Beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...

I heard that noise before, when I was in the hospital after I had broken my wing. Was I back there again? My mind was swimming, and I couldn't think straight. Bright lights shone in through the window, nearly blinding me with sunlight. As much as I wanted to get up, my body felt too damn sore, my legs hurt, and on top of that all I had a headache. My mouth also felt dry and my mane was sticky, my fur also felt weird to the touch.

I needed to get a bath, I think I still have blood on my fur, ew.

Suddenly, I became aware of another presence in the room. I was abotu to question who it was, but they already beat me to the punch. "Bout damn time, Cloudbutt." A familiar voice next to me chuckled, "I was wondering if you were going to wake up at all, jeez."

I looked for the source, my eyes still adjusting to the light. "L-Lee?" I croaked, goddess I sounded terrible, and felt terrible. I could make out a dark blob sitting nearby, I tried sitting up but the blob came over to me and gently pushed me back down.

"Don't move around so much, you got really fucked up." He told me in a soft voice, kneeling down next to the bed I was lying in. "You lost a lot of blood from those cuts on your fetlocks." Lee's voice was talking, but I barely heard anything he said, I was too happy he was alive. The overwhelming feeling I had in my chest was too much.

Using what little energy I had left in my body, I threw my arms around him and pulled him closer to me, I had to feel him against my body, hear his heartbeating in his chest, feel his warmth against my own. I held him tight as he wrapped his own arms around me, his hands stroking my mane and back, it felt nice and it was one of the many things I enjoyed about him. Hooves rubbing your back wasn't comfortable, having hands rub your back felt... soothing, it was a pleasant feeling that I loved and Lee knew it.

A few tears left my eyes, my ears folding back as I croaked out, "I thought I lost you, Lee." I wrenched my eyes shut, I wasn't a sap but... having Lee in my life changed that. I felt things for him that I have never felt for anypony else, a lot of things.

He chuckled softly, his breath tickling my ear. "You're not going to lose me Dashie," His voice whispered to me, his lips brushing up against the tip my ear. "I'm too awesome for that."

I could only chuckle right back at him, it felt good to laugh after everything that had happened. Everything that happened on that train wore me out, and just thinking of what happened made me sick to my stomach. Suddenly my thoughts turned to Scootaloo, and I was about to ask about her before an orange blur shot out from behind Lee and into my stomach, taking what little air I had in me out.

"You're Awake and Alive!" Scootaloo cheered, hugging onto my like her life depended on it, I could only hug the little squirt back with one arm, the other wrapped around Lee and pulling them both closer to me.

A part of me felt something just then, I felt... happy, not the normal kind of happy but... something else. I wasn't sure what...

Oh well, I'm sure I'll figure out what it is at some point... for now, I got my coltfriend and my number one fan with me.

And that's all I care about right now.

-ooo000=+=000ooo-

A Night With: Rainbow Dash 2
Written by: Dustchu.
MLP:FIM belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.
I own only my OC's and certain elements.

-ooo000=+=000ooo-

-ooo000=+=000ooo-
Lee's Perspective

Man am I glad right now. Rainbow's awake and from what the weird shiny unicorn dude told me she'll be out of bed in a week or so. I'm just really glad she's okay, I don't know what I would have done if Rainbow had... no no no no, don't think about that. I told myself, walking through the crystal castle. I winced with most of my steps, my clothes were battered and covered in blood, and I had yet to actually change them. My head, shoulder, and arms were covered in bandages, and from what the docs told me, I had a few burns, cuts, an that hole in my shoulder was going to leave a nasty scar.

Scar? I prefer badge of awesomenss.

Looking around, I have to say that this castle, hell this entire city was... really... in a word, shiny. The walls, the ground, the trees, hell even the ponies were all shiny. Like someone took a bucket of glitter and snorted it, climbed up to the highest point in this pace, and just sneezed aggressively for the next two hours. I heard this place was crystal themed but I think this is taking it a step too far. Eh, what do I know? I barely remember the empire from the show, and actually seeing it in person confused me a bit, but I'm used to it by now. Walking through the castle was pretty fun, if not slightly painful for my legs and on my eyes, the light coming in from outside shone into the castle and bounced off of the walls intensifying the light and... it hurt... like, a lot.

I don't see how these guards stand it.

I had left Rainbow so she could get some rest, her using up what strength she had to hug me took it out of her and she collapsed. The doctor assured me she'll be alright though, which I am glad for. Scootaloo stayed with Dash, I had some business with the princess I had to attend to. Princess Celestia and Luna had arrived a few hours ago after the train crash both of them along with Cadence having seen the crash from the Empire and sending out some help.

While I am grateful, I needed to now some things... specifically about what Sombra said to us... about what she didn't tell me. I can only think of one she that might be hiding something, and that she was Celestia. I trusted Celestia, she gave me a home, food, money and other aid when I was confused and lost in this world. That and with help from the elements, Cadence, and Luna, I had made many friends and lived a good life for the past four years, eventually becoming Rainbow's boyfriend and having a decent well paying job. Celestia and I were friends after all, and friends don't keep secrets from each other...

Right?

Obviously.

As I walked through the castle, I noticed that, despite there being a massive snowy landscape, it was relatively warm here in the city. Not by much, it still had a pleasant chill, but still warm... I liked it. I wouldn't want to live here though, while I enjoyed the weather, my home was in PV, in that old cottage I fixed up with everyone's help, and haven't furnished with shit. Gawd, I need to get some junk for it.

"I'm just saying this is rather odd," I stopped walking, my ears tuning into a conversation being had nearby in the throne room. Was that Cadence's voice? "How could Sombra have returned, he was destroyed wasn't he?" She asked. I crouched down, sneaking up to the door leading to the throne room and listening in.

I heard two other voices, Luna and Celestia were in the room. I contemplated going in there, but my curiosity got the better of me, so I just stayed crouched down as I listened in.

"Yes he was," Celestia had said, sighing sadly. "But as the tablet Twilight had said, he was going to return... though it seems he had come back sooner than expected."

"You... you knew he was coming back?" Candy asked her, seemingly shocked, so was I.

I assumed Celestia nodded before saying, "yes..." peaking out through the door I was hiding behind, I could see her looked towards Candy, one of her lecturing looks on her face. "I have expected for this to happen for years, when the Empire appeared for the first time in thousands of years and Sombra sought to take it back. I thought the prophecy had come true, but there was no warrior involved in his banishment. It was you and Spike who banished him, and now he's back to exact his revenge on you, Spike, and the Elements..."

Silence, then Candy asked. "What about Lee? Is he..."

The princess of the night sighed sadly, looking towards Candy. "He is also in danger here," Luna added, looking towards her sister. "He is not ready to combat a threat such as Sombra if he is not the warrior from the prophecy."

What are they talking about? I could totally kick his ass. Rainbow and I could totally take him on! if a baby dragon could kick his ass then so can I! I mean come on, I was trained in Jujitsu and other asian stereotypes, like Karate, and Tai Jitsu, and how to make damn good tea, and some minor fencing... tehe.

But then I saw Celly nod her head, her eyes locking onto Candy's. "I fear we might have t-"

I had enough, standing up and barging into the room I made my presence know. To my surprise I found the other Elements were in the room as well, their conversation cut short as I came into the room. "Do what Celly?" I asked, crossing my arms and fixing her with a glare. "Do what, exactly." If there's one thing I can't stand, its being treated like a baby who can't fend for itself.

The three alicorns stared at me, Luna looked at me with slight annoyance for barging in unannounced, Candy looked happy to see me, but also sad from what I may have overheard, and Celly... was stoic faced as always whenever something serious was being discussed. She stepped forward, returning my glare with a soft look, she said, "I fear we may have to hide you Lee, we can't risk Sombra getting his hooves on you." Celestia told me.

"Hide me?" I asked, I couldn't stop the slightly hurt tone from entering my voice. Looking over at the Elements I saw them trot over to me, Twilight leading them. "You mean you're going to hide me while Sombra comes to the Empire and tries to kill my friends?" I asked, getting a slight flush from Candy. "You really think you can just do that?"

Luna stepped forward as well, her eyes finding mine. She kept her face neutral, and her voice even. "Lee, Sombra is a dangerous foe, he is not to be taken lightly." She told me, her look softened and her voice pleading as she said, "we simply do not wish to see you hurt."

"She's right, Lee." Twilight came in and stood tall, I noticed she had gotten pretty taller now that she was an Alicorn. At least half a foot taller than everyone else. "Sombra imprisoned all six of us and we couldn't do anything to fight back, we were helpless." Twilight's eyes held mine, and I recognized the tone she was using as one who was trying to convey something really important, as if stressing it. "You don't have any magic, you would be destroyed by him, don't you remember the train?"

I thought back to the train, and the zombie... the eighteen year old I had barely fought off. Damn it she had a point, that thing was powered up by Sombra's dark magic and it took the three of us to hold it off, and even then it almost bit me. Damn it, I refuse to hide! I shook my head hard. "I'm not hiding Twilight." I told her, pointing a finger at her, then to the others before looking at Celestia. "Magic or no magic, I'm not hiding like some kind of fucking coward." I stepped up to the solar princess, my face getting up close to hers. "I've never backed down from a fight, eer in myentire life. Not on my own world, not in Ponyville when the Ursa Major came barreling through, or the Hydra attack in the woods, or even when the crusaders got snatched up by that damned Voidling!" I yelled, my voice echoing off of the walls. "I ain't backing down."

"You can't fight him though!" Applejack told me, coming and facing me. "Sure ya can fight off a Ursa and some of th' other small critters, but Sombra's a whole nother hoofball game."

I looked at the country mare. "I couldn't fight a lot of things AJ," I told her, rounding on her and making her back away. "But that didn't stop me from trying to protect my friends now did it?" I looked to each of them, my eyes looking into each of theirs. I saw worry, and slight fear. "My father was a United States Marine Corps Sniper, you know what that is? One of the deadliest fucking warriors on my world," I turned back to Celly. "He could take off your head from ten thousand yards away, in complete and total darkness, covered in injuries head to toe, during a goddamn hurricane, and you wouldn't even know it until it was too late." I backed up, standing tall and adding, "You know what he told me? Never give up, never give in, never back down and never surrender! That's my creed, something I lived with all my life..." I looked down as I thought about my dad, those final words he told me before he was killed in Iraq. "I've never backed down from any threat, past or present." Looking back up, I felt a fire in my chest I've never felt before, clinching my fists and staring the princess down, I said, "I am not going to hide Celestia, if Sombra wants my friends... he's going to have to fucking go through me and my fist!" I finished.

The throne room was silent, I felt my anger steadily rising and I had to fight to keep it down. I always had anger issues, but I had managed to keep most of it under control over the past four years of being here, I think this world mellowed me out a tad. But I was still angry, Sombra thinks he can threaten me and my friends? I'd like to see him try to come after me.

"Look..." I started, sighing. "I appreciate you guys wanting to keep me safe... but I'm not a baby," I told them, getting a few ashamed looks from the princesses and Elements. "I'm old enough to take care of myself, I've managed to survive after all the shit I've been through while here, right?" I asked with a slight smile, getting some nods and a smile from Pinkie. "Besides, Sombra... well, it put it into nice words, he's a dick monkey slathered in ass sauce, as long as I have you guys-" I gestured to them all "-my friends, we can take him on. You got the Elements of Harmony, four alicorns and one dashing and roguishly good looking human who knows how to fight with his body. We got this." I chuckled, finally getting some good natured chuckles and nods from the others.

Celestia only looked at me with a smile, shaking her head and saying. "Lee, you are by far the most interesting beings I've met." She looked me in the eyes, no longer did I see any intentions of hiding me. All I saw was unconditional love and caring for one of her friends. "You are told you can't possibly defeat a foe beyond your power, and yet you persist on fighting against him, alongside your friends to protect them." She chuckled as Luna and Candy smiled. "It is very admirable, and noble of you Lee."

I shrugged. "It ain't admirable or noble, I'm just doing what's right." I told her, walking over to Cadence and wrapping her up in a surprise hug. "Douchey mcgooberson is after mah buddy Candybutt and the Elements, and he ain't getting to them... these butts-" I gestured to Candy's flank and the Element's flanks. "-are my butts, and my butts alone!"

...

...

...

"Uhh..." Cadence blushed, coughing awkwardly.

"Don't deny it, ya'lls butts are my butts alongside Rainbow's butt." I smiled happily.

"Her butt is actually my butt, Lee." I heard from behind me, turning I saw Shining standing there with an eyebrow raised as he leaned against the door frame.

I smiled toothily. "Maaaaaaaaybe, but if Rainbow's up for it, it can be both our butts!"

... silence...

"Nope." he said, shaking his head adamantly.

"Aww, come on Shieldbutt." I pleaded, quivering my lower lip. "Double the butt, more cushin' for the pushin'!"

I got some snickers from Luna and a blush from everyone else as Shiny said, "Don't call me that."

"You know you love it!" I cried, propelling myself towards him like a rabid raccoon and grappling him in a hug, "TICKLE-GEDDON" I yelled, running my fingers across his back and belly at light speed as he tried to fight me off.

"Ahh! hahaah! Ahh! Candy! H-h-help m-me!" Shiny yelled towards his wife who watched on with an amused expression.

"I want in!" She cried suddenly, giggling and galloping over before joining, running her hooves over his body and tickling him.

"Traitor!"

Laughes filled the air around us, the tension from eariler long gone.

It was nice.

-ooo000=+=000ooo-
An Hour Later

An hour had passed since my declaration on not hiding, seriously, I was not going to hide like a wuss. Everyone had split up and went about doing their own things, I had stayed with Celly because I still had something I needed to talk to her about. We both had started walking, I guess she sensed I wanted to talk to her cause once everyone had left her expression had changed from happy to neutral, and she led me across the castle to... where, I had no idea.

Okay, ask her about what Sombra meant, then show her the wallet... she must know about him... afterwards, I have to find a way to fight decently if I came up against Sombra. I listed off, mentally counting off some random numbers as Celly led me to a balcony. Looking out I could see the city in all its shiny glory, and it was magnificent. Ponies could create some pretty amazing sights, and it was truly beautiful.

Celestia sighed as she looked out into the city. "This city is very old, Lee." She said suddenly, cutting off any chance of me talking to her. "Older than me even..."

I rose an eyebrow. "Older then you? That's a surprise, actually." I commented, hands in my jacket pocket fiddling with the kid's wallet. "Didn't you practically create this world?" I asked, wondering if the canon that she's practically a god is true. I never did learn of any god like figures in the history books.

However I only got a laugh, her chortles making me sigh. She had a nice laugh, one that I found endearing, actually. "Oh Lee, no, no no, I am not the creator of Equus." She told me, so it is Equus eh? Interesting. "The creator of Equus was an alicorn named Faust."

Well well well Faust is actually a legit Alicorn in this world? Hmm... I thought about that as Celestia continued.

"She created this world and everypony in it alongside the others, Odin, Sen, and Hest. The four of them combined their great powers and created this world and everything in it, and created us, ponies, griffons, minotaurs, dragons and so on." She smiled, her eyes shining from the sun. "They filled this world with many amazing things, but also a few terrible, things meant to test us all... Ponies were created in the image of Faust, while Griffons, Minotaurs and Dragons were created in the images of the others."

I leaned forward, propping my elbows on the balcony railing. "Back on my world, this one was created by a woman named Lauren Faust... she isn't an Alicorn though, she's a human like me." I looked towards Celestia, who likewise was looking towards me. "Our world was said to have been created by a massive explosion in the cosmos, just exploded into being and we evolved from like, nature and shit... others think there was a figure called God who created our world and everything in it, along with us, creating us in his image... To be honest I don't know which is actually true, we don't have any actual proof of the matter." I shook my head, religion isn't my thing, I'm neutral when it comes to that. "As interesting as it is to talk about how our worlds came into being, that isn't why I wanted to talk to you."

"... I know." She responded, sitting down and turning her body to face me.

I turned and faced her, sitting down myself and pulling out the wallet I kept on me from the body. I looked at it, then handed it to Celestia who took it in her magic, giving me a look that suggested she didn't know what it was. "Its a wallet, humans carry them around to hold their money and some other important documents like a driver's license, and some other stuff..." I looked her in the eyes. "Twilight told you about what happened on the train, right?"

"Yes, you and Rainbow were attacked by a creatrue Sombra conjured up... I believe she called it a zambie." Celestia giggled before she scowled. "Necromancy is a forbidden magic, to know Sombra is using such... creatures to do his bidding sickens me."

I nodded, they were pretty gross, but oh so fun to kill~ "Yeah... but after Rainbow managed to kill it... I looked around its pockets and found that..." She gave me a shocked look, probably wondering why I would do such a thing. "I also found something else."

"... what?" She asked, opening the wallet.

"... he was a brony." I told her, looking down at the floor. "He was like me, Celestia... Lucas Dunwoody, eighteen years old from Georgia... I didn't know him but..." I looked back up, her look saddened and upset. "He was like me, he ended up in this world somehow and he..." I looked away, clinching my fist and beating it into the floor. I let out a huff of air, then turned back to her. "Sombra talked to me during the fight..."

Celestia sat down the wallet, her hoof tracing the picture wthin before asking. "What about?"

I narrowed my eyes, as much as any asian could... anyway, and replied, "he said, she didn't tell you? I'm surprised." I unclenched my fists, laying both hands in my lap and crossing my arms. "That kid was like me, and he came to this world..." I pointed to the wallet and the picture within. "Did you know him?"

I waited for an answer, but she stayed silent, looking down at the picture with a saddened look. Eventually she nodded, "Yes... I did know him." She sighed heavily. "He came to this world thirty years ago, I found him wandering the castle with a candle stick held in his hands as a weapon."

Thirty years ago?! Jesus Christ... I sat silently and listened to her tale.

"When I confronted him, he looked shocked, yet happy for some odd reason. Before I could do anything he jumped at me and hugged me," She smiled fondly at the memory. "To say I was disturbed was an understatement, the guards had detained him and he tried fighting them off, but it only ended with him being thrown into the dungeon until I could figure out exactly what just happened." She enunciated with a sigh. "A few days later I had a talk with him, and he told me how much of a fan he was of me and this world, and was wondering if he could meet my sister Luna... I was shocked that a strange creature I had never heard of knowing about my sister, I told him she was gone."

"Let me guess, he asked about the Elements next?" I inquired, to which she nodded.

"Yes, that also perturbed me, about how a creature could know of my sister and the elements... The way he went about things, was vastly different form how you did it, Lee." She told me, smiling ever so slightly as she looked up at me. "You were, well... a bit scared, but you kept yourself calm and answered all of my questions as a diplomat would."

I couldn't help but laugh a little at that statement, getting a look from her. "Celly, I know I looked calm, but I was scared shitless," I told her, scratching my chest. "I was scared you'd send me to the sun if I said the wrong thing."

She only smiled. "Even if you didn't answer correctly, I would have done no such thing."

I found myself thinking back to that day, when Rainbow and her friends brought me to Canterlot for the first time. "Wait... was that why you looked so shocked when you saw me?" I asked her, looking down at the wallet. "Did... did I remind you of him?"

Celestia nodded. "Yes, I thought you were him for a moment, but you eyes, the smile on your face," she grinned, looking down, "your vulgar language," I snickered. "It was all wrong, you are vastly different from Lucas." With a sigh, she continued her tale. "Back to what I was saying, I had known of the tablet back then, and as I learned more of this human, I wondered if he was the warrior foretold from the prophecy..." She looked up at me, and to my surprise I saw tears collected at the edge of her eyes. "He was not."

"... Celestia... what happened to him?" I asked, scooting closer to her.

She sniffled, wiping at her eyes with a wing tip. "We had found an object within a cave to the far north," She looked out towards the snowy wastes. "Fifty miles from the empire, Lucas and I had figured it was what could be used to fight off Sombra... but we could not get to it." She bowed her head, the tears leaving her eyes and flowing down her face. "I had lost Lucas after we were attacked by a local Yeti tribe... I looked for Lucas for days after I managed to escape, scouring the forests and snow for him... but I did not find any trace of him..." She looked towards the wallet, frowning. "But you brought this to me... now I know what happened to him..." The alicorn choked back a sob, clearing her throat.

I looked down at the wallet and the picture... "Were you close to him?" I waited, then looked up to see another nod was my answer.

"He was like a son to me, Lee." She admitted, smiling at some distant memory. "He knew how to make me smile and cheer me up..." her eyes then looked up at me. "Like you do..."

I sighed, getting up and moving to sit next to Celestia, she looked like she was about to ask but I cut her off by wrapping my arms around her and pulling her in for a hug. I felt her flinch but she slowly relaxed and wrapped her own wins around me in a hug of her own, the soft downy warming my body as I patted her on the back. "Listen Celly," I said, moving my head to look at her as I stroked her back, my fingers running through her soft fur. "I know that what I'm wanting to do is dangerous... but you have to understand that this is how humans like me are... we protect our own, even if it might cost us our life." I gave her a sad smile, patting her on the back gently. "That's just who I am, I have to protect my friends," I poked my finger into her chest. "That means I have to protect you, your sister, my girlfriend, and the other girls... I can't let anything bad happen to you guys, no matter the cost to myself."

Ceelstia sniffled once more before returning my smile, pulling her wings back she nodded at me. "You truly are a brave and selfless individual Lee... I don't think I've ever met anypony as noble as you."

I scoffed, people need to stop making me out to be the hero. "Pfft, that's cause I ain't a pony, I'm just someone who's doing what's right." I winked, letting her go and sitting back with a grin. "I'm an asskicking human with more swag than Shining Armor when he crossdresses when he thinks no one is looking."

She just stared. "..."

"... I'm not kidding, I seriously just saw him like a few minutes ago in Cadence's dress making kissy faces in the mirror."

...

"He actually looked pretty good." I said with a straight face, eventually Celestia laughed, a real laugh this time and I smiled, chuckling along with her. "Heeheheehehehe."

Eventually we both stopped laughing after a bit, getting a good laugh in after crying is good for you. I should know. As I leaned back I kept my eyes locked on the sky, the beautiful blue colored awesomeness. I wish Rainbow was better, I want to race her around the city.

"Lee."

I looked over at Celly, noticing her with a thinking pose. "Yeah Celly?"

She smiled, her eyes glimmering in the sunlight. "... I think I may have a way to help you, should you choose to fight Sombra head on..."

I rose an eyebrow, oh really?

-ooo000=+=000ooo-
Rainbow's Perspective

I watched as several birds flew by my window, the blue jays and red jays soaring by with a few chirps before disappearing into the city's skyline out of my line of sight. I wish I was better, I want to fly so badly right now, because being bedridden sucks ass. A sigh escaped me as I turned to look at myself, my fur was sticky, my mane felt shaggy and gross, and I felt horrible all over. The doctors said I would be out in a week, but that felt like a lifetime of waiting, waiting I didn't want to do. I could be eating food, or hanging out with my friends... or hanging out with Lee.

But nope... I was stuck in this damned room, confined to the this stupid bed without anything to do. I was bored out of my mind, and my damned feathers itched, I needed to preen them or something. My eyes widened in alarm as my thoughts turned to feathers, feathers... damn it! I bashed my head against the back of my headboard and let out a groan of frustration, my damn bag was still on the train when it crashed... what I was going to give Lee is still on it... "Damn it damn it damn it!" I cursed, bashing my head again.

A deep chuckle brought me from my reverie. "Keep that up and you'll end up getting brain damage." I heard a voice say from the door, looking over I saw Applejack standing there with a smirk on her face, hat tilted back and her eyes locked on my own. "Howdy, Dash."

I sighed, sitting up and waving, returning the smirk to the best of my abilities, despite how I felt. "Hey AJ." I greeted her, beckoning her into the room with my hoof, she cantered over to me as I asked, "How are you and the others?"

"Well," AJ sat down on a chair next to the bed, the one Lee had sat in a few hours ago prior to leaving. "Rarity was pretty shaken up, fussin' bout her mane and all," she chuckled, I joined her with my own laugh. That was something about AJ I liked, her laugh was pretty adorable, andh er accent was enjoyable to listen to at times. "Fluttershy, Ah swear Ah thought th' poor thing was gunna faint, but she's doing alright. Pinkie Pie is... well..."

"Pinkie Pie." We both finished, nodding.

I stifled a chuckle, thinking about Rarity's messed up mane. "How about the crusaders?"

"Bloom is alright, she sprained her hoof but she's toughening it out, just like an Apple." AJ smiled. "Sweetie's scared outta her mind, th' poor thing. But she's still being tough for a little filly, Scootaloo is too busy bein' worried bout ya, wondering if yer're ever going to fly again."

A laugh escaped my mouth, "hehehehe, I'll be able to fly again, can't keep me down." I smiled, coughing slightly as I felt my throat and how dry it was. Now that I thought about it I hadn't drank anything yet. "Man, I'm thirsty."

AJ chuckled again, making me smile as she got up. "Ah'll see if Ah can't get ya some water, be right back!" She called out, cantering out of the room with a smile.

I could only sit back and sigh, my thoughts turning back to my bag... was it gone? Burned to ashes and lost in the snow forever? I hoped not, I kinda needed something out of it. Shaking my head, I thought, guess I'll find out whenever I get better. I closed my eyes, deciding to daydream a little.

Sadly, it was not gonna happen.

Suddenly, my eyes opened wide and my vision went white and I froze. I couldn't see, move, or even speak. "~Well, how about you find out now?~" The ghostly voice of a mare suggested, it sounded very... if I had to be honest... hot.

Quickly I found I had regained control of my voice. "~What?! WHO ARE YOU?!~" I questioned, trying to move my body but found I couldn't still, damn it!

"~Me? I'm... no one... really, no one you would know anyway.~" She replied as my body felt light, followed by me feelling a warmth wash over me, a sharp gasp escaped me as I felt the weird warm feeling go over... certain parts. "~Whoops! My mistake, didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable~"

"~What did you do to me?!~" I asked, fighting the feeling to groan slightly. The feeling had gone from the outside, but it traveled through the outside of my body and had gone inside... it got inside through a certain entrance and warmed the inside of my body quite a bit.

"~What did I do? Why don't you find out, Rainbow Dash~" She told me, my vision returning and I was back in the hospital room. My body finally back in my control.

I looked around me for the origin of the voice, but found nothing. I shook my head, my body feeling... better actually, I didn't feel like crap and... I flared my wings, no pain? I smiled as I checked my body, all the dirt, grime, blood and everything else was gone. My body was healed! I didn't even have any wounds on me, the bandages were gone and I felt great! Better than great actually!

"No-hohoho way!" I cheered, taking flight and soaring up, my body was all better! What did you do to me? I called out, but I got nothing... that was weird, why would she just heal me then leave? I shrugged. "This is great!" I then remembered the train and grinned. "Time to check for my bag!" I then zoomed out of the window, heading for the train wreckage.

-ooo000=+=000ooo-
Ten Seconds Later, actually a few minutes later

I flew through the skies above until I spotted the crash of the train, and I couldn't help but remember the other night when Lee was still on it when it flew into the ravine. I'm surprised he survived it, if I was being honest with myself, the train was completely messed up, the cars were mangled and the engine was scorched metal and steel. The snow around it had melted, and smaller piles of snow had accumulated from last night, but it wasn't very much. The car that we were all in looked fairly intact, so I flew down towards it, landing on the outside and looking for a way inside.

After looking around I found my way inside through a broken window, the glass was gone but the frame was crunched together. But I squeezed my way inside nonetheless and landed on the side of the wall. The car was tipped over, the glass lying in shards on the ground and the seats burned slightly from the fire that had spread throughout the train. I looked around on the ground for the bags, most of the ones above me had slipped out and fallen onto the ground in a pile. Thankfully they were all in good condition, at least. I rummaged through them, looking for my light blue duffle bag.

While I did that, I thought about that voice I heard, and what she did to me. Why did she heal me, and for what purpose? Was she a unicorn doctor I didn't know about? Or did she sneak into my room when I wasn't looking? Who was she, is she still around? looked up, my ears swiveling to pick up any noises that I may be not be hearing... ten seconds passed and I was convinced I was alone. I don't know of any doctors in the Empire who know any spells that could help me, but then again I didn't exactly look, I don't know jack about spells, only that Twilight knows a lot of them... did she? No, the voice wasn't hers, it was... older, more... regal and yet... I shook my head, I didn't know what to think about this.

I was healed, that was all I knew, as for why... well... I'd find out at some point I'm sure.

Suddenly a blot of blue caught my eyes and I smiled, "Gotcha!" Reaching out I grabbed the bag, my duffle was amazingly untouched, while covered in soot and being crinkled, it was undamaged and in perfect condition. I unzipped it, rooting around until I found the small wooden box that contained what I was going to give to Lee. It was small, maybe half a foot long and made of smoothed out oak wood. On the top of it was an insignia of two thunder bolts, this belonged to an ancestor of mine from the pre-discordian era. Opening it up, I saw the item I placed inside was still on the soft violet colored pillow.

A single cyan blue feather, and not just any feather... one of my primaries.

I smiled as I ran my hoof across it, to some it may not be very important, or even a good gift... but this was something that every pegasus did in ancient times, the tradition died out but my family - among others - kept it alive ot this day. I closed the box back up, putting it back into the bag and throwing it over my back before looking at the other bags. "Hmm..."

-ooo000=+=000ooo-
Lee's Perspective

"Soooooo..." I commented, hands in my pockets as Celestia and I walked through the halls of Canterlot... yeah, we're back in Canterlot, don't ask... She just up and teleported the two of us after the end of our conversation, needless to say we scared a few guards with our sudden appearance and my not so many shriek of terror, but they calmed down right quick when they saw who we were. Now I found myself walking through the halls with Celestia as she trotted rather quickly down a dark ass hall that looked like it lead to something epic. "Where're we going?"

"The Vault."

... wait what? "The Vault? Like, where you kept the Elements of Harmony vault? That one?" I asked, why would she bring me there? I knew she said something about helping me, but what could the elements do for me?

"Yes." Was all she said, why is she being so cryptic?

I sighed and shook my head keeping my eyes facing forward. The hall was very... shiny? I guess would be the word, not as shiny as the Crystal Empire though, while that was shiny as fuck, this hall had nothing on the Empire. Suits of pony armor was standing on either side, unused and collecting dust no doubt. I saw some really big windows like you'd see in a church, the kind that have pictures on them. I saw one of Discord being defeated by the Elements, one where all the girls got the Elements of Harmony, another one with Tirek being defeated and several countless others.

I wonder if I'll get up there? I wondered, laughing slightly at the ridiculous notion. I doubt I'd get up there, pfft.

Suddenly we stopped, Celestia stopping by a massive wall with a small hole in the middle. She bowed her head, and to both my amusement and confusion she stuck her horn into said hole. I was this close to laughing my ass off, if the lines near the hole hadn't lit up and started flying across the wall in a brilliant ray of light like something out of Final Fantasy. My jaw went slack as I heard several gears turning and the wall split into two pieces before sliding open, revealing a room with a chest sitting in it.

Wait a minute... how did I forget this, and aren't the elements in the Castle where Twilight lives? So this vault shouldn't be used anymore, right? What would she be keeping in here? I watched as she went inside, her magic grabbing me by the collar and dragging me inside. "Whoa whoa whoa calm down some." I said, chuckling nervously, what was she up to? Oh gawd I hope she isn't turning in Molestia, I NEED AN ADULT!

She flared her magic again, a look of pure concentration on her face as a tendril of magic snaked out of her horn like a tentacle and hit the wall behind the chest. It wasn't in the chest? Welp, there goes any Zelda references I could have used. I watched as the wall started glowing, and it too, started shaking. The wall glew with a reddish hue, a rather ominous color choice in a castle where there was nothing but happy shit. The wall then went down into the floor, and I was greeted with... a sight that made me think of King Arthur and that episode of Stargate SG-1.

I was looking at a cave, vines grew inside from a small opening on the far side with light snaking in through holes in the ceiling. I heard water dripping from an unknown water source, and in the middle, was a stone, and in that stone... was a sword.

My gawd, the Zelda reference is saved!

"Wat?" Was the only logical sound that could escape my mouth.

Celestia brushed past me and walked into the room, followed by me. I took in the room, it was big, a few old bits lay strewn about and around some chests I saw made of really old wood. A few other swords sat about, rusted with age and useless from the water. I saw claymores, shortswords, a few Roman Gladius'. But my eyes centered in on the sword within the stone, I stepped up to it, the light from the hole nearby shining directly on it as if pointing to it.

If that doesn't scream important, I don't know what does... and this feels a little bit like a cliche.

I looked back to Celestia, giving her a questioning look. She saw fit to answer by stepping up to the stone herself, eyeing the hilt with the slightest bit of disdain and sorrow. "This sword is what I think might help you Lee." She told me, looking at me with nothing but confidence in her eyes.

I looked to her, then back to the sword... then back to her... then the sword, her, sword, her, sword, her, sword, my pants, her face, sword, my foot, her again, back to the sword, up above, to the back, her again, the sword, then finally entered back on her... I summed up my predicament quite nicely if you ask me.

"... wat?" I questioned again in the most logical tone I could muster.

Celestia sighed, but I saw the smile on her face. "Lee, I said I would help you fight Sombra... I wish I could teach you a spell to defend yourself," a sad sigh left her maw as her eyes went elsewhere, escaping into a plume of white smoke. "But you lack the magical conduit all creatures on Equus possess, so the only thing I can give you, is a weapon... this sword." She looked up at me, her eyes searching my own for something. "Assuming you can free it, that is."

I looked to the sword, the hilt looked off... every time I had seen the sword Excalibur in like books and on TV, it was a great sword or something. But this one looked more like a katana, the hilt was colored red, black, and orange all twisting up along to the guard which looked like a ninja star knife jutting out at four points, the metal being black as balls. The blade itself was black as night, with a streak of dark orange going down it and disappearing into the rock.

In short, it looked pretty fucking awesome, and evil, but awesome!

"So you want me... to pull this thing out of the rock?" I asked, thumping the hilt with my finger and making a weird resonating sound throughout the cave. Trippy.

The Princess of the Sun nodded. "Yes, this sword has been down here for centuries," she started, trotting away to look around the cave. She would stop and look at some of the old bits and treasures lying around, occasionally sifting through some of it. "It was placed there by Faust herself, during the darkest era of our world..." She continued, opening up a chest and finding a rather ornate looking dagger within on top of gold bits. "This sword is said to be extremely difficult to retrieve, yet I know of three who have actually managed to wield it." She walked towards another chest after closing the other, saying, "Luna was the first to wield it, she used it quite well, thus giving the sword its appearance as your world's Katana."

That is so cool I can't even fathom the awesome awesomeness of such awesomery. I thought with glee as I wrapped my hand around the sword's hilt. It felt hot to the touch, and I felt a slight shocking sensation going up my arm but I ignored it.

"What is this?" I heard from somewhere.

Wat? I asked intelligently, looking around for the source of the voice.

"The second to use it was a pony named Heartlock, she was an earth pony hailing from Stalliongrad. She was vulgar, obsessed with finding treasures and hard to get along with. But she proved to be a very good ally in battle," Celestia smiled. "And eventually a good friend, she used this sword to protect her family and what friends she made, giving the sword its strength."

I didn't find the voice, so I shrugged and thought about this Heartlock character. She sounds pretty cool, Heartlock... hmm... sounds like someone that should be scavving Vaults from like, a Fallout story or something. I chuckled quietly, wrapping my other hand around the hilt. Another shock, I had to fight off a yelp.

"A new wielder?" The voice asked again, almost ammused.

For some odd reason, I tasted the flavor of orange. "And who might you be attractive sounding stranger?" I questioned the voice, feeling a weird hot sensation coursing up my arms, it was like, touching a hot piece of toast after a half of a minute.

Silence, then I heard a ghostly, "I am... here..."

"...I'm here too, doesn't esplain who you is though, now does it?" I retorted to the voice, pulling on the sword. I felt it budge ever so slightly.

"The third, was myself." Celestia finally added, stopping by a broken mirror and looking into its shattered remains. "I used it... to face my sister..."

I looked away from the sword and to the princess, this sword... "You mean, when Luna..."

"Yes... when she became Nightmare moon. I used it to defeat her in battle, making the sword turn into a twisted form of its usual self..." She closed her eyes from what I could see. "All of my hate and anger for what I did went into the sword, changing and twisting it into what you see now."

Then, suddenly, the voice came back. "Finally..."

I took that as my cue, pulling on the sword as Celstia sat down, sighing. "So now, I can only ho-" Celestia was cut off by a noise in the air around us, one I distinctly knew by heart~ "What is th-"

"Got it!" I cried, pulling out the sword and holding it up high like Link did. Celestia turned towards me in shock I think, if her face was anything to go by. The four foot blackened blade shining from the sunlight above, the resonating noise grew a bit louder but I ignored it. The sword was pretty heavy, but it was perfectly balanced and felt awesome. "This thing is pretty tits, hard to get my butt, Celly I think you were just over dramatizing it." I chuckled, holding the sword down and away from me as I smirked at Celly.

Celestia just stared at me with a gobsmacked expression on her face, her jaw slack and eyes wide. "You... you just, pulled it out, just like that?!" She asked, her voice half yelling, half what the hell even.

"Uhh... yeah... was it supposed to be harder?" I asked, holding the sword still as I looked down at it. "It actually slid out pretty easy... I'd make a dirty joke but... it slid out like a dick does... after fun times." I cackled, getting a look from Celly as she facehoofed, hard. "What?"

"Nothing Lee... nothing at all." She sighed, shaking her head and looking to me with a smile. "It would appear the sword has chosen you to be its new wielder." She informed me, much to my shock. "Let's all hope it will be enough."

I looked at the sword, suddenly it started glowing a bright white before I felt it gain a bit of weight. When the light went away I saw it had a sheath on it now and a strap I could use, "Sweet, that's convenient." I smiled, undoing the buckle the kept it closed and wrapping the strap around my back before snapping the buckle closed with a sigh. "Fits well around me," I said, doing a quick twirl and flashing a pose. "How do I look Celly~" I asked, leaning back, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow.

"Quite dashing," She giggled, looking towards the rock with a thoughtful gaze before turning to me. "Now we should see if you can actually use it." She said, trotting past me with me in tow.

"Wait, is this one of those swords that the wielder has to believe in some kind of shit to make it work right and treat it as an extension of their body and not as a tool, otherwise the sword will not work right and it'll basically be a really cool looking belt accessory?" I asked in one breath, heaving in some air as Celly gave me a look.

Silence for a few seconds, before she said, "um..."

"... I'm right aren't I? I've seen this movie lots of times."

"... I'm not saying a word." She said, huffing and turning up her nose as she cantered away.

I could only sigh as I followed her, hands in my jacket pocket as the sword dangled from my back. I wonder what will be in store for me next, and what was with that voice?

-ooo000=+=000ooo-
Rainbow's Perspective

I had flown back to my room with the final bag, breathing a sigh of relief as I put down AJ's bag onto the floor next to everypony else's. It had taken me about... ten, twenty minutes to gather them all from the train car and bring them here. I noticed the cup of water sitting on my nightstand and shrugged, guess AJ brought it after all. Moving over to it I grabbed it and gulped it down completely. Heaving a sigh and placing the cup down. I wonder where AJ had gone to?

"Ah swear Twilight, she was right in thar one minute, then th' next she was gone!" AJ cried from outside my room.

"How could she be gone? She's injured and can't even fly!" I heard Twilight's voice reply, confused.

I could only chuckle, trotting over to the door and placing my hoof on it. I twisted the knob and opened it just as Twilight tried to grab it in her magic, she stumbled forward but caught herself and looked at me, her violent eyes wide in disbelief. "Sup Twilight?"

"H-how could you be up?" She asked me, the other girls behind her and looking just as perplexed. "You're supposed to be bed ridden for the whole week!" Twilight yelled, her eye twitching... uh oh.

I held up a hoof, backing away slightly. "I don't know what happened Twilight, one minute I'm in bed complaining about not having anything to do, and the next thing I know some weird voice is talking to me, I can't see, move or even speak and then suddenly, poof." I said, making an poof expression with my hooves. "I'm all better, and I don't even know why."

Twilight's horn suddenly lit up as she galloped into my room, flaring her magic and looking around. "Are you sure you heard a voice talking to you?" She asked me as the others came into the room, standing next to me as Twilight scanned my room for, whatever.

"Uhh... yeah, I did, why?" I asked, tilting my head. "She seemed nice enough, considering."

"She?" Rarity asked. "The voice is a mare?"

"The voice sounded like a mare's but maybe it was a weird sounding stallion." I shrugged, gesturing to the bags over in the floor with a jerk of my head. "I decided to go get our bags from the train, you're all welcome by the way~" I winked, flapping my wings and hovering above the girls as they went and looked through their bags.

Fluttershy turned to me, flashing me a smile. "Thank you for getting our bags Rainbow," She told me, hoisting her bag over her back. "I had some things in here for the animals in the Empire that I don't think I could have replaced easily." She smiled sheepishly and quietly.

I only nodded. "No problem, what are friends for?" I floated back down as I was suddenly picked up and nearly squeezed to death. "Gack!"

"Its a miracle! You've been healed to full capacity!" Lee cried from behind me, spinning in place faster then I thought he could, crap he was like a fucking spin top!

"Shit!" I yelled, "I'm going to hurl damn it!" I yelled at him as he stopped suddenly, holy crap!

He fell to his knees, still holding me as he said, "I have healed you!"

"Uhh, no yo-"

"My magical pantaloons curing disease has cured you of your sneezing predicament!"

"I didn't have a sne-"

"YOU'RE BUTT IS FABULOUS~" He suddenly yelled as his hands smacked both sides of my flank, letting me go he pumped a fist into the air. "I got the power!" He then stood up and started doing a weird dance as music started playing from his jacket, making me raise an eyebrow.

Ooookay... Lee has lost his mind... or did he even have it in the first place? I wondered with a smile as Lee did his weird dance all over the room, somehow perfectly moving past everypony and not hitting anything in his path. Suddenly Pinkie Pie joined him, moving in perfect synchronization and matching his movements step for step. I could only shake my head, wondering what even.

My watching the two dance was broken when I heard a gasp from beside me. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight cried, casting my gaze towards her I saw Celestia had entered the room. Behind her trailed her sister and Cadence, along with Shining Armor. Twilight then pointed at me, much like a foal would when blaming somepony... Hey! "Rainbow is all better!" She said, "Don't get me wrong I'm happy but I don't understand!"

The Princess slowly walked into the room, her eyes locked on mine. there was no malicious intent in her eyes, just curiosity. "This is interesting..." she hummed in that melodic voice of hers. "Tell me Rainbow Dash... how did this happen?"

"Um..." I gulped, suddenly feeling very small for whatever reason. "I was just sitting on my bed, wishing I had something to do and wondering if my stuff on the train was still alright, when suddenly my vision went white, then I heard a voice call out to me, telling me I why don't I go find out." I explained, shifting from side to side. "I then started feeling really warm all over, and uhh..." I blushed, I wasn't going to tell them about certain places feeling warm, nor the uhhh... okay. "My vision returned and... I was all better, I don't know why she healed me though, but I ain't complaining." I shrugged, sitting down as Lee and Pinkie Pie finished their dance, sweating and panting.

"Nothing?" Lee asked, "not even a clap for us?"

"We worked so hard on that~" Pinkie whined, tossing off her hat in anger.

"I know!" Lee fell down, clutching onto Pinkie as she sobbed loudly into his shoulder. "All of our hard work is so underappreciated! The humanity!" He sobbed, his cries obviously fake along with Pinks.

I sighed as those two continued their crying, turning to Celestia as she lowered her head down to my level, then her horn started glowing. "Uhh."

"Don't worry," She said in a soothing voice. "I'm just scanning you for any unusual magic, just remain still." She told me, I breathed out a couple of times and nodded as she checked me. The warmth of her magic cascading across my body, it felt nice, really warm and soothing.

Everypony watched with growing anxiety, Lee and Pinkie coming over to watch as well to see if I was going to be alright. Lee had dropped his comedy act to focus on me, his eyes locked on my own with a smile on his face. I returned it with one of my own as Celestia finished, moving back with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Well?" I asked, wondering if I should be worried or not.

"What's the prognosis doc?" Lee stood up, his eyes finding the princess's.

The solar diarch hummed in thought as Luna and the others entered the room, standing by her on either side. "I'm not sure... there's an unusually high amount of magic coursing through your body right now," she told me, getting a fearful look from Twilight and Lee. "Its strange..."

Lee stepped forward. "Its not dangerous it is?" The tone in his voice was scared, scared for me. "Itsn ot like one of those things where she'll have all that and like... explode or anything, right?"

Thankfully the princess shook her head, getting a sigh of relief from Lee. "No it is not, as far as I can tell... I'll need to look into this some more." She announced, turning around and trotting out of the room. "I'm sorry to leave so suddenly but... I think I shall busy myself with trying to figure out this strange magic," she looked towards me, giving me a smile. "Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing to be worrisome about, enjoy your time in the Crystal Empire, Cadence will help you all out however you need."

Said pink princess smiled and bounced in place. "You're right about that!" She said as Shining smiled. "Lee I have so much to show you now that you're finally here!" She said, bounding over to him and hitting his sword with a wing... sword?

I got up and walked over to him, poking the long sword dangling from his back. "Lee, what's this?" I asked him, the other girls noticed it as well and came over to inspect the blade. The sheath it was in was colored jet black with a molten glowing red color going across it, it almost looking like a lava and giving it a menacing appearance.

"Oh, this thing?" He asked, pointing to the sword before sucking in a breath. "It's a really old sword that was thrown onto this world by a really old god called Faust who thought ya'll needed a swaggy sword that changes appearance and gains power depending on who uses it and is really hard to get like that one sword from my world that no one can find, but when I pulled it out of that rock it was really easy and now I have a badass sword to fight off Som-" He coughed and hacked before sucking in another breath. "-bra's ass with."

...

"AWESOME!" Pinkie cried, latching onto his back and looking at the sword. "Its so cool looking!"

Rarity hummed in thought. "It is very ghastly looking, but I dare say it fits with your clothing and compliments your jacket rather well darling." She said, nodding. "Maybe I could look into making you something to fit with that sword... IDEEEEEEEEEAAAAAA~" She giggled, running over to her bag.

"its.. um... really scary looking, but it looks nice on you Lee." Fluttershy said, hiding behind her mane as Lee patted her on the head, much to her delight.

"Its a mighty fine weapon Lee," AJ nodded. "Ah'm more of a hammer mare myself, if Ah have ta say anythang on the matter." She chuckled, getting a strange look from Rarity before the alabaster mare went back to her bag.

"Well, I have something to fight with now," Lee said, holding the bottom part of the sword and fingering the tip of the sheath. "If Sombra wants a piece of me, he'll have to go through this sword first."

With a smile, I nodded. Damn straight.

-ooo000=+=000ooo-
One Hour Later

I had waited until was Lee was alone before I asked him to come with me, it took a bit, but now we were standing on a balcony overlooking the city. The small box containing my feather tucked under my wing, firmly kept in place. Today was the day... with everything going on, I needed to do this while I still had the chance.

Who knows what'll happen tomorrow?

Lee sat silently, patiently waiting for me to do whatever it was I was going to do. I could only sigh shakily. "Lee?" I asked, getting his attention. Goddess I was so nervous.

He nodded. "Sup cloudbutt?" Lee asked in his adorable voice, one leg folded while the other was up, his arm dangling off of it as he leaned on the other arm.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "We've been together for two years, right?" I questioned him, already knowing the answer. He nodded though, a questioning look on his face. "These past two years have been... a real blast ya know?" I added, then his face started getting more confused, with a slight inkling of horror in his eyes. "And... I loved the time we spent together, and I just... I..."

Suddenly Lee's eyes grew wide. "Rainbow..." His voice was quiet... "Are you giving me a break up speech?" he asked, a growing amount of horror and hurt in his voice.

I gave him a look, then my eyes shot wide open. "NO no no no no no no!" I yelled, rushing over to him. "I'm not breaking up with you!"

Lee scoffed slightly, gulping. "It sure sounded like a break up speech... just like..." He shut up, turning away.

I sat back, geyeing his body. His posture was rigid and his eyes closed, I also saw his hand was clinched into a tight fist. "Lee?" I asked, putting my hoof on his knee.

He sighed, turning to look at me with a hurt expression. "How you said that, it reminded me of when my old girlfriend broke up with me... back on earth."

I stared at him. "You... you had a girlfriend before me?" I wondered, searching his eyes for some truth. I never knew that.

Lee nodded his head, sitting cross legged and saying, "This happened like... six years before I met you Dash..." He started, "I was dating this girl I had met in college, her name was Rebecca Richards... she was my age, cute, had a brain on her, and was pretty damn nice." Lee folded his hands in his lap as I got up and sat next to him, listening intently. "We met during a class, I had bumped into her and made her drop her books... typical boy meets girl situation. I helped her pick up her books, we touched hands, shit like that you know?" He chuckled. "Its really stupid now that I think about it, freaking meeting this cute girl after bumping into her, so damn stupid."

I extended one of my wings, draping it over his back. "What happened next?" I wondered who this human mare was, and what she did to my human to make him feel this way. Nopony makes my human sad, nopony.

"To cut this short... I ended up asking her out after I-" He held up his hands, "-bumped into her yet again for the third time that week." Lee explained, enunciating each word with an air quote. "She agreed, and she was my girlfriend for like, two years... same as you, and... she gave me that same exact speech you did, word for word before she broke up with me..." Lee looked down, his face defeated and his shoulders sagging. "I thought you wer-" I cut him off, moving so I was in his lap and my face was in his. I pulled his face towards mine and wrapped my lips around his in a kiss.

I pulled away and stared at him. "Lee, I'm not breaking up with you," I touched the side of his face, my eyes firmly locked on his. "It'll be a cold day in tartarus before that happens."

He stared at me before smiling, placing his forehead against my own. "Just... next time you think about telling me something, don't give me that speech..."

"Hehehe," I chuckled, "I just... this is really important to me Lee... I just wanted to say something profound." A scoff escaped me and I leaned back. "Look how that turned out."

Slowly, I felt Lee's hand on my shoulder and saw him giving me a smile. "It was a long time ago Dash, she was a bitch anyway and you're ten times better then she was..." He leaned in closer. "Besides you can fly, you're blue, and you'e the Element of Loyalty."

Lee... time to show him. I unfurled my wing slowly, pulling out the small box and holding it gingerly in front of me. "Lee, I want you to have this." I told him, holding it out to him.

Lee looked at the box before taking it from me slowly, holding it as if it were about to break. I almost laughed, but I held my tongue as he opened the box. I saw his eyes grow a bit wider as he gingerly picked up the feather and holding it in his hands. I sat in his lap still, holding my hooves to my chest and waiting to see what he would do, my wings were slightly extended and my heart was beating fast, pounding against my ribcage like a jackhammer as he ran his fingers across the feather gently.

I watched as he slowly smiled, feeling of the feather in his fingers. "This is really neat looking," he said, my expression not changing. "I love it Rainbow but... why give me a feather?"

Finally I tapped the fur on my chest, specifically the tuft I had grown out. "You've seen this right?"

Lee nodded. "Yeah, its cute actually." He giggled, moving his hand over to my chest and running his fingers through the tuft. I love how his fingers just glided across my chest, it felt... right. I suppressed the urge to shudder, grab his hand and assault his mouth with my tongue.

Looking into his eyes, I said, "Well... it's a thing some ponies do when they're with somepony they really, really... love, you know?" I put my hoof on his hand, pushing his hand further into the tuft. "We grow out the fur on our chest to show we're taken by somepony. So whenever a stallion or a mare looks at me they'll see this, and know I'm not up for grabs."

He slowly pulled his hand back, snapping a finger and saying, "So it's kind of like a promise ring?"

I tilted my head. "A what?"

"Uh, it's this human thing where two people, when they love each other a lot, they get these special rings to wear on their finger that they wear until their married or some crap like that." He said, waving a hand around.

Married... I shook my head, I didn't need to be thinking about that now, thanks a lot Lee. "I guess so? Anyway, this means," I put my hoof on his chest, pushing slightly. "That I'm your marefriend, Lee... and everypony will know it." I smiled at him as he looked at the feather. "And that feather, its one of my primaries, and its special... its an old pegasus tredition that my family has kept alive... I didnt think I would ever be able to do it, until I met you Lee..."

He held the feather in his hands, looking it over with a smile. "What does it mean though?"

I moved forward, inching ever so closely. "It means I'm your mare Lee..." I kissed him, he returned it, going a step forward and wrapping his arm around me and pulling me in closer. He deepened the kiss before pulling back, and I was allowed to finish. "It means that I really love you Lee, you're the only stallion for me..." I closed my eyes, leaning against his chest as he moved the box and kept the feather close. "I love you Lee..."

He kissed the top of my head, nuzzling me as he said, "I love you too Rainbow... thank you..."

-ooo000=+=000ooo-
Lee's perspective - Two Hours later

I had expected a lot of things... having Rainbow proclaim I'm the stallion for her and she was my mare was not one of them... I thought us being in a relationship was good enough but. From what she told me about the feather, this was important to her, and I was going to honor that. I think I'll ask Twilight what else it means, cause I had never seen Rainbow like this before. We had left the castle and were walking through the streets, her and Cadence showing me around. Rainbow was skipping along with a big smile on her face, she hummed a very lovely tune and cantered next to me.

Cadence knew why she was like this, her having whispered to me Rainbow is just really happy to have finally given me that feather, she blushed when I showed it to her. I seriously need to know the exact significance behind this thing. I looked up at the feather I had tied to the hilt of my sword, it blew gently with the wind and shimmered like a beautiful cyan colored crystal, it truly was a beautiful feather and I found myself growing more and more thankful Rainbow actually trusted me with one of hers to keep on me.

I feel like this week is actually going to be awesome. I smiled, walking forward as Cadence showed me some of the sights.

"And there is a very nice shop that sells a lot of nice flowers," She said, pointing at a small shop with a cute looking mare running the front, she waved at us and we waved back. The mare looking rather startled by me but she smiled and waved regardless.

This place was so nice!

Sadly, it was not to last.

"Hahaha! You got to be bucking kidding me with this right now!" Someone laughed, why does that voice sound so damn familiar, and annoying? Looking down I saw Dash's ears perk up, her smile gone and replaced with a shocked look.

I likewise shared that look as we both turned around, Cadence turning as well. Rainbow and I came face to face with someone I never thought we would see again. Goddamn it.

"If it ain't the monkey!"

Rainbow growled, flaring her wings. "You?!!"

The stallion smiled a toothy smile. "How are my two favorite assholes?"

Thank you, gods above... for making my day go from good, to shit.

"Who is that?"

I growled, "Its Firespin."

Author's Note

As always, this episode was brought to you by SHITE ROMANCE Studios and TL;DR Productions.

So errybody~ Nice to see you all again 8D I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the fluffiness I wrote, gawd I hope it was good ;v; I love romance and fluff, but I feel that I am terrible at it Dx I hope I did that feather bit alright, and the chest fluffers, I love chest fluffers.

Also read this!

Its very important and pertains to a later thing in this story, its the Smex part.

Yep... he's back, I brought him back... what have I done...

So, enjoy, read, review, upvote, downvote, throw a banana, go for it if you want to.

As always, any help, criticism and pointing out typos is appreciated. Just... add a comment on if you enjoyed the story or not, commenting about just typos doesn't tell if you hated it or not