Rainbows and Magic

“Wow...you got pretty far...” Red Heart mumbled to herself as she checked on the two the next morning, the book she had given Dash was face down about halfway through the novel on the nightstand.

“I can't sleep...” she heard Dash's voice rattle out.

“Oh Dash...you really should try and sleep...” Red Heart said as she came around to look at the Pegasus.

“I tried...but I keep having nightmares...and every time I close my eyes I see her bleeding...” Dash said weakly.

“Well you're free to go...maybe you can sleep better once you're back in your own home.” Red Heart said.

“Maybe...I'll be back soon to check on her...” Dash said as she slowly crept out of the room. The Nurse said something, but she wasn't paying attention anymore .

As she exited the hospital, she opened her wings and fluttered them to prepare for takeoff. As she was about to jump into the air, something stopped her. She had caused Twilight to lose her magical abilities, she shouldn't be able to fly. She flattened her wings back around her sides and walked towards nowhere in particular.

After a few minutes she found herself on the outside of Sugarcube corner. She looked inside and saw all of her friends sitting there discussing something seriously. She trudged over and quietly said “Hey”.

“Rainbow! Whoa there Nelly what happened tuh you?” Applejack exclaimed.

“Yeah we heard a sonic rainboom and neither you or Twilight came back last night, she was out practicing Levitation on herself...” Spike said.

“She...she's in the hospital...” Dash said.

“W-What?!” Spike exclaimed.

“What happened?” Fluttershy asked.

“I was practicing my rainboom and I finally got it...but I didn't even see her...I smashed into her...she...she's pretty banged up but Nurse Red Heart took good care of her...I'm going back to make sure she's alright in a little bit...wanna come with me?” Dash asked. The five nodded.

“Now Rainbow, don't go blamein' yerself fer this. Twi wouldn't want that.” Applejack said as they walked.

“I know but it's still my fault...I can't change that...” Dash said weakly.

“You couldn't have known she was there, and you were flying so fast it wasn't in your control.” Spike said.

“Hey Speaking of flying...why aren't yuh in thuh air?” Applejack asked.

“I'm not going to fly until Twilight can do magic like before...” Dash said lowly.

“Wait what?” the others blurted out. Dash explained what happened exactly and how Twilight's horn was shattered. Surprisingly, Fluttershy knew a bit about this.

“Rainbow Dash, she didn't loose her magic completely. Her horn isn't even what gives her the magic, it just amplifies it. That glassy stuff is solidified magic, the longer the horn is the stronger the magic. It grows to represent the power...that's why the Princess' are so long.” the shy mare said.

“I didn't even know that Darling.” Rarity said.

“Um...after the thing with um...Discord...I asked the princess about it and she told me.” Fluttershy said.

“Wait so...so it'll grow back?” Dash asked.

“Of course it will. The only thing that would stop the horn from growing back is if their magic was completely sealed. In fact, you can repair the horn if you had all of the pieces.” Fluttershy started. “But I don't know the spell or exactly how you'd do it...” she continued.

“That's alright Fluttershy...” Dash said.

“...”

Nopony said anything as they looked at their injured friend.

“Man I'm exhausted...” Dash said.

“You need to sleep. Go on, get up on that bed and try to sleep.” Red Heart said, suddenly appearing in the room.

“Don't worry Dashie! We'll be extra quiet so we don't wake you up!” Pinkie exclaimed softly. Dash smiled and managed to fall asleep almost instantly.

“Ah thought she looked tired...” Applejack said with a concerned face.

“She didn't sleep at all last night...She said she keeps having nightmares...maybe having all of you here is comforting enough to let her mind be at ease.” Red Heart hypothesized.

“Well Ah'm just glad they're both ok...It'd break mah heart if either one of them, or any of y'all fer that matter, got seriously hurt.” Applejack said.

“The Feeling is Mutual...I should tell Celestia.” Spike said as he somehow acquired a quill and scroll.

“Ah, Hello sister.” Celestia said as Luna entered her chambers.

“Hello Tia.” Luna said.

“What brings you here?” Celestia asked.

“You seem a bit off. Almost as if you are worried about something. I wanted to make sure you are alright.” Luna said softly.

“Oh it's nothing really. It's just that normally Twilight would only ever be a day or two late with her reports- that is if she was late ever- and would have sent something explaining why she hadn't sent it yet by now...” Celestia replied.

“Well when was her last report? They are on average weekly are they not?”

“Nearly two weeks ago and yes they are usually weekly...she told me she was doing experiments with complete pony levitation so that might explain the tardiness of the report...but-” Celestia started but was cut off as a puff of green came in through the window and what looked like an envelope materialized.

“Well that fixes that crisis.” Luna said. Celestia smiled and curiously opened the envelope. A clipboard with what looked like the results of a medical examination was pulled out, along with a picture and a letter. Her curiosity peaking she decided to read the letter first. For Luna's sake she decided to read it aloud.

“Dear Princess Celestia- oh this looks like Spike's claw writing...- I'm sorry to contact you with bad news...but you should know as soon as possible...Twilight and Rainbow Dash had a big accident while the two of them were practicing and they both got hurt, but Twilight...almost died?!” Celestia read, horrified. She read on through the explanation of what happened.

“She's alright now, Nurse Red Heart insisted I send her medical information to prove that and Applejack made me send the picture so you know exactly how she is. Fluttershy said her horn will grow back...I hope it's true...Spike.” Celestia finished reading. She quickly looked over the medical chart.

“How bad is it?” Luna asked.

“Luckily not nearly as bad as it could have been...it says here a broken rib and a fractured limb, some heavy bruising and her shattered horn among other things...the only potentially lethal injury she received were the broken ribs this chart says and that blood loss was an issue but it's no longer a problem...I need to remember to send some unicorn doctors there...nurses alone can't do magical procedures and don't know the more advanced medical terminology...” Celestia said as she held the picture up.

Luna saw the pained expression on her sister's face and looked at the picture herself. It showed Twilight unconscious and wrapped in bandages, some of them stained red, and that her horn was indeed Shattered.

“Do you blame her?” Luna asked.

“What?”

“Do you blame Rainbow Dash?”

“No, of course not...if it is anypony's fault it is both of theirs...not just a single pony to blame. I'm sorry sister I can't stay here while she is like this...I-I need to see her with my own eyes...” Celestia said as she quickly got up.

“Sister wait. I know you want to see her...I want to make sure she is alright as well, she was very kind to me, but you can't just leave suddenly and turn up at Ponyville just as suddenly. Not to mention it would stress everypony out more than they need be...” Luna said. “I can take over here for you but not on such short notice.” she continued.

“...how long until you can?” Celestia asked.

“If it were up to me you'd be halfway there by now...but first we need to deal with the politics of simply leaving the palace, let alone the city...you know how long it would take to set everything up better htan I sister...” Luna replied.

“...two days. That is how long I suspect it will take...” Celestia said after some thought.

“Shorter than I expected...I know it will be hell for you, knowing your favorite student is hurt and you can't see her right away...” Luna said.

“...You can't possibly know...she is more than just a student...more than just a friend..I had never thought of children before her...she is as close to me as you are...” Celestia said. Luna didn't quite understand what her sister had said until she really thought about it.

“She is like a Daughter to you?” Luna asked. Celestia nodded. “But doesn't she already have parents?” she asked, confused.

“They are her foster parents, she is an Orphan...she has a brother but he is her foster brother as well...” Celestia said, plopping back on the ground where she had been laying previously.

“So you really do think of her as your foal?” Luna asked softly.

“How could I not?...I practically raised her from a little foal of five to the Mare she is today...I just want to see her alright with my own eyes...Remind me to thank Applejack for sending the picture though, it helps a great deal to see her even if it's not physically...” Celestia said.

“Alright Sister...shall we head to dinner now then and assemble the politicians?” Luna asked.

“Yes, I think so...” Celestia said as they got up together and walked out of the room.