The Derpy I Know And Love 2 or Shooting Stars Are Not Always Lucky

CHAPTER SEVEN

What Friendship is Worth

Shooting Star saw Twilight going to the hospital accompanied by two Royal Guards.  He was afraid of what this meant to himself.

The conversation with Bubbles had triggered something inside himself.  Was he really not the pony he thought he was.  Did the transfer in time do something to his mind.  Was he only some incomplete quantum duplicate that was put forward ten years?

There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind the whole time these events have been going on.  He was in conflict with his own actions.

The trio entered the hospital, Twilight asked the front desk the status of Pinkie Pie.  She was told what she was expecting to hear.

Twilight had the guard follow her down the hall that lead to Pinkie’s room.  They passed a waiting room and Twilight saw Sparkler was in there.

“Wait here,” Twilight said quietly to the guard, then she entered the room.

“Sparkler, are you ok?” asked Twilight.

“I am ok, I know you overheard what went on between mom and dad and I was afraid for you.  I followed you here to the hospital but I could not find you.  I could not stand to be in the room with Pinkie for long.  I am so frightened for her and Rainbow.”

“I understand.  I am frightened for us as well.  But things will get better soon.  I promise.  I am so glad your mother has you to keep her strong.” Said Twilight.

Then she gave Sparkler a kiss on the cheek;

“If your mother asks, tell her I said Star Swirl the Bearded said it best.  I am counting on you.”

Twilight turned and two unicorns in uniform followed her.

Shooting had kept behind, when he got to the waiting room he saw Sparkler and went in.

“What is going on?” he asked, “why is Twilight with Palace Guards?”

“I don’t know,” said Sparkler, “she told me that she is counting on my strength for mother and that everything will be ok soon.”

“Is that all?”

“She said to tell mom that Star Swirl the Bearded said it best, what ever that meant.  Then she gave me a kiss and walked out, two unicorns in uniform followed her.”

“Oh no!  She can’t be serious!”

All this time he had actually convinced himself that Twilight was some self-serving pony without honor or decency.  He could not believed that she was as noble and self-sacrificing as Bubbles was insisting.

“What does she mean?”  Asked Sparkler.

“Get you mother!”  then Shooting kissed his daughter.  “I am so proud of the mare you have become.  Always remember that.”

Shooting took off in the direction that Twilight went.  Sparkler left galloping as hard as she could.  When she got to the Library, she was amazed to see Princess Celestia and her mother going in the direction of the hospital.  Sparkler told them what went on and what was said.  The two looked shocked and they all hurried off back to the hospital.

Twilight opened the door, Rainbow was where she had been the whole time.

She was holding the hoof of Pinkie.

Rainbow looked terrible.  She had not eaten or slept.  She had cried so much that you could not tell where the reddened ‘whites’ of her eyes ended and her red irises began.  Rainbow had cried so much, she felt like there were no tears left.

Twilight looked at the monitor above  Pinkie’s bed.  There was hardly any indication.  Pinkie was all but gone.

“You need to go Rainbow, now.” Said Twilight.

Rainbow looked panicked.

“NO! I can’t go! I won’t leave her! I LOVE HER!”

“Then don’t forget to tell her that,” said Twilight, then turning her head, “Guards!”

Rainbow did not know what to think as two large white unicorns in uniform entered the room.

“Yes Lady Twilight?”

“Immobilize her, confine her somewhere comfortable for the next hour.  And if I hear of any mistreatment, I will forget that there is no death penalty in Equestria.  Do I make myself clear?”

“Very clear, my Lady.”

A magic aura surrounded Rainbow.  Even if she was feeling normal, she could have not fought it.  She then started floating to the door.

“Don’t do this Twi!  I thought you were my best friend!”

“I am, and you will be back with her soon.  Don’t forget to tell her that you love her!”

The door closed, Twilight walked to the pink pony, then took her hoof.  She was cold and limp.  Twilight stroked what little mane that had not been shaved.

“You will feel better soon, my happy friend.” Said Twilight with a tear rolling down her cheek.

Twilight took a step back, and old parchment appeared in front of her.  She read it again even though she had committed it to memory.

She closed her eyes and started to concentrate.

“Please forgive me Bubbles,” she said out loud. “Remember how much I love you.”

“This is a fine way to prove that.” Said a familiar voice behind her.

Twilight turned to see Shooting Star.

“How did you know?”

“Sparkler told me.”

“I told her nothing.”

Shooting walked up to Twilight.  There was no threat to his bearings.

“Yes you did, you told her ‘Star Swirl the Bearded said it best’.  The quote is actually much older, from antiquity.  ‘No greater love has anypony than that they lay down their life for another pony’.”

“I am only one pony, if Pinkie dies then two ponies will die.  If not of grief, Rainbow would do something rash.”

“I don’t doubt it.  After all, you know your friends best.  But I differ with you, if you do this, I don’t think Bubbles could go on.”

“You would be there.”

Shooting chuckled;

“I hoped, I tried, but it was proven that I have no more place in her life. Perhaps only as a fond memory, and I may have ruined that as well.  You have filled her heart more that I ever did.  Not that I did not try.  No, if you were gone, I could never fill the void.  She would cease to go on.

You see, I was the only unicorn to survive the accident and I know why.  It was pointed out to me and I finally get that I have not been the pony I once was.  And now I believe.  I may only be enough of the old me to understand that I was given this existence for one reason.

The others who perished had no family.  No reason to come back.  I was given a gift that no pony has ever been given.

I got to have the opportunity to say good bye.  I got to come back to see my daughter grown to a fine mare.  I got to see the filly that I never knew I had.  And most importantly I got to see that my beloved wife will be taken better care of that I ever could.”

Shooting then did something totally unexpected, he kissed Twilight rather passionately.  It shocked her.

“Please give that to OUR wife.” He said smiling.

Twilight suddenly realized what Shooting had in mind.  She started to cast a defensive spell, but Shooting beat her to the draw.  There was a red flash from his horn and Twilight fell unconscious.  Shooting levitated the parchment and placed a book against Twilight.

Princess Celestia led Bubbles, Rainbow and Sparkler down the hall to Pinkie’s room.  They stopped outside the door.  Celestia closed her eyes and blocked the door.

“No,” she said aloud.

The mist was getting thicker.  She was no longer able to resist the draw in the direction the other ponies were going, Pinkie released Celestia.

“Good bye princess, have fun for me.  Tell Dashie that I will miss her and I love her.”

“Tell her yourself,” said a stallion.

“What have you done? Asked the princess.

“I am stopping Twilight from doing this.” He said with a smile.

Shooting touched Pinkie with his horn.  Pinkie felt life returning to her.  The stallion smiled and quickly took off in the direction of the other ponies, fading as he went.  Pinkie was being drawn back in the other direction.

“I will see you soon,” said Celestia fading away.

It was getting clearer and lighter.  Then she heard Rainbow’s voice.

“Come back Pinkie, I love you!”

“I know you do, I always have.  And I love you too.” Said Pinkie as the light flooded in.

“No,” she said Princess Celestia aloud.  She opened the door.

On the floor were Shooting Star and Twilight Sparkle.

“Daddy!” screamed Sparkler.

“Twilight!” screamed Bubbles.

Rainbow saw the monitor above Pinkie’s bed full of activity, Rainbow ran to the bed and took Pinkie’s hoof.  It was warm.

“Come back Pinkie, I love you!”

“I know you do, I always have.  And I love you too.” Pinkie said opening her eyes.

“Pinkie!” cried Rainbow.  Then she unashamedly kissed the pink pony with a lot of passion.

Unaware of what was going on with Pinkie.  Both Sparkler and Bubbles were on the floor, cradling a pony’s head.

“Daddy is gone.” Said Sparkler then seeing her mother holding Twilight’s head.  “Twilight?”

“She is alive.” Tears were rolling down her cheeks.  “How?  Why?”

Rainbow broke the kiss with Pinkie.  She buried her face into Pinkie’s chest, tears of joy were flowing.  Pinkie noticed the Princess and was about to say something, but the princess shook her head and Pinkie understood.

Celestia levitated the parchment from the floor, it vanished.  Bubbles and Sparkler helped Twilight up.

“What has happened was something foolish.” Said the princess.  “But something done in the deepest of love.

Twilight was about to trade her life to save Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.  But somehow Shooting Star did it first for the love of Bubbles, Sparkler, Dinky and yes even Twilight and Dawn.”

All looked shocked.  Such sacrifice was only heard of in stories.

“Shooting, don’t!” said Twilight, her head clearing.

Rainbow and Pinkie looked at each other, then at Twilight.

“You were going to trade your life for Pinkie?” asked Rainbow.

Rainbow ran to Twilight and punched her on the shoulder.

“That was stupid!” said Rainbow.  Then she kissed Twilight and hugged her.  “Thank you.”

“I told you not to do that here, Rainbow.  Bubbles will catch us!” said Twilight managing a smile.

Celestia called the guard and instructed them to remove Shooting Star gently.

“I am so sorry Sparkler,” said Twilight, “he had to be the bravest and most loving stallion I have had the honor to know.  I don’t know if I could ever fill his horseshoes with you.”

“No, maybe not, you could never replace my father.  But I now think I am ready to fully accept another mother, mom.” Sparkler smiled weakly.

Then Twilight looked at Bubbles.

“His last wish was that I give this, in his words, to our wife.”  Twilight gave Bubbles a deep long kiss.  Kissing Bubbles still took Twilight’s breath away.

Twilight then noticed the book on the floor.  She levitated it.  It was a first edition of Shooting Star’s The Science of Magic.  Inside it was signed to Twilight Sparkle.

To Twilight Sparkle, the greatest mare I have ever met.  You are truly worthy to continue my work.

If not in science, then with our family.

Remember, if I ever find out you ever hurt one of them...

I came back once.

With love and respect,

Shooting Star