Farewell

Rainbow was finally dressed, black trainers and denim jeans, white t-shirt and a blue denim jacket. She had trouble with it at first, until Fluttershy helped her guide her wing and stump through the holes in the back. Rainbow's coloured hair was spiked with gel, and she felt as ready as she’d ever be. Standing before the door to their cottage, Dash placed her hand on the knob and froze, uncertainty gripped her. Fluttershy was immediately by her side, her hand finding Rainbow’s and giving it a delicate squeeze.

“What’s wrong?”

“I, I'm scared Flutters. What if they don't forgive me? I don't want them to hate me.” Her shoulders slumped with the admission.

“Give them a try, you might find that you start to understand how much we all love you.” Fluttershy placed her other hand on top of Rainbow’s, holding the door knob with her and giving it a twist before pulling it open towards them. “Now, one step at a time, come on.”

They took the first step out the door together, feeling the heat and gentle breeze of the early afternoon wash over them, squinting into the sun they lifted their free hands to shield their eyes as they slowly walked down the small dirt path that lead from Shy’s home. They smelled the grass, heard the birds singing in the trees. Reaching the White fence around the house’s boundary Rainbow felt her legs give in a little under her. Instinctively she lowered her free hand to her side, clutching at the bandages under her t-shirt which covered the entry points for the kidney machines tubes.

"You ok Dashie?”

"Yeah, I'm fine I just haven't walked much lately. How much further is it?”

“Not very far, about fifteen minutes if we take it steady, there’s a lovely spot on the edge of the Everfree. You'll love it.”

They walked on, Shy slowing her pace to match Rainbow’s, enjoying the comfortable silence as she walked hand in hand with her girlfriend, she knew this was going to be a good day and was determined it was going to be the first of as many as she could share before it was too late. Shy bent her head to the left, resting it on Dash’s shoulder as they walked, and Dash extended her right wing, wrapping it around Shy’s shoulder and pulled them closer together, their fingers still entwined.

Rounding a bend in the path they were following, they saw the clearing up ahead where the four girls sat on a huge red cloth waiting for them. Dash could see Rarity, Pinkie and Applejack having an animated conversation about something, and Twilight was sat next to them, her own lavender wings folded back as she had her head in a book, only offering the occasional comment here and there. Dash took hesitant steps as she got closer to them, not at all sure how she was going to be received, even less sure how she deserved to be received. Only Shy’s presence stopped her from turning and running away. Dash lowered her wing as they approached the seated group, only for Flutters to replace it with her own, stroking Dash’s arm with her outer feathers.

Too late to run now Dashie. She thought to herself.

They stopped at the edge of the blanket, saying nothing as the conversation between the four seated friends faded, replaced with a very pregnant silence. Rarity, Pinkie and Applejack looked at Dash and Shy with slightly agape faces, not entirely believing what they were seeing. Only Twilight seemed not to notice, her attention fully on the book in front of her. Her left wing still around Dash’s arm Shy gave her hand a squeeze, indicating she should say something. Dash ran her hand through her hair, casting her eyes about.

“H, hey guys……..” Was all she could come up with, suddenly becoming very interested in the ground at her feet, her cheeks blushing a fierce crimson. A thud told her that Twilight had dropped the book, her attention now directed at the two newcomers. Rainbow stood there shuffling her feet, she could feel their stares boring holes into her but she didn't know what to do, her eyes were furiously studying this patch of dirt like it would reveal all the answers to her if she looked hard enough.

After a few minutes that felt like hours Applejack broke the heavy silence.

“Well, lookee who decided ta rejoin tha land o’ tha livin’. Took ya long ‘nuff sugarcube.”

“Darling aren't you going to sit and join us?” Rarity offered after she’d composed herself, ever the lady.

Fluttershy let go of Dash’s hand, kneeling on the red blanket and shrugging off her jacket. Dash stood there, absently rubbing the back of her neck where the buckle of the collar was, eyes still on the ground.

“I, I don't know, that is, if you want me to……AAAAGGHH!! Pinkie!”

Was all Dash managed to utter in shock as she was spear tackled to the ground by a blurring pink ball of energy surrounded by a puffy mane of bright red hair that was Pinkie Pie’s usual way of saying “hello.”

“On my gosh Dashie you're back you're here of course you're here I couldn't tackle you if you weren't here I'd be tackling the air and the air can't be tackled and now you're back on your back oh wow it's been ages and ages and I missed you we missed you and no we’re going to have so much fun fun fun!!!”

Pinkie finally paused for breath and was about to launch into another verbal assault when the hyper excited girl was surrounded by a lavender bubble, and Twilight used her magic to levitate Pinkie off of Rainbow, allowing her to push herself up to a sitting position.

“Afternoon Rainbow.” Twilight smirked as she set Pinkie down next to a pink cylindrical object Dash didn't recognise but which was obviously Pinkie’s as it bore her cutie mark on it. Rainbow clutched her side with a grimace as she sat up, her wince of pain was lost to everyone except Fluttershy as the others collapsed in peals of laughter at Pinkie being Pinkie. Unable to study that really interesting bit of dirt anymore, Dash looked around at the girls sat around her. Not really knowing what to say next she figured she’d at least try for an apology, and hope it sounded as genuine as she felt.

“Listen guys,” she began as the laughter died down, now really aware of all eyes on her and wishing they'd look someplace else. Fluttershy wrapped her arms around her from her position behind Dash, giving her quiet support.

“Y’all ‘right sugar?”

“Take your time darling.”

Pinkie just bounced there saying nothing as Twilight had her hand over her mouth to silence her before another hurricane broke out, and the lavender Alicorn smiled her encouragement. After a few more seconds of silence Twi leant forward slightly.

“You know, as Princess, I could just order you to speak”.

Fluttershy let out a little squeak from behind Dash “ Oh, er, could you? I didn’t know you had that kind of power, you aren’t going to are you? I mean, if that's alright with you and if you wouldn't mind that is…..” Shy’s voice trailed off to a whisper as it always did when she was nervous.

"Darn it Twi, now y’all gone and made her nervy again.” Applejack leant over and dealt Twilight a friendly swat on her shoulder. “Don’t you worry none sugar, Twi ain't gonna be all princessy wi’ us, we know her too well remember?”

Rarity suppressed a giggle as she watched the exchange in front of her before addressing Rainbow once more. “What was it you wanted to say, Dashie dear?”

Rainbow looked at Rarity like she was going to be violently sick, “I had this whole speech planned out, what I was going to say to you guys, but, I, I, well you know I suck with words……” She felt Flutters gently kiss the back of her neck then, still holding her tight, and she felt the burning tears form in her eyes. Her friends had never seen her cry, not ever. She was always more concerned about her stupid reputation. First time for everything, she thought. Dash brought her hands to her eyes as her shoulders heaved, then through the loud heavy sobs to the stunned audience she managed to drag the simple words from her heart. “I, I, I’m sorry guys. I’m so sorry…….” She couldn’t say anymore, her voice failed her as she gave way to her tears. One by one they all moved in for a massive group hug, nobody said anything, there was nothing to say, they just held Rainbow Dash in their arms, six young ladies reunited as friends and brought together as a family once more.

They sat together like that until Dash bought her sobbing under control, and started to breathe normally once more. As they broke apart they were all dabbing at their eyes, each of them having gave way to tears.

“So, am I forgiven?” Rainbow asked, a cocky grin threatening to surface on her lips.

“Darling, you were always forgiven, we just wanted you back, before it was too late.”

Rainbows burgeoning smile faltered then, at the mention of time. She’d have to talk to them about that, but not yet.

"So, we gonna eat this here grub or we gonna flap our gums some more?" Applejack brought the groups attention to the huge spread laid out in the blanket, that had gone wholly unnoticed during the reconciliation. Rainbow had to admit it all looked awesome! There were apple pies, fritters, tea cakes, pancakes, muffins, cupcakes, even those super rare rainbow apples that Applejack’s family grew on their farm. As they all started eating, a sly thought popped into Dash’s head. Grinning she looked over at Twilight.

“Hey, egghead.” As Twi looked over at Rainbow about to come back with a witty retort she added, “You didn’t make any of these did ya?”

The Alicorn blinked her eyes twice, she knew she was being baited. “No jocktard I didn’t, and you know how you can tell? Because..”

“THEY’RE ALL EDIBLE!!!!” Chorused the five others in unison before falling about in tears of laughter.

“Sorry, sorry Twi.” They all mumbled through snorts of giggles, even Twilight joined in, seeing the joke.

“You're all evil cows and I hate you.” Twilight snickered at them. Laughter erupted again, and Rainbow laid back amongst her four friends and girlfriend, she felt better than she had for a very long time.

The rest of the afternoon passed like that, the six of them sharing jokes, sharing stories, filling Rainbow in on what had happened to them all after her accident. She’d asked them all about dropping out of university, and what they were doing now. She was worried they’d all be pissed at her for ruining their educations and their futures, but she couldn’t have been more wrong. As Applejack had so subtly put it, they would have been up the shitter had Celestia and Luna not intervened on their behalfs. Then Pinkie and Rarity picked up the story, about how Twilight had been given the most mahoosive library to run and live in, as it came with a house on the side so grand it made Diamond Tiara twitch every time she saw Twilight. Rarity told her how she’d been gifted the town malls four story boutique to run, and that the top floor was hers to live in. Applejack carried on, saying that as they couldn't give her Sweet Apple Acres Farm as it was going to be left to her anyway when Granny Smith passed on, the royal sisters had given her family an open cheque and told them to order whatever modern facilities they thought they might need. Pinkie was made the official party planner for the whole of the town, for any occasion, and had been granted a hand full of shops and staff that answered to her. Fluttershy finished it off telling her how her modest animal shelter had been hugely overhauled, it now boasted a zoo, nursery and a vets, all with Shy in charge. Asking as to why the royal sisters would go all out like this for five girls in their mid twenties, Rainbow was told it was all to do with them being grateful for them reuniting Celestia with Luna, saving the whole land for what felt like a million times, saving the kingdom at Cadence’s wedding, and so on and so on……..As Pinkie put it, they felt like they owed us a favour. And that was that.

The afternoon was wearing on as the conversation moved round to Rainbow and how she was doing. Applejack had asked Shy how she’d managed to get Dash out the house, to which Fluttershy wasn't going to answer until Pinkie jumped in explaining it was Mistress Fluttershy, the red silk ties and the feather pulling that had done it. Everyone giggled as Shy blushed a crimson so fierce it matched the setting sun.

Suddenly Fluttershy stood up as if on cue, motioning Twilight and Rarity to come over to her as they had a hurried huddled conversation. Rainbow was just about to ask AJ what they were up to when the farm girl leaned over to Dash and asked her about the kidney machine at home.

“Don't think ah’m pryin’ sugar, but are ya ok being away from that doohickey machine o’ yours?”

Rainbow thought about it, remembering what The Doctor had told her back at the hospital. “Yeah AJ it's fine, I'm allowed to be away from it for a couple of hours, it's cool.”

Pinkie looked over to her, concern on her bubbly face. “Dashie, we've been here almost six hours, are you sure you're ok?”

Now that Pinkie mentioned it, Dash did feel faint. She put her hand to her bandaged side and pulled it away, trying to hide the sickly green fluid staining her fingers. Rainbow moved her stained hand to get mouth instinctively as she coughed, tasted the coppery tang of the blood as it hit her palm. There was no hiding that, Rainbow knew Applejack had seen it.

AJ got up from Rainbow and ran over to where Rarity, Twilight and Flutters were huddled. “Hey, if y’all are gonna do what ya plannin’ ta do then ya need ta get a shift on, she ain't doin’ too good over there, she needs that machine an’ lickety split!”

Fluttershy looked over at her Dashie laying on the red blanket. She couldn't see the foul green fluid staining her side. With a nod to Rare and Twi she unfurled her wings to their fullest span and shot off into the darkening sky. She flew and flew, getting ever higher until the ground was a smudge and the details were lost. She’d never flown this high before. Steadying herself she waited for the tingly buzz of magic to find her. She knew this high up it'd take longer than their practice sessions. She was going to dive for the ground as the magic would pull her, adding the extra speed she needed to pull this off.

There it was, the buzz and the telltale white and lavender glow aura. She was ready. Tucking her wings in, she dropped earthward like a yellow bullet.

On the ground Rainbow could see a streak of yellow shooting their way. In a panic she tried to get up, to signal AJ something was wrong “Applejack she’s gonna kill herself!”

Instead of concern the farm girl laughed in Dash’s ear (her head was on AJ’s knees for support). “Hush now sugarcube, y’all gonna wanna see this, they been practising it for weeks jus’ for you.”

Dash watched in mounting horror as Fluttershy screamed towards the ground at what she judged were near Rain-boom speeds, but, surely she wouldn't, would she?

At the very last second Shy pulled up, a huge pink explosion the colour of her long hair radiated behind her, not a circular rain-boom, but manipulated magically into the stylised shape of a huge pink heart. As Shy rocketed overhead, beginning to slow down her pink contrail was grasped in the same magical hold, being twisted and formed into huge words hanging above and below the huge pink heart.

MARRY ME RAINBOW DASH

Fluttershy landed next to her Rainbow as Applejack and Pinkie helped her to stand up. Dropping to one knee Flutters asked the question hanging in the air. Swaying slightly, feeling dazed and light headed, Dash looked at her girlfriend kneeling before her. She knew her answer. What else could it be?

“Yes, Flutters, a million times yes.”

The effort of replying felt like she’d flew a marathon. Rainbow was spent. Shy leapt up to kiss her lips, she saw the red trail from her mouth but kissed her anyway, not caring she was tasting Dash’s blood in her own mouth. At that moment Pinkie leapt in the air, a screech of “INCOMING!!” Her only warning. She hit the pressure pad beside the cylinder Dash had saw earlier and it exploded like a million party poppers at once, showering Rainbow and Flutters in streamers, confetti, glitter and inflated balloons.

Rainbow couldn't help but laugh, she swayed even more but Fluttershy caught her in her winged embrace, holding her fiancé close to her. At that point Rainbow’s legs finally gave way, and she blacked out, held up only by Shy’s wings.