Author's Notes:

Chapters 3-5 are going to be around 4000-7000 words each because I will spend three months doing them if they're any longer. D:

Also, here's to hoping you don't think Swift's 'war' will ruin the story.

But if you do think so, the war won't be for a while. Until, like, the second or third act. Yeah, a long time. :D

Enjoy.

A week would come to pass. A week of their lives, spent inside that tiny hospital room, or that cafeteria.

A week of Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash.

A week of eternity.

Spike and the others had left the city within an hour of leaving the hospital. Even if they had wanted to stay, the news that Princess Celestia had even given them convinced them otherwise.

Once ponies became informed over the radios that there were ponies living in Manehattan who had killed before, some became anxious, whereas others became paranoid. Of course, this was only the very few 2% of the ponies who lived in the city. The rest had continued to live their lives as usual. The fancy dined and partied where they could, while the norms lived like norms.

Whoever attempted to blow the whistle about Swift or any of his men were never seen again.

Well---not alive, of course.

Within a day after Celestia had sent the letters, a detachment of the Royal Guard was dispatched into the city, patrolling streets in groups of sometimes up to four soldiers in the least populated areas of the city, while the most populated areas had one or two soldiers roaming about, patrolling the area and around every corner.

And just as Celestia had promised, two of the Guard were standing just outside the stallion's door, not moving an inch.

Most citizens in the city didn't mind the extra security, but some who feared something worse was brewing, started to hide away or move out of the city, bags packed and everything.

Dash noticed this the day after they came in. One such apartment building several blocks down had a moving carriage stationed in front of it. Every few minutes, a pony or two would come out of the house holding boxes, putting them into said carriage, then going back into the house and coming out with more.

She watched them rinse and repeat for two hours, before they finally placed the last box into the carriage; as soon as they did that, they were gone in less than two minutes and never came back.

She assumed very few other ponies were doing it in and around the city as well, but she didn't see any more from where she could look.

Still, it bought a sigh from the pegasus.

It had been the second family she'd seen move out.

"Why are some ponies making such a big deal about the Royal Guard?" she asked Twilight. "They act like it's the end of the world or something."

The princess sipped on some warm tea and swallowed it before she replied.

"It's unusual for the Royal Guard to step hoof into other cities. Manehattan is the first city they've ever been to besides Canterlot. Anyone would be worried if the Guard suddenly appeared out of the blue."

"Yeah, but..."

Rainbow stopped, still looking out the window, at today's cloudy skies.

"...But what if it isn't as bad as everypony acts like it is? They're just selling their houses because they're paranoid?"

Twilight could understand what Rainbow was trying to get at, although it wasn't the best in terms of wording. But it was enough for the princess to put down her tea and explain it to her again.

"The Royal Guard wouldn't dare step hoof into another city unless it was something serious. Dash...if Spike's telling the truth---about what that Swift guy said---and it worries Celestia enough to send her best guards hundreds of miles away...then it's a lot more serious than you and I think."

Rainbow believed her; it didn't take much effort to do so.

But she still believed that some ponies were being too paranoid about.

Then Twilight spoke again.

"You know what he said, right? He killed ponies---ponies who tried to expose what he was doing or who he was, or some who just got in his way. He finds and kills them. It's what he tried doing with him...and now that we're caught up in it, he'll probably be looking for us too."

Rainbow never thought of that until now. Swift ran an operation. A secret operation, one that he wants hidden from the public.

He killed to keep it that way.

It was why he nearly died.

And now---she can only assume that somewhere in the city, that bastard knows he isn't dead, and he'll be here any day to finish the job and take her and Twilight too.

No one would ever know.

He would be that clever.

Could he?

Rainbow, her mind an assortment of thoughts, turned away from the window, closing the blinds. The room only became just a little dim; had it not been for the lights, the only illumination would have been from the door.

She had looked at the cloudy sky for long enough today.

Walking back over to the bed, she sat down in her chair. Of course, she had to go around the bed to get to it---she didn't have the strength to even hover today---but she wasn't lazy to consider anything else.

Sitting down in the chair, she took her time to lay back in it, remember how comfy it is. It was always better than those chairs in the waiting rooms---by far.

Slow, gentle breathing.

In.

And out.

She had forgotten what it was like to truly relax, even when she slept in recent nights. It was only now that she had remembered.

She wanted this moment to last.

Just be calm.

Never worry.

But she knew that life wouldn't grant her that one wish, even if it meant selling everything she ever owned---it would never let her relax again for a long time.

Every day, she had to look at him to know that he was still with her, still holding on.

Every day, she had to remember that the bastard was still killing the innocent behind all backs.

And every day on, she would have to always be watched over.

One slip.

One mistake.

Dead.

But she stopped thinking that for now.

The rest of the day passed quickly after that. Dinner came---hayburgers, the best fast food---and went, and the sun went down and the moon came out. Looking down at the streets at night, it was considerably more empty than in previous days. Every night would see the streets clamored with ponies over ponies.

The city that never slept.

But tonight, the streets were only a fourth of what they once were. Ponies ever rarely walking in the streets or riding in the wagons. Business was bad today.

Swift was lazy today too. Another pony, a mare this time, exposed more truth of him, his works.

Like that, the news, the press, the princesses, all of them were all over it.

Moths to the flame.

Remembering his rules, guards protected the anonymous mare.

But not even that saved her.

She was never seen again, no matter how long the investigation took.

But no one was quick to declare war or break into houses to find those responsible. Business remained business---as usual. Everyone lived their lives, not a battle.

But they still feared him.

But not Rainbow Dash.

Behind the flesh and bone that made her was a bomb that ached to go off. She wanted to find him and kill him.

But she didn't---she remembered.

Sleep didn't come easy to the girl that same night. Even after Twilight had gone off to bed and the Guard shifted every hour of sleep, her eyes stayed open as she sat in the chair, looking through the darkness and at the ceiling, the beeping of the monitor keeping her paced. For what, there was no reason.

She realized today that the monitors actually have volume adjusters on them if the beeping is too loud or too quiet.

She didn't dare touch it. Too loud, it would hurt her ears and never put her to sleep.

Too quiet---she wouldn't hear him if he died.

And she wanted to hear it.

She wasn't going to let him.

Eleven o'clock gently ticked by. No big dings, no loud alarms. Just a gentle tick.

Rainbow still sat in the same chair she had slept in for a few days now, since she first stepped into the room. She essentially made it her chair.

But tonight, it was harder to sleep on it than the night before.

No matter how much she tossed or turned in it, she couldn't find the best spot to lay down and fall asleep. It eventually resulted in her simply giving up on sleep tonight.

So she just sat in the chair, eventually pulling a second chair over to rest her legs on. Now horizontal but sleepless, she stared at the ceiling, trying to see the detail in it in the dark. Every ripple, every line that separated it into little squares.

She was tempted to turn on the radio and hope that music was put her to sleep---but Twilight needed her sleep.

Just as much as she needed hers.

It wasn't as if it was silent anyway.

There was the beeps of the monitor, then the ticking, and the snoring, and the shuffling and the talking and the crying and the marching and the chirping...

There were so many noises, they were their own radio.

Rainbow had all night to listen to it.

But it was no more than an hour later, just after midnight, that she felt uncomfortable again. Not just that it was discomfort.

She just felt dirty right now.

Of course, she had been dirty many times in all kinds of things. When she met Twilight for the first time, she was drenched in fresh mud without a care in the world.

But there was a time where she would prefer not to be covered in mud or covered in glue.

In this case, she didn't want to wake up covered in day old sweat.

Ugh.

A shower.

That's what she wanted right now. Not a nap, not a comfy spot to fall asleep in.

She wanted a nice, warm shower to just soak her head and wash away the troubles---if only for a little while.

She wanted one right now.

And so she did.

Quietly, she lifted her body up acutely, making sure she didn't make any noise that could wake Twilight.

Then again, the mare could sleep through a war if she was truly exhausted.

Still---no chances.

Dash gently plopped to the floor on all fours and tip-hoofed her way to the door. When it proved to be a bit louder than she had wanted it to be, she flapped her wings to float her slightly upward, at least until she was at the door.

Grabbing the handle, she twisted it in a random direction and pulled towards her, and with ease, without the faintest of a squeak, the door opened quietly.

In case, she turned around.

Twilight was still asleep, though her head leaned against the bed.

She found it somewhat cute.

Turning back around, she floated her way through the doorway and out into the hallway. From there, she grabbed the handle and pulled the door towards her again, closing it.

Turning the handle, she made sure that the door wouldn't click itself shut. Once it was closed enough, she carefully released the handle and let it close itself.

She sighed in relief, knowing she was able to keep her friend asleep. Of course, there was no reason for Twilight to be worried, but she wanted her to get some sleep.

Consider it a reward for putting up with her for the past few days.

Rainbow turned away from the door and looked to the hallway, despite it being past midnight, there were still doctors and nurses trotting about, to and fro. Patients or friends and family of patients occasionally came by, walking into rooms or walking out.

Then there were the guards at the door.

The one she saw in front of her, the one further from the window, was fast asleep, snoring away, dreaming of whatever he could possibly dream of. A wife, a child, a sunny day, a rainy day.

Whatever he could possibly dream of.

"Miss Dash?"

And the other guard startled her. She turned around, flinching and jumping backward, almost nearly bumping into the sleeping guard.

But she didn't shout.

Though she did catch her breath for a moment or two before the guard asked if she was okay. With a nod of assurance, he apologized, not meaning in any way to scare her.

"It's fine," she stated. "I'm used to it."

She was trying.

"Is everything alright?" the guard asked, referring to her being up and about at this time of night.

She nodded before adding, "I'm just off to the showers. Could really use one right now."

"Do you need an escort?"

She shook her head, stating that they were right around the corner. To prove it, she even showed him where they were; only a few doors down, the sign on the ceiling saying SHOWERS making it very apparent.

The guard understood and let her go, but he chose to sit by the corner; she didn't protest. It wasn't like he was standing next to the door.

When she reached the door to the showers, she noticed and remembered the two separate doors. One for stallions; one for mares.

Obviously, she chose her clear gender.

When walking through the door, she was greeted with a set of six showers, all separated into stalls, similar to that of a restroom. And for a hospital, they were still pretty clean.

Up until a couple days prior, Dash had no idea hospitals even had showers. Mainly because of the fact that virtually all of them don't. To be exact, Manehattan was the first city in Equestria to house showers and baths in hospitals, the only other---the second---being Buckston.

She was glad she didn't have to leave the hospital or pour sink water over herself.

She could just pick a shower and wash away.

And luckily, she was the only one here.

It wasn't that she hated showering with others. Hell, she did it all the time at the Academy.

But tonight, she just wanted some 'her' time.

Walking into a stall at random, she shut and locked the door behind her. Turning to the shower head and controls, she simply lifted the knob control up, and instantly came the water.

COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD-

It certainly woke her up.

Scrambling to turn the knob to the left, she eventually calmed down as soon as the water temperature began to warm up. Once it was hot enough, just right, she sighed and stopped shaking.

It felt great.

Even if it had been a few days since she had showered---she had no need to shower here yet---she still missed the warmth of it all, how relaxing it truly was.

She loved showers.

The first thing she did once the water was warm enough was dip her head into it, swirling it left and right, until her mane stuck to her face and neck. Then she stood up on her hind legs and let the water run down her body, her front and her back. And the tail, couldn't forget the tail.

Soon enough, the girl was completely drenched, her fur flat and wet.

And warm.

She sighed again.

She felt good for the first time in days.

Always upset.

Always uptight.

Always 'racing'.

But not right now.

Right now, the girl was smiling in pure bliss, taking in the warmth of the water and each pitter-patter of every drop that landed on her body or in her mane or tail. Every time she would breathe in, the steam that flowed eased her sinuses; she could breathe, smell clearly. Each breath, she was calmer.

But it wasn't enough.

Regardless of how relaxed she was, how peaceful the water felt against her body, how much it made her smile----she was still not completely there.

And she couldn't understand why.

She was stressed enough to constantly fumble in her seats when trying to sleep, she was stressed because she felt dirty, and she was still stressed now.

For several minutes, even through that smile of hers, even through the bliss, she tried to figure it out.

But then one single thought dawned on her.

She hadn't clopped in months.

...

It could have made sense---couldn't it?

Whenever she would come home from the Academy or just after a long day,, a day full of pent up stress or overall frustration, she would go upstairs, lay in bed, and clop---a common term being 'masturbation'---and when she was done, it was as if it was all whisked away like a spec of dust.

She did it once a day. It was her own personal addiction, her little escape from whatever mental troubles secretly plagued her, and her mind was cleared immediately after. It was why she was so 'kind' to everyone, more determined, more able to really think.

Then one day, she stopped. She wanted to stop it herself, to learn to ease herself better than become dependent on that one single thing.

And it worked; for a while, she found better ways to calm herself, to think better.

But within a month, she found herself becoming snippy for brief moments, whether to her friends or complete strangers; by snippy, that meant 'out-of-character', completely unlike her.

Of course, she would apologize and explain---but it kept happening, no matter how much she just tried to calm herself.

And then there was the party.

Like months of stress all built up into one single rant.

All unleashed.

All at him.

"Equestria is better off without-"

She stopped thinking about that.

She didn't want to think about that.

Not now. Not ever.

Right now, she couldn't give two damns worth---even if she wanted---if she got addicted.

If it got the job done---it got it done.

She wanted it done.

And so like that---the girl went to work.

Which brought something more to mind.

She always wanted to try with wings.

Thirty minutes later---she finished with a quake of her body.

And like that, the tensing stopped, her aching ceased, and all of the stress, the frustration, the pain, the anger, all built up over days---while it wasn't entirely swept away like every other time, it was certainly enough for her to feel new again.

Once she was cleaned off completely, she finally turned off the shower. Unlike her home back home where it would get cold after ten minutes, the water was still as warm when she shut it off as it was when she first turned it on. Of course, given the size of the building, it wasn't a surprise that the water would stay warm; you'd have to have dozens of ponies using the shower all at once to even notice the slightest change.

For all she knew, Rainbow could have been the only one using the shower at the time.

Not that she cared, really; as long as the water was warm.

Unlocking the stall door, she walked out, closing it gently. Looking from side to side for a moment, she found a small set of shelves, each shelf holding a certain set of towels, each stack being different colors: Red, blue, white, green, gray, lavender, pink, and even cyan.

What were the chances there was a towel the same color as her?

It made her chuckle to think about it.

She wondered if anypony would even notice she was wearing a towel if she wore it anywhere.

Grabbing the cyan one, she opened it up, letting it hang freely, and started to brush her entire body, her mane and her tail with it; every corner, every inch, making sure nothing was left wet.

Once the towel served its purpose, she found a nearby laundry basket and simply tossed the towel into it. On her way to the door, she noticed a mirror attached to the wall. For the first time in days, she took the time to look at herself.

When she saw herself in the bathroom those few days ago, that one morning, she looked like a mess: Tattered mane, baggy eyes, pale colors; not herself.

But now, the color had returned to her body, her mane was proper---not at the moment, clearly---and her eyes were not as baggy.

In short, she looked and felt clean---better.

New.

But after that shower---especially after the shower---her legs were still wobbly, her body still tired and sensitive.

She decided she should go sleep it off now before she ended up having to take another shower.

When she left the showers, the halls were still breathing with patients, doctors, and nurses. Obviously, some had moved on from where they had been sitting or standing, but one pony that had been sleeping in a chair nearby still slept in that same seat.

She smirked just a little.

Walking back to the room, she noticed the guard sitting, not standing anymore, at the corner of the hall. He seemed like he wanted to sleep, but he still remained awake.

Relentless, aren't they?

Having noticed her coming towards him, he got up and began:

"Is everything alright? You've been gone awhile."

She had noticed when she looked at the clock in the showers---why is a clock in the showers, anyhow?

But the mare smiled, much more clearer now, and stated, "I'm fine...much better now, thanks."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded again; the smile stayed, not fake or half-done.

A real smile.

Walking to the door, she opened it silently and turned to the guard.

"Thank you."

"For what?" There could have been many things to thank him about.

Another smile, heartwarming.

"For watching them for me."

One could see it as cheesy, but with a clearer mindset, she decided it was a way to thank him. She never truly liked being 'babysat,' but in honesty, they were only doing it to keep them safe. None of them, not even her, had any idea if things would get worse or get better from this whole thing, especially after the recent news.

They had the right to be thanked right now for whatever effort they gave.

"Good night," she said to the guard, who nodded in return, even giving off his own smile.

Tiredly, but a smile nonetheless.

Dash closed the door behind her, making sure it didn't squeak or click loudly when it did. Once it was closed successfully, she hovered much clearer now to the chairs.

She didn't realize until after her shower how much they smelled of sweat.

Ugh, she thought.

It was nothing that a few scented spray-bottles couldn't take care of.

Once the smell of sweat was gone---as much as she could get it, not that sweat was that odorous---she laid herself back down, and almost immediately, she felt at ease.

Sighing, it was like she sank into the chairs.

It was almost as if she could fall asleep right there and then.

And then---out of the blue, Twilight whispered into the dark.

"...Dash?"

It startled her, but she didn't freak out about it, though she did flinch again.

"Where were you?" she asked her. "Bathroom?"

By default, Rainbow shook her head, though doing so in darkness was pretty much pointless.

"Shower," she answered, whispering back.

And even if she couldn't see her, she could hear Twilight move slightly, stop for a moment, then move again, as if she looked at something then back to her.

"At twelve-thirty in the morning?"

Of course. She was looking at the clock.

Already growing tired and still feeling better, Dash replied simply.

"Mmm-hmm."

There was a steady 'silence' again. The girl was slowly on the verge of falling asleep, but at the same time, she wanted to wait until Twilight fell asleep or if she was done asking questions. It wasn't that she was annoyed or such. This was the chance to sleep tonight.

After a brief ten to fifteen seconds of silence, Twilight asked in a more caring tone.

"...How do you feel?"

She had a feeling she would have asked that at some point.

So she answered to the best of her tiring abilities.

"New."

Cheesy put, yes, but she didn't lie. She very much felt like a new pony at this point.

Tired, yes, but definitely new.

She wondered if the unicorn smiled in the dark, even just a little.

But she was too tired to think anymore.

Twilight whispered, "Good night," and moved around a bit before eventually stopping, having found a comfortable position, and didn't move. And within only a few minutes of waiting in the silence and the dark, the unicorn started to snore.

Rainbow thought it was adorable.

But soon enough, the girl began to doze off herself.

And unlike the past few days where sleep was rough and unwelcoming to her---tonight was different.

Tonight was peaceful.

Tonight was blissful.

Tonight was new.