The Rainbow of my Soul

I was lounging back in the recliner, fore hooves behind my head as I watched Rainbow wave hers about, telling of how she saw and rescued me. She was actually quite the storyteller, making me feel like I was there, instead of being the helpless pony in need of rescue.

"So what was that song you were singing earlier? It was really cool." She asked, grinning at me. I shrugged, coming up with a quick cover story.

"Just a song I heard somewhere. I can't claim it, much as I would like too." I answered, rubbing at the back of my neck, embarrassed.

"It was awesome! You know any more?" She asked, sounding bright and chipper, despite her broken wing and ribs. I opened my mouth to reply, when Redheart came bustling in.

"Sorry Rainbow Dash, but a serenade will have to wait. I need to check on Cloud's wing." She walked over to me, and started undoing the bandage around my middle. I, meanwhile, was doing my best to keep my mouth from hanging open. She needed to check on what? Wing? Did I hear that right? I HAVE WINGS????

     While the nurse was gently removing the bandage, I was quite close to hyper ventilating and screaming with joy. I had always wanted wings, to be able to fly. To have freedom, be able to go anywhere, anytime. To not be bound to the ground, to be able to truly soar.

     So, I was ecstatic to finally see the bandages fall of and reveal a pair of fluffy, feathery grey wings. I cant believe I didnt feel them before, because now that they were free, and I was thinking about it, I could feel every trace of wind. I could feel Redhearts breath as she examined them, gentle hooves checking for fractures. It was indescribable but amazing, and I grinned like a fool as I ran a hoof along the feathers.

"Wow. Nice set of wings, Cloud. Good span, you should have some speed on you." Rainbow Dash said, leaning over the edge of the bed to analyze my new favorite limbs. Wait. . .was she blushing? Yeah she was. Noticing that made me blush too, and look away. I could hear her cough awkwardly, shuffling around on the bed. I stared pointedly at the ceiling, before looking down to glare at a snickering nurse. She shook her head, as she jotted down some things on a clipboard.

"All's well, Mr. Cloud. But I would avoid flying for a day or two." She trotted over to examine Rainbow Dash, leaving me relatively alone to my thoughts. Specifically, thoughts of Rainbow and why she was blushing. I looked my self over, nothing but a cast on my leg now. My fur was rather matted and unclean looking, particularly where the bandage around my chest was. Of course, I used to be a human, so my opinion on pony appearance wasnt worth much.

"Then why did you think she was beautiful?" I whispered to myself, glancing over at Rainbow. She had her forelegs crossed and was pouting as Redheart told her something she obviously didnt want to hear.

"No flying for a week. If you do anything more than opening your wing to preen, you might make it worse. And then it will take longer to heal. Got it?" The nurse said, reminding me of a drill instructor.

"Fine. . ." Rainbow mumbled, huffing. She obviously loved flying, and I hated to hear she would be grounded for so long, especially since it was my fault. Redheart nodded, wrote some more on the clipboard, and turned to go.

"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, but it's for your own good. By the way, Cloud. . ." She turned back, placing something in my hooves. It was a beautiful acoustic guitar, with a shining finish and intricate scrollwork around the edges and sound hole. I picked it up, reverently, a smile growing on my face.

"I thought you might like that. It used to be my brother's, but he moved on and left it. Keep it for a while, it's only gathering dust at my house." The smiling mare said, hoofing over a bag with various things, straps, tuners, strings, picks, that sort of thing. I grinned wider and gently strummed it, listening to how she sang.

"Thank you so much, Nurse Redheart. I promise I'll take good care of it."

     She merely nodded and walked away, leaving me to gently pluck at the strings. I had no idea how I was doing it without fingers, but it worked, and I could play just as well as I used to.

"Come on, sing me something else!" Rainbow urged, a wide grin on her face. She barely held back a squeak, and blushed, making me grin. I had never met anyone who enjoyed my singing that much. I was just about to start a song, when there was a knock at the door.

"Howdy Rainbow. Who's this?" An orange pony, with a blonde mane, and remarkably, a stetson, walked in, smiling at us. I opened my mouth again, this time to introduce myself, when I was interrupted again, this time by a white. . .unicorn? She trotted in, head held high, a small smile on her face. Her mane and tail, purple and curled, were obviously well kept, as was the rest of her. There wasnt a speck of dirt on her, whereas the other visitor seemed to scream farmer.

"Greetings, Rainbow Dash. Oh my, who's this? I didn't know you had a coltfriend, Rainbow. Come to sing her a song in the hospital, are we? How romantic!" at the end of that, she squealed in happiness, hooves clasped to her heart as she swooned back into the other mare. She didn't seem to notice how hard both Rainbow Dash and I were blushing, or our stammered denials.

"Rarity, leave'm be. They obviously aint too comfortable with the subject." The first mare said, pushing the white unicorn off her, who then stood and glared.

"Just because you cannot appreciate a little romance, Applejack, does not mean we all dont." She huffed, before turning back to me. I was still blushing, head lowered as I tried to turn invisible.

"What is your name, good sir?" She asked, still sounding ridiculously happy.

"Cloud. Cloud Wind. . .and Rainbow and I aren't dating." I said, quickly, so nopony would interrupt me again.

"Oh. . .of course not." the mare, Rarity, said, deflating a little.

"We're not! Cloud was just about to sing, so if you to'd hush, you need to listen! It's almost as awesome as me." Rainbow boasted, giving me a wink and a grin. I smiled nervously back, before looking at the other two.

"I wouldnt mind hearin ya. Sing somthin for us!" The other pony, apparently named Applejack, encouraged, sitting down in one of the other chairs. I looked to Rarity, who nodded and sat down as well. I gulped, and sat up, grasping the guitar, a little nervous. They were all leaning closer, smiling with anticipation. They really wanted to hear me sing, something noone had every shown before. I'll admit I loved it. It was nice to be complemented on something, especially if you loved doing it, too. And so, I relaxed, and started playing, the notes flowing like a river.

It's down to this

I've got to make this life make sense

Can anyone tell what I've done

I miss the life

I miss the colours of the world

Can anyone tell where I am

'Cause now again I've found myself

So far down, away from the sun

That shines into the darkest place

I'm so far down, away from the sun again

Away from the sun again

I'm over this

I'm tired of living in the dark

Can anyone see me down here

The feeling's gone

There's nothing left to lift me up

Back into the world I know

And now again I've found myself

So far down, away from the sun

That shines into the darkest place

I'm so far down, away from the sun

That shines to light the way for me

To find my way back into the arms

That care about the ones like me

I'm so far down, away from the sun again

It's down to this

I've got to make this life make sense

And now I can't tell what I've done

And now again I've found myself

So far down, away from the sun

That shines to light the way for me

'Cause now again I've found myself

So far down, away from the sun

That shines into the darkest place

I'm so far down, away from the sun

That shines to light the way for me

To find my way back into the arms

That care about the ones like me

I'm so far down, away from the sun again

Oh no... Yeah... I'm gone...

     I had done it again. I had sung my very soul out, putting so much into that song that tears were dripping onto the guitar. I had sung many times before, but now it seemed so. . Pure. So raw, and powerful, filled with more meaning than it ever had before.

     It had always been my dream to play for others, to touch them the way music has touched me. To give them something to hold onto when things went wrong. Something to inspire, to protect, something that would change the world, long after I was gone. Here, I realized I could, in a way I never dreamed of before. I could change the world in a way I had never imagined, and weave dreams with the notes I played. With the songs I sung. I could do so much, and I wanted to. I needed to.

     It was then, also, that I realized something else. I didn't miss being human. Sure, I'd miss fingers, but this, somehow, fit me more perfectly than fingers ever did. I felt. . .at peace, for the first time in a long while. I looked over to Rainbow Dash, who was valiantly trying not to cry, and smiled. I had no clue about this mare, but she seemed so special to me. I had no idea who she was, not really, but she meant so much more to me than any had before. It scared me. But there was something about her that drew me to her like a moth to flame. And to be honest, I really didn't want to fight it.

"That was. . ." Applejack gulped, tears shining in her eyes. I had almost forgotten they were there. She was sitting there, hat in her hooves, staring at it as she sniffed. Meanwhile, Rarity was quietly sobbing into a kerchief, shoulders heaving as she bawled. I started to feel bad, and set the guitar to the side, frowning.

"Beautiful!" Rarity cried, before sinking her muzzle back in the kerchief, as Applejack nodded.

"I've never heard anything like that. . .it was amazin, sugarcube." The orange mare nodded, as Rainbow Dash smirked.

"See? I told you he was awesome!"

     I was blushing again by then, looking at the floor. I didn't think I was that good, but apparently I was. I looked up at all of them, smiling softly.

"Thanks, you guys. . .it means a lot." I said, and they all smiled back.

"Our pleasure, Darling. Any friend of Rainbow's is a friend of ours. Especially is he can sing as good as you do." Rarity winked, wiping her eyes one last time. I smiled at her, and she went over and hugged Rainbow gently, ignoring the fact that the grounded pegasus didn't seem to like it too much.

"Get well soon, Rainbow Dash." She smiled at us all again, and left. Applejack trotted over and bumped hooves with Rainbow, wishing her a quick recovery. Then, to my surprise, she came over and offered her hoof to me.

"I hope ta see you round Ponyville, Cloud. Ya seem like a nice feller." She smiled at me, wide and genuine. I bumped the offered hoof with my own, and grinned.

"Don't worry, I plan on sticking around for a good long while." I didn't pay much attention to her leaving though. No, I was more focused on how relieved Rainbow Dash seemed to be, after hearing I was going to stay. . .