she used to hide the possessions from Spike, got ready for work, and headed out. Today, she was almost excited to go to work, mainly because she wanted to see Rainbow’s happy smile upon getting that book.

She actually hadn’t seen Rainbow grin much except the other day ago when she promised to go get the toy for her. Even then, Twilight could still pick up on the small hints of depression Rainbow showed unintentionally. Maybe it was from being cooped up in a building all day, not wanting to be there, and not having the luxury of flight.

Still, Twilight hoped she’d be able to steal at least a small smirk from her friend this day. She hurried along and entered. As she passed by the doctor, she bid him a good day, trotted along the same rows of doors she always did and didn’t even bother getting dressed that time. All she could think about was getting Rainbow’s belongings to her with haste.

Twilight entered the room, saw Rainbow laying on the bed playing with her half eaten lunch and walked up to her feeling giddy. “I’ve got that thing you wanted... and something more!” Twilight teasingly waved her bag above Rainbow with her aura wrapping around the opening and handed it to her.

“Really? What else did you...” Rainbow’s face slowly but surely lit up with glee as she saw the book. She placed her vibrator under her pillow and returned her attention to the other item almost immediately, a bit overjoyed Twilight got this for her. “I was gonna ask you to get this, but I forgot.” she looked back at her friend and asked, “How’d you know?”

Twilight nearly couldn’t contain herself. Seeing Rainbow like this, happier than she’d been in awhile really brightened up her day. “I saw it sitting next to your bed, and I almost left it behind. Luckily, though, I figured you’d want it really badly.”

Rainbow’s lips just kept spreading wider, as though they’d never form a frown again. She placed the book down on her lap and tugged Twilight in for a rather powerful hug. Twilight didn’t exactly expect that, but it wasn’t the book Rainbow was holding onto her for. It was the act.

Just when Rainbow let go, she muttered, “I’m really fortunate to have you as a friend, Twilight...”

Shortly after, the unicorn got to work, and Rainbow delved into the story she was given, but just passed chapter one, she noticed something. Twilight wasn’t wearing her outfit, but she still felt the fondness she’d always sensed whenever Twilight was wearing her uniform and was so close to her. Rainbow looked around warily at the room and wondered aloud, “Can I... fall in love with Twilight even after she stops wearing that nurse outfit...?”