Love's Hydration

~ XI ~

Sisterly Worries

Rainbow stood before the council.

Four chairs. Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Cadance. A floating dossier covered each of their faces. Flicking pages broke the silence. Someone hummed. Chatter behind the papers. Everyone flipped to the end.

Rainbow thanked the flight suit covering her sweaty body.

And Twilight, who cast a smell-concealing spell.

Twilight's going to kick my ass after this.

"Captain Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow jerked, nodding. Above, the floating dossiers fell into the princesses' laps. Looking at each other, their eyes narrowed with smiles forming below, then glancing at the summoned pony.

"You were promoted before your entry," Luna spoke. "This council was a formality."

Shock rocked the newest Captain. Rainbow blinked with an opened mouth. Her hoof laid on her latex-covered chest. "I-I made it? But why…"

Twilight grinned. "Cadance likes it when you squirm."

A smirking Cadance shrugged. "Guilty!"

Princess Celestia rose, as did the rest, standing with outstretched wings. They focused on their latest charge. "Miss Rainbow Dash is hereby the rank of Captain. This promotion will oversee command of the Wonderbolts."

Celestia looked at Rainbow directly. "Do you accept this responsibility?"

Rainbow kneeled. "Yes."

"Then the process is complete." Celestia tucked her wings and looked at the other princesses. "It's been a while since we've been summoned like this. Much longer without a looming threat."

Twilight's eyebrows quirked. "Let's not call Rainbow safe just yet."

Rainbow stuck out a tongue.

"She's safe for now, at least." Celestia began down the throne's steps while glancing back at the others. "How about some hamburgers and fries? There's still the rest of the afternoon to 'decide' Rainbow's matter."

Cadance bounced forward. "Oo-ooh! I heard Queass has a new ketchup!"

Luna followed. "Do not slide the bill to me, and we have a deal."

Twilight went down the steps but came next to Rainbow instead. Throwing a foreleg over Rainbow's neck, she pulled her aside. "Could we catch up later? I wanted to personally congratulate Rainbow on a few things."

Rainbow shrunk as the grip around her throat became tight.

Dead. So, so dead. So 'you fucked my little brother in the middle of our dead friend's shop' kinda dead. Spike might have scratched my ass—but you're going to tear it off for sure.

The princesses stopped at the door. Celestia glanced over. "Of course, Twilight. I know your usual order." She turned away. "Please don't take too long." They opened and passed through the double doors. "I know how much you detest cold food."

Twilight glared. The door closed with a cast of wind before silence resumed. Twilight's horn frizzled with magic. A truculent dome sealed around the two before disappearing in a glint.

Rainbow swallowed. Murder in the throne room. None are going to hear me die but her.

Twilight searched Rainbow's face. "Rainbow Dash… will your personal life negatively affect this position?" The question was straight, blunt, and Twilight's eyes bore into Rainbow, who stepped back—but realized there was nowhere to go. Twilight lowered her muzzle, but her eyes remained fixated. "We need to know. And we need to know now."

Rainbow swallowed, spreading her legs, standing as tall as she could against a princess double her size. Nodding, the Captain looked up at Twilight. "No conflicts. There's been… some rocky roads. But nothing will interfere with my duties as Captain."

Twilight watched. Checking for breaks in Rainbow's resolve. Rainbow remained firm. The last few days clouded her mind. She'd been caught fucking the dragon that Twilight had hatched. However, none of that cast doubt on Rainbow's loyalty to the cause.

Twilight relaxed, standing like a friend again. Her face seemed emotionally pained. "That's disappointing to hear."

Rainbow slumped. "Really? You're kiddin' me right now."

"I've been worried, Rainbow Dash! You never come out! All you do is work." Twilight stepped away and looked to the ground. "And the bar is the only place you frequent besides work or home!"

She looked up from the ground. "Friendship matters. Life isn't the same without it. I'm glad I'm seeing your dream come true... but I'd rather you be happy—more than anything else."

Rainbow looked at Twilight without judging. "I know. Trust me… I know. I'd be worried too. I haven't exactly been all there in the head, lately." Rainbow sighed heavily. "I didn't even go to Rarity's funeral. Couldn't get over myself and just go. I got locked up and lost inside myself. And I barely had what it took to keep on going."

Rainbow stepped forward and laid a hoof on Twilight's foreleg. The taller mare looked at the touch. Then they looked into each other's eyes. "But I'm doing better now. Getting out more. Talking to and helping others when I can. I've found my way again."

Rainbow's gaze dipped. "I don't know long it'll be before I stumble… but I know I can always find my way again."

Twilight smiled. Quickly, she captured the more miniature mare in a hug. Their furs compressed as their coats meshed together. They lingered in the embrace.

Twilight whispered into Rainbow's ear. "Congratulations, Rainbow Dash. Everyone is so proud of you. You've done well. I know Rarity would be full-on dramatics for you right now."

Rainbow snuggled into the fluffy embrace. "Thank you, Twilight. Thank you for always being there."

"Of course," Twilight said as the hug continued. Seconds ticked, then she smirked. "And how about Spike? Is he there for you as well?"

"Uh. A-About that…" Rainbow stiffened.

Twilight chuckled after releasing Rainbow, who backed away, ready to dodge any attack. Twilight held her ground, closing her eyes, smiling widely. Her face whispered, 'I haven't decided if I want to kill you yet.'

Twilight's eyes opened as her expression softened.

"Spike took me to dinner the other day," Twilight said as she looked away. "And it was everything… I hoped for. Spike was back. We talked about everything again. He said things that I… that I really needed to hear. We were joking again. Remembering old stories and times. It was like I had my baby dragon back."

Twilight rubbed one foreleg against the other. "He's special to me. Knows and helps me like none else can. He's my first friend. Someone who was just… always there. He's irreplaceable."

Twilight sighed. "But when I became princess… it felt like I was rising… while he was falling. And I couldn't even be there for him when he finally left home."

Twilight's eyes squeezed closed. "He became different… and I couldn't do anything. He took a bag and left a note." Something stung Twilight's face. "I didn't discover it for a week. Not until I finally came back home. Spike… my best friend. He had been gone for a week, and I didn't even know."

The words hurt Twilight. "And I didn't even know." She swallowed her pain. "And now? He's back. He comes around the castle and helps out. He's great forbouncing ideas off, or having someone hold you because nobody else in the world can."

Her hoof tapped the ground roughly. "But Spike doesn't let me help him. Doesn't tell me what's wrong." Something harsh cut at Twilight's voice. "Spike won't let me in. Sometimes, he's there. That baby dragon I once knew. Talking and joking like a year hadn't passed."

She exhaled quickly. "And then something h-happens… and Spike is gone again! Just… gone…" Twilight wiped an eye. "Then I come to the boutique because he's talking of running it again. I wanted to do right by Rarity after failing her. Then he's got you pinned, and I…"

Rainbow winced. But she also nodded. Looking at Twilight and lifting a hoof to Twi's cheek, turning her back. Rainbow spoke kindly and sternly. "I know, Twilight. I know. That was a rough scene. I don't know how you handled it so well."

Twilight chuckled. "If I weren't a princess? That would have been a different story."

"I don't doubt it," Rainbow said while wiping a tear from Twilight's other eye. The bigger mare smiled more for it. "And if I didn't look to be enjoying it, I'm sure you would have thought far worse of the scene. Because you're right, Twilight. Your little assistant is there. But something else is inside of Spike. Something that also has me scared and confused."

Twilight nodded. "It's funny. Out of all of us… he's probably the most twisted and confused." She looked into Rainbow's eyes for support. "I sometimes wonder if it's our fault. Raising a dragon like a pony. What were we expecting to happen? Those bubbling instincts of wanting to fight, of wanting to find multiple mates… there's so much of himself that he has to repress, that he must think of as wrong because of us."

Rainbow couldn't help but agree. It must be non-stop tension and confusion for the dragon. Fundamentally, Spike could never be like a normal dragon—and that was because of his connection to them. Even when he went out into the world and cut loose, he was forced to be moderate, whereas other dragons could go as far as they liked.

"Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better to give him to the dragons," Twilight finally admitted in absolute pain. "But I also can't imagine a life without him."

Rainbow barely managed a smile. "I know how you feel, Twilight. Trust me. I know how you feel." She took a long breath, carefully considering her following words. "But I think Spike feels the same way about us. He never talks about regretting the life he's had. He only ever seems to hate himself. I don't think he would have wanted to be another dragon. His love for us also causes him to keep his distance."

Spike's teasing made more sense. How he presented himself as dangerous. It only needed to reassure Rainbow that he forgot himself and went the extra distance. Lust probably took control at times. But he was always willing to put aside to ensure Rainbow was never hurt or forced during their intercourse.

He wants to help while reminding us to keep our distance.

"And you raised him well, Twilight," Rainbow was able to say for sure while hugging the mare again. It took Twilight by surprise. "He's been good to me. Despite that other side, he never lets it take control. He wouldn't be in this state because of us. But he's also smart and strong enough because of that to handle the problem."

Twilight returned the hug and rested on the back of Rainbow's neck. "It just… it feels like he's holding back some anger. That at any time… he could really lose it. I don't care if he burns my castle down. Not even if he hurts me. But I just hate seeing him like that. So on the cusp of something primal taking over, he has to do everything to hold it back."

"His nature is why he left, Twi," Rainbow pieced together the sudden departure those years ago. "He didn't want to worry us. Neither did he want to hurt us. He figured that going away was the best bet. But even then… all it did was make everything worse. That beast he's got inside of him? It's never going to go away. All we can do is find ways of dealing with it."

Rainbow inhaled deeply. "We must be there for him even if he doesn't want it. Even when he shouts, or cuts us by accident. We have to be there for him through his anger and anything else from that other side. He's good when things are going like normal. We just need to bring back the friendship that existed between all of us."

Twilight snuggled into her mane. "That… that sounds lovely, Rainbow."

"We just have to make sure he doesn't feel like a burden," Rainbow finished while sinking into the side of Twilight's neck. "It's the reason why he helps so much. He feels guilty otherwise. We have to make sure he feels welcome. That we'd rather him destroy the town than to see him leave it again. And he won't destroy anything. Not if we're actually there for him this time."

"And how about you?" Twilight asked without judgment. "In what way are you there for him?"

Rainbow looked aside. "It's more like how he's there for me. We flirt. I do my best to talk him through some things. To assure him that he's a good dragon, a good guy, that we want him around—that he isn't a burden. But it's been him that's been making me feel full. Feel loved. Feel like everything that a girl needs to survive. I can't say I pleasure him all that well—uh, too much information."

Twilight chuckled.

"Do you think he's the one?"

"I don't know," Rainbow answered. "My head tells me no. But everything else wants to be with him anyway."

"Isn't that what love is?"

Rainbow chuckled. "Something like that."

"Don't worry," Twilight reaffirmed. "I feel the same. I don't know what the future with him is going to be like. I'm scared to fight with him in case he leaves or accidentally blows flames. But I also know that my Spike is still there. That, as long as we're there for him, as long as we make sure he feels loved… that everything will work out in the end."

Twilight sighed. "I just hope I can keep that promise. That the princess in me doesn't come out because dragons can't live with ponies. No." Her head shook. "I don't care either. I'll be there for him. No matter what… I'll be there."

"Me too, Twilight."

"And Rainbow?"

"Yeah?"

"You have my blessing to be whatever you like with Spike," Twilight said, the heaviness leaving her voice. Something lighter entered, a welcomed air—at Rainbow's expense. "The only thing I can't approve of is where the two of you decide to engage in intercourse."

Rainbow stiffened.

"You…" Rainbow's voice broke. The mind is a burning blur in the middle of sex. It's only afterward that she realized the level of disrespect their location had meant to their absent friend. "D-Do you think Rarity would be upset?"

"Are you kidding me?" Twilight backed off from the hug so the two could be face to face. "Sex in a dead mare's home? Right where anyone could walk in and see? Rarity's probably tapping her chest and proudly spreading that gossip across the impossible span of the afterlife."

For the first time in a while.

Rainbow felt slightly less bad about herself.