Rainbow Dash’s dreams flit by in a haze of violence, blood, smoke and fire. So much so that when the cyan pegasus jolts up from slumber, the mundanity of her surroundings seems off-putting, somehow. It isn’t altogether unfamiliar; in fact, she had spent quite a bit of time in the very same room, merely a hooffull of weeks before, upon her first arrival at the pace.
“Don’t move! Your ribs are still healing!” A vaguely familiar voice from the side urges. Thankfully, the medical staff had the foresight to strap the pegasus down so that she couldn’t put undue strain on herself; even so, the sudden movement and panicked gasping of the wakening pegasid is enough to inflict a horrific spike of pain straight into her side.
“OW! Owowowowow!” Rainbow Dash grunts as she falls back into the bed, wincing as she tries to control her breathing.
“Go fetch Celestia, they’ll want to know she’s awake.” Doctor Bonezaw was saying to a nurse, before returning to Rainbow Dash’s side, frowning down at the filly. “Two times in as many months you’ve ended up here. You really need to stop making a habit of this.” The doctor states, tersely, though the barest hint of a jovial tone clues Rainbow Dash in that he’s trying his best to make light of the situation. “How do you feel?”
Rainbow Dash doesn’t know how to respond; her mind is still racing, trying to catch up. For the doctor it might have been hours, but for Rainbow Dash, the st thing she remembers is death and fire, and that isn’t going to be alleviated quite so readily. On the contrary, as soon as she thinks about it, the filly begins hyperventiting once more, jerking her head to the doctor with panic, ignoring the stabbing pain in her side that comes with any movement. “What happened!? Is Twilight alright? What about Spike? Did anypony else get hurt? What about the guard, is he-” The flurry of questions flies out of Rainbow Dash as soon as she thinks of them
Bonezaw holds his forehooves up disarmingly. “Woah there, slow down. I’m your doctor, not your instructor, you can ask Celestia all that when they get here.” He states in a characteristically blunt and dispassionate tone. “For right now I can tell you that Celestia’s other student-I assume that's who you’re asking about, right?-is fine, she was checked out of the infirmary just an hour ago. Now, I need you to focus and tell me how you feel. If there’s any other injuries we missed, it is imperative we find them quickly.”
Rainbow Dash’s gaze finds the stone ceiling above her, as a mixture of both dread and relief flow through her. Celestia is coming. “I-I…” Rainbow Dash tries to focus to answer the question, but as she shuts her eyes all she can see is that scene before her again; The bloodcurdling grunt of the guardspony as his voice was cut off, the fear in Twilight’s eyes, the cold stare of the assaint a mere breath away from ending her life. Raising up one hoof, Rainbow Dash touches it to her temple, grunting. Come on, don’t cry, don’t cry, you’re tougher than that! She desperately tries to reassure herself, shaking her head and struggling to block out the all-too fresh, all-too visceral memories.
Bonezaw frowns, stepping back. Years of treating guardsponies- often having to be the one to break the bad news of their comrades not making it back or dying under his care, when their injuries were too serious to heal- had somewhat desensitized him to their reactions. Yet he has to admit, it is somehow more chilling coming from such a young filly in front of him. Especially given how well Rainbow Dash was holding it together, all things considered; he’d certainly met many a trained guardspony who was outright hysterical after a close encounter with death and dismemberment.
Still, he needed her to stay calm right now. Pcing one forehoof firmly down on the bed by Rainbow Dash’s side to get her attention, the doctor transfixes her in his gaze. “It’s important that you tell me right now. We already had to perform surgery to fix your ribs back into pce, if anything is out of pce we are still in the critical phase where your ability to heal hangs in the bance.” Bonezaw enunciates each word clearly, deliberately, and with cold professionalism, something which seems to anchor the pegasus somewhat in the here and now.
“Um… It hurts a lot on my side, and the base of both my wings.” Rainbow Dash expins slowly. “And it hurts to breathe.”
Bonezaw nods. “That sounds about right. Anything else you can feel? Especially if it's further from the other injuries?”
Rainbow Dash focuses, but can’t find much of note. “Uh, the tip of my ear hurts. Or,” Rainbow Dash winces, remembering suddenly that the tip of her ear had been unceremoniously removed from her body. The shock of having lost something permanently- even something as retively innocuous as that- would have to come ter, there is too much to process already. “I guess I don’t have that, huh? Other than the ribs and ear though, I think I managed to get away alright.”
Bonezaw nods, looking down to scribble something on a spreadsheet before swiveling his head around at the distant clip-clop of approaching hooves. “Well, I believe that would be their majesty. I will leave you to it.” Every bit as disengaged as ever, the striped earth pony bows his head lightly before departing to check on somepony or another else.
True to his word, no sooner does he leave than another pony appears in the doorframe, the towering frame of the somber alicorn having to stoop their head to fit through. Without even meaning to, Rainbow Dash shrinks away as a fsh of memory of overwhelming power fshes through her, before immediately mentally berating herself for doing so. This was the pony that had saved her, not a threat. Even so, at the mere sight of Celestia, Rainbow could swear she can smell it once again. The ashen scent, of bloody vapor and burning flesh.
“How do you feel?” Although it's the second time since she had awoken that she’d heard those words, the feeling behind them is entirely different, none of the detached clinical attitude of the doctor, and Rainbow Dash knows that the alicorn is not merely asking about her injuries.
“Not great.” Rainbow dash eventually admits, all her usual bluster beaten out of her by what had happened. Taking a deep breath, and wincing in pain as she does, Rainbow Dash gives Celestia a hard stare. “I-I need to know. What happened while I was out? Are Twilight and Spike ok? Did the other ponies…” Rainbow Dash hesitates, biting her lip, almost wishing she could simply not bother asking. But that isn't something she can do; she has to know the answer. “Did anypony else die?”
Celestia gazes softly at Rainbow Dash as they sit by her bedside, lowering themself to address her more directly. “Twilight and Spike are nearly unharmed, thanks to you. Unfortunately, other than the assassins, two other ponies were hurt. The guardspony, I’m afraid, was pronounced dead at the scene.” Celestia enunciates each word clearly, their voice sympathetic yet level. Rainbow Dash got the unfortunate feeling that the alicorn had far too much practice breaking bad news. “The other victim was a tourist. Last I heard, he was in emergency care, it's too early to say if he will pull through or not.”
Rainbow Dash sags visibly, staring listlessly at the wall across from her. “I see.” Is all she says, her eyes lowering. Somepony had died, because assassins were after her.
Uncertainly, Rainbow Dash looks back up to Celestia. “Princess? Why did this happen?” Rainbow Dash looks down at shaking hooves. “Some… Somepony wanted to kill me. Did I… Did I do something wrong? Why would anypony want to hurt me?”
Celestia sets their jaw and shakes their head firmly. “No, of course not, Rainbow Dash. Truthfully, I doubt whoever is behind this even knows your name. You were a target because you were my student, and for no other reason.” The alicorn’s gaze falters, the shadow of guilt crossing over it. “You’ve scarcely been in my care for a month, and yet you’ve already been so badly hurt twice. I’ve made a terrible mistake bringing you here, and endangered the life of a filly. I should make reservations for you to return to Cloudsdale immediately-"
Rainbow Dash surges to an upright sitting position, ignoring the pain that strikes in her fnk, tears in her youthful eyes. "No!" She shouts out, with enough force to give Celestia pause. "I... A pony died, trying to protect me, today! More ponies died trying to kill me! I can't... how could I live with myself if I just went back to Cloudsdale and tried to become some stunt flier?" Her voice cracks, but the filly doesn't let up. "I have to see this through... Because if I didn't, what kind of pony would I be? I need to learn how to fight, so I can protect Equestria in the stead of... Of a pony who can't anymore!"
Celestia's gaze softens, with an expression of pained sympathy. "Rainbow Dash, what happened today was not your fault. There was nothing you could have done, and you should feel proud you managed to protect your fellow student. I shudder to think what could have happened if you weren't both there for eachother."
Rainbow Dash jams a hoof into the much-taller alicorn's chest, even though the act requires her to lean to the absolute limit of her restraints. "If it wasn't my fault, it wasn't yours either, so stop trying to make up for it!" Rainbow Dash’s voice echoes in the hospital chamber, loud enough to hurt her own ears. “I came here on my own, you didn’t make me. Whatever happens because of that… Is at least as much the consequence of my actions as yours.”
Celestia’s expression takes on a different tone, a glimmer of something, coming out from beneath the sorrow and guilt. A spark of recognition, or admiration. After a long moment of silence, a hint of a bittersweet smile finds the edge of Celestia’s mouth. “You are a truly remarkable pony, Rainbow Dash, I hope you realize that.” Celestia takes a deep breath, standing up and trotting over to the window to survey the city beyond. “The guards are working exhaustively to make sure whoever is behind this is brought to justice. For now, it's best if you just y low. Pace security has been tightened, whatever may come I will ensure your safety.”
Rainbow Dash shivers at the st statement, the steely, merciless edge in Celestia’s voice. Though Celestia is gazing out over Canterlot, it seems as though they recognize Rainbow’s reaction, as Rainbow Dash can somehow just feel the release of tension in the air as the alicorn forcibly calms themself. “So does that mean I can stay?” Rainbow Dash asks uncertainly.
Celestia frowns and presses one hoof to their forehead. “For now, at least. I suppose we cannot be certain you would not be in danger if you returned. It is unlikely the perpetrators will be so brazen as to try and attack again so soon, but we shall be on our guard nonetheless. The guard has already been dispatched to investigate, and the pace district is on lockdown. With luck, we should have some answers soon.” Celestia expins, somewhere between regretful and authoritative.
Rainbow Dash fidgets unsurely, frowning. Something is bugging her, but she doesn’t know if she should ask.
The need to decide disappears quickly enough, because as perceptive as ever, Celestia notices. “What troubles you, my pupil?” Celestia asks, as gently as can be. Somehow, their voice seems different today, almost more old-fashioned than the way the alicorn normally speaks.
“I-it’s just…” Rainbow Dash hesitates again, wanting to swallow her words, but the knowing gaze of the alicorn above her seems to draw them out of her. Rainbow Dash bites her lip, before shaking her head suddenly as if exasperated by herself. “You’ve lived for centuries, you’ve fought in all sorts of wars… You must have seen countless ponies die in your time. Taken on plenty of students over the centuries. Why do you care so much about what happens to me?” She finally blurts out.
Celestia appraises the pegasus with an almost curious gaze. “It is true. I have ordered thousands of ponies to their deaths for the sake of Equestria, and have seen countless generations come and go. But you are wrong about one thing, Rainbow Dash.” Celestia takes a deep breath. “I have not taken on ‘plenty of students’ as you suggest. In all my years, I have only ever taken on three. Yourself, Twilight, and… Dear Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia flinches at that st one, in apparent discomfort. “I have to wonder if it was a wise decision, to involve myself so directly in the life of a mortal pony. I have much cause for regret, Rainbow Dash. But in you and Twilight, I see the future of Equestria. If I may help you along in any way, I feel… privileged to do so.”
Rainbow Dash blinks, not expecting that answer. Three students, in however-long Celestia had been around? And all so recently, as well; With how Twilight had been taken in as a student so near Rainbow Dash, the pegasus had assumed it must just be a common occurrence for the alicorn. And that isn’t even to specute on the weight of the words, ‘future of Equestria’.
Raising from their repose, Celestia nods to Rainbow Dash. “I am afraid I must go. It is time to set the sun, and I will need to read reports. Not to mention…” Despite their best intentions, Celestia finds themself yawning, blinking away exhaustion. The alicorn allows a small giggle at the break from the serious tone of the conversation. “Well, I suppose that just about tells you all you need to know, hrm? I shall be sure to return once able. Please, do your best to rest, and put recent events from your mind.” Celestia bows their head.
Rainbow Dash hesitates before putting on a determined face and nodding. If nothing else, she can make sure she isn’t giving the ruler of Equestria even more things to worry about. Besides, she has plenty to think about; far more than the admittedly rather muscle headed pegasus is either used to, or prefers.
Rainbow Dash’s head hits the pillow, staring up towards the ceiling, listening to the click-cck of Celestia’s hoofsteps as they slowly trot away.
authors note
Dunno if i actually have any readers here but just in case; I presently have a poll up asking for input. You may find it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDv98SzOBaibkNaC2KYfwsICUcAdOXwjvHIA4PglAXVjlyHg/viewform?usp=sf_link , if anypony actually read this story here then I would consider it a favor if you could go and fill it out! I have some ideas I'm still picking between, and would like to get a feel for how my readers feel about it.
