Farewell

Rainbow and Flutters floated gently on the water, reclining together in the little green rowing boat.

They’d found a little island in the middle of the lake and had both enjoyed their little picnic under the shade of an ancient leafy tree, it's leaves casting dappled shadows from the sun above.

After enjoying their snuggles on the grass for a little while FlutterDash had suggested they take their bottles of Sweet Apple cider to the boat and float together. Rainbow thought this was an awesome idea, immediately scooping up her bottle and a couple of spares for them both before carefully stepping into the faded green vessel and making way for her wife to sit beside her. Rainbow tied the mooring rope to the end of the little wooden pier and let the little boat float on the crystal blue water as she laid back on the blankets and pillow next to Flutters.

“I could stay like this forever, this is so awesome. I want more days like this.” Rainbow thought to herself as she cuddled closer to her beautiful pink haired wife. “Happy Mrs?”

FlutterDash gave a cute giggle into Rainbow’s shoulder as she answered in her usual soft tone “Well, yes of course sweetie, the weather’s beautiful, the lake’s beautiful and I suppose you’re ok too.” She finished with a cute grin that Rainbow adored.

"Anymore of that young lady and I'm tipping the boat.” Rainbow smirked, wobbling the boat gently for emphasis.

“You wouldn't dare.”

"Oh no?" Rainbow shook the boat a little harder, laughing a little at the worried look she was given. “It's ok Flutters, watch this.” She rocked the boat harder still as a wave lapped against the side. The unexpected impact tilted the little boat too far, tipping it over and spilling the newlyweds over the side. Surfacing in a fit of giggles they floated in the clear blue water, splashing each other like little girls. Flutters accidentally caught Rainbow in the face with a splash, making her cough and splutter.

Reaching up her hand to wipe away the sticky green water from her eyes she noticed it wasn't blue anymore, it was a hot slimy gloop that clung to her, giving off a foul smell as she tried to swim to the island. With a panic she found she couldn't move, that Flutters wasn't there. She was on her own, immobile in this foul smelling sea, it was pulling her down. Rainbow fought all she could, it was in vain, she was drowning in this polluted sludge. She took a desperate breath as she was dragged below the toxic water, down and down she went, finally she had no choice to release the breath, her next drawing in the slimy gloop that filled her lungs………………

Rainbow awoke suddenly, breathing deeply to steady herself. Remnants of the dream clinging to her mind. She recalled the lake, the boat, Flutters, but where had the nightmare come from? Her breathing returning to normal, she reached over to find FlutterDash asleep next to her, blissfully unaware Rainbow was awake. Shaking her head at her own silliness Rainbow lowered herself back on the bed, and snuggled back up to Flutters. As she draped her arm over her partner she felt a hot gooey wetness on her fingers. Bolting upright she flailed in the darkness for the light switch. Finding it she snapped it on, leaving a messy handprint on the wall. Rainbow screamed.

Bolting awake at the scream FlutterDash sat up alert, Rainbow screaming at her side. Wondering what had scared her so Flutters immediately saw it. The tubes of the machine had broken loose in the night. With nowhere to go the toxic fluids had built up in Rainbow until they’d leaked out if her in a sizeable puddle, soaking them both in the vile green goo. She had wet herself and vomited at some point in her sleep, the urine and vomit mixing with her intestinal fluids to create a horrid smelling slime. Taking it in Flutters noticed Rainbow was no longer screaming but laid next to her whimpering as she lay trembling in fear. Smiling a gentle smile FlutterDash stood up from the bed, and undid the zipper of her dress, allowing the soiled garment to fall to the floor, then quickly removed her dirty underwear. Once out of the clothes she moved around the bed to the still sobbing Rainbow, gently she lifted her wife to a sitting position. Rainbow hung her head in an embarrassed shame.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…….” She uttered in a pathetically small voice, not daring to look Flutters in the eye.

“Hey, it's ok sweetheart, let's get you cleaned up.” With an infinitely gentle touch Flutters unhooked the buttons on the front of Rainbow’s uniform, moving her arms through the sleeves and her wing through the hole in the back. Motioning her to stand she peeled off the soiled trousers then helped Dash remove her own underwear before attempting to remove the sodden bandages at her waist. Still sobbing Rainbow flinched at her touch, but relented as Flutters shhhhed her gently. Changing her mind Flutters picked Rainbow up in her arms instead, carrying her to the bathroom upstairs. A few flaps if her wings brought them to the bath, where Flutters used her wing to flip the hit water lever in the tap. She carefully lowered Rainbow into the rising hot water as she added a few relaxing oils to the water. Rainbow finally stopped crying as she allowed her wife to clean her, a few quick brushes with the sponge removing the filth on her body. Removing the bandages to clean the wound Flutters flinched as she saw the mottled green discolouration on Rainbow’s skin, spreading over her abdomen. “I’m going to call the doctor hun, you be ok in the bath?” Rainbow sighed in response and Flutters quickly descended the stairs to the phone.

While she waited for the doctor to come, Flutters busied herself clearing the bed. The soiled bedsheets were unceremoniously dumped in a black bag and went straight in the bin, the mattress bleached, disinfected and turned over. Finally new clean sheets and duvet were placed on the bed. The ruined clothes were placed in the wash basket, she couldn't bring herself to throw them out.

When Rainbow was finished in the bath, Flutters redressed her side with fresh bandages and helped her into a pair of pyjamas. Once again Rainbow found herself in her wife’s arms as the descended the stairs to the now clean bed. “Doctor will be here soon sweetie.” She said as she held Rainbow’s hand.

Smiling gratefully Rainbow squeezed her hand “Thanks Fluttersh..........I mean Dash.” She corrected herself with a small laugh “I, I don’t think I have long left babe……..”

“Hey now, none of that missy, the doctor will sort you out when he gets here.”

As if on cue there was a loud knock on the door. Answering it quickly Flutters let the doctor in, she was pleased to see it was the same one who had seen them back at the hospital when Rainbow had woken from her coma. She stood fretting beside the bed as he gave Rainbow a full inspection, checking her over and administering an array of tests. Finally he was done, and any hope FlutterDash had that it wasn't as serious as she thought were dashed as she saw the grave look on his face. Putting away his equipment, he sat on the edge of the bed, allowing Flutters to sit next to Rainbow before he spoke.

“I’m afraid it's serious. Due to being off the machine here for over eight hours, the toxins released into your body have gotten into your bloodstream. You have severe sepsis, or blood poisoning, caused by organ dysfunction. I’m afraid it has spread to your bowels and stomach, as well as other organs. There is nothing more I can do for you, I am very sorry.”

Flutters stopped him as he turned to leave “Is there nothing you can do?” He saw the pleading in her eyes, he hated this part of the job. “All you can do is keep her comfortable, she’ll be in pain at the end.”

“How long doc?” Rainbow asked as a cough overtook her, spraying bloody droplets onto the clean bedding.

“I’d say no more than a few hours. I really am very sorry Mrs Dash.” And with that he was gone, closing the door to the cottage as he saw himself out.

Rainbow fought to suppress her tears as she processed what he’d said. A few hours. That's it, that's all she had left. A few short hours. She’d be dead by nightfall. She held up her hands to stop Flutters swooping in for a hug, instead telling her to get on the phone, after all she said, in a voice calmer than she felt, their friends would want to be here. As Flutters dialled the first number, Rainbow asked her for a writing pad and pen. She started writing her favourite poem as Flutters called their friends, and winced as the first of many pains lanced from her guts.

The time had gone much quicker than Rainbow imagined. It was mid afternoon already. She was laid on the bed, it had been moved to face the window. FlutterDash was laid by her side, her left wing wrapped around her wife and her yellow hand entwined with the blue that held on with a weak grip. On the side of the bed nearest Rainbow sat Rarity and Pinkie Pie, her pouffy hair deflated and flat to her head. Applejack and Twilight sat on the other side of the bed. No one said a word. There was nothing to be said. They all knew this was the end, that it wouldn't be much longer. Rainbow was too weak now to look at them, but she knew they were there, that was enough. She knew her wife was next to her, she could hear her soft sobs at her hear. Rainbow gave her hand a squeeze with all the force she could muster, it wasn't much.

“You can't go yet Dashie, you can't leave me!”

“Hey Fluts, you still there?” Rainbow tried to flash her cocky smile, but couldn't.

“Of course I'm here, we’re all here for you.” She kissed Rainbow's cheek softly. “Rainbow Dash, you can't go, y, you just can't go. I, I haven't given you permission to leave me. I won't, I, I need you Dashie!” Flutter Dash dissolved into fresh tears.

With some considerable effort, Rainbow turned her head to her wife, ignoring the pain that flared in every fibre of her being at the movement. With as much of a smile as she could muster Rainbow whispered to her. “I, I'm afraid I’ll h, have to disobey that one Fluts, I can feel it, it's not long now. Let, let me go…..”

Flutters kissed Rainbow once more, holding her weakened body to her. “Go then,” she managed to squeak out, amidst her tears “Wherever you go, wait for me, don't forget me Dashie.”

Rainbow closed her eyes, a contented happy smile on her lips. “Hey, Fluts, remember the big race? That Rainboom, that was, that was just for you babe.” Exhaling one last breath, Rainbow’s chest stayed still. She was too weak to breath in, and a few seconds later her heart stopped beating. Rainbow Dash was dead.

Her head rolled to the right, no longer supported by muscles that had gone limp. With a soft bump it hit Flutters’ cheek, her hand relaxed its grip but Flutters refused to let it go. FlutterDash erupted in a wave of grief and pain, a despair so total it consumed her like fire would a sheet of paper. She buried her head into her wife’s body, not caring of the tears that streamed from her. Her tears were mimicked by the four friends around the bed, each lost in her own sadness and mourning.