Those Who Need A Friend

Once Rainbow was far enough away to where she couldn't see the house she landed atop a cloud and collapsed. It wasn't her injuries from the fight that made her cry, but the vice that seemed wrapped around her heart. She'd broken her promise out of sheer irresponsibility. She didn't mean to do it.

No, I shouldn't be upset. Rainbow reasoned with herself. He overreacted. I didn't even tell them anything... Maybe a little... Still, to attack me? She got angry quick, and punched the cloud she lay atop, then it wore off. She couldn't justify this with anger.

No... No I hit him first, and I was in his home. She sighed. Maybe Twilight can help... She's smart. Rainbow got up and took off for the library.

All but one of it's lights were off. It was closed, which was a good thing for Rainbow. She didn't need an audience. She landed on the front steps and was about to knock when a loud crash erupted from inside, followed by the shouting of a small angry dragon.

“I said NO!” Spike's voice roared.

“Spike pleeease?” Twilight's voice followed. “I just need a couple.”

“Well you're not getting any.” Rainbow took a couple of steps back when he heard the dragon's footsteps approaching the door. She was glad she did.

The door swung open, and Spike stormed past her without even a glance in her direction.

“Spike come on. They'll grow back.” Suddenly Twilight was in the door way. “Just one then?”

“What part of no-” He growled and shook his head. “I'll be back later.” He turned and started to walk off.

“What's going on?” Rainbow asked bewildered.

“I'll tell you what's going on.” Spike snapped, turning back around to face her. “Twilight wants to butcher me!” He exclaimed.

“What?” Rainbow turned toward Twilight who rolled her eyes.

“All I want is a couple of scales. That's it.”

“No.” Spike turned and walked off into the night without further argument.

“What do you need his scales for?” Rainbow was curious.

“I needed to know if dragon scales have any magical properties I don't know about.” Twilight explained.

“Needed?” Rainbow replied with hesitance.

“Okay wanted.” She admitted. “Anyway, what brings you here?” Then she noticed her ragged appearance for the first time. “Rainbow are you alright!?” She exclaimed

“I'm fine Twilight. I'm not hurt.” Rainbow sighed.

“Yes you are, there's blood on you, and your fur, your mane.” Twilight exclaimed.

I'm fine Twilight. Just...Can we talk?”

“Of course, come on in.” Twilight stepped aside and closed the door after Rainbow had passed, casting her a sideways glace with obvious discomfort.

“What's up?” Twilight forced a smile.

“Um... I kinda need some help.” Rainbow admitted.

“Help?” Now she was even more worried. “Is everything okay?”

Rainbow sat and waived a dismissive hoof. “It's not an emergency. I just... I think I may have upset somepony.”

“Who?” Twilight looked relieved but still concerned.

“I-I can't say.” Rainbow looked away. She hadn't thought this through. She'd have to break her promise again in order to explain the situation.

“Huh?” Twilight cocked her head to the side. “Was it one of the mares? Who hit you?”

“No, not them. I'd tell you if it was one of them.” Rainbow replied without looking up.

“Then who is it?”

“I can't say.”

Twilight regarded this for a moment and shrugged. “Okay, I guess who isn't important. You can tell me what happened right?” She needed to know what had happened to her friend.

“Yes.” Rainbow met her gaze again. “Yes I can.”

“Good.” Twilight smiled again. “I'm gonna get us some hot chocolate. It's chilly out tonight. I'm also going to bring something to fix you up.”

“That'd be nice.”

“Make yourself at home.' Twilight made her way to her kitchen, leaving Rainbow on her own.

Rainbow trotted over to the fireplace that was idle for the time and considered lighting it, but thought better of it. If Twilight wanted it burning she'd have lit it by now.

“Hold on, let me get that,” came Twilight's voice from behind her a minute later, two mugs and a small first-aid box levitating in front of her.

Rainbow turned to see Twilight's horn spark and a fire roar to life.

“Better?” Twilight sat across from Rainbow and placed the mug at her hooves and the other at Rainbows but kept the box in mid air as she opened it.

“Yeah.” Rainbow took a sip from the warm liquid and purred when it made it's way down her throat. Then flinched when something touched her head, enticing a small spike of pain.

“Hold still Rainbow. It's just a little alcohol.” Twilight concentrated on her task of cleaning the cut she found on the side of Rainbow's head.

“Sorry.” Rainbow blushed.

“Now what happened?” Twilight asked before taking her own sip of coco.

“I.. Well I sorta betrayed somepony. I broke a promise.” Rainbow started.

“What promise?” Twilight didn't seem upset by the news, but neither was she amused.

“W-well...” Her voice trailed off.

“Well?” She pulled the gauze from her head and sat it down. “It's not as bad as I thought. I don't think you need stitches.”

“I don't even need a band-aid” Rainbow retorted.

“Don't change the subject Rainbow.” Twilight snorted.

Rainbow sighed. “I met somepony yesterday. I can't tell you his name. I found him in the woods and he didn't seem... Right, for lack of a better term.”

“Right?”

“He was really jittery. Kinda nervous when he saw me. So I asked him what was wrong. He told me he was just startled, but he didn't seem to get any better. So I kept asking questions and eventually, and for reasons I can't explain, told me everything. It's bad.”

“Bad? Is he okay?” Again Twilight became anxious.

“Yeah yeah, he's fine.” Rainbow answered quickly. “He just told me some personal stuff, after making me promise I wouldn't mention it to anypony. I wasn't going to leave him there, at least with a clear conscious. So I took him back to Ponyville with me and we went to Hayburger. Pinkie and Fluttershy were already there. There's where it all went to hell. Pinkie upset him.”

“What did she do?” Twilight asked.

“Just bein Pinkie.” Rainbow shrugged.

Twilight nodded. “So what happened?”

“He left, and without thinking about it I kinda told Pinkie and Fluttershy more than I should have. Somehow he got into a conversation with Pinkie between then and now, and Pinkie told him. When I tried to talk to him all day he avoided me. When I did get his attention he yelled at me and I didn't know what at the time. So I left him alone. He's a guard and I didn't want to cause a scene.”

“A guard?” Twilight cut her off. “Sorry.” Twilight apologized when she saw agitation on Rainbow's muzzle. “Please, continue.” She took another sip of chocolate.

“Well, I was worried. So when I saw him go home I went to his place. He wasn't happy about it. When I wouldn't leave he attacked me.” Rainbow let her voice trail off.

“He what!? A guard?” Twilight's face now resembled anger.

“Twilight please. Being a guard has nothing to do with it.”

“Either way, who is he? We should tell somepony. I can write Prince-”

“No!” Rainbow snapped louder than she had meant to and lowered her voice. “No... I, I kinda hit him first.”

“But-”

“I know. I said he attacked me, but he didn't necessarily hit me. I hit him when he advanced on me.” Rainbow admitted, hiding her muzzle in the cup of hot chocolate.

“Then you had a right to hit him.” Twilight debated.

“No... No I didn't. I should have left. He told me three times to leave.” Rainbow's voice grew soft. “After we stopped fighting he told me Pinkie had told him what I did.” Now her voice cracked and she looked away, but she held her composure.

Twilight sat in silence for a moment. “So... You're saying it was your fault?”

“Yeah.” Rainbow met her gaze. “I feel bad for it now. I want to help him, but he won't talk to me now. What should I do?”

“I-I don't know.” Twilight admitted. She wanted to be angry that Rainbow had started a fight. With a guard none the less, but she didn't want to make Rainbow feel any worse. She obviously felt bad about it, and Rainbow wasn't the type to feel bad about anything like this. “Just give it time I guess. Maybe he'll come around.” She didn't like the idea of Rainbow talking to this pony again but she knew suggesting that would get her nowhere.

“What if he doesn't?”

Twilight just sat in silence. She didn't want to use the words, I don't know, again. That never made anypony feel any better. “Rainbow... You're just gonna have to wait and see.” Twilight sighed and let her head hang down. Though a thought occurred to her. “What did you tell Pinkie that was so bad?”

Rainbow shook her head. “I can't tell you that.”

“But Rainbow.” Twilight started. “You're fighting over it.”

“It's not about what I said Twilight.” Rainbow was becoming agitated rather quickly with Twilight's over protective nature. However she couldn't fault her for it either, and calmed herself.  “I promised I wouldn't say anything.”

Twilight frowned but argued no further. “You'll be okay right? No more fighting?”

“No more fighting.” Rainbow assured her.

“Promise?”

“I promise.” Not that my promises mean anything anymore. She shook the thought away. Stop it.

Twilight smiled and stood up. “Good. I want you to stay here tonight though. It's cold, late, and you're hurt.”

“Twilight I'm not-” Then stopped when she saw Twilight's glare. “Fine.” In truth, she was glad Twilight had taken the decision out of her hooves. She was sore, was cold, and really didn't want to be alone tonight. “Thanks...”