Spinning Gears, Painted Letters and Onyx Gems

Hey everypony! So sorry about the wait, I just got back from a huge trip so me and Fandoms thought we'd make time to bring you guys a chapter. Don't worry! There will be more! Warning though for language. Enjoy!

The Aftermath

Beep. Beep. Beep. The noise of the monitors echoed through the eerily silent hospital room of the clinic. The explosion had been small, but loud and concentrated at the podium and it’s occupants, Ebony had been hit directly as she pushed others out of the way. Now, at the Runwick Manor clinic she lay in a hospital bed, covered in bandages, across her head, left hoof, and completely covering her chest and barrel. It had been three days, but the mare hadn’t opened her eyes. Nimbus sat next to her, holding her unbandaged hoof without a word. He had bags under his eyes, he hadn’t eaten, hadn’t slept, only drinking some water when it was brought to him. The stallion was a wreck, and the others weren’t much better off.

Circuit slowly made his way into the room, shooting a weak smile at the bat pony as he took one of the empty seats, a cup of coffee awkwardly balanced in his front hoof. He looked almost as tired at the other did, though the bags under his eyes were slightly less pronounced.

“Any change yet?” The stallion shook his head in response.

“No, still the same…” His voice was rough from disuse and his eyes were bleary. “How’re the kids?”

“Rainbow’s been fine, he was a little fussier then usually for a while but he’s settled back down again. Crescent’s still been having nightmares...With all the change he’s been going through lately, this probably hasn’t helped.” He sighed as he ran a gray hoof over his face, holding out the cup to Nimbus. “Here, you look like you could use this more.” The batpony took it and offered a small smile before kicking it back.

“That’s good to hear, I hope Crescent gets better, if it keeps being a problem I’ve got a buddy in the guard who’s head of a support group for people with PTSD. That should help him to get over it at least.” He sighed, setting the coffee down on the small table next to the bed. “Faust damnit, why’d you have to push me out of the way? I would’ve been fine, but you got hurt… and now…” Nimbus let out a soft sob and buried his head in the blankets around his girlfriend. The ‘pegasus’ let out a little sigh, getting to his hooves so he could awkwardly pat the other on the back.

“She’ll be okay..Trust me, she’s been through much worse, a little explosion won’t take her out..Especially when she learns who did it..” He sighed as he sat again, crossing his hooves. “You think you’d be up to hear what the police told me or do you need some more time?” Nimbus turned, looking at Circuit.

“No, I-I’d like to hear it… What’d they tell you?”

“Well…” The stallion made himself as comfortable as he could in the chair, eventually just giving up on finding a good spot. “They managed to identify the stallion with the bomb as part of a local ‘purist’ group. Just a bunch of racist fucks who think ponies are the ‘supreme race’ and want to get rid of all others. Ah..Pardon my language..” He cleared his throat. “Anyways, they know that the group had contact with someone in the prison Lit One is currently in, but they can’t fully prove it had anything to do with the attack..The leader is claiming they’re just friends with Lit so..Police can’t charge anybody. Not yet anyways.”

“Son of a bitch, we can’t even charge them? Please tell me that they’re doing something with Lit though. He tried to murder the mare I love Faust damnit!” The batpony exclaimed in exasperation, running a hoof through his already disheveled mane.

“They can’t..” The gray stallion muttered bitterly, gripping the arm of his seat. “As awful as it is, it’s not a crime to associate yourself with radical racist groups, especially since this is the first time anyone in the group has done something. They’re probably just going to claim the stallion strayed from the club and they had nothing to do with it..”

The stallion jumped up an gave a harsh kick to the wall nearest to him. “Faust damnit!! What’re we gonna do? What’re we gonna do… I-I…” Nimbus ran his hooves through his hair in exasperation, trying to get his bearings. As he moved around, a small box fell from his pocket and onto the ground at Circuit’s feet. The batpony immediately stopped and went silent, staring at the box he’d just dropped.

“What we’re going to do is wait and let the police do their j- What the hell is that…” His tired green eyes zeroed in on the box, slowly looking between the other stallion and it. His gaze slowly softened a bit as understanding dawned on him. “Oh Nimbus..”

The taller stallion crept forward slowly and picked up the box, opening it to show the ‘pegasus’. “I was trying to tell you, at dinner that night… I wanted to ask you an Adhesive for permission to marry her, since you’re her only real family anymore… Next week I was going to do it, we’d had this date planned and I’d gone all out. I found this one spot in the forbidden forest, I set up lights in this big beautiful oak in the middle of the clearing there… placed these woven rugs around the base, pillows, the whole thing… Now look at us, she’s in a coma and I-I don’t know i-if she’ll ever wake up…” Circuit let out a little sigh, reaching out his hooves to pull the bat pony into a slightly awkward hug.

“She’ll wake up..And when she does, you better ask her to marry you cause you certainly have my permission. I mean, you’re still going to have to ask Adhesive, but I’m almost positive he’ll say yes.” He tried to smile at him as he pulled back so he could look at him. “We’re going to get the guys who did this, she’s going to wake up, and you two are going to have a happy and big wedding to help us forget about all this bad stuff.”

“Yeah, o-okay… I just… I love her you know? A lot, more than anypony. I’m dyslexic you know, she figured it out, and she didn’t judge me or anything. She just, started reading to me instead of suggesting books for me to read.” He sighed, his shoulders sagging. “Sorry, I’m rambling…”’Circuit chuckled a bit, gently patting him on the shoulder before taking his seat again.

“You’re fine, Adhesive did the same thing when we got home after the attack..Thought he’d never shut up..” The stallion sighed a little bit, leaning back in his chair. “You should try and get some rest, I can watch over Ebony for you. And before you say anything, yes, I can notify you the moment she wakes up. Now shoo shoo, it’s going you no good sitting here worrying.”

“Are you sure? I-I can stay…” The stallion reasoned as he was being pushed out the door and into the hall. “Um.. okay then, I guess you’re sure.” He turned towards the lobby, past the changeling guards in their silver and bronze polished armor and bumped straight into Adhesive. Circuit managed to keep a straight face until Nimbus was gone, his expression crumpling as he looked at Ebony.

“You better wake up..”

Adhesive looked just as startled as Nimbus, nearly punching the dark coated stallion before he realized who it was.

“Oh ah..Hey Nimbus..What’re you doing out here? I thought you’d be in the room with Ebony?”

“I was, Circuit kicked me out.. Said I should get some rest.” He sighed and hung his head, ears splayed back.

“He’s probably got a point..” The green maned pony chuckled weakly. “No offense, but you look like crap. Have you been eating? Or sleeping? Or doing anything for that matter?”

“No, I-I.. To be honest I haven’t left that room other than to piss.” He scratched the back of his head before spotting the plush lobby couch, Ebony sure didn’t skimp on her clinic that thing was nice. “I am kinda tired…”

“Go, get some rest. I’ll make sure Circuit doesn’t burn down the hospital or something.” Adhesive chuckled as he gently patted him on the shoulder before trotting past. “Try and get something to eat too, and maybe a shower, you smell.” Nimbus chuckled at that and playfully hit Adhesive’s shoulder.

“Buck off, thank you by the way, for everything. I know you’ve been having some rough issues with all this Faust awful crap that’s been going on lately. But it really means a lot that you’re all here, with her you know? You’re like her brothers, and she hasn’t had a brother for a long time now. I’ve talked to Circuit but I wanted to talk to you too, you two are her family now, and I wanted to ask your blessing to ask Ebony to marry me.”

“It’s no deal man, you’re our buddy of course we’re going to be there for you.” Adhesive smiled at him, unable to contain his chuckles. They slowly died of thought as he stared at him, his eyes going wide. “I..W-wait seriously? That’s awesome! Yeah of course you can have my blessing!” The batpony visible relaxed, sighing in relief.

“Thanks man, this means a lot to me you know? And it’s gonna mean a lot to her too, after all this, I’ve realized something. I can’t live without her, it’s just, crazy you know? Sorry, I’m babbling, it’s the sleep deprivation I bet. Sorry, I’m gonna go lay down now, you’ll let me know if and when she wakes up right?” Adhesive chuckled a bit, gently patting his head.

“Yeah you should go rest up...I’ll ah..See you later. And yeah, Circuit or I will let you know if anything in her condition changes.” He smiled, nodding to him before going to go join Circuit in Ebony’s room. Circuit looked up at him as he entered, a weak smiling spreading across his face as the stallion wrapped his arms around him.

“Hey..”

“Hey honey, how’s she doing? And how are you doing for that matter?” The stallion asked his husband, a soft smile on his face as he looked into the shorter stallion’s eyes.The ‘pegasus’ sighed as he leaned back against him, gently grasping one of his hooves and giving it a little squeeze.

“No change for her..I’m okay..Did Nimbus tell you that he wants to propose to Ebony yet?” The mail stallion nodded in response.

“Yeah he told me, also asked for my blessing, I said yes of course.” Adhesive suddenly smiled, “You know what this means right?”

“That those two are going to get married?” Circuit pulled back a bit to raise an eyebrow at him, happy for the stallion coming to provide a distraction so he wouldn’t worry himself to death. “They’ll..I don’t know, maybe have children one day? What? What does this mean?”

“It means, my dear husband, a wedding! There’s going to be a wedding! And remember? Ebony caught the bouquet at our wedding!” He jumped in the air for a moment in glee. “Faust yes! And she said she didn’t believe in that kind of nonsense, ha!” The gray stallion paused for a moment before he began to laugh, chuckles bubbling from his mouth.

“Heh...Guess you’re right..You’re gonna have to tell her that when she wakes up, she’s going to flip.” His chuckles slowly died off as he leaned back against him, looking down at the yellow mare. “She will wake up..Right..?”

Adhesive began to say something when a rustling came from the hospital bed. Ebony jerked before sitting up and looking around bleary eyed.

“...Did I miss something?” Circuit stared at her with wide eyes, letting out a slightly strained chuckle.

“Well..That answers that..You should go get Nimbus dear, he’ll be happy to see she’s finally up..” The mail stallion bolted from the room with a large grin before there was some muffled yelling and a loud thump. Then the green maned stallion returned, followed closely by Nimbus who stood there in shock at seeing his girlfriend awake.

“Hey…” The guard pony finally managed, Ebony chuckled and held out her arms. Nimbus immediately went to her and gently brought her into a hug. “Faust I was so worried… Don’t you ever do that again! Oh who am I kidding? You’re gonna do it again aren’t you?” The golden mare let out a little laugh.

“If one of you are in danger then yes.” Circuit smiled at the sigh, sniffling a little bit as his eyes totally didn’t start watering at the sight. Adhesive grinned as he wrapped his arms back around him, giving him a little squeeze.

“Do you two need some privacy or something? Cause I don’t think I want to watch you make out.”

“Uh yeah, can you two, give us a minute? I’m gonna do the thing…” Nimbus gave the two a knowing look and widened his eyes.

“Oh, yeah yeah, right of course. Try to make sure she doesn’t break anything, the stuff here is expensive.” Adhesive chuckled as he took Circuit’s hoof, leading the stallion out of the room to give the two some much needed privacy. Ebony smiled at that before turning towards Nimbus.

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

“No no, not at all. I just.. Have something I want to say.” Behind his back the batpony pulled out the small velvet box he’d carried in his pocket for over a month now. “Ebony Teresa Runwick, you’re the light of my life, you’re a wonderful mare, I’ve seen you do the most incredible things easily. You’re brave, kind, courageous and loyal to a fault. You’ve been a leader, a friend, and family to those you care about. I’ve fallen in love with you, and I’ve realized, I want to spend the rest of my life with you if you’ll have me.”

He pulled out the box, opening it for the mare to see. There, on a small cushion, was a changeling ceremonial engagement earring. Made of silver with tiny rubies encrusted into the sides and edges.

“Will you marry me?” Nimbus finally managed, nerves overcoming him. The thousand year old being sat there for a moment, staring at the contents of the box, her mouth agape and her green eyes wide. She then looked up to Nimbus, then at the box, then the stallion she loved. Suddenly, Ebony launched herself from the hospital bed and wrapped her hooves around the stallion’s neck, tears in her eyes.

“Yes yes yes! A million times yes!” The golden mare pulled back to give her new fiancée a loving kiss before letting out an elated laugh. Nimbus took the earring out of the box and with a little difficulty, snapped it into place on his future wife’s left ear. Circuit slowly poked his head into the room, lifting up his phone so he could snap a picture of the two.

“Is it safe to come back in now or are you two going to do..Things..”

“Yes, you can come in, you all can come in. We’ve got news, very good news!” The hybrid exclaimed happily, she was practically beaming. It was obvious that she wasn’t just happy, the mare was overjoyed. “Nimbus proposed, we’re getting married!!!!”

“Wow I’m so surprised.” Circuit drawled as he slipped in, not even trying to pretend to be shocked. Adhesive let out a little snort, lightly smacking his arm.

“We’re very happy for you both but ah..Nimbus might have told us his plans to propose to your already.”

“Ni chai tan sho jio toriko no osoji!” The mare exclaimed, turning to her soon to be husband. “You asked for their blessing?” The batpony nodded and shrugged.

“They’re your family, of course I did.”

“Aww! That’s… that’s so sweet!” Ebony then turned towards her friends and smiled, grabbing a small device from the wall and pressing a button. “Attention, Joui kiklo shi horista nanji Nimbus tobiko oris nehji!” Suddenly the manor erupted in cries of joy and applause from all over, the entire place began to shake as nurses and doctors rushed in offering congratulations and well wishes.

“I’m going to pretend I understood all of it.” The ‘pegasus’ snorted, Adhesive nodding in agreement. “Well, shall we go get the kids? They’ll want to know, even if Rainbow won’t understand a word of what’s going on.”

“Yeah that’s a good idea, let’s leave them to it. I have no idea how changeling culture works, probably won’t ever really understand it.”