You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Chapter %i%: Lightning Crashes
Chapter 1: Lightning Crashes
The sound of thunder bore deep into Flashbang’s eardrums. He clutched the side of his cloud in desperation.
Reality was frozen in the millisecond before impact where there is only fear, helplessness, and regret. Especially regret. He had been careless. Even in such a frantic instant, he knew full well that he would have no excuses for what was to come.
The other cloud slammed violently into his own, intermingling with a tell-tale bang and a brilliant flash of light. He could almost feel the energy extending below his body toward the helpless town of Ponyville with a speed that few fliers could match. A second blast followed, more sinister and unfamiliar than the first. And then there was the distant scent of smoke.
He could vaguely hear a mare's voice calling out from across the way: “Flashbang! What the hay!?”
He buried his snout in the cloud he had been responsible for, as if he could somehow wake himself up from the coming nightmare before it drew him in.
“I said, ‘what the hay’!?” The voice was closer this time. Then its owner, Skyraven, grasped her compatriot by the mane and forced him away from the billowy wreckage, his last solace. “Didn't you see my cloud?!”
Flashbang looked up at her slowly. He could see the reflections of red flames dancing over her eyes, and they suited her expression of rage all too well.
“Is it … bad?” He whispered, meekly.
“Of course it’s bad! Get down there and help put that fire out. I’m getting Rainbow Dash.”
“Yes, Raven ...” the rookie said, staring down at last. The flames of somepony’s home tumbled toward him like an open furnace. For the first time in an entire life of flying above the clouds, he felt vertigo.
*
Twilight Sparkle stumbled out of the library in a hurry as Spike sprinted in front of her, hoisting a lamp and shielding his eyes from the rain with a free claw. Other faces were popping out into the street, each turned in the same direction. Smoke rose above the buildings like a great crag of destruction, lit up along its underbelly by the fire that spawned it.
Twilight peered up through the rain just in time to see a single rainbow tearing through the sky, displacing clouds and rainfall in its wake. Then her coat bristled down the full length of her spine.
It was heading toward Fluttershy’s home.
*
“No, no, no, no, NO!” Rainbow Dash shouted to herself as she soared towards the blazing building. Of all the things the bolt could have struck, it had to be the home of the gentlest, most peaceful creature in the entire town. Dash couldn't even begin to think that her friend might be injured ... or worse. Her body was throbbing with adrenaline and her heart was a few beats short of an attack.
A crew of pegasus ponies were standing on a solitary storm cloud, leaping up and down in place to force a torrent of rain to spill down on the burning home. It was doing very little to extinguish the flames, but the fire was no longer spreading.
“Where is she?!” Dash cried to the group, pausing her flight to stand in their midst.
Derpy Hooves hopped from one end of the cloud and flew over to Rainbow with a salute that fell midway between her eyes. She winked furiously as this bounced raindrops directly into her eyeballs, but didn’t seem to think there was an alternative. “Who's where, Dashie?”
"In the .. who's ... ugh." Rainbow Dash shook her head to dispel her confusion. "Fluttershy! The one who lives in there! Did you see her?”
“Uh ...”
Rainbow Dash clacked her hooves together. “Derpy, come on, focus!”
“But Dashie, I -”
Suddenly, a dark-coated stallion named Flashbang appeared at Derpy’s side. He looked positively frantic, even without the two white circles of fur that surrounded his eyes like a permanent pair of goggles. “M-mam,” he wheezed, “nopony’s come out ... just a bunch of birds, butterflies and squirrels. We ... have not seen any bodies.”
Rainbow Dash swore under her breath. “Tss, critters know how to fend for themselves. I’m more worried about ... I'm going in!”
Without giving the others time for any further words, Rainbow Dash turned and shot down like a bullet. The cloud of smoke broke around her body as she bore her way through. She didn't even try to pretend that the tears in her eyes were caused by the stinging sparks of flame that were leaping up across her face. The very thought of Fluttershy in danger had left her ego out to dry.
The sound of glass shattering filled the air as she broke through a window. She dove beneath the smoke and shook shards from her hooves and arms. A few would have to be picked out later.
“Fluttershy!” She shouted hoarsely, squatting and moving as quickly as she could beneath the oppressive smoke.
“Rainbow!” Squeaked a familiar voice, high-pitched and choked with tears. “Where is he?!”
“Where is who, Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash mostly needed Fluttershy to keep talking as she continued her search. What she said was not of consequence.
“Angel Bunny!” Sobbed the ash-covered mare, seconds before Dash clasped her in both arms.
“NOT HERE!” Dash screamed, gritting her teeth. She pushed her entire body as hard as she ever had in her life. Despite the added weight, the side of the house exploded with a brilliant rainbow as the two ponies burst free, exposing the interior to the rain and finally snuffing the flames as the rest of the building tumbled apart.
“Angel!” Fluttershy cried, extending a hoof towards the increasingly distant, smoking ruins. “No!”
*
Rainbow Dash held her friend firmly in place. They were up on a hill, watching with horror together as the night seemed to come apart. Many ponies were out gathering below, hooves in front of their gaping mouths. It was seldom that a storm went awry in Equestria.
"No... not Angel Bunny... please no." Fluttershy sobbed so heavily that her tears were distinct through the relentless rain. They cut lines in the coat of her face, deeper than any storm could burrow.
Dash looked at her, uncertain as she spoke. "I'm ... sure he knew how to get out of the way."
But Fluttershy shook her head furiously. "He was trapped, I saw it! I couldn't get to him. I couldn't find him. Oh, he must have ... he must be so scared ..."
"Fluttershy ..."
Just then, Rainbow Dash got the sense that she heard something whistling through the air. She turned to look up at the burning ruin just as a single figure appeared from the catastrophic smoke. A pegasus pony, dark with soot, was flying directly toward Rainbow Dash. Then it crashed at her hooves with an unceremonious tumble. This figure was clutching something very tightly in its arms, something small. When the pony's eyes finally came open, it was immediately apparent who this was.
“Derpy?” Dash blinked.
Fortunately, Derpy Hooves was used to crash-landings. She hopped at once up on her feet and shook soot off her face, revealing that she was beaming with excitement. “I found Fluttershy!” she proclaimed, as she raised a singed and blackened rabbit up in both hooves and stood up on the others.
“Angel!” Fluttershy shouted, as she lunged through the air and snagged the unconscious critter, tackling him to the ground in her embrace.
Derpy frowned as she fell back onto all fours. “Uh? That wasn't Fluttershy?”
Dash resisted the urge to hug, maybe even kiss the ditsy mare. She was certainly in for some kind of reward for this one … but now was not the time.
“Derpy …" Dash said, clearing her throat. "Go home for the night, clean up, and get some rest. You've done your share.”
Derpy gave another of her strange salutes. “Okay! I mean, uh, yes mam, Dashie, sir!” Then she unfurled her wings and lunged herself vertically toward the city of Cloudsdale above.
Dash took a moment to watch her vanish before returning her full attention to Fluttershy and her rabbit. The two were lying on the ground, both alive in varying degrees. Fluttershy was tracking the rabbit’s pulse and had washed off most of the soot with the help of the falling rain. No medic in Cloudsdale would be more adept at caring for an injured critter.
A familiar voice called out from behind the hill “Fluttershy!”
Dash turned in time to see Twilight Sparkle galloping at break-neck speed. Spike was skipping from puddle to puddle to keep up. The timing of their arrival could not have been more perfect... or more ominous.
Twilight parked herself by Fluttershy and threw both hooves around her, shielding her from the rain. “Oh my gosh ... are you okay? Your house!”
Fluttershy kept both eyes centered on the rabbit beneath her. “It’s okay, Twilight. Angel Bunny is more important right now.”
“Yeah, so, about that.” Dash said, sticking her nose between the two. “You and Angel are used to living in a tree, right? Well, a cottage shaped like a tree. Whatever it was. Anyway, I don’t think Cloudsdale is such a good place for a sick rabbit.” She looked pointedly at Twilight.
“Oh.” Fluttershy looked up, her face flushing deeply. “It’s alright. I can just go to the forest or something.”
Twilight shook her head resolutely as magic spiraled up her horn. Angel floated bodily over to Twilight and hovered up against her belly where he would be relatively warm and dry.
“Dash is right.” Twilight said. "The library has everything you need to treat him. Books, food, materials … and me. I'll be there to help, with and without magic.”
Fluttershy trembled in place like a small breed of dog. “B-but... oh my ... I don’t want to be a bother.”
Dash stared at her friend in awe. “Are you … are you serious? Fluttershy, your house just burned to the ground.”
“We’re your friends.” Twilight added. “That means we’re there for each other. You know that.”
Rainbow Dash stared at Twilight and said nothing. The implications of this night were now beginning to concern her.
Fluttershy raised her head and looked between the two with an affectionate smile. “Th-thank you. I know Angel Bunny would … will thank you too.”
“A-hum.” Spike piped up, raising his lantern toward the three ponies. “Now that we have that sorted out, how about we save the talking and get indoors?”
Twilight nodded. “Light the way, Spike.”
As the procession marched toward the library, the smoke continued to circle above the ashes once were called a home. Though the rain continued to barrel down upon the remaining plumes, it could not snuff out the feeling of tragedy that now hung over the entire town.
*
“Don’t worry, you guys. No more accidents tonight. Whoever’s responsible for this will get an earful from me tomorrow morning ... personally! I'll even go for banishment, if I can get enough of the others to agree to it.”
Fluttershy stepped into the warm library after tapping her hooves dry, listening unhappily to Rainbow’s words. “Oh please, no ...” she gasped, “It was just an accident. I’m sure they didn't mean to hurt anypony.”
Twilight followed last, still holding the limp rabbit against her stomach. She didn't have anything to say as she silently shut the door behind Spike and motioned for him to start preparing the area for guests.
Rainbow Dash heaved a sigh. “You’re too nice, Fluttershy. Somepony destroyed your home. They need to be held accountable.”
“Well, maybe … but you don’t have to send them away from all their friends and family, do you? I’m sure they feel just awful about what happened. If I did something like that I … I would cry for days.”
Dash looked deeply into her friend’s concerned eyes, and was quickly broken by them. She turned her snout and eyes aside in defeat. “Gah ... I’ll think about it."
Fluttershy smiled weakly. “And please, don't forget about Derpy. She saved Angel Bunny, after all.” Her face changed expressions immediately to one of concern. “Oh, Angel Bunny!”
Twilight felt Fluttershy appear swiftly at her side, so she raised a hoof and pointed it at a small bed which Spike had just prepared between two bookcases. Angel was softly breathing beneath the blanket with his fur matted back by rainwater. The ash was gone, but this only made Angel's wounds more visible.
Fluttershy took a moment to turn to Twilight Sparkle directly, raising herself up on her hind legs as she embraced the unicorn as tightly as she ever had. “Thank you.” She whispered sweetly into an ear, before parting to join Spike at the tiny animal's side.
Rainbow Dash watched the whole thing critically, then motioned Twilight over with her hoof. "Twilight ..."
“Yes, Dash?” Twilight whispered, as she trotted over.
“You’re blushing.”
Twilight reached up and put a hoof to her cheek. She had been so cold from rainwater that she hadn't noticed that lively little glow beneath her fur. It deepened considerably.
“Can we step outside for a second?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”
“I ... don't ..."
"I'm serious." Dash said, narrowing her eyes.
Twilight looked behind. Fluttershy was completely focused on Angel Bunny and oblivious to anything else for the time being. "Fine." she sighed.
*
Once outside, Rainbow Dash wasted no time. She shut the door and turned to her friend with a stern gaze as sprinkles of rain made it past the canopy and landed on her features. There was not much visibility between the two ponies now. With all the lights off in Ponyville and the flames finally put out, there was very little light to spare. Yet the moonlit clouds did just enough to show Twilight Sparkle that her friend's eyes were locked onto her, serious and searching.
Rainbow Dash's first words were very much to the point: “Don’t think I've forgotten what you told me. About how you feel about Fluttershy.”
Twilight tried rolling her eyes to shrug off the intensity of Dash's stare. “I thought that might be what this is about.”
“Well, yeah. You’re going to have her in your house, maybe for a good while. So stop chewing on your lip and listen. Fluttershy’s going through a very hard time right now. I’m trusting my good friend with you and I don’t want you to think this is your chance to make some kinda move.”
Twilight’s mouth went agape. “Excuse me? Your good friend?”
“Yeah ... my good friend.” Dash said. “Just like you, Applejack, and the others, you're all my good friends. We’re close, and I want it to stay that way. That’s all the more reason why I don’t wanna see you mess this up.”
“Look, Rainbow Dash, I’m not taking advantage of anypony. Besides, I only told you that I thought she was pretty. I honestly don’t even know her as well as some of my other friends.” Twilight looked away a bit, as this was something that had bothered her before. “She’s so … quiet.”
Dash lightened up the tiniest bit. “Yeah well, so are you, egghead. So why don’t you take this chance to get to know her better? But do it as a friend, Twilight. This isn't time for other stuff.”
“Fine, I get it. Can we get out of this cold and rain now?”
“You can, I gotta head back.” Rainbow turned an eye toward Cloudsdale above. “I've got stuff to prepare for.”
Twilight nodded. “Well. Good luck.”
As Rainbow Dash turned to go, her wings lifting and extending, she paused long enough to look back over her shoulder for one last, pleading stare.
“All I'm saying is ... be a friend, Twilight.” She said, and then she took off.
*
Inside the library, Spike was already asleep, curled up next to Angel Bunny in the small bed that had just been prepared. Fluttershy was quietly watching from their side, expressionless.
Twilight Sparkle walked up and offered a light, empathetic smile. “Hey … he’ll be okay.”
“I know, Twilight.” Fluttershy sighed. “But he breathed in so much smoke, and he has burns all over … it’s going to be a while before I have my friend back the way he was.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, just ask.”
Fluttershy's cheeks lit up very slightly and she took a moment to suck on her lips before replying. “Well … um … there is one thing ...”
“Sure, name it.”
With tears streaming from her bright blue eyes, Fluttershy turned to Twilight Sparkle with her front legs parted outward. “Hug me again? A real big one?”
That was something Twilight could certainly do.
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Chapter %i%: Safe in Arms
Chapter 2: Safe in Arms
It had grown quite late, yet all of Ponyville was either awake or just returning, uneasily, to their beds. The clouds were less dark now, the rain less fierce, the thunder less frequent. In the Golden Oaks library, a baby dragon lay curled up in silence around a very bruised and battered rabbit. Aside from their ephemeral breathing, the only sounds in the hollowed tree were the cautious taps of 8 hooves, and one gentle yet unyielding voice.
“You're so, so kind, Twilight. I ... I don’t even know what to say ...”
Twilight Sparkle looked back at Fluttershy as they followed the spiral staircase to the sleeping quarters above. Since putting Angel Bunny to bed, the normally quiet pegasus had been gushing like this non-stop, particularly outside of the sleeping rabbit's earshot. If Fluttershy wasn't being so gosh-darned adorable about it, Twilight might have found herself a little annoyed.
“Fluttershy, what else would you possibly expect? That your friends would just leave you out in the cold, with a sick critter? To die?”
“Well ... no ... but, I don’t like to expect anything. I mean, maybe I would like to, but I just can’t. And ... I just want to thank you so, so much.” Fluttershy rambled on as they reached the top of the stairs.
Twilight started across the room towards the separating wall behind her bed. “You're welcome. But please, Fluttershy, don’t worry about it. Just accept it for me, okay?”
“Okay, Twilight.” Fluttershy said distractedly. She stood quietly in the middle of the room, staring at Twilight’s starry night of a bed. Then she looked up and peered through the circuitous glass of the bedroom window. No starry night there. It was still lightly raining, still overcast, still rumbling with occasional thunder. She shivered. Usually those sounds were like a lullaby. Such nights would never be the same.
Fluttershy was brought back to reality by the sound of a loud squeak that made her fur bristle.
“Ugh! I need to oil that!” Twilight griped, as she peered into the noisy closet she'd opened. “Honestly, I’d leave the guest bed out all the time, but I don’t really use it much. It mostly just gets in the way. Spike prefers his own little bed, and I haven’t had any sleepovers since -”
“Guest bed?” Fluttershy wandered over and peered around the corner, into the closet. A pink-sheeted bed lay just behind the door. Aside from some dust, it was the only thing the closet contained. “Oh ... a guest bed.”
Twilight detected some disappointment in the other mare’s voice. “Is something wrong?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “It’s fine, Twilight.” And then she entered the closet in silence.
Twilight watched quizzically as Fluttershy mounted the bed, sliding up and under its blanket. After a pause, she sat up and swept some dust off the pillow, then lay back down. Twilight just stared speechlessly the whole time, unsure what to make of this.
“It’s nice.” Fluttershy said gently, as if Twilight’s staring was her way of begging for an opinion.
“Uh ... I’m not going to make you sleep in the closet, Fluttershy. I was just going to move it out into the bedroom.”
Fluttershy sat up again and stared at her. “I thought ... maybe you were uncomfortable having me in the same room.”
Twilight put a hoof to her face. “Even though you know I had Rarity and Applejack over that one time ...”
“But ... out there I’ll … I’ll see the sky.” Fluttershy drew her hooves up and hugged them about the blanket.
Aha, so, that was it. The trauma was still fresh. Twilight didn't want to leave her friend in a closet like this, but she couldn’t help but understand. With a sympathetic smile she nodded. “If you prefer it, then -”
“I mean, that or your bed is fine.” Fluttershy said quickly.
Twilight felt her cheeks lighting up. It was fortunate that this closet's only light was eclipsed by her silhouette, masking her face. “Well, um ... if it makes you feel better to be in the closet, I guess that’s for the best. You’d still see the sky from my bed, after all.” She chuckled nervously.
“But someone would be there with me ...”
There were a lot of undertones to this discussion, it seemed. The truth was, Twilight wanted more than anything to share a bed with this pretty pony. The thought had crossed her mind about a hundred thousand times in the past few minutes, but each time Rainbow Dash seemed to be right there to shake her head sternly. This was a time to protect, to befriend, and to help heal. Nothing more and nothing less.
“That’s ... really sweet, Fluttershy. But I think it’s best if you … get used to sleeping on your own.”
“It’s only the first night.” Fluttershy stammered. Then, before letting herself appear too needy she added, “No, it’s okay. I’ll just sleep in here. I don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind either, it’s just that …” Twilight sighed. But she didn't have any way to explain that would not make the situation any more awkward than it already was.
After a pregnant pause, Fluttershy summoned the will to press the matter one last time. “I promise I’m not trying to do anything bad. I just wanted to be close to somepony so I wouldn't have any nightmares.”
Twilight felt the pangs of a headache forming. Did Fluttershy really think that she had come across as wanting to take advantage of Twilight? There was no possible way that arrangement even made sense. For a moment, Twilight wasn't sure she would be able to articulate a response. At the same time, the possibilities that came with Fluttershy thinking that way were -
No! Bad Twilight!
"Fluttershy ... I’m not worried that - okay, you can sleep with me tonight if you want.” What else was she to do?
Fluttershy made her preference known as she leaped out of the bed and threw her arms around Twilight in yet another hug. Twilight coughed as this caused dust from the old bed to float around her. Off the pegasas went, fluttering up onto the blue bedsheets of Twilight's bed.
Twilight Sparkle took a moment to examine the dusty guest bed, and to make a mental note to clean the stupid thing. She shut the door, wincing as it squealed. There was another mental note.
*
The two ponies lay quietly in Twilight's cozy bed, each fully awake but pretending otherwise. They faced opposite directions beneath both the blanket and the circular window light that fell across them like a second sheet. The night was quiet now. The storm had completely silenced the crickets and the owls of night, and now it too was gone. Twilight peered across her shoulder at the pink hair of the other mare, and stifled a sigh. It was unbelievably satisfying to have Fluttershy so close, yet it made her unable to sleep. She wasn't sure whether this was her fault, or Rainbow Dash’s.
On the other side of the bed, Fluttershy's mind had set upon a very comfortable memory. The sky was clear, the sun was beaming, and the birds were singing for her. It was the best day she could remember: the day she met a stranger on the outskirts of Ponyville.
Twilight had come out of nowhere and frightened her, sending her airborne. Not a hard thing to do ... Fluttershy knew how she could be about first meetings (it was right there in her namesake, after all,) but, it didn't usually go like that. She hadn't even been able to speak properly. She had never seen a more beautiful mare in all her life. Strangely exotic eyes, a mysterious cutie mark, the loveliest mane. And what a soothing voice! Fluttershy’s big heart had skipped a great many beats just trying to introduce herself. She must have looked like a real fool.
It was a good thing Spike had shown up, she mused. Something to take the focus off of the stranger. A little draconic proxy as she followed them both to this very residence,
Fluttershy used to wonder what it all meant. Had it been love at first sight? Those can work out great when it comes between a mare and a stallion, she thought, but she would have to be lucky for Twilight to even be ... that way. This much was certain: if it hadn't been love then and there, it was now, after all these adventures and all the good she had discovered in the ex-stranger that had strolled into her life like that. Fluttershy couldn't remember the last time she’d fallen asleep without imagining Twilight’s hooves around her. How ironic that only now, after what had happened - the destruction of her home, the danger that befell Angel Bunny - Twilight was finally close to her. Not only was she close, but she had once again shown her good soul. And that's when it hit her.
Fluttershy had to do something. She just had to. Realizing this made her body twitch and tremble. It wasn't like her to make a move, to try something dangerous and potentially embarrassing. She had even promised that she had no ulterior motives just a few minutes ago. But if she didn't try something now, then when?
“Twilight.” She said. The word came out with force, as if breaking through a physical barrier.
A hesitant pause. Twilight decided there was no use in feigning sleep. “Yes, Fluttershy?” she whispered.
“Can...” Fluttershy swallowed audibly. “Can you hold me?”
Twilight’s eyes became so wide they strained her lids. “Huh?”
“Hold me ...?” Fluttershy repeated. “I’m scared. Please hold me, Twilight.”
Twilight looked up and saw that the storm was all gone, such that now there was nothing but an overcast night. Up there, somewhere, was Rainbow Dash. Glaring back, it seemed.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Oh ... okay.” Fluttershy closed her eyes in defeat.
“What I mean is … “ Twilght paused. Resistance was futile. “Are you sure, Fluttershy?”
“Oh, I’m very, very sure.” Fluttershy whispered, her voice like a frightened child as her eyes came open again.
It hadn't taken much. Twilight gave in. She turned in the sheets, drawing up behind the yellow pony. The bed trembled beneath her, and she couldn't isolate which body was causing it. She slowly dragged herself across and raised a hoof, sliding it up Fluttershy’s side. Fluttershy felt soft - so unbelievably soft. Her hair smelled fragrant, and felt good against Twilight’s face. It was so smooth and fine that it didn't even tickle her nostrils. She soon found herself fully curled up against the other mare, holding her tightly.
“Thank you.” Fluttershy sighed, relieved. It was a more wonderful feeling than she had ever imagined, and she was immediately glad that she had dared to ask. Even if it was kind of breaking her promise to be good.
After a happy pause of cuddling, Twilight suddenly remembered something. She turned her face to look across Fluttershy’s cheek, regarding the sparkle of one open eye. “Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash said something before she left that is really true. She said we don’t know each other well enough. Of all my friends, I think I know you the least. Well ... I don’t get Pinkie Pie at all, but that’s different.”
“Well … nopony knows me very well because I'm ... I’m me.” Fluttershy whispered. “But … I would really like to get to know you better, Twilight. I really would. If you want to know anything … just ask.”
Twilight smiled. “Lets take some time tomorrow to do that, okay?”
“Okay, Twilight.” Fluttershy forced around a sudden yawn. “And thank you for everything. Especially this.”
The next thing Twilight Sparkle knew, this beautiful pony was snoring in her arms. For the first time, she knew with complete certainty what Fluttershy was to her. 'Pretty' had been the understatement of the century.
*
It was daybreak, and Cloudsdale was as white and bright as could be after such a storm. The clear sky and distant rainbows made for a gorgeous backdrop for the small crowd, as they listened to Rainbow Dash blow her hot air upon them. They'd formed a small semi-circle around her and Derpy Hooves near the center of the city, so as to go over what had happened the night before.
Rainbow Dash made sure to give herself a good, long moment in the spotlight. She thumped her chest and tossed back her head with glee as she recounted the scene.
“I swooped through the glass -" she illustrated this with a hoof, "went right through it ... BAM! And there was smoke everywhere when I got inside. I couldn't breath, but I knew I had to find Fluttershy. I mean, sure, I was all cut up and stuff, but nothing can stop Rainbow Dash once the pressure’s on! So when I finally found Fluttershy, WHAM! Right through the side of the house with an ol' Sonic Rainboom. Hehehe, and I didn't even break a sweat.”
“How did you not break a sweat in a room full of fire?” One mare asked from near the back of the group.
Rainbow Dash decided to change the subject. “Hey, enough about me. I wanted everyone to check out our pal Derpy, here." She motioned to the pegasus beside her. "Dunno if any of you noticed, but she really came through for us last night.”
Derpy blushed hotly and smiled. “I … I just didn’t want Fluttershy to burn up or something ...”
“Well first of all, you didn't save Fluttershy, you saved Angel Bunny, remember?”
A ditsy smile appeared on the mailmare's face. “Oh, right! Yeah … well, uh, okay so she was trapped under this beam ...”
Rainbow Dash interrupted again. “I think Angel’s a he. Maybe. Actually I’m not completely sure, go on.”
“Okay so she, uh, he was trapped because this beam fell over. Uh, and so ... I pushed it and it fell, and the little bunny was asleep, so I took her out as fast as I could.” Derpy explained humbly. “It was scary ... but I didn't want anypony to die. Or is it anybunny?”
There were light whoops and congratulations as some of the other ponies stomped their hooves.
Rainbow Dash nodded to them all. “I wanna see more guts like that around here! But we shouldn't even have to get in these messes in the first place. On that note, where's Flashbang?”
The crowd parted like a small, multicolored sea, revealing the dark-furred stallion in question. He looked woefully sheepish, tired, and vulnerable. His tail was literally up between his legs.
“I'm here.” He said, cringing. “And I'm sorry. It was my fault. I wasn't focused. I’m ... sorry, everypony.”
Dash nodded coolly. "Here's the thing. Two things went your way today, Flashbang. First, you told me yourself that it was your fault, even before Skyraven there reported it. We gotta own up to the things we do around here, and you did. Second, Fluttershy herself has already forgiven you, because that’s the kind of pony she is. So all I’m going to ask is that you apologize to Fluttershy personally, and then you thank her for being so insanely nice. Are we clear?”
“Completely.” Replied Flashbang, bowing his head. Dash and Skyraven exchanged a smile across his shoulder.
Skyraven was an older brown-haired mare, and a little on the tough side. She was also a flight instructor, specifically Flashbang's. In her stern voice she added, “I’m going to be giving you extra training today. You really need to learn how to keep your mind clear.”
“Yes ma'am.”
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. “Alright, I’m going to go see if I can get Fluttershy. She'll be staying with a friend of mine down in Ponyville for a while, but I’m sure we can all start talking to her about reparation stuff. Besides, Flashbang has some things to say to her.”
“Yes ma'am.” Flashbang said a second time.
The assortment watched the element of loyalty sail over the billowy edge of Cloudsdale in an elegant swoop. Derpy Hooves saluted, hoof across her mouth.
*
The morning light opened Twilight Sparkle’s eyes. Instead of pink hair, she found Fluttershy’s sleeping face pressed into her chest. She smiled, and drew the other mare in tighter. So this was how it felt.
Fluttershy's closed eyes pronounced the thickness of her eyelashes, and for a few minutes Twilight found herself counting the strands. She was looking forward to this day. Finally, a chance to get to know her Fluttershy better ... and to help Angel Bunny begin the healing process, of course. Twilight could envision the entire thing blow by blow. A pleasant conversation … a warm meal ... Angel would come around to the taste of hot soup and smile up at them as they searched the library for remedies and techniques. The warm sun gave Twilight nothing but the best thoughts.
But then, the sun was eclipsed. Twilight looked up at the monocle of a window to see Rainbow Dash hovering outside, her mouth agape. The two exchanged a lot in that glance, and then Dash dropped to the ground, heading towards the door.
Her heart racing, Twilight untangled herself from Fluttershy and fell to the bedside. On her way downstairs she noted Angel Bunny breathing noisily next to Spike. She reached the door just in time to open it before Rainbow Dash’s hoof could meet the wood.
“Rainbow Dash …” Twilight started. “I -”
“Move.” Dash said, breathing sharply through her nose.
Twilight moved. Rainbow Dash walked in, promptly and wordlessly gathering Angel Bunny comfortably in a saddle bag.
“Dash, wait ...” Twilight began, legitimately concerned about the rabbit. But it was also very apparent now that this was not a pleasant visit in any capacity.
“Stay there.” Dash said, as she spread her wings and flew up to the upper floor.
Twilight obeyed, silently waiting by a shelf. She closed her eyes, feeling all her happy thoughts slipping away. She heard voices ... unhappy voices. She couldn't make out words, but she knew exactly what was going on. Rainbow Dash was being firm and aggressive, giving Fluttershy no time to interject. To Dash, Twilight had betrayed a very serious promise, and was now unfit to care for the two survivors. In a way, Twilight believed it herself. It wasn't as though she’d raised a hoof to stop Fluttershy from getting close to her.
Upstairs, Fluttershy not only did not have time to interject, but she had been stunned into silence. Dash’s words had frozen her heart: "This isn't why I had Twilight take you in. I’m sorry, I didn't know about ... I mean, I kinda did, but I didn't think anything would happen." The rest of Dash’s words sounded so faraway. Had she been so obvious all this time? What had she done last night, taking advantage of Twilight’s hospitality like that after promising that she wouldn't? She had pushed the point over and over until she'd got her way. Using her predicament - Angel's predicament - to get herself secured in Twilight’s arms - it wasn't the first time she’d felt like a monster, but it was the worst.
“You don’t need to cry, Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash said, noticing a tear forming in the corner of each eye. “It isn't your fault. Nopony can control how they feel, but we’re supposed to control what we do and when we do it, y’know what I mean?”
“Yes… okay, I’ll go with you.” Fluttershy whimpered, lowering her head.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy descended to the lower level, where each exchanged an unhappy look with Twilight Sparkle in total silence. Then they were gone.
Spike rubbed his tired eyes with the sides of his claws, and looked about in confusion. “Wha? Where are they going?” He said.
That’s when Twilight began to cry.