Chapter 23: Celestia Advice

The next morning, December 23, 1948
Dining Room, Twilight’s Castle

Twilight Sparkle sat at the dining room table, chewing on some buttered toast that Spike had made for he. Laid out in front of her was the latest edition of Equestria Daily, the nationally syndicated newspaper. Nearly all of the articles were about Rainbow Dash and her release from Soviet custody and the spy deal that had brought it about.

Turning the page, she began to read the opinion pieces. The first one was utterly bland and devoid of any meaningful commentary, doing nothing more than extolling Celestia and her “brilliant and endless strategic wisdom.” While Twilight, normally didn’t mind people praising her former mentor, she did mind naked syncopathy from members of the supposedly free and independent press.
The next article on the other hand was far less positive in its coverage of Celestia’s decision to initiate a spy swap for Rainbow Dash’s release. Claiming that such an action “was tantamount to negotiating with terrorists” and “ encouraged further pony napping by rogue states,” the journalist, a pony named Silver Tongue, went on to state that Celestia was “well intentioned, but utterly naive when it came to issues of foreign affairs.” Finally, he said that , “Rainbow’ Dash’s treasonous denunciation of our country in a Soviet court makes her unworthy of the Princess’s invention.”
This made Twilight’s blood boil. This author had no idea what he was talking about. How dare he talk about Rainbow Dash, the element of Loyalty, in such a fashion. Here was a brave and noble mare who had been tortured into confessing to the crimes that she was accused of. Twilight called Spike over to her side.
“Yes Twilight?” asked the teenage dragon.
“Can you please add ‘write a stern letter to Silver Tongue’ to today’s to-do list?”
“Yes Twilight,” said Spike.
“Oh and one more thing.”
What is it?” asked Spike.
“Could you please take this newspaper and put it in the trash? I don’t want Rainbow Dash to read some of the hostile media coverage about her.”
“Okay,” mumbled Spike, taking the copy of Equestria Daily from Twilight. As soon as he was out of earshot, he said, “You do have hooves Twilight.”
Twilight spent the next couple of minutes finishing off her toast and coffee. Thinking about the way that many in the media and the general public had responded to Rainbow Dash’s treatment in the Soviet Union had shocked her. While the majority of ponies she interacted with were understanding of the difficult position that she was in as a captive of Stalinist Russia, many weren’t. Many “armchair spies” had labelled her a “coward” for confessing to espionage charges at the kangaroo court that she had been dragged in front of. She had even heard one of the patrons at Cupcake Corner state that, “she should have killed herself rather than get captured.” That kind of heartlessness towards one of Ponyville's greatest heroes chilled Twilight to the core.
Twilight's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Rainbow Dash's hooves as she approached the dining room. A second later the amazing rainbow colored pegasus walked in through the door and sat down across from Twilight, still visibly tired from the party from the previous day.
“Heyo there Twilight,” said Rainbow Dash.
“I take it that you’re still a bit sleepy?” asked Twilight.
“‘A little bit tired’ is an understatement.” said Rainbow Dash.
Luckily for you Hearth's Warming Eve is just a few days away. There'll be plenty of cider to go around,” said Twilight teasingly.
“Yay!” said Rainbow Dash, mimicking Fluttershy.
“Then we’ll sit down, and I’ll help chart out the path forward. If you want to of course.”
“What do you mean?” asked Rainbow Dash confused.
“We’ll you can’t exactly live in your house up on the clouds.” said Twilight, alluding to Rainbow Dash’s inability to leave the ground.
“Yeah, I never thought about that,” said Rainbow Dash. “Where will I go?” asked the cyan pegasus. To herself.
Seemingly reading her mind, Twilight said, “You, Tank and Scootaloo are welcome to live here with me as necessary.”
“I don’t mean to be a bother,” said Rainbow Dash.
“You’re not a bother. I consider it an honor and a privilege to host a hero such as you.”
“Look Twilight, it’s really nothing…” said Rainbow Dash sheepishly.
“It really is something,” interjected Twilight. “You choose of your own free will to serve our country on a dangerous solo mission. After your capture, you never gave up. You carried through and made it back for your daughter Scootaloo.”
Rainbow Dash got up from the table and excused herself to make some toast. Twilight sensed that Rainbow Dash really wanted to be alone for a moment and thus didn’t protest.
A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash returned, holding a plate of toast with her teeth. For several minutes the two sat in utter silence, save of course for the sound of crunching toast.
Seeking to break the silence between them, Twilight asked, “Now Rainbow, I understand how much you value your job with the Wonderbolts. However... , due to your … condition-”
Rainbow Dash interrupted Twilight and said, “Look Twilight, you don’t need to baby me. I know full well that I’ll never fly again. You don’t need to sugarcoat the situation by calling my injury a ‘condition.’”
Twilight instantly felt remorse for not treating her friend like the adult that she was. Clearing her throat, she said, “I’m sorry for that Rainbow Dash.”
“It’s okay Twilight. I understand that you’re only trying to help. Now what were you saying before I interrupted.”
“Right, I was about to begin talking about helping you find a job. Of course you don’t-”
“That sounds like a great idea,” beamed Dashie.
Twilight was surprised by the enthusiasm of her disabled colleague. “Really?”
“Yeah. I might not be able to fly but I can still be useful. Anyways, I’ll have to get a job anyways to take care of Scootaloo and to help pay for her college, so I might as well begin working again soon.”
“I’m surprised at how well you’re taking this. I thought that you loved flying?” said Twilight.
“I do twilight,”said Rainbow Dash matter of factly “However, I need to continue living my life Twilight. My father had a saying, ‘you either get busy living, or you better get busy dying.’”
“What would you be interested in doing as a job?”
“Well just about anything, so long as the hours are reasonable and pay is decent.”
“Well that narrows it down,” said Twilight sarcastically.
“Do my sass-o-meters detect sarcasm.” joked Rainbow Dash.
”Perhaps,” said Twilight before playfully winking at Rainbow Dash.
Both mares began chuckling, Rainbow Dash’s infectious laughter filling the room.
“But seriously though,” said Twilight trying to get Rainbow Dash to take things a bit more seriously. “I was talking earlier this morning with Fluttershy and she said that if you wanted to help out at her place then-”
“Deal!” shouted Rainbow Dash forcefully.
Twilight was taken aback by Rainbow Dash’s enthusiasm. While Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash got along fine, they were polar opposites in terms of personality.
“Well then, someone is clearly excited to hang out with Flutters,” said Twilight.
“What! It’s not like I’m in love with her!” said Rainbow Dash defensively, hoping that Twilight didn’t see her blushing. “I simply think that it would be therapeutic if I were to be around nice, cute animals!”
“Rainbow Dash wanting to be around cute animals?” snarked Twilight, a smug look playfully mocking Rainbow Dash.
“Fine. You got me. I want to hang out with Fluttershy, but only as a friend!”
“Of course,” said Twilight. “Well that settles that. I’ll let Fluttershy that you’re ready to begin work tomorrow.”
“Sounds great.”
“You also have two visitors scheduled for this afternoon.”
“Who?” asked Rainbow Dash