It was rather quiet at Rainbow Dash's cloud home as she sat on one of her chairs nearby Malibu's bed who was still sleeping, his face rather upset still from the previous nights before.
Rainbow couldn't blame her coltfriend; the days they were in Canterlot for the wedding when the Changelings attacked were rather brutal and traumatizing for the clone, especially when his old enemy suddenly now appeared in her world just to try taking over him again.
She stroked his forehead with her hoof gently, sadness hitting her heart. Malibu had been unconscious since he had his panic attack after the wedding and prayed he would wake.
His chest rose and fell gently, ears sometimes twitching while dreaming, Rainbow wondering what he could be dreaming about.
Then her door was knocked upon that morning, Rainbow Dash going over to see who it was and it was Fluttershy, her face concerned while holding a container of soup. "Any changes Dash?" She asked in in a worried way. Rainbow shook her head. "No, still out. But I think he may be slowly coming back. Thanks for the soup. Mal will appreciate it."
Fluttershy smiled back at Rainbow Dash again and eventually left, Rainbow putting the soup in her kitchen, returning to Malibu's side. Her emotions were all over the place. She was supposed to be the tomboy but in her heart Rainbow didn't know how to deal with the one she loved the most in this condition.
Tears fell down her face again, stroking his mane. "Come back to us, Mal. We need you. I need you," She whispered softly, a small kiss on his cheek again.
Then suddenly she heard a small groan of pain. Dash gasped in surprise; witnessing Malibu shifting weakly in his bed, his eyes fluttering weakly open.
….
Malibu's head hurt like the dickens, his senses slowly returning to reality, finding himself lying this time on a soft and cloudy feeling couch, to what looked like his marefriend's cloud home. "What… mmmh…" Malibu mumbled weakly, rubbing his eyes while he heard Rainbow shushing him gently.
"You're alright, you're at my house. I offered to take you back when the wedding was over. You were out for three days," Rainbow replied soothingly. Malibu heard that word wedding, and instantly his heart thumped vigorously, hearing Thailog laughing cruelly in his brain.
Rainbow could see the signs coming that Malibu was going through another panic attack, tears falling down his face.
"I d-d-don't deserve attention, d-d-deserve to be thrown into tartarus!" Malibu croaked shakily, eyes bulging. The cyan blue pegasus felt sadness and surprise at what he was thinking. "Malibu, don't talk that way! Your mom forgave you! Things are cool now," She attempted at first.
Malibu mostly just glared through his tears shining in his red eyes. "But I hurt you! How can you just say things are cool when the heck they aren't?! I'm surprised you didn't just toss me in the trash back in Ponyville!"
Rainbow Dash backed away. "You know I would never do that! Even when you were hypnotized, I still loved you! I wouldn't let the stallion I loved continue to be puppeted by those… those… crooks! Nothing you did was your fault! If it was anypony's fault, it's mine. I should've listened to you and Twilight when you said something was off about Cadence, I really should've!" She exclaimed, her own tears now beginning to come around.
That now startled Malibu from his crying when hearing Rainbow Dash say that confession. He wiped away his tears when seeing how distraught she looked now, heart still thumping but slowly beginning to calm. But deep down, he didn't hate Dash either. In a way, they were both at fault for what had happened.
Malibu snuggled further into his pillow, still sniffling. "I just… want to forget all this happened," He sobbed, throat sore from his crying and yelling from before. Rainbow understood his distress, for she wanted to as well since it was horrific for her to see both him and Shining Armor all hypnotized by that bug demoness.
"Things will get better, I know they will." Rainbow then said simply, her own sadness fading away, stroking Malibu's cheek, causing a small smile to show up there. "You up for trying some soup?"
Malibu nodded then, belly growling after earlier, watching his marefriend go and heat up some of Fluttershy's soup for him. When bringing the bowl over, Malibu used his magic and had the bowl float over for him to take a drink. "It's good," He said, somewhat recognizing the taste and look of the soup from the Philomena incident way back when.
"Yeah, Fluttershy was the one who took some over for you. She and the others are really worried. Maybe, you would like to see them when you're feeling a little bit better," replied the loyal pegasus, Malibu nodding, sipping more of his soup. "And, thanks for letting me to stay in your house, Dash. Means a lot."
Rainbow grinned, shrugging. "Hey, I'm the Element of Loyalty. Whenever my friends need help I'm there." Her face turned red as well from the gentle smile the gargoyle clone gave to her. Malibu rubbed his head again. "Was I really out for three days?"
"Yep, you were sleeping like a colt," she said teasingly, ruffling his hair, Malibu rolling his eyes, his heart feeling lighter than earlier before, drinking more of the soup until it was gone. Rainbow took the dish but after that all Malibu wanted to do now was just sleep again, which Rainbow allowed him to do.
….
After a few days of rest Malibu was already able to get back on his hooves again, pleased to see the bright blue skies of Ponyville once again after the disaster back in Canterlot. He at first felt nervous about flying since his wings were rather slightly weak, gulping a little.
"It's fine, I'm right here to catch you Mal," Rainbow assured him, Malibu nodding, taking a breath and raising his wings, shutting his eyes, flapping them and taking to the air.
He stumbled a little bit mid air, gasping in slight fear at the height below, sweat coming down his face. Rainbow quickly went to steady him. "Just keep flapping, carefully," she said, Malibu working his weak wing muscles as much as possible before sooner or later he was able to maintain balance.
After that the young couple flew down to Ponyville to meet with the other friends, heading to Sugarcube Corner.
Upon opening the doorway into the bakery shop, Malibu yelped when a party horn sounded. "SURPRISE!" To his shock; it was a whole party inside there, all of his 5 other friends along with most of the town.
Pinkie Pie ran up, hugging Malibu tightly. "Ugh, Pink, c-c-can't breathe…" He gasped aloud. The party pony quickly let go. "Sorry. But we all decided to put together an appreciation party for you! To show you that we all still want to be your friend!"
She gestured to all the party items in the place and all the balloons that matched his fur, eye, and mane color. Malibu's eyes watered with fresh tears, wiping them. This was too much. "Pinkie… guys… I don't know what to say," He said shakily, Twilight coming up to hug him too.
"Well, whatever adventures we have next, we wish to have them alongside you, Malibu. You're our friend, always. And if Thailog ever comes back, we will ensure he doesn't hurt you ever!" The mulberry unicorn vowed. Malibu trembled all over in shyness from the attention, now happy again to be in this wonderful world of Equestria where he was liked for who he was, not for who he used to be.
"Thank you… so much," Malibu sniffled, Applejack smiling at him, nodding. "Not a problem, sugarcube. Now let's party!"
The ponies all pulled him in further, Malibu enjoying himself a lot more than he needed too, even able to enjoy some of the sweet baked goods Pinkie made for the party. At one point though, Rainbow Dash pulled him in close.
Malibu swallowed, face turning red again as Rainbow's magenta eyes that sparkled gazed into his own. She was so beautiful. Smiling gently, Rainbow leaned in, the two lips eventually meeting each other, Pinkie gasping greatly, squeeing in excitement at the moment before her.
AJ was mostly staring at what was happening, but smiled inside, glad that she and Malibu were able to display their affections for each other in front of a crowd. Malibu moaned while leaning into the kiss which didn't last too long until soon they broke apart, panting a little but both still smiling.
"Dash… I just… whoa…" mumbled Malibu weakly, a dazed grin still there, shaking. Rainbow bumped him lightly on the shoulder. "I will love you forever Mal." She vowed softly, the two nuzzling before soon continuing the party, Malibu's soul feeling cleaner and happier than it ever felt before, happy to have his group of friends, now ready for whatever would come for him next in this world.
A light short chapter after before until we return to the full length episodes again with The Crystal Empire parts one and two.