Shining in the Rain

“M’so sorry…”

Celestia could feel her heart shattering as she held her young student close, his head tucked firmly against her barrel. Arriving at Fluttershy’s home with nearly an entire contingent of Royal Guards had frightened the poor pegasus by quite a bit, but it couldn’t be helped now. The young animal caretaker was talking the physicians through every wound she had seen and treated so far, and they were comparing notes on long term treatment. Rainbow Dash had been taken outside to give a report to Sword Dance, so he could set up a proper search pattern for the offenders. Of course, with them being unicorns, it was very likely that they had already escaped, using their magic. Still…

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Dusk Shine,” Celestia replied softly, “Rainbow told me what you told her. There were four opponents, and they caught you by surprise. We never had extensive battle training.”

There was a soft sniffle from the young stallion, and he peeked up at her shyly. The look was so like the ones Dusk had given her as a colt when she had caught him sneaking a cookie at night, or staying up past curfew to read. Celestia’s eyes misted somewhat, and she gently kissed the tip of his heavily bandaged horn.

“I don’t want you to blame yourself for this, Dusk Shine,” she told him softly, keeping her “order” voice out of the tone, “I’m going to handle those mares. I just want you to focus on healing. Stay with your friends, you and Spines. Maybe… get out of Ponyville for a few days. NOT… n-not alone, please.”

Dusk Shine bit his lip nervously, slowly turning to look over at Fluttershy. She was flitting about the house quickly, passing various herbal remedies to some very thankful physicians. She glanced back at Dusk Shine during the transaction, smiling warmly and nodding, and Dusk’s cheeks heated lightly. Celestia hid her smile behind a daintily raised hoof; thank Mother her little colt had such good friends. Rainbow came trotting back inside a few moments later, and made a bee-line straight for Dusk, peeking nervously at Celestia as she settled on her haunches by the couch.

“I uh… I told the Captain everything I know, Your Majesty,” she explained sheepishly, “I’m sorry it wasn’t more. I just… don’t think anypony in Ponyville would have done this.”

“Neither do I,” Celestia replied immediately, “I’m more worried about ponies from other parts of Equestria. Nonetheless… perhaps it will be best for you three to go on a vacation of sorts. My treat.”

Celestia grinned at the wide-eyed smile that brought, inwardly chuckling. Hey, she ran a country that could farm gems. Equestria had a very sizable expenses fund, and this was something Celestia had no qualms at all about doing for her little colt. And while they were away and out of the line of fire, she and Luna could scour their country with a fine-toothed comb.

“W-where?” Dusk asked sheepishly, peeking around at the two mares, “I uh… d-don’t know many v-vacation s-spots…”

Celestia chuckled as she watched Rainbow’s chest and eyes slowly expand, obviously thinking of a place of her own; glancing back at the kitchen, she could see a quivery yellow ear peeking around the frame.

“I think your friends have some ideas,” she replied softly, chuckling again, “Just stick with them, my little colt. These two will take good care of you.”

And so would Celestia… she just hoped it could be done a little quietly.

*****************

“Mareami here we come!” Rainbow shouted eagerly, woohooing as she cork-screwed through the air.

This was going to be awesome! All expenses paid trip to Mareami with her two best friends (and a secret escort of Night Guard, but she could mostly ignore them), in the biggest and best hotel bits could buy. Mareami was well-known as a vacation hotspot; a pegasi cloud city, it had been located close enough to the ground that the water was a simple glide or rainbow-slide away, all the while boasting the amenities that only a cloud city could provide. Fresh fish, salt bars, alcohol bars, the best nightclubs outside Manehatten… the whole shebang! It even had a Wonderbolts stadium directly over the glistening waves.

Smiling brightly, Rainbow zoomed back to the chariot carrying her friends, with two stallion Guards pulling it along as quickly as they could manage. Dusk Shine was hunkered down in the back of the chariot, mouth lightly drooping; Fluttershy was grooming his ears, and she shot Rainbow a sheepish smile.

“He was g-getting nervous again,” she explained sheepishly.

Rainbow winced and nodded in understanding, glancing over at the bundle on Dusk’s back. From what she had understood, Spines had spent the entire night taking care of Dusk alongside Fluttershy, and had been woken up several times by Dusk’s night terrors. Poor thing had to be exhausted.

“M’sorry,” Dusk mumbled softly, gasping as Rainbow leaned in to give his other ear a gentle lap.

“Don’t be,” Rainbow replied softly, “But you don’t have to be nervous. Me and Flutters are gonna take good care of you, and you will love Mareami. The sun, the beach, the fun! We’re going to make SURE you have a blast!”

“T-they have just an amazing aquarium too, Dusk Shine,” Fluttershy added, both mares grinning as his ears perked up.

Such a nerdy little stallion. But if it makes him happy…

The chariot pulled alongside the new Ponyville Air Ferry; a massive boat hull suspended under a helium and magic balloon, they were one of the fastest ways to travel long distance in Equestria, besides trains. And unfortunately, no trains ran to Mareami. Fluttershy gently nuzzled Dusk Shine out of the chariot, while Rainbow eagerly got their bags, zooming down to their rooms.

...dang Celestia. Just how much is she paying for all this?

The master suite was enormous, boasting gleamingly polished ebony wood in almost every surface, offset by brilliant ivory columns and frames. The bedsheets to the single, king-size bed with bright white, while the frame and mattress were a dark black, and they looked incredibly soft. So much so, well…

“Whee!”

Bouncebounce. Rainbow Dash giggled faintly as she wriggled around on the bed, wings spread wide as she soaked in the amazing softness of the sheets, and the springiness of the mattress beneath. Man, this would make for the best naps ever. She idly hoped their room at the hotel had beds like this. She had heard from Rarity that some Mareami hotels actually had water beds, which painted an odd picture in Rainbow’s mind.

“Having fun, Rainbow?”

Meeping, Rainbow Dash sheepishly peeked up, giving a small smile at the giggling Fluttershy and a blushing Dusk Shine. Mustering her dignity, Rainbow Dash quickly spun back up to her haunches, flicking her mane out of her eyes.

“Yes. Yes I am.”

Rolling her eyes good-naturedly, Fluttershy gently Dusk Shine over to the bed, helping him stiffly crawl onto it before hurrying to settle their bags away. The trip would only take one day, so there was no need to really unpack.

“T-there’s only one bed?” Dusk asked shyly, peeking around, and both mares sheepishly flushed.

“O-oh um… we could a-ask for cots, Dusk Shine.”

“Yeah, I’m fine with that too. Only be for one night anyway!”

Rainbow Dash inwardly cursed as Dusk Shine’s eyes went wide, ears and tail laying back.

“N-no!” he instantly replied, waving his forehooves, “I-I… I should sleep on a cot, if anypony. I’ll just keep you u-up… stupid nightmares…”

“Yeah, not gonna happen, Dusky,” Rainbow replied without a thought, smirking, “We’ll just… have to share the bed, then. All of us. T-together.”

Hoo-boy.

Judging from Fluttershy’s own blush, her thoughts were straying to the same places Rainbow’s were. All the mares had talked about, at some point, possibly trying to court Dusk Shine. Despite his neurotic behavior and many quirks, he was also the nicest, most honest stallion any of them had ever met. They had briefly talked about forming a herd, but it hadn’t been long after that Pinkie Pie met Cheese Sandwich, and Rarity and Applejack had begun to develop feelings for one another. Rainbow would need to possibly bring that idea up to Fluttershy again… but only once they were in Mareami.

“R-right,” Fluttershy added softly, giving a gentle smile to the quivering stallion, “Go ahead and lie down, Dusk Shine. We’ll take care of you.”

Gulping noticeably, the purple stallion shyly laid down on his back, wings spread out and fore hooves drawn up to his chest. His tail flicked up immediately, hiding his sheath from view, though both mares got a quick view of it. Rainbow had to admit… she was impressed. Smiling, Rainbow settled gently against Dusk Shine’s side, leaning down to bury her snout in Dusk’s right wing, carefully preening his wing. Judging from his gasp seconds later, and the quivering in his sides, Fluttershy was tending to his other wing.

Dusk Shine’s feathers had a rather unique taste to them. While pegasi wings tended to be filled with sky magic, giving them a tingling, electric tang, Dusk’s feathers were a popping, crackling… almost fruity sensation. Whether that was unique to Dusk, or if it was an alicorn thing, was unknown to Rainbow, but she had to admit that she kind of liked it. Humming softly, she worked her way along the primaries, smoothing each out and setting them back in their proper place. As she reached the upper bone in his wing, Rainbow paused, a blush coloring her cheeks. This might be going a little too far, but… She placed the flat of her tongue along Dusk’s soft, velvety fur, tracing her way slowly down the velvet-covered bone.

“A-aaah… haaaa…”

Oh… maaaan…

Rainbow had to admit, the faintly mare-like moan that rose out of her friend was… quite encouraging, and she peeked sheepishly over at Fluttershy… only to watch in awe as her friend did the same motion, her eyes half-lidded, one hoof gently resting on Dusk’s barrel as he moaned out again. Sucking in a tremulous breath, Rainbow nuzzled closer to Dusk, focusing her laps and nuzzles at his outstretched throat, humming warmly. All three of them needed to sit down at some point and probably talk this out, but…. They could enjoy this closeness together, at least for the time being.

*****************

Dusk Shine had to admit, he was… pretty dang relaxed. And even a bit excited! Peering out the porthole in their room, Dusk’s eyes widened as he took in the sights of Mareami. The buildings, like Cloudsdale, were made up entirely of solidified clouds, though they lacked the ancient Pegasopolis grandeur and column-love. These were modern buildings, more in the style of Manehatten than any of the old-style pony cities, with skyscrapers rising high into the sky, and large rainbow falls gushing down to the sea below. The city had several layers, each connected by little steps of clouds; their airship was bound for one of these layers, very close to the beach. Several large buildings made up this resort, with enchanted grasses and trees growing atop the cloud. In the center of the resort stood a massive swimming pool, and Dusk’s wings fluttered a bit in excitement.

“Pretty cool- err sorry,” Rainbow managed, blushing faintly as she nuzzled the stallion, who had jumped nearly a foot at the sudden voice, “P-pretty cool, isn’t it?”

Blushing furiously- and mentally cursing his jumpiness- Dusk Shine gave a sheepish nod, glancing back out the porthole as the resort got larger, letting him see the dozens of ponies lounging about.

“I-it really is,” he managed sheepishly, letting out a slow breath to regain his nerves, “We seriously get three weeks h-here?”

“Yep! And Celestia’s paying for everything! It’s gonna be totally awesome!”

Paying for everything… Dusk Shine wasn’t sure how to feel about that. He knew that, practically, three weeks at a resort wouldn’t put the tiniest of dents in Celestia’s expenditure fund. But it still felt like mooching. And Dusk Shine was no mooch. No matter…

No matter what those mares told you when they laughed at your size.

Despite himself, Dusk glanced back and down at himself, ears laying back slowly. He had gotten a fair bit pudgy, and he wasn’t nearly as strong as he should have been at his age. Maybe this resort would give him a chance to work on that! Grinning faintly, not noticing the small twitch of his left eye, Dusk levitated out a small scroll and a fountain pen, getting to work on a new checklist. He didn’t notice Rainbow peeking over his shoulder, or the paleness that lightened her color considerably.

“Ugh… Dusk... “

“H-hold on Rainbow, I gotta g-get this done before we land…”

“B-but-!”

She squeaked as the airship suddenly came to a stop, and Dusk was off like a shot for the upper deck. Rainbow Dash stared after him for several minutes before launching to find Fluttershy, her mind still whirling around the headline of that checklist.

Three Weeks To Become a Proper Stallion

“Crap, crap, crap…”