Chapters The party loving pink pony; Pinkie Pie, extinguished the last light within Sugarcube Corner, and with that, she was gone.
***
Rainbow Dash looked up into the flashing strobe and immersed herself. She blinked, and the outline of the resident pony DJ was obvious, nevertheless, when she blinked again, DJ Pon-3 was gone. Strobe lights were funny like that, and Rainbow Dash pondered whether that it was due
“Rainbow! You dragged me out here, and now you’re just ignoring me?”
It was Twilight Sparkle.
“Twilight, you know when you just look into the lights, and then you go all trance-y? What’s all that about?”
Well, she had to think of something to say, and the ‘lights thing’ was already in her head…
“What?”
“Uhhh, on second thoughts, never mind.”
“Twilight, can I get you a drink?”
“That’d be splendid, Rainbow.”
“Rainbow, do you mind if I tell you something?”
Huh, she always has to beat around the bush, but if I told her that, she’d probably just laugh at me for using such a cliché.
“Is it what you want to drink?”
“Well, sort of.”
“You may be surprised, but…” Twilight goes off into an inaudible whisper.
“You’ll have to speak up, Twilight.”
Twilight moved towards Rainbow’s ear and whispered;
Red spread across the purple pony’s cheeks.
“Don’t they have booze in Canterlot?”
“Well…”
“I’ll just get you what I’m having, shall I?”
In a small voice, Rainbow heard;
“Be back in ten seconds, flat.”
Rainbow turned and clopped towards the bar. Maybe she’d been a bit mean on the poor filly, but she couldn’t help but think that at somepony had to be a bit mean on the new pony. Well, maybe the not so new pony. Twilight had been living in Ponyville for quite some time now. Anyway, Rainbow had invited her out, so that was something.
***
“Rainbow Dash, What in Equestria are you doing?!”
“Just having a bit of fun, Twilight, lighten up.”
“Yes, okay, fine, just get off of the table!”
Twilight Sparkle was overwhelmed with the drunken version of Rainbow Dash, she
“Geez, Twi’, stop being such a killjoy!”
“Hey Twi’, you wanna dance?”
“Fine, but only if you don’t draw attention to us like that again.”
“Like what?”
Rainbow ought to know perfectly what she meant, eyes were only just being averted from them now, and there were quite a lot of ponies they were sharing the table with, who’d put drinks down on said table.
“Oh, let’s just go.”
Probably best to move along, before we’re hoofed with the bill for the ponies who’d put drinks down on said table.
“Oh, Twi’, I love this song!”
Twilight wasn’t sure how Rainbow could tell the difference, the thumping bass just sounded the same as the previous song, but she supposed that maybe the alcohol within her own bloodstream was beginning to take its toll on her senses.
“It’s not bad, I suppose.”
“Louder, Twi’, I can’t hear you!”
“It’s not bad, I said”
The two ponies were on a rather cramped dance floor, below the bar area,
Suddenly, Rainbow fell forwards, jolted by a few over-enthusiastic colts, into Twilight, sending them both into a heap on the dance floor.
As her senses came back to her, she could only hear an incredibly irate Rainbow Dash, screaming at the top of her lungs.
“…F YOU HADN'T BEEN BEING A BUNCH OF IDIOTS, WE’D STILL ALL BE HAVING A…”
“Rainbow?” Twilight’s voice was quiet.
“...NICE NIGHT OUT, BUT NO, YOU HAD TO…”
“Rainbow?” Twilight tried her best to be louder.
“…GO AND- Twi’, you’re awake!”
Twilight could feel pain across her forehead, spattered with a sort of wet feeling.
“Twi’, can you open your eyes for me?”
She tried to open her eyes.
“Twi’, say something, please?”
She pulled her head off of the floor, mostly ignoring the wetness, and looked up. There was a mostly red faced filly looking down at her, but she couldn’t quite make out the face it’s self.
“Rainbow, where are you?” Twilight’s voice was still quiet.
“Uhhh…”
The red filly waved a hoof at her.
“I’m right here, Twi’.”
“But, what? Rainbow, you’re all red.”
“Yeah, blood is red, ya’ know.”
Twilight’s sight had mostly come back to her by now, at least as far as she could tell, and Rainbow was right. Her face was largely red, caked in blood, with what looked like it was a rather deep gash on her forehead.
“By Celestia, Rainbow Dash! What happened?”
Rainbow looked pale, in-between the spatters of blood.
“Look; I’m fine, but I think we need to get out of here. Can you stand?”
Twilight pushed against the sticky floor with her fore legs, trying to ignore the pain in her left leg, followed by her putting her hind legs firmly out.
“C’mon, Twi’, let’s go.”
Rainbow was impatiently beckoning her to the door, At least from the side, she wasn’t all red.
Twilight could see her breath, during the silence after the club. Rainbow hadn’t said anything since, so she’d merely entranced herself staring at the patterns and the swirls in the low light of the night. However, she couldn’t help think about convection currents, and how water vapour condenses when cold. Twilight smiled bitterly to herself, why couldn’t she just enjoy things? She always had to over analyse everything.
“Rainbow, you’re being awfully quiet.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you really sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
For somepony who was so concerned about her earlier on, Twilight was surprised that she was being so blunt when it came to concerns regarding herself. Maybe Rainbow just couldn’t let go of her cool exterior, like Twilight herself couldn’t help but analyse everything that came before her.
“You look awfully pale…”
“I said I was fine, Okay?”
Twilight could tell that she wasn’t.
“Rainbow, I hate to say it, but you don’t look just ‘fine’. I’m sorry, but you look terrible.”
Rainbow shot Twilight an evil look, but it looked pained, half-hearted.
“Look; you have a massive gash in your forehead, you’ve lost a lot of blood, you’re staggering along, you look like you’re going to be on the floor, if you don’t get at least some rest, and yet you’re still insisting that you’re ‘fine’? I don’t know what your definition of ‘fine’ is, but it’s definitely wrong!”
Rainbow didn’t respond, she just let out a dissatisfied huff, and looked away from Twilight.
“Rainbow, I’m just trying to be a friend, and you’re just pushing me away. Is that what you want?”
Something seemed to catch Rainbow’s eye, as she looked away from Twilight once more, instead gazing in the general direction of Sugarcube Corner.
“Hey Twilight, do you see that?”
‘Ah, so she completely ignored me.’ Twilight noted.
“See what?”
“Isn’t that Pinkie Pie?”
Rainbow waved her hoof in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. Twilight could see a pink-tinged shadow, walking away from the cake parlour, slowly, subtly.
“Why, I do believe it is.”
Twilight tried to sound un-interested, as she was still annoyed with Rainbow’s dismissal of her worries; but it was intriguing, none the less. Where would Pinkie be going at this time of night?
“Heh, that Pinkie Pie can be so random, huh, Twi’?”
“I don’t know, but to be honest, Rainbow, I’m still more worried about you than what Pinkie could be doing at all. Don’t think because you changed the subject and started talking cocky again that I’ll just give up.”
“Look, Twi’ just leave it, okay? I’ll be fine.”
There was silence once more.
“Well, this is me, then.”
Twilight and Rainbow were stood outside of the Library which acted as Twilight’s surrogate home.
She looked into Rainbow’s eyes.
“Rainbow, I’m still worried about you…”
Rainbow looked up into the sky, eyes darting away from Twilight.
“Rainbow, please?”
“Twilight, just leave it.”
She sounded exasperated, but in a quite, morose tone.
“But-“
“What’ll it take to shut you up?”
Twilight was quiet for a second, as ideas formed in her head.
“Stay the night here?”
Rainbow looked back down at Twilight, but stared at her, not making eye contact.
“What?”
“You know, sleep at my house.”
“Yes, yes, I know what you meant, but why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Rainbow stared at Twilight obliviously.
“Well, you’re not well, anypony can see that. If you stayed here, I could just
“Twi’, I’ll be-“
“Rainbow Dash, please? Just for me?”
Rainbow looked into Twilight’s eyes.
“Don’t just tell me you’ll be fine.”
“Fine.”
Twilight chuckled at her turn of phrase, but Rainbow obviously didn’t get the humour in it.
She ushered Rainbow inside, before she could change her mind.
The library seemed vast, shrouded in darkness.
“Rainbow, do you want to sit down?”
She jumped, retracting away from what had seemed to be a bellowing noise, against the ambience.
“Yeah, why not.”
Rainbow
“Twi’, could I get a glass of water?”
“Certainly, Rainbow.”
Twilight
“Oh, and a please wouldn’t go amiss, Miss ‘I’m too full of myself to be polite-’”
Twilight
“Miss
Rainbow
“Thanks, Twi’”
Rainbow
“Don’t be a silly pony, Rainbow! Of course it’s still going to hurt!”
Twilight was being far too chirpy for Rainbow’s tired, pained head, and so she chose to remain quiet.
“Rainbow, we ought to get you cleaned up, you’re absolutely caked in blood!”
“I’m going to run you a nice, warm bath! You just take it easy, okay?”
“Thanks, Twi’.”
Rainbow
Twilight
Maybe it was Twilight’s personality. She’d spent so much time thinking that, well, Twilight was quite frankly boring. Yeah, she was a good friend, and not bad to be around, but books? Seriously?
It was then that Rainbow realised what she was doing.
Thinking of another filly like that?! Rainbow, have you gone mad?!
Just
“Damn things!” She uttered.
Rainbow
“Why won’t my wound just stop burning me up? It’s just so…”
So there wasn’t just one thing she couldn’t control, Rainbow thought, to her annoyance. Maybe that’s just how it works.
It just wasn’t cool.
***
Twilight slowly swayed towards the bathroom, watching her hooves blur before her.
“Heh, it’s like I’ve got, like- I don’t even know how many hooves!”
Then Twilight then realised what she’d done; she’d used ‘like’ in a sentence, and twice at that!
Twilight
Maybe
“The first few beverages will
Twilight
Twilight
Maybe it was because she was too cool to bleed?
Condensation
However,
Twilight thought back to the events of the evening, and realised that she didn’t actually know why
A
No.
It was a horrible red. A dark, accusatory crimson.
Young Tender Hearts Beat Fast
Rainbow was dozing, her mind drifting through the library’s musky essence.
Even though Twilight was a quiet pony, at times, especially when in the
If Twilight didn’t talk?
She’d experienced it once before, on that cold, stormy night.
A massive clap of thunder had caught her off guard, in the ambient
Of course, Rainbow had still told her not to tell anypony about the fear she’d experienced that night.
Rainbow could feel another ‘wave’ of warmth gearing to flush across her face,
As Rainbow clopped sluggishly through the library, she wasn’t fazed at all
“Oh Rainbow…”
Rainbow Dash froze, a mane’s breadth from the door separating Twilight and herself.
“I can’t believe I’d do such a thing…”
Twilight sounded pained, it was layered within every word of her voice. Not even
“I just-“
Twilight broke into tears.
Rainbow was finding it hard to cope with Twilight’s emotions. Each sob was worse than the last, making Rainbow feel uneasy.
“I’m so sorry…”
It was too much. Rainbow had to go in. She couldn’t bear hearing her friend like this.
Rainbow brought her hoof up to the door, and tapped it, quietly, yet firmly.
“Twilight, I’m coming in.” Rainbow sounded uncertain.
“Wait, Rainbow. Just give me a-“
Rainbow pushed the door open, regardless. A plume of vapour hit her, filling
“Second,” Twilight finished.
Twilight was slumped upon the floor, head in hooves. Her purple, starkly against
It was almost as Twilight was alone.
The tiles were streaked with indefinite misty lines, once drawn in by hoof and tear.
Rainbow tried to remain sounding calm, yet her concern for Twilight wavered through into her voice.
Twilight looked down, shielding her face from Rainbow with her hoof.
“Y-yeah?”
Twilight’s voice was as quiet and as light as the vapour that hung in the air, but without the stifling heat.
Rainbow slowly clopped around Twilight’s place on the floor, making a move
“You alright?”
At least she sounded more confident this time, Rainbow thought to her self, albeit a tad quizzical.
“Well, I’m just a bit…” Twilight exhaled, but her huff was interjected by a spike of sorrow. “You know?”
Rainbow faced Twilight once more, although she didn’t return the gesture.
Rainbow thought, for a moment. She thought about how Twilight was definitely not just a bit ‘You know,’ and how Twilight had cried to herself, for some reason regarding herself.
It didn’t help that Rainbow wasn’t terribly well versed within the art of emotions. It
Nevertheless, Rainbow was sure she could fix this; after all, she was the best young
Rainbow picked her hoof up and eased it silently towards Twilight, reaching
Rainbow noticed the red streaks upon Twilight’s horn, jolting her memory. This
“Twilight…, Open your eyes.”
*****
Twilight slowly brought her eyelids apart.
“Twi’, I know you’re feeling a bit shaken…, but let’s not get all tearful, eh?”
Twilight continued to study Rainbow’s face, moving on from her smile.
“Okay.”
It was just the way she hung herself so nonchalantly, without a care in the world.
Oh, but Rainbow, it is a big deal, Twilight thought. You need to think about yourself, too, instead of trying to please everyone.
“Twilight, maybe you should get in the bath, to-“Rainbow faltered, momentarily. “-To calm down, you seem a bit…”
Twilight nodded her head, but still managed to make it look morose, albeit
She left uncertain hoofprints upon the floor, fading away, barely there.
“But Rainbow, I ran the bath for you. I can’t just usurp you of that pleasure, I’d feel bad…”
Rainbow smiled, more certainly than the last time.
“Twi’, you’re too kind. But you need this more than me, I think.”
The last couple of words seemed to peter out, back to uncertainty.
“Well, why don’t we share?”
Rainbow’s face flushed out in red.
But not like that dark, accusatory crimson upon her forehead.
“What, get in the bath? Together?”
Rainbow’s wings started to rise, slowly.
“Yes, why not? It’s big enough, and it would be practical; we wouldn’t have
Twilight liked this idea, it’d be quality time with Rainbow. She could use it to
“Okay, if you’re sure...”
Rainbow sounded very flustered, all of a sudden. What’d got into her? Maybe it
Twilight clopped towards the bathtub, hauled herself into the warm water, and
Twilight looked into Rainbow’s eyes, and then to her forehead, to the wound.
Against the blush of Rainbow’s cheeks, it didn’t look quite as bad anymore.
*****
“Come on Rainbow, get in!”
Rainbow halted for a moment, and then put her fore-hooves on the side of the
This wasn’t a good idea, Rainbow thought to herself. She should just have
But Rainbow couldn’t help but have inappropriate thoughts. Thoughts like that.
“Uh, Rainbow, you should probably close your wings first?”
Damn things, always popping up uninvited. She was trying to be a friend. Twilight was vulnerable, melancholic, and yet Rainbow’s body had other ideas. She just wanted to help!
“Yeah, Twi’, I already got it.”
Rainbow tested the water with her hoof, it was an amiable temperature. The kind
Rainbow faltered once more, looking down at the seemingly impenetrable water’s
She would try to be a good friend, even if she had to hang her own feelings.
No, Rainbow wouldn’t try.
She’d be the best friend there could be.
Forcing herself, she took the plunge.
The warmth of the water engulfed Rainbow, she could feel its swirling
“Rainbow, you’re looking awfully stiff!” Twilight was stating the obvious for her. “Why don’t you lean back and relax?”
Yeah, relax. Right.
Still, she had to make it look otherwise, after all, there were reasons Rainbow hadn’t told anypony about these feelings.
“Rainbow, if you lean up against me, I can clean up your-” Twilight’s voice panged with a twinge of guilt. “Injury.”
There goes that innocence again. Does Twilight not see the intimacy in that position?
‘Play it cool, Dash. Play it cool.’
With her newly devised internal mantra, Rainbow tentatively shifted backwards, the film of the water ever-clinging to her body.
Her
Rainbow
“Ah, good. Rainbow, you don’t mind if I touch your forehead, do you?”
Yes, right, that’s why she was here, so Twilight could help her clean up.
“N-no, it should be fine, Twi’”
‘Great, I’ve stuttered,’ Thought Rainbow, ‘and on top of that, I accentuated her name a bit too much…’
“Okay, just tell me if it hurts, okay?”
Rainbow
“Are you still going to Pinkie Pie’s party tomorrow?”
Twilight
“Y-“
Rainbow
“Pardon, Rainbow?”
Wow, Twilight really was clueless. It was clear from her voice; there were no quiet, husky whispers, just stark, everyday voices.
“Yes, Twilight, I should make it.”
Rainbow
“Good, I shall look forward to seeing you there.” Twilight’s voice was still normal. “I’m going to clean your wound now, okay?”
Twilight
Rainbow
“Rainbow, your head is all cleaned up!”
Rainbow
“Thank you, Twilight.”
At least she was still confident in her speech, if not in mind.
“Anything to help out a friend!”
Rainbow
Rainbow’s heart was pounding; this was what it was like, that time before, with that other filly, before she’d confessed to her. That was like her, to do something as brash as that- but not like Twilight. It wasn’t like Twilight at all.
“Oh,
Rainbow felt warmth on her shoulder, but not like the warmth of life, or
“Twilight?”
Rainbow could feel her compassionate sadness, against Twilight, as one, reverberating with each tear, each miniscule movement. Their bodies jolting, juddering, with each wave of emotion.
“I just… I j-j-just didn’t mean to hurt you s-s-s-“
‘I have to calm her down.’ Rainbow thought, ‘I can’t bear to hear her like this, to feel her like this.’
“Twi’, It’s fine.” Rainbow put her most affirmative voice on. “Didn’t I tell you it was fine?”
Rainbow could still hear Twilight in her ear, snorting, choking on sorrow, ungainly.
“I’m so s-“
“Twilight, just…” Rainbow was lost for words, not sure how to comfort Twilight.
Rainbow
She felt Twilight’s head leave its place on her own shoulder, and Twilight’s hooves leave her own, withdrawing.
Rainbow
“Just… don’t be so hard on yourself,”
Rainbow
Rainbow
Twilight
“Okay?”
The edges of Twilight’s frown faltered, twitching into the faintest of smiles. Delicate.
But definitely there.
“Yes…”
Twilight’s voice was still quiet, still incurred upon with undertones of moroseness, but with a hint of affirmation.
Rainbow
“You’re
Twilight
‘Well, whatever,’ Thought Rainbow ‘I suppose Twilight can be cool sometimes too.’
Rainbow
All
Rainbow
Rainbow
Rainbow
However,
Rainbow
“Ah… Uhm… Rainbow, I, I don’t know what to say…”
Twilight
Rainbow
The
Again,
Rainbow thought, as she explored with Twilight, it was as if they were closer, not only in body, but in minds.
Rainbow
Within
Rainbow
The rush of emotions was hard, for Rainbow. Although it was beautiful, it was just so… Intense. She’d only experienced emotions like that once before, during her times with that filly.
With that filly…
A wave of guilt came over Rainbow, overcoming the new, intense emotions.
Rainbow
For
“I’m, so sorry,
Rainbow
She
As
“Oh, Celestia; I’ve betrayed them both, I’ve been disloyal. And I’m supposed to be the element of Loyalty…”
*****
The
*****
Rainbow
“I’m supposed to be loyal; I’m supposed to be loyal.”
As she landed, Rainbow felt a small pang of bittersweet satisfaction; she’d made it this far.
Rainbow’s eyes were dimming, now, out of exhaustion, but she could still focus on what she’d come for.
She hesitantly crept forwards, towards the window she’d come for. It was open a crack, like a small glimmer of hope.
Rainbow
There were shadows, all of unnatural, unnerving shapes, carved by moonlight, not dissimilar to that of Twili- Of the library’s shadows.
“I need to talk to you…”
She
“I need to talk to you; Applejack.”
Rainbow felt pain, coursing through her body. Only aching within her legs and
As much as Rainbow tried to shut it out, she could see the warm light
Rainbow hauled her eyelids open, tentatively, easing her eyes into the bright
The ground was hard against Rainbow’s hindquarters, as she sat up, trying
Rainbow felt dizzy, for a moment, her vision slowly, but only partially leaving her for a second. Her home was made of clouds, not ceilings, windows and hard, wooden floors… Where was she?
She looked around slowly, being kind to her over-sensitive eyes. The
The walls were also wooden, but seemed more reassuringly smooth, but
Rainbow stretched her forelegs out once more, and decided to brave standing up.
“Oh, Celestia…” Rainbow groaned, “What did you do last night, Dash?”
Rainbow stood there, for a while, letting the tiniest of breezes wash over her,
‘I think I just need to go…’
Things would probably be better after she’d mulled them over a bit, and Rainbow really didn’t want to drum up any awkward conversation between herself and Applejack; she had problem enough thinking about that sort of stuff, let alone talking.
Rainbow pushed against the window’s frame, exposing herself to the fullness of
Maybe that was one other thing Rainbow couldn’t control: Friendship.
Rainbow moved her fore hooves up onto the windowsill, ready to take off, out of
Rainbow felt her stomach twist, she knew whose hoofwriting this was, and with
Dash,
I knew you’d try to climb out the window, and pretend like nothing happened, but I’m hoping a loyal pony like yourself would realise that their friend needs them, and change their mind? We really need to talk, but y’know, like a proper talk. Not an ‘It’s 3AM, I’m really drunk and decided to break into Applejack’s bedroom’ talk. I’ll be out applebucking; I’m on a tight schedule, but come and talk to me. I can always take time out to see you.
You really did say do some interesting things last night.
-That ‘Other’ Filly
(Thanks for the new nickname, by the way…)
“Oh, Celestia.”
If there wasn’t such a cooling breeze, Rainbow would’ve probably burned up and melted, right on the spot.
*****
“…light?”
“Twilight?”
“Twilight?”
On the uncouth awakening of having her own name shouted in her ear, it was
“Twilight, why were you sleeping in the bathtub?”
Without opening her eyes, Twilight responded, groggily.
“Don’t be silly, Spike, I’m just a bit cold, that’s all. Now, if you just pass me my blanket, I’m going to go back to sleep… I don’t feel too good.”
“Uhh, Twi’? Don’t go all ‘Pinkie Pie’ on me; you’re definitely in the bathtub.”
Twilight opened her eyes, and was met with a slightly pink-stained white, taking up her peripheries.
“Ah.”
“You see, Twilight?”
Twilight was most definitely in the bathtub, she knew that much. However,
“Oh...”
“Twilight, are you okay?”
The pony braced herself, and then put what seemed like far, far
“Ugh, Twilight! You’ve been soaking in that! I don’t want it on me!”
Nevertheless, Twilight, now dry, wasn’t really fussed about her assistant’s wellbeing. She had other things on her mind, other fillies…
“Oh, Rainbow…”
“Twilight, you mean Spike, right?”
Twilight felt a light blush across herself; she hadn’t said that out loud, had she?
“Yes, Spike.”
Twilight stepped out of the bathtub, onto the well-streaked tiles of the floor.
“Spike, you know how you’re my number one assistant?”
Spike groaned; he knew what was coming next.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll clean the bathroom for you.”
Twilight could hear the dejectedness in Spike’s voice, but she wasn’t too
“Thanks Spike!”
Twilight spun around on the spot, turning to face the doorway. As she lifted her
Twilight could think clearly, now. There was colour to her thoughts, and colour on her mind.
As she walked out into the library, everything looked a little brighter.
As a breeze swept in, through an open window, Twilight thought to herself; about friends, about friendship, about Rainbow Dash.
She wondered, ‘All this time, I’ve been studying friendship, and nothing has ever felt quite this fantastic. Is this true friendship?’
Even though Rainbow had left her during the night, Twilight was sure she’d
“Rainbow, I just can’t wait to see you; we have so much to talk about…”
*****
The view across the apple orchard was beautiful, from on top of Bloomberg’s
Lost in the scent of freshly bucked trees, and their bruised bark,
Even though Granny Smith had told her otherwise, so many times, she’d taken
She still wasn’t sure why, despite the amount of times she’d been through
It was: when a dripping wet rainbow fell from the skies, streaked with tears, shaking, sobbing.
Applejack had said nothing to the poor filly; they just sat, in a
Real problems, real thoughts, real feelings.
Applejack had been fine, up until that point. She liked that Dash could trust
Still, as strong as Applejack tried to be for Dash, the next thing she said had caught her off guard.
“Applejack…”
Even looking back on it, Applejack felt embarrassed. However, that feeling was always overwhelmed by another, every time.
“I think…”
Overwhelmed by confusion.
“I think I l…”
Confusion, tinged with sadness.
“Love you…”
Applejack felt the trio of emotions inundate her, as if she was reliving the memory, of that rainy eve, on Bloomberg’s hill.
“Why’d yew have ta go and puzzle me so, Dash? You toying with me or something?”
Applejack frowned through her sad, embarrassed confusion. One minute Dash was
Applejack sighed, and thought to herself. ‘I guess that’s what y’all get for being the most dependable pony in Ponyville, huh?’
*****
Rainbow Dash didn’t feel like flying. Her heart wasn’t in it.
It was elsewhere, occupied, gone.
Rainbow shook her head, a desperate attempt to try to understand what was
It’d been fantastic, even if it had only been a choice few evenings, shrouded in rain, teary-eyed.
If only she had another reason to spend time like that with her. Nopony else could know, after all, Dash had to be cool.
Rainbow gulped, and continued her slow, pained walk, up to Bloomberg’s hill, two thoughts reverberating around her mind.
“What have I done?”
“Why do I have to be cool?”
Chills surrounded Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow had never really experienced doubt before; she was a confident, strong, ‘cool’ pony.
She’d thought that the somewhat scenic walk through the apple orchards
The systematic abundance of the apple trees didn’t help Rainbow’s state of
She remembered about Twilight and herself, almost begrudgingly. However, it wasn’t remembering the events that jarred Rainbow’s mind so. It was her own thoughts and feelings.
From Rainbow’s experience, she only knew these feelings from a tiny amount
A place which now, seemed only to be foreshadowed with doubt, despite its open, airy atmosphere.
Bloomberg’s hill.
*****
Twilight was sprawled out on her sofa, happy, merely through just existing. She
On breathing back in, Twilight noticed a slight odour. One that was
After a couple of minutes, Twilight realised what was so familiar about the
Twilight lightly pushed her face into the sofa’s cushions, and inhaled as deeply
Regardless, Twilight just immersed herself in Rainbow’s scent once more. She’d
Now, though, things were different.
Perhaps, like in those books, she wasn’t odd, but she was in love.
Twilight inhaled another gasp of Rainbow’s scent, and filled her thoughts with
*****
Applejack had been laid out on Bloomberg’s hill for quite some time now,
Not out of laziness, Applejack was far from lazy, and she knew it; but somehow, that made it worse.
Light hoof-fall began to puncture the murmuring soundscape of rustling leaves
Applejack knew it was silly, but she couldn’t stop acting the scenes out in the safety of her own mind.
There was a modest sound of setting down, beside her, and Applejack, still with her eyes firmly closed, knew who was there.
She heard a sigh. Not one of exasperation, but a long, drawn out sigh of relief. Applejack found it reassuring.
She laid there, basking in the sunlight, alongside her counterpart, just
Dash was so intent on keeping their ‘rivalry’ up, that it seemed to be
As much as Applejack hated to have to lie to everypony, as the two of them put more and more effort into covering up, times like these became more and more precious. They came to mean
However, as much as Applejack wanted to dwell on such a seldom moment like this,
Applejacksighed, but unlike Dash’s earlier sigh, it was an exasperated, annoyed
Nevertheless, this only accentuated Applejack’s thought. This conversation needed to happen. If she was questioning her own element, well, that’d be like questioning a cutie mark.
“Dash?”
Applejack’s voice was quiet, yet harsh, overshadowed by Dash’s now increasing breaths. At least Applejack knew she wasn’t the only anxious pony.
“What in tarnation was last night about, eh?
Applejack’s voice was still hushed, yet not as quiet as it had been, she had Dash to contend with as well, now.
“Applejack, I-“
Dash cut herself short. Applejack wasn’t surprised, she’d sounded uncertain from the first letter of her name.
*****
Rainbow Dash looked up to the sky.
She could feel the words she wanted to say, building up inside of her. Yet, none of them would come out, no matter how hard she coaxed them. Rainbow was annoyed by this. It was almost as if she couldn’t control herself at all.
“Dash, y’know you can say anything to me, right?”
Rainbow was still looking to the sky for answers. She remembered the days in which she could just fly, not thinking about anything, just to move, and fast!
Rainbow Dash levelled her gaze, and brought her eyes to meet Applejack’s. As
“I’m just… so sorry”
Rainbow felt her eyes begin to water, and a wave of melancholy hit her, with more force than she thought it would.
“I’m so sorry for what I said, and what I did…”
Even though it was an apology, it was bittersweet. For even though Rainbow
There were things that Rainbow did remember, though. She remembered that the
“What about Twilight?”
Rainbow gasped.
Rainbow tried to keep her gaze locked with Applejack’s, but the dampness of her
Rainbow thought for a while.
Twilight was nice, and all. Well, she was very nice.
Initially, Dash had thought that Twilight was boring, always buried in books, telling everypony “interesting facts”, obsessed with learning. Dash was her friend; she just didn’t like the things Twilight did.
Yet, over time, Twilight changed.
However, Twilight still had much to learn, and Rainbow knew so. Wasn’t that the reason she’d asked Twilight to come out?
For Rainbow, it was nice to be the one teaching, for once. Not to be the
It was a nice change to how things with herself and Applejack went. They
It’d been uncertain, and each time spur of the moment, and that was fine, for Dash, at the time. After all, she was ‘The Fastest Flier in all of Equestria,’ and didn’t have time for anything serious.
However, Rainbow wasn’t sure if she wanted that anymore.
Eventhough her time with Twilight had been short and impulsive, much like the spurts of time she’d spent with Applejack, Rainbow could see the start of something much more reliable with Twilight.
Was that what she needed?
Was that what she wanted?
“Uhh…”
Rainbow’s voice still wavered, huskier than usual, the immersion in emotion taking its toll on her.
“…I need to go and think, Applejack.”
Rainbow looked back towards Applejack’s gaze, once more. Her green eyes were no longer just clouded. The clouds had burst, and begun to leak; two lines traced across the freckles that pockmarked her face.
“You’re always moving, aren’t you? Why can’t you just slow down?”
Applejack sounded hurt. It was as if she wasn’t trying to hide it now, her honesty shining bright, even when shrouded in upset.
“I’ll talk to you about it properly, Applejack… but another time. “
Rainbow hated having to shirk such an important talk off, especially in one of the few times the two of them would normally so desperately strive to have.
“I just need to sort my head out.”
“Ah can see that, Dash.”
Rainbow passed an unhappy smile Applejack’s way. She knew she needed to sort it out, but the words Applejack had fed back had hurt.
“I’ll talk to you as soon as I’ve worked it out…”
Rainbow’s words faltered, momentarily, and a thought lapsed up; ‘Was that really the best thing to say?’
“I…”
Rainbow felt her chest tighten.
“I promise.”
Rainbow stood up, rather more quickly than she meant to, and with the biggest trace of a reassuring smile as she could muster, she turned away from Applejack, and began the decent from Bloomberg’s hill, step by step, down between the apple trees, letting their swaying branches’ sounds engulf her once more.
Rainbow Dash just didn’t want to fly.
An eerie silence shrouded Sugarcube corner.
It wasn’t that Mrs Cake disliked silences; she positively revelled in the
In contrast with Pinkie’s overbearing, the silence was bland, boring.
Mrs Cake supposed it was hope that kept her going. It kept her thinking
The times lacking in vivacity contrasted Pinkie’s presence well, and even if Mrs Cake didn’t realise it sometimes, that was what kept her going.
Although nopony really knew it, save for her husband, Mrs Cake probably would
It was only ever; “Good morning, Mrs Cake!”
Mrs Cake never really knew anypony, after moving to Ponyville, short of her husband, Carrot Cake.
Then, when a young Pinkie Pie had appeared in Ponyville, just, as it turned out, on a whim, Mrs Cake felt reason for staying.
Pinkie had exploded into Sugarcube Corner, on a particularly rainy afternoon,
Even though, without Mrs Cake’s permission, the excitable filly Pinkie Pie
For the First time in a long while, Cup Cake laughed.
It crept up on her, at first, but as she watched the young pink pony’s
Candy-ponies in mouth, and with a self-satisfied grin, the young Pinkie Pie spun
After the main body of the two’s laughter had subsided, into just a light
“You’re kinda funny, miss!”
Mrs Cake couldn’t help but smile, the filly that had appeared in her shop
Then, before Mrs Cake knew it, Pinkie Pie had taken up residence within
Sometimes, to Mrs Cake, it was like Pinkie Pie was the daughter she never had.
Wallowing in the thoughts of Pinkie Pie only made the silence worse for Mrs Cake.
It wouldn’t have been so harsh on her, if Carrot Cake had been there, as
However, it wasn’t Pinkie Pie’s absence that had stolen away the sounds from Sugarcube Corner and Mrs Cake.
As abruptly as Pinkie Pie had exploded into Mrs Cake’s life, with her
Mrs Cake looked down at the letter Pinkie Pie had left, and as she stared
At least she didn’t have to deal with the silence anymore.
Twilight hauled her saddlebag on, yet lingered by the door of the library,
“Spike!”
Twilight heard the soft padding of Spike’s steps, ricocheting delicately off of
“Yes, Twilight?”
Twilight could see that Spike was trying to sound as dejected as he could, but
“Would you like to come to Pinkie Pie’s party with me?”
Spike’s eyes shot up, brightly, away from the forced melancholic stare at the
“Oh boy, I’d love to, Twi’!”
Twilight grinned, and instead of replying, she just waited for Spike’s next inevitable question.
“Will Rarity be there?”
Even though she knew she’d have this question asked of her, Twilight was
“I’m sorry, Spike, but didn’t I already tell you?”
Spike looked blankly at Twilight, Obviously she hadn’t done so. Or perhaps he forgot?
“Spike, Rarity won’t be there…”
Spike exhaled loudly, disappointedly, and brought his gaze back down to the floor.
“She’s away with Fluttershy, on a spa weekend break, I recall her mentioning it last week.”
Twilight took a couple of hoofsteps towards Spike, and gave him a quick tap on
“I’m sorry, Spike…”
Spike looked back up to Twilight’s eyes, with a sad smile.
“It’s okay, Twilight, I’ll just stay here, I’ve still got some cleaning to do.”
Twilight let out a quiet chuckle to herself. Even if Spike didn’t mean to, he always put a grin on her face.
“Oh, but Spike, Rainbow Dash’ll be there too!”
Twilight immersed herself in thoughts of Rainbow, reminiscing just from the
“Twilight, why do you keep mentioning Rainbow Dash? Other ponies will be there too, you know?”
Twilight felt a tad embarrassed, again, but managed to hold out on any blush,
However, Twilight knew two things, both drawn from her time reading romance
“Oh, Spike, look at the time! I’d best be off!”
Twilight knew she still had a few more minutes until she was actually scheduled to leave, but she’d decided that it’d probably be the best to leave early, after all, it meant she didn’t have to figure out how to vocalise all these thoughts in her head, and then find a way to convey it so Spike would understand it.
*****
Due to instinct, Rainbow Dash had headed straight home.
Of course, Rainbow knew that there weren’t actually tiny
Thinking of Pinkie Pie, Rainbow had already made the decision that she wasn’t
Asmuch as Rainbow would’ve liked to meet up with Applejack, and make
Yes, Twilight was a clever pony, but even she hadn’t learned of the relationship between Applejack and Rainbow Dash, and, with this in mind, she could potentially ruin everything.
Twilight wouldn’t want to hide her happiness. Instead, she’d want to spread the
Rainbow didn’t know how much Applejack knew of her night with Twilight,
Anyway, even though the whole situation seemed incredibly daunting for Rainbow, without any certainties to rely on, she knew one thing.
She still wasn’t going to Pinkie Pie’s party.
*****
Applejack could still feel the cool breeze, carried down from Bloomberg’s hill,
Applejack knew it was silly, if she was upset, that was all there was
When Dash had left her upon the hill, Applejack hadn’t returned to help her
Not that Applejack would’ve realised this, had Dash not told her herself.
Applejack played back the groggy scenes from the night before, in her head: Dash
Even though Dash was full of apologies, none of them were quite spectacular
Although the fact that Dash was willing to make an effort to confess showed that
Applejack stole a glance upwards, and realised that she was nearing her
As Applejack gazed forwards at Twilight Sparkle, trotting gently towards
“Applejack, I’m so sorry. I really am, but…”
“But I think I’m in love…”
“With Twilight…”
*****
Twilight Sparkle couldn’t contain her joy; it was only moments from her arrival at the party, she’d be able to see Rainbow again!
Escaping from her runaway scenarios in her head, Twilight began to focus back
As Twilight looked towards the entrance of the store, she could not only
“Hey, Applejack!”
Twilight called out loudly, yet she got no response. Applejack just kept gazing
Reaching the entrance of Sugarcube Corner, Twilight sidled up to Applejack, with a smile.
“Hey, Applejack!”
At first, Twilight thought Applejack was just ignoring her, yet, as a
“Oh. Hi, Twi’”
Applejack sounded rather dejected, to Twilight. Initially, Twilight would’ve just
“Applejack, are you okay?”
Twilight nuzzled up to Applejack, she was clearly in a state of upset, and
“Ah’m fine, Twilight.”
There was that tone again, Applejack certainly was not okay. Her voice was layered with trembles, immersed in despondency.
“Applejack…”
Twilight
“Just leave it, okay?”
Applejack’s voice was hurt, but irritable. However, this time, tone wasn’t all
Trying to move on from her friend’s melancholy, Twilight decided to move
When the door swung open, despite what it’s label tried to profess, Twilight
Twilight stood in the doorway for a moment, with Applejack reluctantly in tow,
“Oh, Celestia! Mrs Cake! Are you alright?”
Mrs Cake was laid on the floor, among the party detritus, below a banner that read “Pinkie Pie’s Pony-fabulous Party!” She clung to a piece of paper, pouring her tears into it.
Stuttering through tears, Mrs Cake mumbled into the paper, inaudible to Twilight.
“I’m sorry Mrs Cake; I didn’t quite hear you… What’s wrong?”
In-between sobs, Twilight, caught the reason for Mrs Cake’s sorrow, escaping in
“It’s Pinkie…”
“She’s…”
“Gone.”
The Ocean Between You and Me
“You’re wasting my time, Pinkie.”
A lot of ponies tell me this.
I don’t think they mean for it to be as mean as it comes across, but the feelings are still there.
For a time, I just endured this. Somehow, it didn’t hurt much when said by ponies I didn’t really know.
Then, my friends started saying it.
It hurt.
Did they not trust me? Did they not believe in me?
Did they not love me for who I am?
If I stopped acting as I did, I’d no longer be Pinkie Pie. I’d no longer be the pony you continue to hurt for being who she is.
Do you know what’s worst about it?
My friends; Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, they haven’t even noticed that they’re hurting me.
Is it because my feelings are so unimportant to them?
I thought they might’ve noticed, and tried to help, but seemingly, the magic of friendship isn’t really as strong as it once appeared to be.
Mrs Cake Cup Cake, don’t for a second believe that this is your fault, because, if you do, you couldn’t be further from the truth.
Your company has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and you’re the reason I’ve been here as long as I have.
Without you, I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I’ve done so.
But, despite that, this is goodbye.
Even though I always feel your love, it’s no longer enough to counter a life in a town that seems to think my time is worth nothing.
If I’m gone, then I’ll no longer be able to waste everypony’s time.
Don’t bother to tell my friends the others about this.
I wouldn’t want to waste their time.
-Pinkie
*****
Twilight stared at the letter for what could’ve been hours. However, she’d not read a word on the letter for ages, she was staring into it, past the words, to try and find what Pinkie really meant…
Twilight knew Pinkie, she was her friend. Surely the Pinkie she knew wouldn’t have done… ‘that’…
But Twilight began to wonder, staring into the paper, whether the Pinkie Pie she’d known was Pinkie Pie at all…
It wasn’t just the not knowing that Pinkie had been hurting that upset Twilight, it was the fact that she had been hurting because of her friends, and they hadn’t even noticed.
That, and the friendliest pony she’d ever met; Pinkie Pie, was telling her that ‘the magic of friendship wasn’t as strong as it once appeared to be.’
Finally, Twilight looked up, from the crumpled, tear smeared words she’d been reading, and upon doing so, realised that she was no longer standing firm like she’d been when she began reading, but collapsed on the floor, curled up in front of Mrs Cake. She could hear Applejack’s heavy breathing from beside her, no doubt caused by Pinkie’s words.
Twilight sighed, unhappily. It may well have heightened the awkwardness of Sugarcube Corner’s silence, but Twilight wasn’t really fussed. Although she didn’t know the scientific basis behind it, she knew that a sigh could normally alleviate any of her grief.
She’d hoped that this would’ve been true in this situation too, but, her efforts seemed in vain.
In fact, to Twilight, it seemed that the thought of a sigh dealing with such important, sensitive things such as Pinkie’s disappearance made the bitter sinking sensation within her a thousand-fold worse.
Twilight looked across to Mrs Cake, through her slowly clouding eyes, to meet with already cloud-burst ones. Even though the movement of eyes should only take a tiny amount of effort; to Twilight, if felt as if she’d never performed a task more arduous: to meet Mrs Cake’s eye’s in honesty.
“Mrs Cake…”
Mrs Cake looked on to Twilight, saying nothing, her forlorn expression speaking in place of words, tears dropping down in place of tone.
Twilight rifled through her own brain, searching for the perfect words to say – How do you avoid upsetting somepony in this situation?
Unable to think, Twilight looked away from Mrs Cake, to Applejack, for support. Yet, even the dependable, honest pony Applejack was was unable to reassure Twilight; her eyes were glazed over, fazed out, staring at the floor. Joining Applejack, regaining her gaze down at the floor, Twilight resigned herself to the fact that in the time she needed to, she’d never be able to truly find words that wouldn’t hurt, and so, Twilight decided to speak her mind. Raw, yet still tentatively.
“I didn’t realise Pinkie Pie felt this way…” Twilight gulped, she knew what she was saying was probably incredibly cliché, and far from eloquent. Holding back tears, Twilight continued, “But if she did, why didn’t she say so?”
Twilight still looked to the floor, somewhat guiltily, away from Mrs Cake. Even so, she still heard her sigh, tinged with sadness, but overwhelmed with what sounded like disappointment
“Pinkie always told me you were the clever one, Twilight Sparkle.”
Upon mention of her name, Twilight looked back up, reflexively, towards Mrs Cake. She was no longer tear stricken, but her eyes were dulled, her snout pulled back, ever so slightly, in a look of disappointment. Perhaps even anger.
“However, I’m beginning to seriously doubt what she said.”
Twilight answered in silence, fearing that what she’d said had worsened the situation.
“If you really were smart, Twilight, you’d have noticed that Pinkie Pie really hasn’t been that ‘Pinkie’ for a long while now…”
Unable to find speech once again, Twilight was relieved to be rescued by a choice few words of Applejack’s southern drawl, even if they did sound slightly wavering.
“But Mrs Cake, Pinkie was happy. Wasn’t she?”
Once again, Mrs Cake sighed, remorsefully.
“That’s just it, isn’t it?”
Twilight and Applejack’s confused expressions must have made their thoughts clear to Cup Cake, as she continued on, explaining further.
“To you, and everypony around her, Pinkie Pie was the ‘happy pony,’ wasn’t she? This was good, for Pinkie. She could spend her days spreading the happiness she loved to surround herself, and then when she had an ‘off’ day, she felt no guilt in taking time away, to rest. She felt no guilt in being unhappy, when she had to be.”
Mrs Cake looked on, seemingly nostalgic, to Twilight’s perceptions, towards the window, into the distance.
“However, after the Summer Sun Celebration, after she gained the element of Laughter, after she met you, Twilight, she started feeling guilt.”
Twilight’s stomach sank, further than it’d already sunk, with the horrible realisation of what was going to come next.
“After she had her element bestowed to her, spreading laugher and happiness were no longer just an enjoyment. To Pinkie, she felt that it was her duty to do so. This was fine, for a time, but then I realised that she was having less and less unhappy days. To begin with, I thought this was good, I thought she was just becoming an even happier pony than she already was. It was when the off days became so scarce that they petered away into nothing; that I started to worry.”
Mrs Cake’s nostalgic look had left her face, once again to be replaced by the grief stricken look she’d worn earlier, tears once more tumbling to the ground, sobs beginning to punctuate her speech.
“When I confronted her, Pinkie said that I should stop being so silly. She shouldn’t question what her element bestowed upon her. If she could’ve done, Twilight would’ve said so. After all, Twilight was not only one of the smartest ponies in Ponyville, but one of her very best friends…”
Although it may not have been so, but to Twilight, it seemed as though within her upset, Mrs Cake had delivered the last few words with venom.
Even if she didn’t mean to say her words like that, they still took their toll on Twilight, seeping deep into her, as she realised how devastating her negligence had been to Pinkie.
She’d been suffering, yet she was too worried to tell anypony.
After all, Pinkie Pie, the party loving pink pony, the spirit of the element of laughter, wanted anything but to bring about unhappiness…
All Twilight would’ve had to do was say a few words, and then Pinkie Pie would never have gone…
Gulping down, forgetting the delicacy of the situation and remembering the urgency, Twilight began to speak quickly, her organisational skills coming into play.
“Mrs Cake, we need to find Pinkie Pie. Before she does anything…” Twilight paused for a moment, searching for the right word. “Silly… Where would she go when she was feeling ‘off?’”
Mrs Cake sighed, again.
“Twilight, if you really were Pinkie’s friend, you’d-“
Twilight butted in, still headstrong from her sense of urgency.
“If you really want to, we can discuss to what lengths my friendship with Pinkie extends to, but right now, if you really cared, you’d help me find her.”
Twilight looked dead into Mrs Cake’s eyes, unwavering.
For the first time in a while, Sugarcube Corner felt a bit happier, warmed by the faintest of smiles. Even if Cup Cake was still looking down to the floor, tears still seeping out, it was still there.
“On the days when Pinkie wasn’t feeling so ‘Pinkie,’ she used to climb the mountain trail above Ponyville.” Cup Cake’s smile tinged with sadness again, “If she hasn’t left completely, she’ll be there, I’m sure of it.”
Twilight began to pour concentration into her horn, focusing on Pinkie’s supposed location, yet she still had concentration for a few choice words.
“Thank you.”
“All I did was tell you where she was, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight shook her head, smiling happily.
“No, thank you for believing in the magic of friendship again…”
Just before Twilight blinked away, she caught the glimpse of one of the happiest, teary eyed faces she’d ever seen…
*****
Applejack jumped, gasping suddenly.
Even though she’d gotten mostly used to Twilight’s magic, whenever she disappeared like that, well, it just didn’t seem natural.
Applejack turned away from Mrs Cake, slowly trotting towards the door, but feeling guilt with every hoofstep. How could they just not notice Pinkie’s unhappiness?
As she reached the doorway, Applejack faltered, hoof waiting in the air to push at the door. As much as she wanted to just leave the resonating tension of Sugarcube Corner, she knew that she ought to say something before she did so, just to try and patch things up.
Looking over her shoulder, glancing towards Mrs Cake, Applejack spoke, huskily, tentatively.
“Mrs Cake, we’ll find Pinkie Pie.”
Applejack tried desperately to convey her voice in its normal, reassuring affirmative manner, but it just wouldn’t come through. In the end, she settled once again for tentative huskiness.
“We’re her friends, after all.”
Not wanting to let the melancholy linger, and wanting to leave on an optimistic note, Applejack finally outstretched her forehoof, nudging the door forward, emptying her lungs of the bitterly sickly sweet air, and breathing deeply, replacing it with the cold fresh air of outside.
As the door behind her slammed shut, sending a light breeze through Applejack’s Stetson topped mane, she began to slowly trot, absentmindedly, deep within thought, in no particular direction.
However, Applejack knew she wasn’t going anywhere in particular; it was a conscious decision to just wander around, as what was a pony supposed to do on receiving such news?
Applejack’s mouth moved to form an ‘o,’ as she realised what she had to do, and where she had to go. She had to let Pinkie Pie’s other friends know what was happening.
Fluttershy and Rarity were away, far out of town, which left Applejack with one main choice. She had to go and see Rainbow Dash.
Regaining control over her hooves’ direction, Applejack pointed herself at the floating mass of clouds and rainbows at the edge of Ponyville, and trotted on.
Absentmindedly staring at Dash’s cloud-house, trudging onwards, Applejack’s mind became overcome with worry, not just as Pinkie’s words sank in, more and more so, but also over the prospect of meeting Dash. Not because of the relationship between them, Applejack wasn’t a stupid pony, she knew there were more important things to confront than the growing distance between them, but even so, Applejack couldn’t help but let constant worries about what Dash was actually thinking about her.
Applejack knew that Dash wasn’t at all the most emotionally mature pony, and so, she knew that Dash would probably react somewhat badly to Pinkie’s letter. Load that on top of how Dash was reacting over the relationship between herself and Applejack, and well…
In truth, not even Applejack, the pony who was pretty much closest to Dash, the pony who’d stayed up on stormy nights, listening to Dash, listening to her every thought, could know how she would react.
Despite her not knowing, Applejack liked that about their relationship, the idea that Dash didn’t hide anything from her, she trusted in Applejack enough to confide in her all of her secrets, however, she still felt the need to tell Applejack all the little things too. The tiny, inconsequential things that amount to nothing. No thought was deemed too small, nor too pointless to tell her.
However, despite Applejack’s happiness that she could be there for Dash, and to listen to her, this was also, unfortunately one of the things that made Applejack begin to question the relationship between them.
It was the way Dash told her these things. Always in secret, during nights, reminiscent of their first night spent together.
Why couldn’t they meet during the day? What was wrong with meeting how ponies in a relationship normally would?
But, the meeting places weren’t the only problem for Applejack.
The way these thoughts were told to her; they felt cold.
Cold, passed on thoughtlessly, dumped onto Applejack. Not once had Dash ever asked if Applejack was okay, or if there was anything she wanted to talk about.
Sure, Applejack knew Dash was loyal. She was the most loyal pony Applejack had ever known. She would always come to see Applejack, if she called for her, without hesitation, and despite Dash’s lack of asking after Applejack, would always tell her that she loved her.
Until now, that was true.
Now, Applejack felt Dash’s loyalty wavering, unhinging with her far from mature emotions.
Applejack didn’t doubt Dash’s loyalty one bit, however.
She just suspected that Dash’s loyalty was beginning to shift to somepony else.
As Applejack reached the base of Dash’s cloud-house, she scuffed the ground with her hooves, kicking up dust, trying to delay what she knew was going to be a difficult conversation.
She would’ve liked to think otherwise, but with the element of honesty within her, Applejack found it hard to even lie to herself.
With her still wavering southern accent, Applejack began to call out…
“Dash, I need to talk to you.”
As much as she’d been building it up to look bad, Applejack was still very much looking forward to speaking with Dash.
Sounding more eager than stern, Applejack yelled, loudly.
“Dash, haul yer flank out here RIGHT NOW!”
*****
Rainbow Dash smiled, sadly.
She knew Applejack was going to turn up at her house, sooner rather than later, but even so; she still couldn’t think of anything that she could say which would help her out of her predicament.
She had contemplated flying off. To fly off and not talk to Applejack at all.
But Rainbow Dash wasn’t that stupid. She may have been stupid enough to drop herself into the mess she’d gotten herself into, but she wasn’t about to abandon all of her friends over something like this.
She was the spirit of the element of loyalty, after all.
Rainbow Dash trotted towards her door, and, in the presence of Applejack, the only pony who could really make her feel uneasy; sheepishly poked her head out, nervously grinning.
“Hey, Applejack.”
Rainbow Dash sighed; she could see the look on Applejack’s face, her serious, determined look, and with that, she knew that it was pointless to resist Applejack. Of course, that wouldn’t stop Rainbow Dash from trying.
“I said git down here now, Dash.”
Rainbow Dash still stayed behind her door, head poking out.
However, instead of dancing about the issue, she decided to come out and just be truthful; she felt as if too many lies had passed between the two of them.
Well, Rainbow Dash wanted to think that they were between the two of them, but really, they were just her own lies.
She spoke, subdued.
“I… Don’t know if I’m quite ready for this talk yet, Applejack…”
As embarrassed as Rainbow Dash was about actually admitting such a thing, she still looked down to Applejack, continuing to meet her gaze. It was as if they were together on one of their nights; she just didn’t mind Applejack being there, and knowing more than Rainbow Dash might ever let on to just anypony.
“Quite rightly, Sugarcube, I don’t think I’m all that ready for ‘that’ talk mahself, either…” Applejack’s voice was no longer as harsh. It’d calmed, somewhat, softened. This was the voice that Rainbow Dash was used to, on cold, dark nights. This was the voice that Rainbow Dash especially loved. “But I’m not here for ‘that’ talk.”
Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow, questioning.
“Ah need to talk to you about something else, Dash.”
Rainbow Dash was still somewhat confused, what could Applejack want to talk about that was more important than their relations?
Even without her somewhat egotistical tendencies, Rainbow Dash struggled to see what could possibly need to be more imminently addressed than that.
However, she didn’t complain; it gave her more time to think of what she could actually say to Applejack that wouldn’t ruin everything.
Yet, the fact that she didn’t know what to say wasn’t the only reason that Rainbow Dash was stalling. It was also that she’d never really stopped to think about what she was going to say before.
Yet now? It seemed like she was doing so all the time; especially with Applejack.
Slowly, spreading her wings, Rainbow Dash descended from her cloud-house, not flying down, but floating down.
“What?”
Rainbow Dash touched down in front of Applejack, face to face, trying to still seem confident by still meeting her eyes.
“Ah ain’t gonna beat around the bush, Dash. This is something you need to know, sooner rather than later.”
Even though Rainbow Dash knew that they weren’t talking about the relationship between the two of them, she still couldn’t help but let her mind run away, applying everything Applejack was saying to the two of them, regardless.
Rainbow Dash heard Applejack inhale, loudly, and then begin to speak, in a pained, upset tone.
“It’s Pinkie Pie; she’s…”
Applejack silenced for a moment, her look turning thoughtful.
“Gone.”
Rainbow Dash blinked, confused.
“Gone?”
For what felt like the thousandth time in the day, Rainbow Dash didn’t actually know what to say.
Pinkie Pie, gone? Why would she leave? Why would she leave without saying goodbye?
Was she not important enough to Pinkie Pie to at least tell her she was going?
Perhaps she wasn’t gone, Rainbow Dash supposed, but she’d merely gone away, for a day or two. That was what she wanted to believe. However, from the look she’d got from Applejack; the concerned, serious, matter-of-fact look, Rainbow Dash was sure that that wasn’t the case.
Still, that didn’t stop Rainbow Dash from hoping. Hoping that Pinkie Pie had, in fact, gone away, on an unplanned holiday, just for fun; anything but just ‘gone.’
After all, Pinkie Pie did unplanned things like that, didn’t she?
“Gone where?”
Again, Rainbow Dash heard Applejack sigh, unhappily, whilst scuffing her hooves against the ground, looking down.
“We don’t really know, for sure.”
Rainbow Dash felt her insides turn over, her worst fears seemingly confirmed.
“Twilight’s gone to look for her, where Mrs Cake thought she could be.”
Rainbow Dash suddenly felt a tiny bit better, her ears pricking up at Applejack’s words of possible redemption.
Rainbow Dash began to speak quickly, suddenly eager.
“Where? Where did Twilight go?”
*****
Applejack turned around, looking towards the mountain beyond Ponyville, away from Dash.
She wanted to draw out this moment, even if it was just for a few seconds more, because, Applejack knew, as soon as she told Dash where Pinkie’s supposed location was, she’d be gone.
Applejack didn’t blame her for this; she knew that Dash was loyal, and that even the few seconds Applejack was keeping her from Pinkie were probably tearing her apart.
Even so, Applejack still wanted Dash close to her; after all, she was hurting too.
“She’s gone to the mountain trail, the one above Ponyville.”
Pretty much as soon as the final word had left Applejack’s tongue; she heard the predictable sound of wings flapping, frantically, quickly, and then, as Dash shot past her, she felt wind shoot along with her, washing through her hair. Her Stetson trembled in the wind, unsteady.
She couldn’t fault Dash for having wings, after all, without them; she wouldn’t be the Dash that Applejack knew.
Sometimes, she just wished Dash would slow down a bit, to wait. Perhaps even to think.
Applejack sighed, sadly. She didn’t normally mind being left behind by her friends; she was proud to be an earth pony.
But right now, there was nothing more that Applejack wanted then to be up to speed, with them.
As the final gust formed by Dash’s flight whipped past Applejack, it loosened the Stetson’s trembling perch, stealing it away, flying gracefully in the wind, sweeping down to the ground.
Falling.
Twilight drew short, sharp breaths. The air felt as if it was cold, but Twilight couldn’t be sure whether this was true, or just her mind taking things to be worse than they really were.had been shaking, she was sure that the small pink figure on the edge of the mountain, far up the cliff side, would have tumbled down the rocks quite some time ago.
She sighed, fearful, and began to canter along the track, kicking gravel, splashing mud, her uneven hoofsteps echoing out along the ridge, accompanied by the same, short, sharp breaths, gulping at the wind. Her gaze was not to the floor, not worried for where she was placing her hooves, but instead, it was fixated upon pink. In the grey of the mountain, it was easy to see, vivid against its lacklustre surroundings.Not that she’d ever noticed when they were up close to her.
Twilight shook her head, but still kept her eyes forward, locked on. There was no point punishing herself for what she’d missed. Yes, she knew that she had been stupid; she’d never really had any sort of conversation with anypony about their elements of harmony, when she should have.She could never have known!
Even so, Twilight stopped herself from thinking upon that tangent. She knew that even though she’d lacked the knowledge then, and would not have known what to say to Pinkie, she could have easily found out.magic.
However, Twilight knew not to just leave her train of thought there. If she had done so, she would’ve felt guilt. Not that she didn’t deserve to, Twilight knew that she deserved whatever she was given. Yet, Twilight needed to not feel guilty quite yet.fix.
This, while laying her eyes upon Pinkie, standing tall within the mountain landscape, was exactly what Twilight intended to do.
To touch Pinkie with the magic of friendship once again. Not just her own magic, but the magic of everypony.
Twilight stared over the mountain, looking out, surveying its greyness.
Crashing past her, the wind reaching an amplified crescendo, Twilight had to firmly root her hooves to the ground, her body swaying.
*****
Rainbow Dash could barely see.
Of course, this had nothing to do with the tears in her eyes.
It wasn’t tears alone that were ruining Rainbow Dash’s vision.No, not at all.
Rainbow Dash knew pretty much where she was going; she could see that streak of pink easy, despite how much the wind made her eyes water, that fleck of colour was the only reason that Rainbow Dash knew that she was heading in the right direction.
She had little idea about what to say to Pinkie, but even so, she knew that she had to be there.
As the pink in her vision began to expand, Rainbow Dash began to slow her wing-beats, and breathe steadily, her mane slowly beginning to droop as the wind around her slowed, no longer whipping past her, no longer lending a feel of grandeur, but leaving her feeling still.
Having pulled along side Pinkie, Rainbow touched down lightly, her hooves barely making a click.
Rainbow sighed, and slowly lowered her body, tucking her hooves underneath her, laying down.
Pinkie’s body appeared to shiver, and after a few hushed moments, took a couple of steps back, away from the cliff, and set down too, but more sprawled then Rainbow, less composed.
Rainbow felt her throat seize up, unable to force any words out.
Rainbow hadn’t consciously chosen to do this; after being unable to vocalise how she felt, her body had just begun to convey her thoughts for her, doing its best to comfort Pinkie.
Really, Rainbow Dash was unsure of why she hadn’t tried to reach out to Pinkie through actions that much before. Sure, she’d interacted with her, hugged her, nuzzled her, but she had only ever done this because Pinkie was her friend, and not because Pinkie had needed help.
Rainbow Dash was glad, however, that she was able to comfort just through actions. After all, from all her time with Applejack, she knew she could be at least somewhat comforting.
Rainbow Dash sighed, sadly, unease welling up within her again. Once more, her thoughts were dominated by Applejack.
“I really love you…”
Rainbow felt the pony behind her shift beside her, just the tiniest bit, but just enough to make it much easier to cuddle up closer.
“I… Don’t know why I ever doubted it…”
Rainbow could feel more shifting beside her, and the wetness of a nose, pressing lightly into her neck, as the pony’s breathing began to deepen. In the distance, she could hear the unmistakable clicking of hooves, galloping across rock, ever nearing.
But then, why should she have had to ask?
Even if Rainbow Dash hadn’t been the spirit of the Element of Loyalty, she knew Applejack would still have deserved unprompted faithfulness.
“I’m… So sorry that things got so messed up.”
The hooffall clacked loudly, and ground to a halt, leaving the ponies once more in the ambience of the howling winds.
“I’ll do anything… Anything at all, if I can make it better.”
Rainbow sighed, yet again, and bit her lip.
“I love you, Applejack.”
Rainbow opened her eyes, to the harsh, battering winds, suddenly bringing her back to reality.
“Those words sounded very sincere, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow flinched.
“But…”
Pinkie paused, and scraped her hoof on the rock, drawing a long, audible line, even with the high winds.
“It’s a shame that I believed they were meant for me.”
Rainbow moved forwards, towards the precipice, hooves only inches away from where the cliff met the sky, drawing level with Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie’s face was scrunched up, contorted. Below her eyes, her fur was sodden, fresh tears still welling up, beneath her nose, the fur was matted.
“I guess that was just wishful thinking.”
They were no longer blue.
They were no longer the eyes of Pinkie Pie.
They were grey.
Author's Note
Ask me your questions, if you have any.
