Scootaloo lay stretched out in bed, staring out of her hospital room window with a blank expression. She was bored out of her skull... but at least she was comfortable. A few weeks earlier it had hurt to breath, but the pain slowly went away. She was starting to feel herself again... and also starting to feel quite restless.

No pony had come to visit her today. Rainbow Dash said they'd be too busy helping Pinkie Pie finish moving in, but there was always the chance that Apple Bloom might stop by if she didn't have too much homework.

"Guess she had too much homework," Scootaloo said dejectedly, looking at the clock on the wall, realizing it was almost time for visiting hours to be over.

When Scootaloo was bored, she found she could always do one of two things: read a book or sleep. Though the filly was only comfortable sitting up to read for just a couple weeks, she'd already gone through all hospital's comics twice and even manged to read Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone in one sitting... which only made her think of Rainbow Dash. That's what happens when a filly has nothing else to do, especially one with so much energy, like her idol. Now all she could do is sit quietly, in the dim light, waiting for somepony to come spend time with her.

Maybe Rainbow Dash would come by for a surprise visit? Scootaloo always held out hope, especially since Rainbow could show up anytime when she least expected it. Lately Dash didn't look too good, though... even a foal could see that, but she still kept coming all the time and they were even going to live together, so Scootaloo was happy. She'd never ask her to bring her anything, though. She didn't want Rainbow to start thinking she was being ungrateful... or maybe even stop liking her because of it.

Too bad Twilight Sparkle hadn't come in a while. She could talk about something new and fun, a pull a book from the hospital cart, and Scootaloo could read about it for hours on end. Right now the filly didn't have the energy to look for new things, but she was still excited for the new, wonderful things coming up in just a little while.

Scootaloo was about to turn a little knob by her side, cutting the lights so she could shut her eyes and just sleep. She noticed something small emerging into her still room by the door and paused... focusing on it:

It appeared to be a rainbow-colored floating rock, about the size of a stallion's head. It hovered inches above the latch, laying motionless on what appeared to be a small flying saucer. Scootaloo wasn't being given anything for the pain, she was unfortunately quite allergic to most painkillers outside of headache medicine, so she had the presence of mind to realize she couldn't make heads or tails of what she was looking at. The filly cocked her head sideways, blinking as it moved lower and lower, then higher... almost teasing her.

Pinkie Pie then stepped in holding this "rock" high with a smile on her face. Scootaloo realized this wasn't a rock at all, but a cake. Then friends began to pour in: five Elements of Harmony, plus the Cakes and Spike, Big Mac and, of course, Apple Bloom at the very end.

"Surprise, Scootaloo!" They all shouted, the last one being Fluttershy, who just exclaimed "Yay!" in a tone much meeker than the rest.

They were all there. All of Scootaloo's friends had come to see her in the last hour of visiting hours. She smiled ear-to-ear as they surrounded her bed.

"What're you all doing here?" She couldn't help but ask.

"We're here to celebrate my new bakery and your new home, silly!" Pinkie exclaimed, placing a hoofful of candles into the cake and lighting them up. "I know it's not your birthday, but make a wish and blow them out anyway. Hope it comes true!"

Taking a deep breath, Scootaloo did just that. Pinkie led everypony on in a cheer as the candles went out. The filly looked at her friends; they all smiled down on her.

She noticed Rainbow Dash in the back. The Pegasus wasn't cheering, but at least she was smiling. Her eyes looked tired as she stared at the bed, nodding with a slight grin. Rainbow approached the front of the group, looking out the window.

In the midst of the cheers, Scootaloo scratched her casts while Dash watched the sunset. The filly didn't want to embarrass Rainbow in front of all her friends. She wasn't all sappy like Fluttershy or sentimental like Apple Jack, but she'd never properly thanked her in all the times she'd come back... she was just too excited about what was going to happen. This time, however, Dash was mellow, and because of that so was Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom approached before either pony could say anything. The yellow filly was wide-eyed, talking in an excited voice about how she and Scootaloo would go off on an adventure once she was out... a lot like Dash had been doing for weeks. Scootaloo couldn't help thinking of Sweetie Belle as her friend spoke, hearing Apple Bloom's rapid, high-pitched voice occasionally squeak in delight. This was the opposite of how it had been for so long. The farm filly went on to describe where in vivid detail, but Scootaloo wasn't listening anymore. She was half-looking up at her idol, who finally turned towards her and stuck out a hoof... they hoof bumped. Apple Bloom fell silent and put a hoof to the back of her head (realizing she probably hadn't been listened to) as Apple Jack gave her a noogie to make things less awkward.

"You're all kinds of awesome, Scoots." Rainbow said, with an awkward smile. "I can't imagine not having you around."

"Thanks." Scootaloo replied, trying to look as cool and composed as possible.

Not that either noticed this, but Mrs. Cake and Twilight shot each other a nervous glance. They prayed to Celestia Rainbow wasn't about to say something silly now that it was all over with and she could finally get some rest.

Fortunately, nopony had time to process much of anything. Blissfully unaware, Pinkie gave both Rainbow and Scootaloo each a plate with a large chunk of cake on it. As Pinkie passed out the rest, they all chuckled at her antics and crazy faces before digging in.

The cake started out the size of Big Mac's head. Everypony got a big piece, some got two, and soon it was half that... then just crumbs, having been enjoyed by all.

Scootaloo started to yawn about forty-five minutes into their visit. Having ten ponies in her small room was exhausting, even if they were trying to keep it light. Considering all that she had been through, her excitement was starting to wear down and her eyes began to close on their own... at least she had gotten the stimulation she'd needed. The Cakes, Twilight, and Fluttershy all noticed this, and started to feel that maybe it was a mistake coming so late.

"I think we'd better let our little patient get some sleep," said Mr. Cake, yawning as he stopped Pinkie in the middle of opening her saddlebags to get party favors. "She's had a rough few weeks, and it's rather nice to finally be able to give her a place to stay after having this big scary unknown looming over our heads and-"

"Carrot," Mrs. Cake said in a low voice, glancing at Scootaloo with a sharp jerk of her neck. "Everypony here knows Scootaloo needs her rest. How 'bout we just take our leave and ixnay the boring old explanation... okay, dear?"

Glancing back, Mr. Cake gulped and nodded, realizing what he almost did.

Fortunately, Scootaloo was half out of it and not hearing anything being said. Everypony heaved a sigh of relief as one by one they quietly exited the room, leaving Rainbow Dash the last one in there. Twilight stood in the doorway, silently watching Rainbow approach the filly's bed. She heard a sound:

Click.

The room was dark. All that could be heard was Scootaloo's breathing. It sounded almost like snoring.

"Good night, squirt." Rainbow Dash whispered.

Twilight heard the soft sound of hooves tip-toeing in her direction on the hard linoleum floor. Clip-clop, clip-clop! She saw her friend's silhouette approaching and turned around, walking into the carpeted hall. The two walked down the hall with their heads down.

They descended the stairs together, their echo reverberating against the metal steps. Without a word, they emerged onto the main floor. Twilight waved at the nurse on her way out, who nodded politely then looked past her at Rainbow Dash, smiling and waving enthusiastically. The Pegasus had come by a lot... and she knew of the plans from Scootaloo. Twilight glanced back at her friend and grinned. Rainbow appeared off in a fog as expected, but she smiled back when she noticed Twilight was looking at her.

Once they were outside, the evening air hit them. The sky was dark, crimson over the western horizon as Celestia retired the sun for the night.

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight finally said, as they watched their friends go their separate ways off in the distance. "What you're doing for her is truly wonderful."

Rainbow lowered her head, then looked up at the sky and sighed:

"Hey, Twilight... can I tell you something?"

"Of course, Rainbow. You can tell me anything."

The Pegasus bit her lip:

"I wasn't really sure at first if I wanted to do this."

Twilight put her hoof on Dash's shoulder and smiled reassuringly.

"I know that, Rainbow. It's okay... I can still help if you're having-"

Dash closed her eyes and put up a hoof. Twilight went quiet as Rainbow spoke:

"When Scootaloo was laying at the bottom of that cliff, um... I realized something. She- she's really special to me. Like super special, I can't even begin to put it into words. It's different than just being a filly. I- I don't want anything bad to happen to her. I'd feel really awful, plus Ponyville would be minus one awesome filly. Knowing how easily Sweetie Belle died and all, then seeing her so beat-up firsthoof... I just don't know what I'd do if she went away or died."

Twilight smiled. She had never seen this side of Rainbow Dash before. She took a breath, thinking carefully of what to say next:

"Rainbow, please know I'm here for you both. Believe me, I'm not about to let anything happen to her either. I've been working hard and might even have plans if things don't work out."

Dash smiled in response, hearing the sympathy in Twilight's voice... but not hearing everything she was saying. Rainbow was goal-minded (and stone-faced) when presented with a problem, as always:

"I'm doing this because everypony keeps telling me Scootaloo will be really happy with me... and she probably will be. I'm Rainbow Dash, after all; the most awesome Pegasus pony around. I'm also doing this because it's the right thing to do... it's the loyal thing to do. Know what I mean?"

Rolling her eyes, the Unicorn let out a small sigh, but still kept her composure so well it would have impressed Celestia:

"How 'bout we just talk about this in the morning? You need to get some rest and so do I."

"Okay, Twi," Dash yawned and stretched. "I'm not normally one to admit it, but I am pretty tuckered out."

"Believe me, I can tell." Twilight chuckled. "Night Dash."

"Night."

The two went their separate ways, feeling good about what was going to happen and what was going to be said. Twilight Sparkle had options and Rainbow Dash had purpose. Each was happy and going to sleep well that night. They were home before they knew it.

Rainbow looked up at the familiar, yet alien building before her. She trotted inside.

The ex-Carousel Boutique was dark. It had been so the last half of the day, but now that it was night, Pinkie needed a candle to see what she was doing. They hadn't even left the sales room when she lit one up.

"You going to be okay tonight, Dashie?" She said, usually meekly for Pinkie Pie. "I'm so sorry this had to happen!"

"It's alright, Pinkie," Replied Rainbow, yawning and scratching her barrel. "Besides, how would you know? Live and learn... this is your bakery now, and your mistakes to make. Hey, can I get another candle? I might wanna do a lil light reading before hitting the hay."

"Sure!" As if by magic, Pinkie produced another lit candle, complete with stick. She set it on the counter. "G'night, Dashie?"

Rainbow grabbed the candle, her tired eyes shining in the darkness:

"Night, Pinks."

Rainbow Dash lay on her stone pillar, her candle nearby, surrounded on all sides by blackness.

It'll be okay in the morning. She thought while stretching out her back. Here's hoping Mr. Cake and Big Mac'll come back with the right tools and we'll have power back. So what if it does take an electrician?

In the darkness, Rainbow's senses were extra sharp, not that it hadn't been that dark in her room before. With nothing more to think about, her mind wandered as her senses painted a picture. Aside from the burning, warm wax, she could still smell Rarity's perfume in the air, even though the mare's possessions had long been cleared out. She also could smell Sweetie Belle's shampoo, strongest in her room despite the filly being gone for over half a year... it seemed to emanate from the window pane by Dash's head. Perhaps some had been spilled during an unlady-like sisterly brawl. It wouldn't surprise Dash if Rarity had gotten angry enough to throw things with her magic, even without thinking about the consequences of staining her walls.

Dash turned on her back.

This was once their house, she thought to herself. Two ponies, two friends... they're dead.

She looked over at the boxes she had stacked in the corner by her bed, sat up and began going through the top one. She was going to find her Daring Do books, even if she couldn't remember which box it was in. If Twilight had had wings, she would have surely helped with organization. Though she could manage, Dash wasn't about having her little knick-knacks all organized... she was about doing, but that would have helped.

The Pegasus found Scootaloo's helmet first thing. That wouldn't have helped the filly when she crashed. She set it down and then found the weights set and jump rope Scootaloo had gotten for her birthday in the same box. She then found Tank's helmet and propeller next -- like Opalescence, Fluttershy had him and was taking good care of the little guy. Rainbow smiled at the thought of her tortoise being right back where he started, in good hooves. Dash dug deeper, reaching for rectangular-shaped books. She found one and pulled it out.

It was a photo album.

Under the faint light of the candle, she opened it up. She saw pictures of herself and her friends first thing. Her friends from Cloudsdale years ago, her friends from Ponyville... Rarity and Sweetie Belle were in there with them. She turned the page and saw a picture of herself with her favorite filly.

Soon. She thought. You won't have anything to worry about anymore. You'll always have a place to turn to when things go bad.

The Pegasus smiled, turning another page.

She saw a picture that Apple Bloom had a copy of in her own album -- a picture of the three fillies posed together on the farm in their capes. She remembered it was taken just a week before Sweetie Belle got killed. This was a picture of their final crusade.

She turned the page quickly, only to find pictures of Apple Jack and Big Mac hard at work on the farm -- another painful memory jogged, since they were both nearly crushed with work weeks before. Though they were smiling in this picture, bad things in the past were all Dash could think about. She shut the album.

It's time to focus on the future.

She dug around in the box and finally found another book. She pulled it up:

"The Mechanics of flying as compiled by Twilight Sparkle, dictated by Spike."

She laughed, setting the book down. Another birthday present Scootaloo had left with her. It might cheer the little filly up to be left with a book about flying before going off with Dash... even if she didn't understand it, it would at least get her thinking about good things, right?

She rummaged around in the box again and finally pulled out a book labeled Daring Do & The SOMETHING-OR-OTHER. The title didn't really matter. Dash had read all of them at least five times. She was just happy to just have something fun to read, to go on a big adventure with no real consequences to herself or anypony she cared about. That was grande, as Rarity might say.

Rainbow stretched out on her back, setting the candle on the window sill. Looking up at her book like a young filly, she opened it up and began to read:

"As Daring Do crept through the dark and desolate swamps..."

The Pegasus grinned happily as she drifted into the story, hearing the character's voices in her head. It had been over a month since she enjoyed a good book. Everything was going to be just fine and she couldn't be happier. She didn't dream of bad things that night, but adventure. It had been too long. So long...