Live&Learn

Clean version (almost)

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Rainbow Dash was flying as fast as she could… All she wanted was to reach her home and hide. Hide from the world, from the pain and from herself. Her chest hurt so much that was even hard to breathe… every pump of her heart was a new wave of pain, washing her body like a thousand needles of sorrow. Tears were rolling down her face, blurring her sight. No wonder that she didn't saw a gray pegasus flying towards her and waving.
"Hey Rainbo-…" The poor pegasus didn't finished her sentence. The cyan mare hit her head right on Derpy's chest and both started to fall, spinning so fast that they turned into a blurred ball of wings, hooves and fur. Both landed on top of Twilight's tree house breaking a lot of branches on the process.

Derpy's eyes were spinning a little as she was totally stunned from the fall. Rainbow Dash in other hand was already forcing herself to stand up. Her head was still spinning and her wings hurt. She flew from Canterlot to Ponyvile in half the time it usually takes. Now she couldn't even flap her wings to get out of the tree due to her exhaustion. A purple flash caught the attention of the two pegasi.

"Rainbow Dash!? Derpy!? What happen?" It was Twilight Sparkle.
"He..." Rainbow Dash started to say looking at her friend... Rainbow's face was all marked from the tears and her eyes had a reddish color. "He was with another mare..." Rainbow Dash said trying to not cry in front of the purple unicorn. "Eravel was with another mare on the bed...they... they were..." She could finish the phrase... it hurt too much.
Twilight approached Rainbow Dash and hugged her thigh, not sure of what had happen. Once rainbow's face touched Twilight's shoulder, the cyan Pegasus simply broke in silent tears.
"Deprpy... can you fly?" Twilight asked to the blond pegasus.
"Yeah! What happen to Rainbow Dash?" Derpy said standing up and frowning with worry...
"I don't know... can you go call Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity and Steel Head?" Twilight said still holding Rainbow, that was sobbing at her shoulder.
"You can count on me!" Derpy said dashing up and going to assemble the girls and the royal guard.

Twilight teleported herself and Rainbow Dash inside the library... The cyan pegasus was still crying on Twilight's shoulder. The purple unicorn only patted her friend on the back, trying to comfort her,
"Shh... Don't worry..." Twilight said but she honestly didn't know what was happening and what she could do to comfort her friend.

After a few minutes the library door flew open and four mares and one royal guard entered. They all had a really worried expression on their faces and their worry only grew as they saw Rainbow Dash's face all marked with tears.

"Rainbow dear, what happen!?" Rarity said walking closer to her friend, followed by Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus warped one of her wings on Rainbow's back.
"Twilight! What happen? Why is Rainbow like this!?" Steel Head said approaching the purple unicorn... She only sighed in response.

"Rainbow... tell them what you told me..." Twilight said to her cyan friend and all the looks turned towards her.

Rainbow Dash wiped her face with a hoof and then started to tell what happen. How she entered the room where Eravel was and saw him with another mare... And by the looks of her and the place they weren't just 'talking'...
"This is impossible... Eravel is not like this!" Steel Head said stepping to defend his friend.
"But it's true... I... I saw him with that gray mare" Rainbow Dash said serious, full of anger in her voice.
"Wait... a gray mare...? Did she have purple eyes?" Steel head said
"Yes... why?" The cyan mare didn't understood the relation.
"By Celestia... He was with Octavia!" Steel Head said falling on his haunches... a shocked look on his face.
"Octavia? You mean... that one that you..." Rarity said and Steel Head simply nodded.

"I asked him do deliver a letter to her for me but... I forgot to sign... He made she think HE was the one that wrote the letter! I... I just can't believe this!" He said standing up and stomping hard on the wooden floor. "I can't believe that he stole the mare I love!"
All the girls looked at Steel Head and then at Rainbow Dash... This was so unreal. They couldn't understand what happen to his friend... How was Eravel capable of such... disgraceful acts?

"Maybe is not him?" Applejack spoke. "Y'all remember when he got all crazy and started to attack us? Maybe he's just being controlled again."

"I don't think so" Twilight said "Eravel got control over his chaos; he's no longer a threat for us... There must be some other reason..."
"Whatever!" Steel Head snorted. "I need to go now... give a piece of my mind to Eravel and a little of my hooves too!" The royal guard said starting to go towards the door but Twilight grasped his tail with magic, holding him in place.
"Hold on Steel... Do you REALLY believe that your best friend would do something like this?" Twilight said with a frown...
"Well..." Steel started but he was cut by Pinkie Pie.
"Eravel couldn't do something like this... It's just... not him!"
"Yer right Pinkie... Eravel is always babbling 'bout honor 'n stuff like that!" Applejack said.
"So you are saying that I was lying?" Rainbow Dash snapped. "That I just invented all this!?"
"No sugar cube..." Applejack said coming closer to her cyan friend. "What Ah'm saying is that yer probably misunderstand the whole lot situation... Y'all say that they were drinking hard cider right? Well... Ah can assure you that if Eravel drank just a cup of it, he would probably be sleeping 'till next winter! The poor guy ended drunk with our regular cider."
"Applejack has a point there Rainbow..." Twilight started "You said that there was least three empty bottles right? Eravel would never be able to drink it all."

"Yeah? Maybe he didn't drink at all!" Rainbow said still with anger in her voice. "Maybe he made that Octavia drink it all so he could take advantage on her!"
Everypony in the room widened their eyes with that statement.
"Rainbow, dear... did you just listen to yourself?" Rarity said still in shock.

"What?" The cyan pegasus said still angry. Rainbow was going to say something else but Twilight hit the back of her head, making the cyan mare yelp.
"Don't even start it rainbow!" Twilight scowled.
"But..." Rainbow Dash said rubbing her head where the hoof hit.

"No buts!" Twilight cut her friend again and stared at her. "Rainbow do you realize what you just said about him? The he tricked the mare that his best friend love just to sleep with her! How can you even think of something so... terrible!"
"We should go see him." Fluttershy said finally. "He will probably have an explanation to all of this..."

"I agree... let's go see him in Canterlot" Steel Head said.
"Won't you be in trouble if you come with u?" Twilight asked.
"Nah... My duty is to look over the bearers and Eravel... He is already in Canterlot and if you all go too, there will be no motive that can hold me here." The royal guard stated. "Besides, I need to find Octavia and talk to her, Face to Face, like I should have done from the start."

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"I have to admit Eravel..." Discord said "I don't think I EVER saw somepony in so much trouble as you!" He started to laugh, rolling on the grass floor. "This is hilarious!"

We were in the usual green camp with just a few trees... Pink clouds flying slowly through the sky and the sun shining on the horizon, sending white lights of the morning over us.

"I can't believe that you didn't warned me of what was about to happen!" I said angrily at him
"And spoil all this marvelous chaos? NEVER!" He said recovering himself from the laugh attack. "Besides... what happen was SO MUCH better than what I thought it would be. And the best part is that you saw nothing yet... the bigger event still didn't happen!"
"What the... there is more!?" I was shocked. Even after that entire scene he still saw more problems in my future!
"But of course!" He grinned. "But don't bother asking, because I won't tell what happens next... I want you being taken by surprise!"
"You son of-" He cut me stuffing a piece of candy cloud in my mouth.
"Now now... don't be so angry at me... I mean, is not like your life will be in any danger... well... kind of... But that is not important." He said smiling widely.
I swallow all the candy and stared at him again... Yes I swallowed... you can't waste a good candy, even if you are in a dream.
"I strongly hope you know what you are doing Discord..." I said crossing my arms
"Oh you worry too much!" He said floating a few inches from the ground. "You need to learn how to enjoy life's surprises!"
"But I do!" I said still a bit angry. "What I don't like is when a disaster like that happen and the only creature that could warn me simply lay back and watch!"
"I didn't laid back and watch!" He said crossing his arms "I was rolling and laughing!" He said and burst into a loud laugh again.

I simply face palm at that... He was, definitely, without an inch of doubt, the most ANNOYING creature that I have ever met!
"Can you at least say how my head injury is?" I asked with a sight.
"Nothing permanent..." Discord stated "the hit was only hard enough to knock you out. Lucky you have a thick skull or else that could have been dangerous."

"Damn... earth ponies are really strong..." I said sitting on the grass.
"Especially when they are angry..." Discord complemented.

"Not to mention that that... what was the name of that thing again? ... Cello... Was way heavier than I thought it was." I said rubbing my head. "I never thought that Octavia would come to the extreme as to break her cello in my head!"

"Don't forget that she broke the cello on your head and THAT tossed you out of her balcony!" Discord said laughing.

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Few hours earlier:

Octavia was in her balcony... Her front side of her body erected as she played a sad tune on her instrument, bathing herself on the light of the sunset... She had shed many tears since she came back and when her eyes couldn't cry anymore, she used her music to express her sadness... Five floors below, Shining Armor and Eravel were listening at her music... that part of Canterlot was a lot more quiet than the rest, especially at that hour of the afternoon, so, they didn't had any problem to hear her play.

"You sure about this Eravel?" Shining armor said a bit unsure.
"Yes. I have to go talk to her and she will never open the door to me." The dragon said with a serious frown.
"Ok... here we go then..." Shining armor used his magic, lifting Eravle until he landed in the balcony where Octavia were.

He landed without making a single noise, and stood there watching as the gray mare played her instrument. She was playing the last notes and had her eyes closed, to have a better feeling of each tune... her hooves traveling through the strings with mastery and perfection.
When she finished the music Eravel started to clap his hands slowly. That startled Octavia and she almost fell on the ground. She had to use her instrument as a support to avoid falling.

"YOU! What do you want here!?" Octavia hissed… her sadness turning into anger.

"I just want to talk to you..." The dragon said smiling softly. Octavia simply stared at him.
"I don't want to talk to you Erin... EVER again! So leave!" The gray mare said with a trembling voice.

"Sorry Octavia, but I can't..." Eravel said. "You MUST hear what I have to say!"
"I already said that I don't want to!" Octavia said almost shouting now.
"But Octavia!" Eravel stepped forward and, without knowing, crossed the line.
"I - SAID - LEAVE!" Octavia shouted at him while grabbing her cello and swinging it as hard as she could, losing her self control for just a brief moment.
Eravel didn't have the time to react and the wooden instrument hit the side of his head. The instrument body shattered in many pieces and Eravel was tossed out of the balcony. Luckily, Shining Armor was there. Well, luckily for Eravel because he had a soft spot to land on. Shining didn't have time to react with magic and the dragon landed right on top of him, both being knocked out.

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Present time.

First thing I felt was an extreme pain at the side of my head. It took me a few seconds to have a full grasp of my surroundings... I was laid in a soft bed and, after opening my eyes, I could see that I was in one of the royal hospital room. Slowly I started to sit up and rubbed the side of my head. I felt a few bandages around it... I just hoped that Discord had said the truth about not having any permanent damage.

First things first, I went to the bathroom to take care of some natural necessities and then started to walk over the room's door. I was a bit worry about how long I had slept there. When I was about to reach the door, it flew open, hitting me right in the face and making me fall hard on the ground. My head was spinning and I could hear many voices echoing, like I was in some kind of cave. I could only see blurs... very colorful blurs.

"...-vel? Eravel! Are you ok?" I recognized the voice calling me, it was Twilight sparkle.

My vision started to come back to normal and in front of me I saw Twilight and the others... Even Rainbow Dash... But she was behind all the others and didn't looked like she was happy in see me.

"Uhg... kind of..." I said still recovering myself. "I'm still alive, if that what you meant."

"Heh... sorry..." She said a little embarrassed and used her magic to help me stand up.
"What you girls are doing here?" I said rubbing my nose softly, trying to ease the pain.
"We came to talk to you dear..." Rarity said stepping forward "...about... you know, that little incident that happen."
I simple let out a sight.
"Where is Steel Head?"I asked.
"We stumbled on Octavia on the way here... he stayed behind to talk to her." Twilight said.
"Good..." I said rubbing the back of my head. "Girls, do you mind leaving me alone with Rainbow Dash? I want to talk to her alone... if she wants to talk to me, of course."
All the eyes turned to see the cyan pegasus. She snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Let's just end this." She said visible angry.

All the other girls left the room and I walked towards the bed, climbing on it and resting my back against the pillow. I really had to lie down after the hit I took from the door. Rainbow Dash closed the door and walked near the bed, standing right next to me.
"Look... first of all, I thank you for giving me a chance to explain." I started
"Yeah... you should be thankful!" She answered with another snort.
I simply ignored her and kept talking.
"Now... what you saw yester day..."
"It was three days ago..." She corrected me.
"I slept for all this time? Wow..." I said with a weak chuckle. "Anyway... What you saw that day... it was not what looked like. I was suppose to deliver a letter from Steel head to Octavia, but that wind head stallion forgot to sign the letter... So Octavia thought that the letter was from me. By the time I woke up after the incubation spell, she was staying at the castle and the night I went to see her, to talk about Steel Head, she was drunk and attacked me."
Rainbow Dash's frown grew.
"But I swear that NOTHING happen!" I said quickly. "She only kissed me and then passed out. I ended trapped on her bed the whole night but nothing happens... Because she is not the mare I love... I love you Rainbow."
I saw her frown slowly melting and being replaced by a confused and sad look.
"But..." she started. "Why were you rejecting me? After the day you left my house, you never came looking for me... why Eravel?"
I took a deep breath before starting to talk... it would be difficult to explain that.

"I can't say it was easy to stay away from you... and the motive was because I couldn't look you in the eyes the same way I did before. I didn't felt worthy of staying with you."

She arched an eyebrow in confusion and I kept talking.
"You are fast, strong; smart... you are one of a kind Rainbow... And I was just a helpless baby dragon that could barely walk. It was a question of pride... I had lost mine and couldn't face you until I was able to rebuild it again... to at least be 20% of what I was before."
She frowned at me again when I finished the explanation.
"You know this is the dumbest thing I EVER heard right?" She said with an annoyed tone.
I arched an eyebrow now.

"Seriously! I meet with Pinkie Pie like, every day and even when she's being... you know... Pinkie Pie, the things she says don't come even closer to all this nonsense you just spoke of. Did you really think I was going to reject you for having another body? Like… as if it was YOUR fault?" She sounded more annoyed than before.
"But-..." I started and she shoved a hoof in my mouth to shut me up
"Listen. Do you know what animal I have as a pet? A tortoise. YES! A tortoise! And I don't care if he can't fly or if he is not even 10% fast as I am. All I care is for his well being because I like him the way he is... And the same applies to you. I love you, you stupid lizard head, and it's not because you had a baby body that I would reject you." She said using both hooves to hold my head, caressing softly.
"Rainbow I-..." I had so much to say to her... ask her to forgive me... thank her for not giving up on me and so much more... and at the same way the words simply wouldn't come.
"Just shut the buck up..." She said chuckling and then approached her face from mine.
I grabbed her head and our lips finally touched each other in a soft kiss. I pulled her on the bed and she lay right next to me. Our eyes meet and I didn't waste a second... I moved my head and kissed her again... only this time it was a far more passionate kiss than before. I warped her in my arms and hugged her, pressing our bodies while tasting her mouth. It was the happiest moment of my life, to finally be with the one I loved...

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I woke up with someone moving right next to me. As I opened my eyes I was face to face with Rainbow Dash. She looked me in the eyes and smiled…. I couldn't help but smile too… the memories of hours before coming to my mind… or the day before… maybe minutes? I didn't know how much time passed and I didn't really care.

"It wasn't a dream was it?" I asked smiling…. Rainbow Dash simply pointed up, showing the brunt mark on the ceiling and I chuckled.
"I really hope you learn to control this fire" She giggled. "I don't want to end up with any brunt mark over my body."
"Don't worry…" I chuckled "I will learn to control this… well, at least THIS kind of fire I will control" I laughed softly and she hit me lightly on the shoulder, giggling.

"By the way… what happened to your head?" She asked looking at the bandages.
"Well... long story short..." Eravel said rolling his eyes...

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"...You broke your cello on Eravel's Head!?" Steel Head said with his jaw open.

The royal guard and Octavia where on a coffee, drinking and talking to each other.
"By Celestia! I wonder how he didn't die!" I said still amused.

"I know I went a little over border... but at the time I was so mad at him that I didn't really think before acting!" She said blushing a little. "B-But that's not what we came here to discuss" She said trying to change the topic.

"Yeah... I guess so." Steel Head sighed lightly.
"So... that letter was from you?" Octavia asked... The royal guard simply nodded in response. "Why didn't you come to see me earlier? Why send a letter?"
"Because I couldn't leave Ponyvile..." Steel Head sighed. "For some time I still didn't had the courage to face you... I felt like I didn't deserve even look at you. When I finally found the courage to act, I found out that you were already here in Canterlot... I'm assign to look after Eravel and the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, I couldn't simply leave my post..."

Octavia stood in silence for a minute, while thinking.
"I..." She finally started. "I won't say that I understand... because I don't. What you did was way out of what I think to be forgiven." She looked in the guard's eyes. He looked down and lowered his ears.

"So... I think it's for the best that I leave you alone then." He said standing up.
"I said that I don't understand, but that don't mean that I cannot try." She said before the pegasus leave.

Steel Head looked at her, perking his ears and she continued.

"In respect of your friend and... as an apology for almost killing him, I'll give you a chance." She said and smiled softly.
Steel head jumped over the table, tackling the earth pony and planting a passionate kissing on her lips. She fell on her back and he stood on top of her, both losing themselves in that moment of joy.

"Excuse me" A male voice called both, making them break the kiss... It was the attendant of the coffee. "I'll have to ask for you two to behave in front of our other clients" He said serious... Octavia and Steel Head saw all the other ponies staring at the scene...

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A/N: Its funny how some times the story seems to be alive and you, as a writer, only put it all in words. Well, this chapter was like this... I hope you all enjoy! Also, don't forget to comment. I like to read comments ^^