CHAPTER 14: Changes

I sat by the hospital bed, keeping silent watch over the unconscious form in the bed. It had been a week and a half now, and Dashie still hadn't woken up. She'd endured a lot of trauma, physically and mentally. She had lost a lot of blood. The doctors said she was lucky to have even survived the ordeal she'd been through. I didn't think lucky was the right word.

The closest Dash had come to waking up was the times when she would have a night terror. She'd begin to toss and turn, then let out a horrified, choking scream that tore my heart in two. The doctors said that it was psychological trauma, her reliving the brutal incident in her subconscious. As if I didn't know what she was going through. I told the doctors to get out, to leave whenever she had one of the nightmares, and let me take care of her myself.

"Shhh, it's okay, Dashie..." I would whisper to her, holding her hoof when the terrors came. "I'm here, it's okay now. It's over. I love you, Dashie."

A day after my battle with Pinkie Pie, the constable arrested Apple Bloom, Applejack's little sister. Apparently, she had been helping Pinkie all along, apprenticing under the psychopathic killer. With her evil mentor dead, the young killer-in-training had tried to go it alone, and had gotten caught. She confessed to everything, and was sent to an institution for psychiatric evaluation. Applejack and her family were devastated. The cowpony had visited the hospital room a couple of times to check on Dash. I truly felt sorry for her. It was like her resolve and strength were sapped, and she was like a shadow of her former self. She hugged me, and broke down crying in my arms, and for once in my life, I didn't know what to say, except that if she needed anything at all, she could come to me.

After a week, Princess Celestia came to Ponyville to console the remaining Elements of Harmony. Twilight...poor Twilight was a wreck. Rarity closed her shop, and didn't venture outside for days. Fluttershy, the meekest Element Bearer...I hear that she was in this same hospital following a nervous breakdown. The Princess did what she could to console them, and then visited Dashie's room. If I remember correctly, once she was alone with Dash and I, I finally broke down. My own emotional strength was gone. I cried like a foal in front of Princess Celestia. She wept with me as we sat by my marefriend's bed.

"Thank you, Drake." Celestia finally said. "As tragic and...terrible as this has been, you saved lives. You saved Rainbow Dash, and who knows how many more. You ended it. I am eternally in your debt." Celestia had two guards bring a large, ornate box into the room. They sat it right in the middle of the room, and Celestia thanked me again, and then left. After two days, I finally forced myself to open the chest. Inside was enough gold and silver to live on for a decade, even after buying a house. Atop the treasure was a note. I slowly picked up the letter, which was addressed simply from 'Celestia'

Lieutenant Drake:

You have performed admirably, just as I believed you would, Princess Luna and myself, all of Ponyville, as well as the families and friends of all of my poor little ponies who have died are grateful to you, and in their hearts and minds, praise you more than you probably do yourself.

Drake, your actions more than absolve you of your past deeds for which you have punished yourself more than enough. Your brave troopers who died on the frontier now look down on you and smile in admiration, and glow with respect for their brave commander, and his noble deeds. Of that, I am certain.

For your actions, as you may have noticed, I have paid you handsomely. You will be well financially as you begin your new assignment, my loyal lieutenant. From henceforth, you will be assigned as a special investigator, and Royal Cavalry attache to the Military Police Division, Criminal Investigative Services, retaining your rank as lieutenant. You will answer only to me, and take only the cases which require your special style of investigation, and be paid well for your work.

As for Rainbow Dash, I have been told that the two of you have gotten very close. I am so happy that you not only saved her life, but that you could be there for her in her most trying time, and be the stallion she needs. As she recovers, you have my blessing to remain by her side, and to keep her near to your heart, body and soul. If she wishes to join you, she may have a position as your assistant.

Thank you again, Lieutenant Drake. Thank you for your service to your fellow ponies, and for your gallantry and bravery in this dark time. I will be in contact with you, and you are always welcome and Canterlot. Good luck, Drake.

Your Princess

-Celestia

"Thank you, my princess..." I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Thank you." Dash would be happy, after a while at least. I knew it would take a long time for her to get better, and to learn to live with what had happened to her, but she could be happy now, and I would do whatever I had to to ensure that she was.

The Elements of Harmony were broken. Princess Celestia and Twilight had no choice but to find two more ponies to fill the places of Dashie and Pinkie Pie. For the position of the Element of Laughter, a party pony named Cheese Sandwich was tasked. He had heard about the murders, and Pinkie's involvement, and had traveled three days to help in any way he could. Now, Pinkie's own party protege had taken her Dash's position, a clutzy but good-natured and steadfast pegasus named Derpy Hooves became the new Element of Loyalty. Twilight and I decided that I should be the one to break the news to Dashie, as soon as she awoke from her coma. Twilight had watched with a tragic smile and tears in her eyes, as I gently kissed Dash on the lips and whispered a promise that everything was going to be okay.

Dashie finally awoke two days later. For two weeks, I had never left her side, eating only what the nurses or Dashie's friends brought me, and sleeping for only a few minutes at a time in the chair beside her bed. When Dashie awoke, I was probably on the verge of collapsing myself. Her eyes fluttered and slowly opened. She blinked a couple of times, and focused on me, standing over her. I held her hoof as she came to. She gazed into my eyes in recognition a moment.

"Drake..." Dashie whispered hoarsely.

"Yes, Dashie...I'm right here." I said lovingly, gripping her hoof.

"Drake...what...I..." She began. Her eyes suddenly went wide, and Dash tried to sit up. "Pinkie! Oh man...she's gonna..." I held her down to keep her from hurting herself.

"Dashie, stop..." I gently commanded. "Pinkie's dead. It's over."

"Dead...Pinkie's dead?" Dash whimpered. Tears filled her eyes, and she began sobbing as her memories finally came flooding back. She began sobbing, and I held her close as she cried and wailed. I couldn't even begin to imagine the agony that the pegasus I loved more than life itself was going through right now.

"Dashie..." I whispered to her. "It's all going to be okay...I know nothing I say or do can help what you're feeling right now, but...I love you. I love you and I'm never leaving you."

"I know, Drake..." She sniffed. Suddenly, she began twitching. "Wait...wha...Drake...what's wrong with my wings?"

"Dashie..." I said, trying to stop what I knew was coming.

"Drake...I can't feel my wings! Why can't I feel my wings?!"

"Dashie...stop!" I cried. She leaped out of bed, tumbling to the floor before getting unsteadily to her hooves. She looked into the full-length mirror on the wall. I was speechless. My stomach knotted up, and tears filled my eyes. Dash stood there, shaking a moment.

"What...no...Drake! DRAAAAAAAKE!" She screamed. I grabbed her in a tight embrace, trying desperately to calm her down.

"Dashie, stop...please..." I begged.

"My wings...she took...my wings..." Dashie panted, hyperventilating.

""Please Dashie..." I began.

"My wings...what about...my cutie marks...Drake..." I nodded my head sadly. "No! I'm nothing now! Nothing!"

"DASH!" I cried. "NEVER say that! You're everything to me! I still think you're awesome and pretty and...and..."

"Drake..."

"The best thing that ever happened to me!"

"Drake!" She gasped, and squeezed me tightly.

"We're going to be alright." I assured her. "We'll get through this, and we'll be alright. I promise."

"Bye Dashie...we're going to miss you." Twilight said, hugging Rainbow Dash. After a month of rehabilitation, Dash was healed enough to leave the hospital...and Ponyville.

"I'll come back to visit, Twi." Dashie said with a smile. "You can count on it."

"Ya'll better, now." Applejack added, trying to sound cheerful. After all she'd been through, I was amazed that the cowpony had managed to keep it together. Somewhere along the way, while Dash was learning to walk and trot again in the hospital, I had confessed to Applejack that I had been her cousin's commander at the time he was killed. I apologized to her for what I had done, and for not stopping Pinkie before she hurt Dash.

"It's..." She said, then sighed. "It's okay, Drake. I fergive ya. You saved mah friend, and I'm sure you did what ya could out thee on the range...I can't hate ya fer that..."

"Thank you, Applejack." I whispered.

"Thank you, lieutenant. Fer savin' Rainbow Dash...and fer being a good coltfriend to her." She leaned over close as we watched the doctors helping Dash stand on her hind legs. "Just you remember now, ya'll hurt her, and I'll come looking fer ya." She stated seriously.

Now, as we stood there, bidding farewell to everyone, Applejack walked up to me. She smiled, and gave me a friendly hug, then gave Dashie a hug as well before turning back to me.

"You take good care of our Rainbow Dash now, mister." She reminded.

"Always." I nodded. Applejack smiled.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity exclaimed, collapsing dramatically onto Dashie in a hug. "You do please take care, dear! And I want to hear all about your travels, and all the places you get to visit!"

"Okay, Rare." Dash smiled, patting the fashionista unicorn on the back. "I'll send you and cool exotic clothes and stuff if I run across them."

"Oh, you don't have to do that." Rarity replied. "Just...take care of yourself." She looked at me. "And like Applejack said, do watch out for her?" I bowed slightly.

"You have my word." I stated.

"Guys, I'm not completely helpless, yaknow?" Dash sighed.

"No you're not." Twilight agreed, walking up to Dash and nuzzling her. "You're still the awesome and amazing R.D. That we all love." Dash blushed.

"Aww...thanks, girls." She said.

"And no matter where ya'll end up, we'll always be the best a' friends." Applejack added.

"I know..." Dash whispered reflectively. "Thank you guys...all of you. You guys are my best friends." She sniffled and closed her magenta eyes. I put a foreleg over her. Dashie smiled and opened her eyes, showing a new vigor, a little of her old self.

"I'll come back for a visit...you know, when I find a chance in between my epic adventures..." She nuzzled me affectionately. "...with the most awesome stallion in all of Equestria."

The train pulled closer to the station platform where I stood with Dashie, the colorful engine sounding a wailing whistle as it belched white vapor into the air. Dashie nudged me gently. I looked to see her smiling, the faintest trace of tears in her eyes. I gave her a kiss, gently on the lips.

"I love you Drake." She said.

"I love you, Dashie." I whispered back. The train came to a stop. "You ready?" I asked. She grinned playfully.

"Oh yeah." She replied. We stepped into the waiting car, ready to begin our new lives together.

And so ends volume three of The Drake Chronicles. The murderer has been stopped, Drake and Dash are together, and Drake has a new job. Things are starting to look up for him now. I hope you all enjoyed this story, and liked my take on the whole Cupcakes thing. Honestly, it didn't get as many reviews as I thought it would, but I'm surprised by the sheer amount of people reading this one. I hope some of you go back and read the first two as well.

Now for the surprise...maybe: Depending on how the next couple days go, I may go ahead and post the next volume. This all depends on what happens tomorrow, really...and I hope everything works out. In the next volume, you get to meet another character who enters Drake's life: Budder. If I do end up posting the story, you'll all fall in love with her, and I hope I can have the opportunity to share volume 4 with all of you. If things don't work out well, I must leave the saga here, and end the story of Drake forever. So keep your hopes up. Until then, thank you all for reading, everypony.