As days go by...

After having told Rainbow about your current situation you had asked Twilight to help inform ponies that you had plans with that you weren't going to be able to make it, only to be told that the princesses already set about doing it. You thanked her for all the help and she returned to the library to meet with the rest of the girls to tell them. After Twilight left Scootaloo suddenly jumped off the bed and ran out of the room spouting something about a present, you looked at Rainbow and when you asked what it was about she just smiled and shook her head.

As quickly as she'd left, Scootaloo returned with a small case held in her mouth. She trotted up to you with a huge smile and plonked it into your hand, "Open it!" you chuckled and slowly parted the lid of the case. Inside was a shimmering pair of Aviator sunglasses, light blue- or cyan lenses, bronze trim and two symbols engraved in the outer corners of each lens. One you recognized as Rainbow's cutie mark, but the other you had to think about for a moment until you realize that it was the cutiemark crusaders insignia. (a pair of those would be fucking SICK)

The glasses in front of you began to fade into the white floor until the next moment where you now stood on a roof overlooking a line of ponies standing at attention on a runway with an orange mare shouting at them. You smiled and dove off, expecting to hit the ground, but instead hearing a deep *pomf* and quickly tilting upward till you were level. Wings, you had wings!

You soared past quite a few pegasi and when you almost reached the group, you retracted the feathered appendages and dropped at great speed towards them, and it was a long drop, one you were sure you would not walk away from. A split second before hitting the ground however you felt yourself become lighter and an unexplained force push you ever so slightly back up and you gracefully touched down, emitting a small gust of wind.

Several of the ponies lined up were looking at you with dropped jaws, and as you scanned the group all but two, were awestruck. Those two were Rainbow dash and...another mare that you didn't seem to recognize, though you had the nagging feeling you should. The pair were smiling at you, one sweet and kind and the other of admiration. The mare that had been doing the yelling from before, dressed in an officers uniform of some sort, started up again "Ah sir, how nice of you to drop in. This here newbies is commander Specter. Lately he has been scouting the academy for some Spec Ops recruits for the royal guard! But I doubt any one of you would have a chance." she turned to you and saluted, which you returned in kind.

"At ease captain. I'll let you get back to breaking in the fresh meat..." you eyed the line-up carefully, deciding to have a little fun with them yourself.  Slowly walking up to an already trembling mare you keep you're stone faced expression until you get right up in her face. Once you are you give her you're meanest scowl, which is probably a lot scarier to ponies as she nearly collapses. You turn to Spitfire and nod "As you were."

Walking off you shoot a smile at Rainbow as you heard 'the good captain' get back to business. The mare beside her now had a sly grin and winked as you passed. Returning the gesture with a glare you stretched your wings and took off once more, the clear blue sky growing ever pale.

***

And now here you were again, sitting on your bed. Rainbow by your side and Scootaloo looking expectantly at you "Do ya like it?" she hopped up and down, wings buzzing loudly. You pulled the glasses out, slowly resting them on your face and grinned at your little energetic filly.

"I love it." you sweep her up and gave her another hug. You were confused but by the looks of things your little flashback had barely lasted a second, not to mention that it felt so real. Crazy business, magic.

After a few seconds Rainbow broke the silence "C'mon Scoots, ya gotta let him rest. Why don't ya go hang with your friends for a while." she smiled at you and Scootaloo sighed, jumping off and walking out.

"I know what you're thinking, and that's NOT rest mom!" you hear Scootaloo call before the front door closing. Rainbows face instantly flushed and you fared no better

"Heh, she just-" you cut her off as you burst into laughter before clutching your aching temple soon after. "Oh are you alright?" You nodded, slowly so as not to make the pain any worse.

"Yeah fine, just got a killer headache from all those damn spells fuckin' with my head."

"One sec." Rainbow whisked out of the room and returned seconds later with a glass of water.

"Thanks." you whisper downing the small glass in one go. Rainbow then raised a hoof to your forehead and seemed focused on it intently "Uh, what are-"

"Shh."

You shut your mouth and let her proceed with...whatever it was. A few seconds later the tip of her hoof let out a faint blue glow, as did her eyes. You were so caught up with your curiosity that you almost didn't notice the throbbing pain in your head fade away. "How did-"

"Y-...you taught me." Rainbow smiled and looked away, shuffling her hooves.

"Let's see if we can't cheer you up then." Rainbow perked up with interest as you rose from the bed, walking to the wardrobe.

"I'm fine really I-"

"You're not fine Rainbow. If this were happening to me I would be far from it, and we're not so different. That's one of the things I love about you." you recovered your hoodie from earlier as well as a scarf and some fingerless gloves. Rainbow hadn't moved, frowning with her eyes fixed on her hooves.

Once you're dressed you lay a scarf over her neck and sit by her side "It's gonna be alright. You have friends and family that won't let anything stop you." you wrap an arm around her and stroke her cheek. She calms down and weakly smiles, holding your hand to her cheek.

"I just hope it works. Ever since I heard about your life on Earth-...I just don't want you to have to go through something like that again." the glint in her eyes is enough call for you to pull her into a hug, and she instinctively wrapped her wings around you. "C'mon, let's go have some fun." she pulled away and wore a rather devious grin "Race ya." before she finished her sentence you were already sprinting to the window, diving through it a second later. You had no idea just how high the house was though, or how thin the snow was however.

{Well...assumption IS the mother of all fuck ups} You try a roll just before you hit the ground but it's too late and simply end up slamming down onto your side after landing, and now you've hurt your ankle AND shoulder. Not the best of ideas but you look back up to the mare in the second story window "I win!" she did NOT look happy {oops?}.

Rainbow whizzed down and stomped over to you "What were you thinking!?"

"Rainbow c'mon I just-"

"What if you really hurt yourself Riley!? Then what!?"

You let out a defeated sigh and rubbed your aching shoulder, kneeling down close to her "I'm sorry, I know that was probably pretty stupid."

"Probably!? Riley if you'd-"

"I know, I really am sorry Rainbow I-..." You sighed and hung your head, she was worried enough as is and you were pulling idiotic shit like this. "I'm an idiot."

She lifted your head and pulled you closer, pressing her nose to yours as she stared deep into your eyes "You're my idiot, but promise you won't scare me like that anymore okay."

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." The two of you chuckled as you closed your eyes and kissed her softly. You'd have to do something to make it up to her later.

You heard some shuffling and before you could think you were greeted by a face full of ice and giggling. "It...is...on." you scooped up a handful of snow as rainbow jumped back and prepared to dodge the incoming attack. Only to be struck from the side by none other...than Scootaloo "That's my girl." you felt another wave of cold hit your face and drew your attention back to Rainbow, narrowing your eyes as you quickly confirmed your trajectory.