Somepony Saved My Life Tonight

Many times I've heard the term "Follow your heart". It's been used countless times in those overly-gooey romance novels, been overplayed for years as a motto for life, and has constantly annoyed me. Why follow the heart, the thing that causes desire and leads to the very lust that can ruin the greatest of friends? Why follow something that can distrust you in so many more ways than your brain can? It's like allowing your lungs to digest instead of your stomach because it simply "feels better". It makes you feel lost in splendor while you hurt everypony around you, and later yourself.

Right now, I was falling straight into the trap of those cliched words.

I was simply flying, lost in a sea of thoughts and clouds, not knowing where I was going. It didn't matter, honestly. I had been dumbstruck by the night before, almost as if lost in two hangovers. Not only had I come incredibly close to dying, but I had seen the most incredible mare in my life. Of course, I wasn't going to say I loved her right there. After all, my Pa had always taught me to love a mare by her spirit, not what she looked like.

However, I wasn't chasing love. Not yet. I simply wanted to find that very mare that saved me, and wanted to thank her for the very gift she'd instilled. It was the very best I could do in my power to repay. I had no money, no reputation, and certainly no gifts to offer beside my own gratitude.

I suddenly blinked, and realized I had been lost in my thoughts. Quickly looking down, I had found myself far out of any Cloudsdale streets. I was now hovering over Ponyville. The very town that I had come to find as a country-folk village, at best. For all I knew, what resided there was nothing other than foals, dirt-rolling ponies obsessed with mud, and ponies who's lives had come and passed. At least, that's what Ma and Pa always told me. We Pegasi always had pride for Cloudsdale, and certainly despised Ponyville with a passion.

I finally let myself down over the town, observing the wideness and rather charming country-look it had to it. By no means did it sport the spectacular height and grace Cloudsdale architecture had, but it had its own grace. The trees that scattered along the town shined off the beams of the sun, casting looming shadows along the path I had landed on. Without any hesitation, I could tell that this town was more...natural. Unlike Cloudsdale, which had been a very shaped city by many Pegasi from before, this Ponyville place seemed a lot more nature-made. It set a peaceful state of mind, and never did I expect I'd be finding it more beautiful than Cloudsdale.

Then again, there were many things that happened on this journey that I didn't expect...

As I began to make my way along the path, many observations oddly put a warm feeling to me. The rays of the sun seemed to embrace myself with its warmth and glow, as well as the trees as the leaves cast the beams of light across the path. It seemed like the brightest colors of Las Pegasus itself, only it wasn't made by anypony at all. It felt natural in its fashion, the quiet-yet-energetic clops that echoed every time I took a step on the path, the leaves that glided their way down to the ground below, their shape shining the light of Celestia's own work in many different fashions as it descended.

However, I remembered I wasn't here to look at sights. I was here to find a specific mare...the one problem, however, was that I didn't know who she was.

Despite my good look at her, I had no idea of how to ask people who she was. I'd say she was 'a fast pony', but many Pegasi were considered such. I could say she has a Cerulean coat, but then again many ponies sported such colors. I could say she had rosy eyes, a rainbow mane and a sweet smile, but by the Gods I'd be considered a stalker of immense nature if I said such a thing. What a curse it was to be so unsociable...

Looking ahead, I could clearly make out the very town of Ponyville, its cottages lining along the rim of the sun's glow setting an almost pastel-like painting onto my vision. Princess Celestia had created many sunrises before, but this was indescribable. My throbbing heart was beating fast, telling me to sit and stay, to take in the unimaginable picture that sat before me. However, my brain convinced me that I needed to push onward and solve my personal tasks at hoof...

...It appeared I was proving the old saying wrong.

...

As I made more progress along the path, I noticed a break in the tree-scattered path up ahead. Beyond that, it appeared that I was nearing the entrance into town. Emotions of anxiety, confusion and uncertainty suddenly performed a triple threat on me in about 3 seconds.

I had never been to this town before, for one thing. I was never terribly good at talking to random ponies in my life, as my parents had always taught me to disregard the unknown. After all, many ponies in this world rather seemed afraid of what they weren't aware of. The prospect of it sounded more daring than that fictional character Daring Do.

After all, the unknown was what set all fears ablaze. It caused ponies to worry, sent them into tizzies, and caused the worst of disasters. What all ponies are afraid to discover, haven't discovered, or don't care to discover is what constantly made us scared in life.

Yet, here I was, charging into Ponyville. A town I'd only ever seen once from overhead, and never cared to know about. As I said, the fear and anxiety of this current situation was definitely coming onto me. However, something inside of me kept me pushing forward towards the unknown.

As the amount of trees around me began to dissipate, I noticed a long fence that began its long path to the right of me. On the other side of it lay a huge plot of land, maybe even acres of green grass and the strongest looking trees I'd ever seen. In fact, judging by the shining, tasty red shapes of apples that freckled the trees' greens, I could tell they were the Green Delicious trees I heard so much about.

Apparently, these trees were the very producers of the best apples in all of Equestria. How I knew this was from Featherhead's Pop, who had tasted these certain apples on one occasion; the last Grand Galloping Gala. Being a former-Wonderbolt, he always had an invitation, and had nabbed an apple or two from the last Gala before what many ponies called "The Disaster" occurred. Despite the insanity, he told me they were "the best apples I ever had!". It was quite a big compliment for whomever grew the apples, especially considering Featherhead's Pa had tasted many dishes in his lifetime as a celebrity.

Speaking of the succulent-looking red orbs hanging in the tree...they suddenly seemed quite appetizing at the moment. After all, I had not eaten a single bit of food in a good day, not including those horrible drugs that Mile High coaxed me into taking.

I suddenly felt my tongue swipe across my lips in greedy lust, knowing I was only a few feet from a good meal or two. Now, I was never a glutton when it came to food, but with how empty my stomach felt along with the disgusting feeling of drugs still coursing through me, I just had to take one bite...

It couldn't hurt, could it?

While my head kept yelling at myself NO NO NO, my aching stomach was yelling YES YES YES. My jaw slowly creaked itself open, and I suddenly could just feel the enchanting taste of an apple about ready to slide itself into my mouth...and then my tongue quickly was tied.

Oh, and I don't mean that figuratively. My tongue was quickly grabbed and twisted into a mess.

"Hey! What in the hay do ya think yer doin'?" An oddly-drawled voice shouted right into my ear.

Before I could recoil from the one-two punch of my mangled tongue and my blasted ear drums, I felt myself quickly get pulled up and over the wooden fence that separated me from the delicious-looking apple trees. What astonished me was that whoever this pony was, they were capable of pulling me over a fence by my tongue. Speaking from a first-person perspective, it was quite a painful experience.

"B-...blah! What the hay was THAT for?" I shouted back at whoever attacked my defenseless tongue and pulled me over a fence.

Still trying to rid the taste of hoof (This particular pony's tasting oddly of dirt and...apples, maybe? An odd solution of tastes, I noted) from my mouth, I was finally able to catch a glimpse of my attacker. Finally getting a good look...it was a mare. Any bachelor pony would kill for the luck I had the last few hours, but frankly I was the last stallion who wanted mares all over me.

...No, I'm not one of those ponies.

Getting back to the mare that had oh-so-rudely attacked my tongue, she was a rather tomcoltish-looking mare. She wore a hat that looked more in-place on a sheriff in a place like Appleloosa, was orange-coated, and seemed to be quite peeved at what I had just attempted.

"What was that fer? You just dun tried to eat one of ma apples! Ya think the Apple family just lets folks waddle on in and nab our apples right from our trees? Why, if that were the case, then-"

I simply just didn't pay attention to what else the angry mare happened to say. After all, I was hungry and frankly didn't need to hear chiding from somepony. I got enough of it from my parents, flight instructors, and even Mile High at some points.

...Besides, this certain pony happened to have the most irritating accent I've ever heard. She spoke like a true Appleloosian, Southern-drawled and all. It hurt my ears and boggled my brain.

"-and now yer not even listenin' to me! How would you like it if I just up and broke into yer house and stole yer food? 'Bet ya'll wouldn't like that, huh?"

I quickly snapped back to reality, finally getting off my day dreaming streak. I seemed to be having trouble staying focused these last few hours...

"Oh...sorry. I've just had a long night, and I haven't eaten a single thing..." I muttered out, trying my best to seem caring towards my deed. The mare held her frown, assuring me I wasn't getting off the hook that easily...

Don't get me wrong, I felt bad for trying to steal somepony's own-grown food. However, my brain felt like I'd been fried on the hottest skillet in all of Equestria, I had a million questions flying across my thoughts, and the only thing I wanted was something to eat.

"N-no...Sorry," I stuttered, clearly making a wonderful impression upon whomever this pony was.

"It's just...I was almost killed last night by my own friends, and somepony saved me and I'm trying to find them...It's all just a confusing mess..."

"Hold on a second...Did you see ya'll almost got killed by yer own friends?" The mare suddenly asked, her face perplexed by such a thought. Her green eyes helped push across the emotions she was feeling, oddly enough. Had I seen that before? Certainly not.

"Yes...thanks for reminding me." I groaned out with a flat expression and tone. The mare quickly caught onto my emotions, and let out an embarrassed chuckle. She clearly had been thrown from one end of offense to the other.

"Well, I guess I can sorta understand that. After all, it's hard to call somepony a friend after they pull somethin' like that..."

"Look, I'm sorry for snappin' at ya...but I'm still pretty peeved you went and tried stealin' Apple family property!" She continued on, quickly throwing a angered expression back on. However, I could see she was apologetic for basically attacking my poor tongue.

"Okay, okay! If it makes you feel any better, I didn't take any bites out of the apple. I'm just trying to find somepony in a town I've never been to, and then it lead to...this!" I managed to get out, making myself sound like a foal by every second. However, this tidbit of information seemed to spark a look of interest on the mare's face.

"Wait, you've never been around these parts before?" She asked, rather confused by the notion.

"Uhh...no?" I answered back, equally as confused-sounding as her. Her expression seemed to lighten-up at this for some odd reason, and she quickly slapped a grin on.

"Well, just tell me who ya'll are lookin' for and I could probably help ya out. Ponyville ain't too large of a place compared to Manehattan or Cloudsdale." She began to explain, suddenly seeming to forget about what occurred before. In the case of myself, that was for the better.

"That sure is a relief," I began with a relieved sigh as I found myself flapping my wings and bringing myself atop the fence next to us.

"I'm looking for a mare, light blue colored? She was a Pegasus, a fast one too, with these...rose-colored eyes..."

Suddenly, I was back staring into the sky. Once again, the same unmistakable image of those rose-colored eyes blazed into my memory. It was perhaps the one thing I could remember most clearly from the night before, and it was the best leading point I had.

However, the mare seemed a bit confused by my nondescript...description.

"Well, there are a whole lotta ponies with rose-colored eyes and...Are you okay?"

I quickly realized I was thinking too deep once again, and I snapped back before any more could be made out of my dreamy gazing into the sky.

"Yes, I'm fine...I remember she also might've had a rainbow-colored mane. That's all I can really remem-" I was stopped short when I noticed a grin appear on the face of the mare I had been conversing with.

"Haha, that's easy! You're lookin' fer Rainbow Dash! She lives just outside the other side'a town!" The orange mare said with a laugh, suddenly wrapping one fore hoof around my neck rather too chummily, pointing her other towards the direction of Ponyville.

"Ah, okay." I muttered, glancing at the mare who now had her face uncomfortably close to mine. She seemed to finally notice this fact, and we both broke into tiny smiles and then broke-off from the connection. I appreciated help...but being that close was plain creepy. Her attitude was clearly displaying the same as mine.

"Well, thanks for the help. I really needed some directions...Not exactly from around here," I said with a forced laugh, just feeling the awkward tone run over the entirety of my nerves. The mare simply smiled and tipped her hat in return, and I simply turned around and went on my way.

What were the odds I'd be talking to her not long after? I certainly didn't think they were likely...at that point, at least.

...

Had I known the facts before, I would've traveled to Ponyville sooner.

After all, my first looks at the town were absolutely wonderful. Everypony seemed so joyful and knowing of each other, as if all members of the same family. The whole promise of closeness was enough to make the town feel like a warm embrace in itself. After all, I'd never known anypony in Cloudsdale to be so open to a stranger as these ponies were.

Off went my heartbeat again at this moment. I never knew what caused these random flashes, but at that point I felt it might've been from the promise my eyes were looking out to.

All I saw was the joyful expressions of ponies living out their lives. From the youngest of fillies to the oldest of stallions, they all seemed so loving of each other and cared for one another. It was as if this was what real friends were, caring and smiling along with each other. Was that what I was missing with my so-called 'friends'? Then again, who would care about the loner I was?

However, despite my good look at the town, I was yet to find where this 'Rainbow Dash' pony lived. I had searched every bit of the town, and yet it lead me nowhere. Of course, I could've asked somepony for directions...but what kind of impression would that leave? Then again, everypony seemed so loving for each other here...

I quickly picked out the first pony I spotted after my thinking, and decided I'd ask them for directions. My gaze immediately met with the pinkest pony I had ever seen in my entire life.

Her coat was just completely pink. Nothing more, nothing less. Her mane? Pff, pink. I was looking at a pony with a pink scheme, and her eyes seemed to be the brightest blue I had ever seen. What a pony I picked to ask...

Gathering all my breath and slapping on a good-looking smile, I slowly trotted over to the pink ball of pony and prepared myself for what could happen.

"Hey," I began rather blandly, noting my lack of decency in introduction, "I'm looking for a pony named 'Rainbow Dash'. Would you happen to know her?"

"Do I know her? Of course I know Rainbow Dash!" The pink pony suddenly shouted out, spinning around in a dizzying manner and then jumping straight into my face. I couldn't even correctly step back in surprise before she continued on her streak.

"We've been bestest friends for so long I forgot how long! I remember when I threw a party for her as soon as she came to Ponyville, and now she loves my parties, but everypony loves my parties, so I told it wasn't a surprise! So then the next day, I threw her a surprise party, and that WAS a surprise-"

I simply sat, mouth agape as the mean streak of speech that was in the form of this pink mare continued on a torrent. Her talk of parties and pranks and senseless things I could care less about continued to stream across her lips.

"Uh...excuse me?" I attempted to cut in, while the pink pony's mouth continued to fire off senseless drabble. Each sentence she sped through, it sounded like she was gaining constant momentum.

"Hey-"

"-and I told her 'No way! That's the same day I'm throwing Rarity her party!'. She felt SOOOO embarrassed!"

-umm, excuse me?"

"So I invited them to the same party and they both had the same party for-"

"HEY!"

Finally my tone picked up beyond hers, and she quickly stopped in her tracks. All of the sudden, her mouth tightened into a straight expression and her bright blue eyes locked down into a concentrated look.

"Can I speak now?" I asked, trying to sound the least bit courteous. However, the pink pony's immediate smile assured me I didn't offend.

"Oh sure!" She responded with a gleeful tone and expression. The atmosphere she was giving off was oozing constant energy and glee...something I hadn't seen often.

"Alright, you know Rainbow Dash? Rainbow mane, rose-colored eyes?" I cut straight to the chase, not wanting to spend any more time with this insane-sounding pony. It was better to stay out of association with the insane ponies, I thought. After all, I already had Mile High...

"Of course I do! She's been my best friend for a long time!" The pink mare grinned with a nonchalant wave of her hoof. I caught myself almost breaking into a smile, and then shortened my expression down to a straight one.

"That's good news. Would you happen to know which direction to head to find her residence?" I asked quite nicely, putting on my best 'nice guy' personality. It seemed to be working, either that or this pony was so insane she couldn't notice either way.

Without any hesitation, she quickly stuck a pink hoof right into my face with a smile, successfully crunching smashing my snout in quite a good deal. Oh, how I'd pay to be as uncaring as her...

"Right behind you! Right outside of town is this HUGE house made out of clouds hanging overhead! Just go up there and she should be there!" The pink mare answered gladly. I smiled a rather small smile in thanks, and then trotted away with a small sigh of relief.

I would admit that the pink pony had an insane amount of energy...but that'd be an understatement, quite frankly. Besides, all I was focusing on was finding this Rainbow Dash mare...

...

On my way through Ponyville, I found myself pondering what exactly I'd say to this "Rainbow Dash" when I actually encountered her. After all, this was a mare I was talking to. A pony of potential class, maybe culture, maybe even royalty. Hay, she could be the most important pony in Cloudsdale for all I knew!

The more I thought about it, the more awful possibilities I could think of that regarded me mis-stepping in the conversation, or saying something hurtful, or being uncouth in behavior...gah, I thought of EVERYTHING I could do wrong!

All of the sudden, as stress had always had a nasty habit of doing, I had quickly found myself on the outskirts of Ponyville. With a good deal of hills running along the outer rim of Ponyville, I knew finding Rainbow Dash's cloud home wouldn't be so-...

...wow.

I feel the need now to remind you that I was a pony of rare class or pageantry. My cloud home was simple, which was funny to consider when clouds could form anything. However, my parents and I always kept it simple. We simply made a home that resembled something like a home from Ponyville, simple yet full of an "at-home" feel.

However, the structure of Miss Dash's house at first glance was magnificent. The structure itself, built upon the structural favorite of the Pegasi, that being clouds, seemed sweeping in its nature at first glance, with a large array of rainbow color showering down. What was most noticeable, however, was the structure that served as the house itself behind it. Its observatory top and cloud columns accompanying it were sights to behold, looking much like the Cloudsdale houses of old, in the days of such greats like Commander Hurricane.

As I felt my tongue get swallowed up by my throat, I gained altitude with one beat of my wings and found myself already near the front door of the house itself. Finally, with what seemed like waxing anticipation, I touched down on the cloud layer. At that very moment, I could've probably felt my tongue now fall back into my stomach.

Before I knocked on the door, I felt myself quickly recall all of the scenarios I thought up in my mind earlier. I was acting as if I made a bad impression, I would insult the very mare. I obviously didn't want this, because I owed everything to her at this point. Unknown to my own mind, however, I was just stacking pressure and hysteria inside my mind. It was only getting worse every second...

I slowly, carefully raised my left forehoof up, noticing that I was now shaking madly. This suspense was killing me, perhaps moreso than the rock last night could've. Without another thought, I tightly shut my eyes and rapped my hoof against the door twice in quick succession.

I had sealed it. There no turning back. I meekly raised my eyelids, my whole face tightening in the grasp of nerves as I awaited for something to happen. I secretly prayed that she wasn't home, perhaps off somewhere else.

However, after a mere one or two seconds of idleness, I heard the sound of something moving about inside.

Before I even had time to brace myself...the door opened.

...

A/N: I apologize if this is a bit of sloppy, badly-written chapter. I've simply fought myself over whether I've wanted to continue this story, and it seems there's not much interest either. However, I decided to toss this up. I'll judge by the reactions to this chapter if I should continue this or not...

(And yes, that image-use idea is going to happen a few times during this story. I admire that kind of technique used by such writers like Crowley, so I'm implementing that EVERY-SO-OFTEN. It won't be usual. Also have to credit Crowley for use of that one image. T'was edited and used in one of his fics. Credit where credit is due, ;)