Chapters More questions, no answers.
Rainbow Dash twisted and turned in her bed, but couldn't find a comfortable position. It was late in the night, and she couldn't go to sleep.
Rainbow groaned and suddenly tought about her past. It was a pretty scary past, and she shook it out of her mind with butterflys in her belly.Maybe i should do something else to clear my mind, she tought to herself.
Rainbow Dash crawled out of bed to find something else to do. She scanned the bookshelf to see if it were anything intresting, but she didn't feel like reading.
Instead, she walked over to the window and looked up in the dark night sky. It was so empty, but still full of life because of the stars that twinkled like they were dancing. When she were younger, her mother always used to tell her about the stars, that they were the spirits of ponies that had meant much to Equestria. Rainbow Dash sighed. A small smile fell on her lips. Every night before Rainbow had to go to bed, her mother said;
"When it's your turn, one new star will be born. The most shining stars of them all. And I know it, because you are going to be the most important pony in Equestrias history. You can do anything you set your mind to, Dashie. I just know."
Rainbow Dash felt tears forming in her eyes, and quickly wiped them away. She looked up in the sky once more. Sky . The pegasi territory and her second nature. Suddenly, she wanted to fly more than anything. Not holding back, she flew out of the window and let the wind catch her. A small wind soared trough her mane and wings and she let out a small cheer, not louder than Fluttershy's. Rainbow Dash chuckled at the tought. But she tried to not do as much noise as usual because she didn't want
Rainbow Dash did a few loops and other stuff she had practiced for her dream of becoming a wonderbolt.I could really get used to this, it's so sweet having the sky on my own , she tought.
Rainbow scanned Ponyville to see if any of her friends were awake,and fortunetly one lavender alicorn was. She dashed to The Golden Oak library and flew through an open window at the bottom floor. There she found her friend trotting in a circle with a worried look on her face.
" Hi Twilight! I tought you promised Spike no more midnight pacing?" Rainbow said with a playful look on her face.
" Oh! Hello Rainbow Dash! And yes, but Spike is in Canterlot doing some errands for Celestia. I think he's out snoring right now." Twilight responded with a light giggle.
Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle both laughed at the joke, and when they stopped both had tears in their eyes.
" Why are you up now anyways?" Rainbow asked.
" Well, I was thinking about the box with the six locks, you know, at the Tree of Harmony? I mean, what if something bad happens when we open it? What if we can't stop it because we can't use the Elements of Harmony? What if we can't find the keys at all and never get to open it? What if...
Rainbow dash had put a hoof in Twilights mouth and shook her head.
" Calm down Twi! Those what if is never good, and even if something bad happens, we will always be there and kick whatever it is in it's ass. Relax OK?"
Rainbow Dash lowed her hoof and waited for Twilight to say anything.
She didn't have to wait long.
" Thanks Rainbow, Twilight sighed, I guess I got a little too worried. Do you want something to drink? You look thirsty."
" Do you have some apple cider? Please?"
" I think so.I'll go check."
Twilight walked out to the kitchen and came back with to full cups. They drank their cider and talked a little about the new Daring Do books that were coming in some months. But Twilight couldn't stop looking at Rainbow Dash's face with an worried expression, and at last it got Rainbow so annoyed so she just have to ask about it.
" Hey! World to Twilight Sparkle! Why are you looking at me like I am going to turn into a ghost?!"
" Well, I was just lost in tought I guess. I was thinking about that fact that we don't hang out with eatchother so mutch more than the flying lessons and, you know, when we are celebrating and saving the world. For example, I don't even know your parents."
" Yeah, I guess that's right. We haven't been hanging out so much" Rainbow Dash said, utterly worried for a reason that Twilight Sparkle couldn't tell.
" Where are your parents now anyways? I'm not sure I've seen them around." Twilight said. This queston gave a worried look to Rainbows face, and it surprised Twilight.
" I - I've... uh...oh my, Is it so late? Gotta dash! I've got a lot to do tomorrow, uh... today!" Rainbow said. She managed to fly out, but Twilight reacted quickly and captured Rainbow Dash with her magic.
" Rainbow Dash! Don't try to run away! I want to help you, but then you have to tell me the truth." Twilight said, she sounded far more sure and determined than she were. She realesed her magic and Rainbow Dash fell to the floor,
" I-I can't tell you , Twi. Not yet." Rainbow said, and to Twilights surprise Rainbow looked down to her wings with pain in her eyes, such pain that Twilight tought she wuld never see in Rainbow Dash's eyes.
I guess it's true, that the eyes of a pony is a mirror to their soul and darkest secrets. Oh, I hope Rainbow Dash is alright! , Twilight tought, getting more and more worried for her friend every second.
Tears have started to form in Rainbows eyes, and it caught Twilight off guard. Rainbow Dash hardly cries, and that makes the times she does very, well, sensitive and embarrasing.
" R- Rainbow? Can you... at least tell me their names? It's all I ask for." Twilight sat quiet, waiting for a respond, and suddenly Rainbow started to speak.
" Firefly and Rainbow Spectrum." Rainbow Dash said, and Twilight heard how she struggled to sound as normal as possible.
" Thanks. Do you want a new cup cider?" Twilight was unsure what to say, so she had just asked the most simple question in the world.
" No thanks, Twi. I'd rather go home now." Rainbow said, also pretty unsure.
" Oh, okay then. Good night!" Twilight felt a little dumb, just sitting there felt wrong. Tough, doing something also felt wrong. So she were simply waiting for a respond or for Rainbow to go.
" Y- yeah, good night." Rainbow Dash said and then she flew off.
Twilight saw Rainbow fly off and then she grabbed a quill and parchment to write on. She were going to find Rainbows parents, or at least more information, if that would be the last thing she would do!
Rainbow Dash hurried out from the library, trying to hold back the tears as she flew as fast as she allowed herself to.
" Huh. Didn't notice I was flying this way. Oh well, clouds aren't less soft here," Rainbow whispered to herself while sheHeh. I havent cried this much since i was young. But it feels good in a twisted way, actually.
After some minutes that seemed like an eternity, Rainbow Dash suddenly heard a noise coming from the back.Is that... sobbing? Who is it? Rainbow tought to herself after lissening towards the sound. She decided to find out who was crying
"Who's that? That doesn't look like anypony I know. I've never seen that kind of tail before, it like, floats in the air. Or, well, the princesses does, but they can't be here can they?"
Rainbow Dash didin't know how wrong she was.
She flew to the cloud and sat herself down on another cloud beside. She looked at the pony on the cloud beside her, and almost bolted straight up when she saw who it was.
" Princess Luna?! What are you doing here! I mean, uh, nevermind," Rainbow Dash got down in a bow, but quickly got raised up by Lunas hoof.
" You do not have to bow, Rainbow Dash. I am satisfied just by being recognised," Luna said with her eyes filld with resignation and sadness.
"What do you mean 'just being reconised'? Of course you're recognised, you're a princess!" Rainbow said with a little doubt to the princess being all fine this night.
" Yes I am a princess, but for what reason? My sister could take well care of rising the moon when I was gone. What can I do that other can not? How am I important? How can I help other ponies?
" How can you think so? You're awfully important! You are the only pony i know that can travel in others dreams, you are the all foals safety when they know that someone watches over them at night, the stars have never shined brighter than they do now that you rise them and heck, when you visit Ponyville, only Pinkie Pie can make me laugh harder."
Luna sat quiet and thought about the things Rainbow just said. She felt so foolish about her not-being-special-feelings, they sounded so obvius when she had said them to herself, but Rainbow made it sound so easy to be special, different.
"Wow,those vere beautiful things you said," Luna smiled at Rainbow Dash.
" Huh? What do you mean?"
" About being important."
" Well, my mom and dad were very kind. They taught me that the period I was bullied in school."
" You have been bullied? For what?"
" For being special. But I decided to step up my game and became a lot tougher." Rainbow gave a look on her mane when she said 'special' and smiled."Guess some ponies don't understand how sweet it can be to stand out sometimes."
" Tell me 'bout it, " Luna said. She glanced up at the sky and crossed her eyebrows in concern of a thing she just heard."By the way, who are your parents anyway? I am just curious."
" Well, that's something i'd rather not talk about," Rainbow said, but she seemed to change her mind because she took a deep breath and dived into the memories she had kept inside her for so long.
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"Aw, come on sweetie, there's always a next time," Spectrum said to his defeated daughter. They where on their way home after the equestrian games fiasco. He was sad to, but Rainbow was litterally heartbroken.
" But daaad, it'll be an eternity until then," she whined. She were walking with slow steps and her Cloudsdale flag dragged on the cloud way they were walking on. Suddenly Spectrum stopped.
" Dashie, you can go ahead, me and Firefly will come soon. We are just gonna take care of some things first," He slowly turned around and walked away from Rainbow Dash. She weren't so concerned or curiuos about where he was going, he and mom always did like this. She walked home and got into bed, not expecting her parents to come soon. They were usually away in about two days or so. And the days went by. Two days. Five. Nine. Now she was getting really concerned, but didin't know who to talk with. It wasn't after two weeks she finally got to hear what had happened.
An early morning a pony knocked on the door to Rainbows house.
"Mmhhphm, Who is it?" she asked. A male voice answered.
"Miss Dash? May I come in?" it asked. Rainbow slowly got out of her bed and opened the door.
" Whaddayouwant?" She said still not fully awake.
" Miss Dash, I am from the foal protection service. Do you know why I am here?" he asked. The stallion was tall and slim in a light brown fur and chocolate coloured mane and tail. His cutiemark was an hourglass,and he had a concerned face. Rainbow Dash immideatly woke up when she heard wherefrom he was. She thought she knew was this was all about, but immensly hoped she was wrong." I am here to talk about your parents. Rainbow felt her stomach knit as she confirmed the worst thought." Rainbow Fidelia Dash, your parents died 4 AM two weeks ago. their bodys vere found and recognised yesterday by a search party, not far away from the Everfree Forest.We belive they have been slaughtered by timberwolwes. I am terribly sorry, but I will have to take you to an orphanage," the stallion said. Rainbow sat speechless with tears welling up in her eyes.
" No," she whispered, "Please, no." She cried, hid her eyes in her hoof and got whelmed over by sadness and anger. It was so unfair, why? Why did it have to happen to her parents? She got no answers to her question how hard she tried.
" I-I'm sorry miss Dash-" the stallion said, but was immideatly cut of by Rainbow Dash.
" NO!" She screamed, blinded by the anger she took to the air, dashing out trough a window. She flew in a very long time, determined to not let the FPS find her. After a while she got tired and landed on a cloud, where she passed out. The next day, Rainbow saw that she had landed in some sort of village, and she also noticed that she were really hungry. After flying around for a while, she saw an apple orchard. She landed in a tree and took an apple, very carefully so no one would notice. it worked for a while until one day when an filly with orange fur spotted her.
" Hey!" The filly shouted, "That ain't nice of ya'll, stealing apples like that!" Rainbow tried to escape, but the filly was a lot good with lasso and caught her. " Ah hope ya'll have a mighty good reason for all this!" she said while holding Dash down.
" Actually, I have," Rainbow said, and told the filly what had happened. When she was finished, the filly sat awestruck.
" Wow, that's tough. Ah actually lost mah ma and pa when I was a little younger. Ah'm Applejack by the way."
" I'm sorry to hear that, Applejack. Losing your parents is tough. My name's Rainbow Dash. And... um, would you mind if I maybe stayed here for a while?"
" 'Course not! As long as ya'll help with the applebucking, that is," Applejack smiled and got up on her hooves." Ah better continue with my work, do you want to come?" she asked Rainbow who nodded and quickly got up on her hooves.
" Promise that you will never, ever tell somebody else about this, okay?"
Applejack smiled. "Promise."
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" And well, that's how it went. Later I found a job as weather manager and could afford a house," Rainbow said, wiping the last tears from her face. thy came in the part when she talked about that damned FPS. Now she realised that Luna was crying too.
" Oh Rainbow, why did you not tell anyone? It must have been terrible to feel something like that!"
" I was too stubborn, i didin't tell anyone unless it was necessary, and then it had gone to far. I had hid those feelings for so long I no longer felt sadness, only anger and a deep hole in my heart. But I have to admit it is very sweet to let it out," she said.
" I know exactly what you mean, in fact, I've been there myself," Luna said. Rainbow knew what she was thinking about.
" When you transformed into Nightmare moon?" she said.
" Yes"
" Wow. I never thought you felt that way. It must have been terrible."
" Yes. It wasn't nice, but it could have been worse," Luna gazed up on the sky; it was turning orange in the sunrise and the moon was going down. " Sunrise. I have to go Rainbow Dash, my sister will be waiting for me to attend on breakfast. I hope to see you soon, and wish you all luck with your problems. But remember: Admitting fears isn't going to break your pride nor image. in fact, it may improve it. No matter what, your friends will be at your side. Think about this. And goodbye." with these words said, Luna gave her wings a powerful flap and raised to the sky. Rainbow waved goodbye and returned home, feeling a little bit lighter in her heart.
Author's Note
There! Finally this chapter is done. Stupid real life + bad imagination = ( Anyways, this chapter was a little bit longer than the other one, and will hopefully stay around this long. Next one will hopefully be out soon, stay tuned for more.
Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes. The sun shone brightly annd birds were chirping. it was almost to bright. She groggily lowered her gaze to the alarm clock and stared for it a while. When her sleepy mind finally understood what time it was, it could have easily looked like she had been awake for hours.
" Ponyfeathers! I'm late!" she exclaimed and flew in to the shower. After a quick wash she flew down to the kitchen and brewed some coffee. When she had drank up she grabbed an apple and her saddlebag and flew out through the door. She had to fly over Ponyville, wich took about five minutes. Rainbow ate the apple on the way and trowed the core in a trash bin before bursting trough the door wich led to the Ponyville weather office.
"Sorry I'm late guys, I overslept," Rainbow Dash said to her fellow team before trotting over to her desk and looked over the weather schedule.
" Yes ma'am, " she said and followed her team down one floor where all the clouds laid.
"Good. Flitter, Cloudchaser, come with me. We're going to Applejack's."
***
Rainbow led the way over the applefarm, and in the meantime took a good look at it. It was more glorious and appetizing than ever. The apples
"Flitter, gather the clouds from the south part of the orchard. Cloudshaser, cover the west part. I'm gonna have a quck talk with Applejack before i help ya." The two sisters nodded and flew away. Rainbow headed down and landed behind Applejack.
"Hey there, Applejack!" Rainbow exclaimed, causing the friend to make a startled jump and hit her head in a branch. Applejack turned hear head and shook it hard too erase the flimmering stars that occupied her sight and prevented her from seeing who had startled her.
"Hehe, guess I shouldn't be shouting at ya." The pegasus said apologetically as she walked towards Applejack. The orange earthpony examined her friend with a smile, although she saw that Rainbow Dash seemed off. The usually confident mare seemed... nervous. She was shifting her weight onto one leg to another and flickered with her eyes. And her eyes was bearing tiredness, and a little sadness, witch made Applejack uncomfortable."Well, you said that you needed some rain over the orchard, were exactly?Umm... Applejack? Hey! Ya in there?!" shouted Rainbow Dash, once again startling Applejack.
"Oh! Sorry. What did ya say?"
"I was asking you were you wanted the rain,"an slighty annoyed Rainbow said.
" Alright. Ah want it on different parts on ta east orchard, and ah need a real dowpour, partner!"
"Good. Well, see you in the week then," Rainbow Dash said and turned to take off, letting a relieved sigh out. But just as she was getting off the ground, she was stopped by Applejacks sweet and worried voice.
"Sugarcube? Something's troubling you, isn't it?" her worry was heard in the voice to, and Rainbow Dash couldn't just take off knowing one of her friends was cocerned.
"Well, you know, the death... of my parents."
"Oh my, that happened today? Ahm sorry Rainbow," Applejack was dumbstruck, after all these years she had nearly forgotten. She didn't know how to comfort her friend, who seemed to still take the loss really hard."Ah'm sure we can get trough this somehow. After all we're friends. All of us."
"All of us?" Rainbow questioned.
"Yeah. You, me, and tha girls. 'Cause ya'll have telled tha others, right?"
"Um, actually," Rainbow began, nervously scratching the back of her neck," I've kinda forgotten to." she let out a nervous laugh, and Applejack understood perfectly what was going on.
"Sugarcube, I now death is a sensitive topic for ya, but bottling your emotions up like this isn't gonna help ya at all, nore is it gonna help other ponies. One day ya'll will snap, and it wont feel good. It's better to take it nice an' slow, tell us one on one."
" You're probaly right, AJ. But, I just don't know how to come out to them," Rainbow said, and it was true. Almost the only reason she didn't come out to them was because she didn't want to break down.
"Just tell the truth and it'll be fine," Applejack smiled.
"Well, I gotta go and help them with the clouds now. And thanks. I really needed that" Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a friendly hug and left, leaving one of her bestest friends with a satisfied smile.
***
Rainbow Dash was once again flying over town, this time not in a hurry. She flew in the direction of the library, with a nervous yet determined smile plastered upon her face. The large tree could not be mistaken, Rainbow was closing in. She had thought hard on the things Applejack had said, and came to the conclusion that she would tell Twilight about it first. After all, they had already touched the subject yesterday night. She was now standing at the door, raised a hoof and knocked. A muffled "Coming!" was heard from the inside. soon she heard the door being opened. Twilight stood in the doorway with a slightly surprised look on her face.
"Taking the door for once huh?" she said with a slight giggle. Rainbow smiled, but quickly returned to serious.
"Twi, I need to talk with you."
"Sure, come on in." Twilight stepped aside, letting her friend in. "Do you want something to drink? Juice or tea perhaps?" she asked.
"I'll have some juice."
Twilight walked to the kitchen and prepared their drinks. She soon returned with two large levitating glasses of orange juice. Twilight put them on a table between two couches where Rainbow already sat.
"What was it you wanted to talk about?" Twilight asked eagerly.
"My parents."
"I want to do that to. I made some research last night but found nothing about your parents. Can you please tell me the truth?" Twilight said, curiously wating for the truth to be revealed.
"I will, but it's a long story." Rainbow Dash said and took a sip from her glass before starting to tell the story of her life for the second time this day.
"R-Rainbow... Im s-so sorry. It mu-must have f-f-felt horable. How d-did you deal with thi-this?" Twilight croaked between her sobs."O-oh just l-look at me. I shouldn't b-be cr-crying. I sh-should comfort you!" Twilight wailed and buried her head in her hooves. Rainbow quickly rushed to her friends side, comforting the broken mare with a hug and slowly stroking her hoof down Twilight's spine.
"I know. But I already cried. My world crumbled when I was eight. I emptied my body on sad feelings today. And i shouldn't have bothered you with this. I'm sorry."
"No. You did the right thing. I'm glad you came. You're strong and brave. And I'm sure your parents would be proud of you right now."
"I know. Thanks. For listening."
"Thanks for telling."
***
Rainbow Dash got to sleep peacefully that night. Over the evening, she had told all her friends, with mixed reactions. Rarity overreacted a bit, of course. Not too bad, actually. Pinkie took it hard. Her har had deflated like a ballon, but after half an hour of comforting and a pinkie promise of a party, the pink mare was almostherself again. Fluttershy had actually suspected it for a while, but she hadn't believed in it, and it wasn't sweet to see her like that. Applejack already knew, of course, but she was happy that Rainbow had came to her senses. What seemed like a good nights sleep was unfortunaetly interrupted by a knock on the door in the middle of the night...
Author's Note
Cliffhanger,YAY! Well, this didn't take forever. Almost. Anyways, Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment, like or whatever is in your taste. New story will be coming soon, if i mange too get some sleep. Dashing out!
"Ugh. Who the hay comes to visit me now ?"Rainbow Dash muttered to herself as she slowly walked down the stairs to the hall.She opened her door and was about to cast a snarky comment to the pony that stood there, but shut her mouth when she saw who actually stood in the doorway.
"Oh. Hi Luna," she said. Remembering their talk she was focusing on not calling Luna by her titel.
"Am I coming at an unpleasant time,Rainbow Dash?"
"Um, kind of, but I'm not asleep yet, so come on in." Rainbow Dash gestured to the kitchen as she stepped back, allowing the alicorn to step inside. They both took a seat, and after a few minutes of silence Rainbow Dash spoke up.
"So, what did you come here for?" She asked. Luna, who seemingly had been deep in thought, shaked her head and and cleared her throat.
"Yes. I was meaning to visit you just for a pleseant small talk, and I also wanted to congratulate you."
"Congratulate me?"
"Yes. The decision to confess such a dark truth is quite brave, if you ask me."Luna waited for a response, and when none came, she asked a question she'd been exalted to find an answer to. "Have you learned something from this?"
"Learned something?" Rainbow was confused, but then it hit her. It felt like the letters Twilight used to send to Celestia."Actually, I have. I've learned that bottling up your emotions is not healthy, for anyone. Not for yourself, nor for the ones around you. When it feels like no one knows or can understand, when you are filled with grief, pain and sadness, you should try talk anyways. It'll get better. And if you're afraid, there's still someone who will at least try to understand. In the end, the shadow haunting you will be gone." When she thought back on what she said, Rainbow was satisfied. It reflected how she had felt greatly. She looked upon Luna, who nodded approvingly.
"Very good, Rainbow Dash. Well, I have a request." Luna cleared her throat and unfolded her wings. She stood up and looked down at a Rainbow Dash. "Will you, Rainbow Dash, accept my request as experimentally spy reporter of the development of a pony's character, easily put, will you report to me when you or your friends learns something about each other that may change the behavior of your group?"
"Um, yes. I mean, of course, Luna!"
"Good. Now Rainbow Dash, this is just an little experiment of mine, that I came up with after our little 'chat'. In which means,no deadlines, or lines that can be crossed. You can choose to tell your friends if you want, or you can keep this a secret. The choice is yours." Rainbow sat in silence for a while, processing what had happened. When she was done, a smile of excitement and joy was plastered upon her face.
"I won't let you down! And by the way, how am I gonna send the letters to you? I figured this is like the way Twilight and princess Celestia worked, and she had Spike, so, is Tank gonna get super awesome powers or what?" Rainbow imagined Tank being able to breathe fire, and the mere thought made her giggle and also feel a little unsure if Tank was accidentally gonna burn down her house.
"I was not thinking in those ways, but I have an answer to your question. I brought a jar with magical seals, so the moment you seal the letters with one of these, it will be sent straight to my bedroom. I am really happy that you would accept this little quest of mine, but I must leave now. May our paths cross soon, Rainbow." The alicorn gave Rainbow a hug and gracefully soared trough the open window, out in the night sky. When Luna was nothing but a dot in the distance, she turned away from the window and grabbed a quill and a bit of paper, sat herself down on the chair at her writing desk and began her first report.
Dear princess Luna...