The Price of Success

by Thrash

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Sad, Fluttershy, Tragedy, Slice of Life, Main 6
Length: 1324

Success means sacrifice and hard work right? Joining the Wonderbolts was all that mattered to Rainbow Dash and now that she had what has she sacrificed to do so?

Fluttershy visits a Wonderbolt show, one with our favorite Rainbow maned pegsus. But, what happens when Dash faces the price of success?

Published 2013-06-07 17:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-06-07 17:50:02 UTC

Chapter 1

Fluttershy felt choked but, being almost carried along by a gargantuan crowd will do that to you. While Fluttershy didn't particularly have acrophobia she certainly had enough of it to almost go into full panic mode when she was caught in a large enough crowd. This normally wouldn't be the case, as Rainbow Dash would have always traveled with her in these particular situations, especially seeing as she was going to a Woderbolts show. However, Dash had gained entry to the Wonderbolts about five years ago. When she first heard of the news, Fluttershy felt a twinge of jealously. She didn't want her friend to leave Ponyville she hoped at least one of her friends would stay. But, she was nevertheless happy that Dash had accomplished her dream. When she packed up her things and moved, she forgot something, something that crushed Fluttershy. She held up the small necklace and observed it.

It was a gift from when they were fillies, when gifts like these were common. But, this one was different, it was given to Dash on her birthday. Its color was a bright blue and it was shaped like a rainbow but, in the center stood its defining feature, three yellow butterflies. She gave this gift to her friend in flightschool and she made her friend promise to never lose it. Not only did it mean a lot to Fluttershy it was also made of expensive jewels and metals. Dash did promise but, Fluttershy was now doubting the legitimacy of said promise. Even after a lot of time a promise was a promise Fluttershy thought. Shaking these thoughts from her head she reached the large door to the coliseum where the show would be held. Fluttershy approached the ticket stand and a bored looking stallion cut her ticket and told her to go ahead. Fluttershy thanked the stallion, though he probably couldn't hear her, and walked into the coliseum. She began to trot up the stairs to the special viewers box, she had paid extra for the seating hoping that it would get Dash's attention. Finally, she reached the top where no other ponies were and took a seat.

The show began and she watched the Wonderbolts, specifically Dash, rise into the air. She watched Rainbow preform a number a fantastic feats, flipping, turning, and plummeting down to the earth at breakneck speeds. When Dash did her famous sonic rainboom she cheered louder then ever hoping that the mare would notice her, she didn't. In fact the show ended and it seemed like Dash didn't see her once. Feeling dejected she turned and walked slowly down the stairs and began to exit the stadium, lagging behind the main crowd. She turned and gave one last look at the preforming ground, then left. Outside the Wonderbolts were doing autographs. When Fluttershy saw this she felt her spirit lift, Rainbow would see her here right? Getting in line for an autograph, she waited for hours. Finally, she approached the front, she would have them sign the necklace she wore on the side as a reminder of what Dash had succeeded.

She arrived at the front of the line and she saw Rainbow. A smile like no other crossed her lips and she said excitedly, "Dash!" Rainbow turned and looked at the pink pegasus but, Fluttershy didn't see a hint of recognition. "Hey, so uh what do you wanna get signed?" asked the azure mare. Fluttershy froze in shock. Rainbow had forgotten about her. Fluttershy suddenly became angry. How dare she forget me she thought. She gazed up at the mare and said, quite rudely, "on your liars face." This shocked everyone as the cream colored mare turned and left the table and Dash let her go, still not remembering who she was.

Rainbow, after the cream colored mare stormed off, was extremely confused. She seemed upset by her, maybe it's cause I didn't recognize her? she thought. Nah, Rainbows thought train continued, I have a ton of fans, that's not it. She tried to think of any other reasons but, in the end gave up. She thought that she might go after to the mare and ask her why she was upset but, decided against it. The last autograph was signed and then the ponies left.

Fluttershy flew through the air at a gentle pace. Usually, she would not fly but, going on a train meant she would have to interact with other ponies and they would probably ask her why she was crying. To her it was obvious, her best friend had simply forgotten about her. All of her other friends, even in all there success remembered her. Though they usually were very busy and couldn't talk at least they knew who she was. Dash on the other hand, simply didn't remember. It had only been five years, how could she have just forgotten? Fluttershy wanted to brush these thoughts from her mind but, she simply couldn't. She wanted to yell in frustration but stopped. In the same position, would I have forgotten too? Fluttershy pondered the answer but, thought that even if fifty years had passed, that she would still remember the azure mare. She thought about her own success, how it paled in comparison to all of her friends. They were all big shots either running there own company or were political figures. She simply was a vet. She looked back on all the years she had with her friends and cried even harder. All of her friends had moved on, she was still stuck in place.

Another few months past and Fluttershy grew depressed. She had tried meeting up with her friends but, they were always too busy, so absorbed in there new lives they forgot about the ones they left behind. Fluttershy's only friends in end, were her animals who, eventually grew old and died. Fluttershy barely left her home anymore. Many would ask why she didn't make new friends but, few understood her intense social anxiety. In the end Fluttershy felt useless. She went to an extreme. Many say when you commit suicide you regret it instantly. When Fluttershy felt the cool blade open her skin she didn't regret it, for the first time in a long time she was content.

News of Fluttershy's death traveled to all of her once friends and they all gathered at Ponyville. When Dash received notice of her long forgotten friends death, she suddenly remembered who that cream colored mare was, she was ashamed. All of the friends gathered around Ponyville's graveyard and let out a collective sigh. Fluttershy's service began and they were the only ponies, other then the pastor, there. He read about her life and what she did for Equestria and finally, read her suicide note. It read like so,

Dear, Friends

I have passed on and I don't want anyone of you to worry about me. You lived your life and i lived mine I'm just happy we could meet at all. To you all I congratulate you on your success and hope that it doesn't end here. So I guess I just want to say that I love you all and I'll meet you on the other side.

The reaction to the letter was meant with great sobs. The pastor pony approached Rainbow with the necklace Fluttershy had given to her, saying that it was in her last rites to give you this, and to remind you of your promise. Dash and all the ponies were ashamed at what they had done, they had forgotten Fluttershy and that had caused them to lose her. They walked over to her coffin. She dressed in a beautiful dress and they kissed her one last time. They now knew the price of success.

Author's Note

“Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.”

-Stephen King