Rainbow's Inferno

by JP Jackson

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Romance, Slice of Life, Human
Length: 6566

Rainbow Dash's life is hell, even she doen't know why she keeps liveing. One day a stranger comes into her life, and for the first time, in a long time, makes her feel loved.

March, 10th, Wednesday.

My life is a living hell! no matter where I go people hate me. Love seems to be a luxury my life can’t afford… theses girls taunted me today, they called me a fagot and said that I don’t like guys. I don’t know if I even like humans now, let alone guys. But these feelings that the other girls say that they have for guys, I don’t feel the same way they do!

We’re reading Dante’s Inferno in my English class, it’s a story about a man who goes through hell so that he can get his lost love back. or at least I think it is, it still sounds like they didn’t translate it from Italian. my life sometimes… no, all the time… feels like that, like I’m going through Hell, only there’s no lost love waiting for me at the other end. Heh, Rainbow’s Inferno, what a stupid name for a book.

Rainbow Dash's life is hell, even she doen't know why she keeps liveing. One day a stranger comes into her life, and for the first time, in a long time, makes her feel loved

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-01-06 19:10:04 UTC

Inferno

Rainbow Dash’s head rolled from side to side listlessly on the desk. The teacher’s voice became nought but distant echoes as her mind wandered far from the large classroom. She stared out the window, a pair of birds were together dancing in the air, performing the complex ritual of animal courtship that was reenacted every spring. She watched the birds wings flapping to suspend their avian bodies aloft, diving in wild complex loops, intricate and focused, yet entirely wild and free at the same time. Rainbow Dash wondered how it would feel to be a bird, to fly, to have nothing pinning you down in life, to merely live and not worry about all the stupid requirements humans had made up for living.

Rainbow’s fantasy was rudely interrupted by the teacher’s voice.

“Ms. Dash, would you care to explain what causes these molecular bonds?”

Rainbow flicked her eyes at the overweight moustached chemistry teacher. She said nothing but propped her head up with one hand. She then shrugged and looked back out the window. The teacher let out a sigh of exhaustion and continued to explain what Rainbow had refused to.

One of the birds was dead, so it goes, snached up by a hawk.

***

Later, Rainbow Dash stood in the bathroom washing her hands. She threw up her hands and let the cool droplets splash across her face. She always felt too warm, the water helped to keep her from feeling as if her head was about to ignite. She looked up at herself in the mirror. A Small bony face, an athletic, if unflattering, figure covered by a baggy blue jacket and jeans. Thin strands of hair that were dyed an array of colors. She picked a limp strand between her thumb and fore finger and let it drop back to her head lethargically.

The lavatory doors swung open to chorus of giggles and scattered conversation echoed in.

“No! You have to ask him!”

“You’re crazy! I couldn’t!”

A gaggle of girls walked in, laughing and talking over each other. Like a flock of little birds. The popular kids, the ones elected riches, prettiest and most confident. The ones who everyone knew was going to succeed. Rainbow shook the remaining droplets of water from her hands and turned to exit the small rest room. She managed to walk several paces behind the girls before one turned and noticed her.

“HEY, look who it is!”

Rainbow tensed but continued moving out of the room.

“Wait!”

Rainbow froze with her hand on the door. She turned slowly to face the crowd of girls. Each of them had nice clothes, short shorts and low cut dresses to show off as much skin as they could. Beautiful and Ugly. It had been the center one, the leader of the little pack, who had called to Rainbow. Rainbow knew her name, as did everyone in the school, but she had little reason to recall it often enough to remember.

She strutted over to Rainbow Dash and put her hand on her shoulder.

“How have you been Ranny?”

“Fine,” She replied without any emotion shrugging off the girl’s hand.

“You sure?” The girl stuck out her lips in a pouty expression. It was both disgusting and wonderful.

“We were just talking about who we were going to go with to the Spring Fling next week. Are you going with someone?”

“Oh, Abby! You know she’s not like that,” a second member of the pack replied.

Abby turned with an expression of mock surprise on her face.

“Why do you say that?”

“She’s not interested in guys,” the second girl said smirking.

The girls all started laughing. Laughing at her. Like a chattering flock of sparrows.

“So who’s the lucky lady you’re inviting?”

“Are you going to wear a dress or a tux?”

“Make sure to show her a good time afterwards!”

They laughed, they laughed, they laughed. They laughed, they laughed, they laughed. They laughed, they laughed, they laughed. They laughed, they laughed, they laughed.

Suddenly Rainbow was taken to another time, or was it just another place? She heard more laughing, but these voices weren't laughing at her, they weren’t laughing at someone else's pain, but simply because they were happy. The memory, if it was a memory popped like a bubble and she was forced back into the dank bathroom.

Rainbow Dash swooped down and slammed the first girl’s face into the sink, she screamed with fright and dashed behind her friends clutching her broken bleeding nose.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, fagot?”

Rainbow Dash walked out of bathroom. The hawk had swooped down on the little birds and silenced their cheeping.

***

Late in the day Rainbow walked up the stairs to her apartment, she lifted the doormat and pulled out the small key to the door, unlocked it and pushed it open. The room was dark, she was unsure if it was because no one was home, or if her father had forgotten to pay the electric bill. Either scenario was equally likely. She walked into the front room and looked around as best she could. No one. Good, she should be able to take a shower in peace.

She stripped off her old clothing and stepped into the shower. The water was ice cold on her skin, but it felt nice, she liked feeling cold. She looked down at her abdomen and pressed the small bruise on her side, yep, still sore. She looked down at her body as the water ran down her skinny figure her hips waist and legs were covered in many dark bruises. Reminders of things she’d rather forget.

She heard the front door swing open and slam shut. A man’s voice called out.

“DASH! DASH WHERE ARE YOU YOU PEACE OF CRAP?”

Rainbow pulled on a jacket and sweatpants that were laying on the bathroom counter and stepped out into the hall.

A huge man stood in front of her. Her stepfather had been out drinking again, she could tell by his flushed face and the stink on his breath. He clenched a half drunk bottle of whiskey in his right hand glaring at her.

“You call this place clean? What the hell kind of daughter are you that can’t even make the house look nice for your father?” He said in a angry slurred speech.

“I don’t see a father!” Rainbow retaliated. “You’ve never once acted like a father to me!”

He raised his hand and struck Rainbow across her face, shattering the bottle and leaving a gash across her cheek.

“Don’t you talk to me like that you ungrateful little bitch! I’m the one who pays for everything you have here! everything you have is because of me!”

Dash stood up covering her bleeding cheek with one hand and marched into her small room, ignoring her father’s cries for her to come back. She fell on the mattress on the floor that served as her bed and cried into the pillow, she cried for awhile before she felt good enough to rise. She slid her arm off the bed and pulled up a loose floorboard. Underneath were several important items, a small stuffed elephant, a wad of cash that she was saving up, a journal and a picture of her mother.

She pulled out the picture and the journal, she propped the picture up on the floor next to her face and looked at it. It showed a young woman holding a little blonde baby girl. The woman was smiling and holding the baby close to her chest, protecting it. Rainbow’s mother had died two years ago. She had just married Rainbow’s step father and they had gotten into an argument. Rainbow’s mother had threatened to leave and take Rainbow with her. Her stepfather had punched her in the chest, he mother had always had bad lungs and the punch had severely damaged them, she died in the hospital a few hours later.

Another memory of a memory came to her. She saw a winged horse laying down with a foal, they were sitting together on clouds and everything was still in that moment.

Just as quickly as the vision came it vanished. Storing itself in the back of Rainbow’s mind.

Rainbow put the picture back down into the hole and pulled up a pencil and began to write in the journal.

March 10th, Wednesday.

My life is a living hell! No matter where I go people hate me. Love seems to be a luxury my life can’t afford… theses girls taunted me today, they called me a fagot and said that I don’t like guys. I don’t know if I even like humans now, let alone guys. But these feelings that the other girls say that they have for guys, I don’t feel the same way they do!

We’re reading Dante’s Inferno in my English class, it’s a story about a man who goes through hell so that he can get his lost love back. Or at least I think it is, it still sounds like they didn’t translate it from Italian. My life sometimes… no, all the time... feels like that, like I’m going through Hell, only there’s no lost love waiting for me at the other end. Heh, Rainbow’s Inferno, what a stupid name for a book.

She tossed the journal into the hole and refit the board on top. Pulling up the covers, she closed her eyes. but almost as soon as she closed them the covers were ripped of her and a great weight sat down on her. She stiffened.

“Please,” she whispered in a pitiful voice so unlike her usual defiant self. “Can’t you let me sleep one night in peace?”

A course “Shhh,” was all she had in reply.

Rainbow tensed she was powerless now, she could do nothing to stop what was about to happen. All she could do was cry. Her step father lay over her and slowly pulled down her pants.

***

Rainbow sat quiet in the back of the class she pulled her hood up and leaned against the window. She hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, because she was too sore from… she didn’t want to think about it. Out of the window she saw a bird sitting alone in a tree the freezing wind battering it.

“I know how you feel,” she moaned.

The teacher snapped shut the attendance book.

“Now then we’ll get started, take out your books-”

“WAIT!” a voice called from the door.

The entire class turned and looked at the hunched over stranger in the doorway.

She was dressed well, but not fancily, in tight fitting levi jeans and a orange plaid shirt. She stood and shook a few locks of sandy blonde hair from her face and she placed an old fashioned cowboy hat on her head.

“I happy that you could join us,” the teacher said sarcastically. He turned to the class. “This young lady is A.J. she’ll be joining us for the rest of the year. Make her feel comfortable and all the rest.” The class in response burst into a frenzy of muttering.

“Why don’t you take that seat over next to Rainbow?” The teacher said lazily flicking his hand toward the  back of the room.

A.J. took the teacher’s advice and  walked to the back of the classroom. She plopped herself and her bag down and turned to the melancholy Rainbow.

“Nice to meetcha’,” she said warmly and offered her hand. Rainbow took it a silently shook hands. Her hand was strong and warm.

As she did, another of the strange thoughts stormed uninvited through her mind. A orange coated horse, a farm, a friend, a race, a good friend, apple cider, an honest friend.

Outside the window the bird was joined by another, who shielded him against the cold.

Later, Rainbow Dash sat alone in the echoing cafeteria chewing the dry meat that had been served to her, the thoughts of the memories dancing in her head. What were these thoughts that crept into her mind? They felt like dreams, but they were so real as well.

“Recon I can sit with ya’ll?” Said a slow southern drawl.

Rainbow looked up, there was A.J. just as she had looked framed in the doorway at her class. She quickly nodded and scooted over to make room for A.J.. She sat next to he and rainbow felt her face flush. She shook her head to clear it of any dangerous thoughts.

“Where are you from?” Rainbow asked to focus her mind on less controversial topics.

“Heh, I guess I don’t exactly blend in that well,” A.J. replied.

“That’s not what I meant-”

“S'alright no offence taken. Ma’ family is from South Carolina originally, but we moved on up here ‘cause ma’ brother is going to be helping with a local ranch.”

Rainbow smiled, as sad as it was this was the longest she had gone in a conversation without someone making fun of her... or beating her.

They talked for awhile about what it was like where she was from and what it was like here. Then Rainbow heard a stifled giggle and turned. The pack of girls who had bothered her in the bathroom the other day were looking at them. One of them raised her phone and took a picture. Rainbow stood up engulfed with rage.

“Y’alright?” asked A.J.

Rainbow dash looked down, she didn’t have the energy to be angry.

“You… might not want to talk to me anymore….” she said and sped off, notwaiting for a response from the girl. she ran, ran away from the one person who had ever treated her with kindness.

She stopped in an empty hall and leaned against a locker. She felt something we drip down her cheek. She furiously wiped at her face enraged at herself for submitting to such a base emotion.

“Hey Ranny!”

Shit.

The pack of girls swooped in like a flock of ravens to a corpse.

“Don’t run! We’re happy for you!”

“Yeah, you have a girlfriend now just like any boy your age should!”

A chorus of laughter erupted from the pack. Rainbow slumped against the locker, she didn’t have the will to fire back.

“Ya’ll leave her alone!”

The cruel laughter was silenced and Rainbow looked up. there stood not just a friend, but a angel savior. A.J. stomped into the group of girls and turned to block them from Rainbow.

“Ya’ll can just move along, you’ve had more than enough fun at Rainbow’s expense than anyone should.”

The group shot A.J. a dirty look but walked away, tossing a few ineffective insults at A.J. as they did, the sport had been ruined by the farm girl’s interruption. A.J. turned to the collapsed Rainbow and offered her a hand. it seemed to Rainbow Dash that a halo of light surrounded her savior. She took the hand in hers and pulled herself up.

Purgitorio

Hours later Rainbow sat on the moist ground near the pond, A.J. stood above her and threw rocks across the surface of the dark water.

“So, they alway bullied you like that?” asked A.J..

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you fight back?”

“I did, and I do, but it’s no use, they’ll come back in a week with another slew of insults.”

A.J. flicked her wrist and sent the flat stone spinning.

Four skips.

“Ya’ll are stronger than you look.”

Rainbow dash pulled up her hood to hide her flushed face, she hoped that the cow girl wouldn’t see her pleasure at her complement.

They were silent for awhile. It was a pleasant silence, a silence made by a mutual understanding that all that need to be said had been said.

Then A.J. said something more.

“Why don’t ya’ll come up to my family ranch?”

“What?”

“Spring break starts next week if I’m correct in my thinking. You deserve a break.”

Rainbow was silent. She had never received this much kindness from one person, she doubted if there was anyone else in the world as good as A.J..

“Why don’t ya’ll check it out with your folks?”

“I’m sure my dad wouldn’t mind.”

A.J. was silent, Rainbow was grateful that she didn’t enquire further.

“I’ll pick ya’ll up Saturday then.”

***

Friday passed and Saturday arrived. The time in between was a blessing because of A.J.’s protection during school. Even her stepfather seemed less interested in her, she even got a full night’s sleep.

Rainbow sat on the stairs to her apartment waiting in the cool spring air for a glimpse of her friend. A low grumble came up the street. And a ragged old truck came huffing and puffing down the road. It pulled to a growling stop up in front of the apartment and the door popped open to reveal a smiling A.J.

“Hop in!” She said. And she did just that.

The drive to the farm wasn’t as long as Rainbow had anticipated. They took a turn that lead onto a dirt and gravel road and bumped down it to the ramshackle old farm house that A.J. pulled up next to. Hoping out she signaled to Rainbow to do the same. Climbing down and dropping the considerable distance to the ground was harder than expected but it seemed that she survived the ordeal unharmed.

A.J. lead her to the door and burst in shouting a hearty “we’re home!”

The first person to greet them was a little girl with bright red hair tied with a bow. She dashed up to A.J. and clamped onto her leg.

“Welcome home sis!” She said in the same drawl as her sibling.

“Hey there Applebloom, this here’s ma’ friend Rainbow Dash I was telling’ ya’ll about.”

Applebloom hid behind her sister’s leg muttering a shy hello. Rainbow knelt down to meet her.

“Hey, there Applebloom,” said Rainbow gently. “Where’s Sweetie Belle and Scoots?”

“Who?”

Honestly, Rainbow was just as puzzled about where that came from as Applebloom, luckily enough the awkwardness was interrupted by the arrival of the next member of the family. An elderly woman walked into the hall her hair had long lost it’s color and her body was thin and brittle, regardless she seemed as full of energy and life as any member of A.J.’s family should.

“Hey there sugar cube,” she said in a sharp yet gentle voice, giving A.J. a peck on the cheek.

“How was your last day of school?”

“It was fine, Granny. Where’s Mac?”

“He’s out with some of the work hands, a tree was blown down by this abominable wind, they’ll be back in a bit.”

“Rainbow this is Margaret Smith, she ma’ granny and owns the ranch.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Smith,” Rainbow replied.

“Oh horsefeathers! Call me Granny!”

Suddenly the door swung open and a huge man burst in, rainbow turned with fright, thoughts of her father and her years of abuse flashed through her head. She crumpled up on the floor trying to hide herself from the menacing shape.

“Good Golly Mac, you scared Rainbow half to death!”

Rainbow looked up, the massive figure wasn’t her father, but a young man with the same blonde hair and heavy build that A.J. had.

“Did you move that tree?” A.J. asked.

“Eeyup,” he replied simply.

“And I suppose those good for nothing farm hands went home already?”

“Eeyup,” he replied again.

***

Rainbow scooted into the chair next to A.J. staring at the table. A venerable feast of food lay before her, mashed potatoes, ham, apples of every color, mountains of fresh bread, corn on the cob, dripping in butter. But everyone’s plates lay empty. A.J. leaned over and whispered in Rainbow’s ear.

“No one eats ‘till granny prays,” she explained.

As she finished, the old lady sat down at the head of the table and held out her hands.

“Let’s pray,” she said and A.J. and Mac took her extended hands. A.J. then offered Rainbow her hand. Gingerly Rainbow took it, as her hand touched the soft skin of A.J.’s palm a wave of pleasure shot up her arm and sent shivers down her back. Her hand was calloused from years of hard work but was still soft and gentle. Applebloom took Mac’s hand and they all bowed their heads.

“Lord thank you for this food that you have blessed our family with, and thank you for the family that joins together at this table, both old and new.”

At this A.J. tapped Rainbow’s shin with her foot sending another wave of excitement coursing through Rainbow.

“Protect them a guide them under your saving light, AMEN.”

“AMEN.”

Rainbow wiped a tear from her cheek. She hoped no one would see. Family. She was part of a Family, she hadn’t done anything to deserve the treatment she was receiving. These people were only acting out of the kindness of their hearts. Not asking for anything in return. She didn’t deserve this.

“Aren’t you going to eat anything Rainbow?” A.J. asked as she piled her plate with mashed potatoes. Rainbow’s face flushed red with embarrassment and she began to serve herself.

***

“I can’t move…” Rainbow moaned.

“It’s your fault, you must have eaten twice your weight just in pie!”

Rainbow slumped over and rested her head on A.J. shoulder. She didn’t care how strange the action was, her head was full of images mashed potatoes and apple pie, much too foggy to think about her actions. Luckily it seemed A.J. didn’t mind the sentiment.

“You look plum tuckered out, I reckon we should get ya’ll to bed.”

Rainbow’s eyes flickered and she nodded her head slowly.

“That sounds like a good idea.”

Later rainbow stood in the small downstairs bathroom, dressed now in tank top and pajama pants ready for sleep. She splashed a handful of cool water onto her face, savoring the relief it brought. She looked up at her dripping face. Was this all really happening, she wondered. Was she really in the same house as the girl… the girl…

Rainbow shook her head, she had to keep those thoughts out of her head! But after all this could she really… but those thoughts were dangerous!

She slammed a hand on the sink, damn, what was happening to her, to her mind, what was this?

“WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?”

“Are you alright!?”

Rainbow turned, there she was. The person causing all this, and solving it at the same time. A.J. had changed into an old pair of shorts and a t-shirt.

“I could hear you all the way up stairs, what on earth is wrong?”

Rainbow stood up, she couldn’t face A.J. not now anyway. She had time.

“I’m fine, sorry to worry you.”

She stepped out of the bathroom and turned to go up the stairs to the second floor of the farm house.

“I’m going to bed now, see you in the morning.”

A.J. silently watched her ascend the steps, Rainbow hid her face and walked up to the guest room. She collapsed onto the massive feather bed. Finally after the longest day of her life, she could sleep. But she still had some work to do. She pulled her jornal out of the backpack she had brought with her and began to write in it.

March 13, Saturday,

I have been lifted up out of my hell and placed in paradise. Every moment I’m with A.J. and her family I feel true happiness. I’m now like Dante, ascended to heaven to spend eternity with Beatrice. Only my Beatrice is a farm girl with and not a celestial embodiment of heavenly grace, though she acts like it, heh.

Lately I’ve been have thoughts about A.J. thoughts I’m not sure I want to admit, even hidden away in the private confines of my journal. These thoughts… I’m not supposed to have these thoughts my mind is all wrong I don’t know what to do I LOVE HER!

Rainbow’s pen froze and she stared at the words that her tratoros hand had wrote. I LOVE HER. Still wet with ink from the ball point she held. In a fit of frustration she threw the journal accross the room. It slammed into the wall and slumped to the ground dejectedly. Rainbow covered her face in the pillow and screamed her frustration into it. Slowly she fell asleep, exhausted…

***

“last one, HEAVE!”

Rainbow grunted with frustration and lifted the last crate with A.J. into the back of the truck. It gave a satisfying THUNK as it landed in the metal bed of the truck. A.J. slaped the door of the old pick up to get the farm hand’s attention.

“Alright, Braeburn, hall these suckers out’a here!”

The blonde haired man noded and drove the old 4X4 down the gravel road, kicking up dust in his wake. A.J. collapsed on top of an old dejected lawn chair and sighed.

“Ya’ll don’t have to help with the chores,” she said “ya’ll are supposed to be relaxing!”

“It’s fine,” Rainbow replied, waving the comment away with her hand. “I don’t want to feel like a fifth wheel.”

“Third wheel.”

“No, it’s fifth, we got, me, Granny, Applebloom, Mac, ‘n you, that makes five.”

“DON’T YOU USE YOUR FANCY MATHEMATICS ON ME!” Said A.J. jumping up, pointing an accusing finger at her. “Prepare yourself, ya’ll have awaken’d ma’ wrath!”

A.J. picked up the toy water gun that lay next to the chair and began spraying Rainbow with it. landing a shot right in her mouth.

“Ack! A.J! It’s too cold for water pistols!”

“All the better for your punishment! Have at ye, or whatever!

A.J. continued her assault and Rainbow dove for cover behind the barn, there she found an old bucket sitting next to a spigot, a plan formed in her mind. She filled the bucket and waited around the corner of the barn. Soon A.J. approached, her gun at the ready and Rainbow leapt forward and threw the water at her. A.J. shouted with surprise but her yell was quickly replaced by coffing as the wave splashed into her.

“Dogonit Rainbow,” she laughed. “Now look what ya’ll done!”

“I’m sorry I…” rainbow’s voice trailed off she could see the outline of A.J.’s bra underneath the soaked white shirt she wore. She felt her face flush and looked away, hoping that A.J. didn't notice her strange behavior. But it seemed that A.J.’s attention was focused on the figure coming out of the garage across from the barn.

“Hey, Mac, you get that hunk of metal running yet?”

“Nope,” was his simple reply as he headed up the road to the house.

“Hunk of metal?” Inquired Rainbow.

“Ma’ brother found an old motorcycle in the garage a while back he’s been trying to get the junker to work.”

“Can I try? I know a bit about motorcycles.”

A.J. shrugged.

“Be ma’ guest, I gotta go change. I’ll meet you back at the house.” And with that A.J. skipped up back the road to the farmhouse and rainbow trudged into the garage.

The building was a mess of old car parts and bits of scrap, a molding mounted deer head looked at her with empty eyes from the far wall of the structure. On the wall to her left a large shape was covered by a tarp Rainbow pulled the tarp off and gasped at the treasure it revealed. A 1940 Crocker ‘Big tank’ V-Twin! There were only 61 of these in the world, these were worth a fortune! She carefully examined the bike, the frame and body looked unharmed and while the motor was mostly intact several of the pieces were beyond repair. She slumped dejectedly onto the floor, it would be impossible to fix this thing with most modern parts, and the old ones would cost almost as much as the bike!

She looked around her at the mess of junk that took up the bulk of the room. Maybe she could find some old parts amongst them. She started digging through the jumble of old cylinders and broken hubcaps. She picked up an old pin that lay on the floor, she wiped off some of the dust that had collected on it. ‘Wonderbolts World Tour!’ it read around a picture of a winged lightning bolt.

A flash, a memory, a dream of a wish, a hope a purpose. She knew all their names: Spitfire, Soarin, Fleet foot, High Winds, Lightning Streak, Misty Fly, Rapidfire, Surprise and Crescent Moon. She would fly with them one day she knew it.

As quickly as it came, it vanished back into her mind. She shuddered, it had been awhile since her last faint memory, if she could call it that. What were these thoughts that invaded her head? Were they memories? Or only dreams created of a better place, a place she could escape to?

“How’s it going?”

A.J.’s voice startled Rainbow out of her meditation and brought her back to the dimly lit garage. Rainbow turned. A.J had changed into fresh clothes and had taken off her trademark hat.

“Fine,” Rainbow said, slipping the pin into her pocket.

“Have you gotten this hunk o’ junk running yet?” Asked A.J. as she examined the bike. Rainbow shook her head.

“It’s old, I’ll need a lot of new, old, parts.”

“Do you know where we can get some?”

Rainbow crossed her arms in thought. Supposedly, the Cocker V-Twin had used some Harley parts, if they could find an old Harley bike….

“Is there anyone around her who collects old motorcycles?”

“Well, Braeburn actually has a couple old bikes that he never rides, he might be willing to loan us a few parts.”

Just then, the old 4X4 pulled up into the garage and Braeburn honked the horn at them.

“Speak of the devil!” A.J. intoned, stepping up to the rusty old car.

Braeburn hopped out and landed on the hard packed dirt that made up the floor of the garage.

“I dropped the apples off at the geezer's house,” he said. “Lord, is that man scary!”

A.J. giggled girly.

“You know Brae, you're a real sweety.”

Braeburn looked down at A.J. mistrust written plainly on his face. Then he rolled his eyes and rested his hands in his hips.

“Alright A.J. what do ya’ll need?”

“Oh, nothing much, just a few part from those old junky bikes of yours.”

“YOU WANT WHAT!?”

“Oh come on, you never ride those old clunkers anyway!”

“That’s not the point! There a valuable asset to-.”

“Please,” interrupted Rainbow.

Braeburn looked up at her, paused for a minute then sighed.

“Fine! Just know you’re destroying the one true love of my life!”

***

For days afterward Rainbow would spend the afternoons at the farm working on the bike and fixing it up. Sometimes A.J. would join her and they would talk, other times she would just sit alone, thinking and working.

Soon afterwards she had made enough amateur repairs to get the bike working. She proudly put-putted her way up the drive to the farm house.

“Woo hoo! Way to go Rainbow!” Cheered Applebloom.

“I can’t believe you actually did it!” A.J. said in amazement. She looked up at the disgruntled Mac.

“can you believe it?”

“Nope.”

“Want to go for a ride?” Rainbow asked A.J.

“Right now?”

“You got something better to do?”

A.J. looked down at granny, she smiled reassuringly.

“Go ahead, you’re only young once.”

A.J. smiled she went inside then came back out with her hair tied back and riding chaps on. she sat behind Rainbow.

“Let’s giddy on up!”

She placed her hands on Rainbow’s hips, making rainbow tence up with pleasure. Then they sped off down the dirt road onto the highway.

They drove for a while, not caring where they were or where they were going just that they were together. Eventually Rainbow glanced down at the Gas Meter, only a little sliver separated the indicator from the E at the bottom. She looked up, the sun was going down there was no way that they would make it home before dark.

Up ahead rainbow saw the lights of a small hotel, next to witch was a gas station. Salvation was in view. She steared the bike into the parking lot and parked in front of the door. She reached into her pants and handed A.J. her wallet.

“See If they’ll let us rent a room or not.”

A.J. went into the building and Rainbow costed down to the gas station. She pulled out a few spare bills she had and started to fill up the gas tank. As she waited she pulled out the pin that she had kept with her since that fateful day in the garage. She turned it over in her hand. She felt like she was so close to understanding what the memories ment. She just needed one more piece…

She looked up and saw A.J. signaling to her. she walked the bike back over to the parking lot and propped it up in between to cars.

“They have a spare room we can stay in.”

“Good, we’ll rest up and head back to the farm in the morning.”

“Heh, just like a sleep over.”

“Hasn’t the whole week been like that?”

“We haven’t been in the same room though.”

The two of them walked up the stairs to their room A.J. swinging the key merrily in her hand. they unlocked the door to find a horrifying sight. There was only one bed…

“C-C-Can you see if they have another room?”

“This was the only one she said,” A.J. said plopping onto the stiff materace. “It’s not a big deal, it’s only on night.”

“I-I can sleep on the floor-”

“Don’t be ridiculous! you’ll sleep right here next to me, it’s supposed to get below freezing tonight, I’ll need the extra warmth.”

Rainbow mind went to other thing done in a bed besides sharing warmth… but she shook her head and sat down next to A.J. without changing A.J. rolled over and slid under the covers. Taking a deep breath Rainbow followed A.J.’s example and slid next to her.

This was it, the deciding moment in her life. She watched A.J.’s chest slowly rise and fall as she slept.

“One question,” Rainbow said.

A.J. opened one eye and sighed a response.

“What does A.J. stand for?”

A.J. grinned widely.

“Why do you want to know?”

“I-I want...” say it, say it, damn it! “I want to know the name of the girl I love!”

Paradisio

A.J. was silent. She looked up at Rainbow, Rainbow begged her with her eyes to answer, but then turned over in the bed.

“W-we’ll talk in the morning…” she said weakly.

Rainbow flopped on the pillow, when she had said it she felt like a huge weight had been removed from her chest. But it had now come back with twenty friends. She closed her eyes, she would have answers in the morning.

***

Morning came, and rainbow sat alone on the bed. Light streamed in through the window, and she could hear birds chirping. She looked around her. There was no A.J.. She stood up.

“A.J.?” she called. No answer.

“A.J.?” she looked in the bathroom, not there.

“A.J.!” The reason for her life had gone.

Rainbow slumped down in the middle of the room and began to cry. She had caused this. She had been too strong and A.J. had left her. She pushed away the one thing that gave her any hope in her life.

For the first time she noticed a note on the table. She picked it up and began to read.

Rainbow,

I’m sorry it had to be this way. I’ve taken a cab back to the farm, I’m sorry, but I don't share your feelings. I think it’s my fault, I lead you on, I tried to cheer you up but it only lead to pain for both of us.

Don’t come back to the farm. I’m sorry but it would get too complicated up here… granny doesn’t… anyway, I’m sorry, but I don't really know how else to put this. I hope you could find someone wonderful who loves you just as much as you loved me. There is someone out there for you, just not me.

“I-I d-don’t want someone else,” rainbow sobbed “I-I want you!”

She sobbed for a long time, letting the tears flow from her face that she had held in for so long. after she finished she saw the last bit of the letter, insignificant to most, but monumental to her.

Yours

Apple Jack

Apple Jack, Apple Jack, Apple Jack. AndRarityandFluttershyandTwilightandPinkiePieand Spike,allthepetstoTankAngelOlwishiseveryone,EquestriaLunaCelestiaSombraDiscordWonderboltsCloudsdaleManehatenTheCrystalEmpireApplebuckingTheGrangGalopingGalaFigtingDiscorTheTreeofHarmony. It all came back to her. all at once.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Rainbow dash collapsed on the ground, as two worlds collided inside her head, Equestria, her homeland, where everything was perfect, and this world, which had hated her from the start. She stood up and stumbled out the door and down to the bike. She started driving. She didn’t care where, just far away from here, she drove fast, faster than she should. She had so many things swirling about in her head, she never saw that bus…

***

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, it was quiet here, all she saw was black. She stood on her legs, all four of them, and began walking. She shook her mane out of her face. Where was she? What was this place? A Light appeared in front of her. Out of it walked out a familiar face.

“Princess Celestia…”

“Hello Rainbow Dash,” the Alicorn said smiling.

“What happened, how did you-”

“Settle down and I’ll explain..”

Rainbow Dash sat and listened.

“You died, both in Equestria and in the other world. First in Equestria you committed sins of pride and arrogance when you died in Equestria you were sent to that world to work of your sins and become clean.”

“A-am I clean now princess?”

“Yes Rainbow Dash, clean as marble.”

The princess waved her wing and revealed a scene, all her friends standing over her collapsed body. They were trying to wake her up, trying to no avail.

“You may return to either world.”

She waved her other wing and showed another scene, this one of a young girl collapsed in a pile of debris, blood smeared on her face.

“Which do you chose?”

Rainbow looked, in one she had friends, a good home and more than enough love to last a lifetime. In the other she had lost everything.

“Equestria,” she said, it was a simple choice “I want to go back to Equestria.”

Celestia smiled.

“I thought you would say that.”

***

“Rainbow, Rainbow!”

Rainbow Dash moaned and rolled over.

“She alive, thank Celestia!”

Rainbow’s eyes flickered open, five ponies stood around her. Five familiar faces.

Pinky pie jumped up and hugged Rainbow around the neck.

“Yay, she’s not dead!”

“lets get you back to town.” Twilight said, preparing a splint for Rainbow’s broken wing.

“We need to go have a, YayRainbowDashIsOkAndNotDeadParty Party!” Pinkie jumped ahead leading the group back to town.

A.J. offered a shoulder and Rainbow Dash slung her arm over it.

“I can’t wait to hear the story behind this,” she said beginning to drag/carry rainbow dash.

Rainbow dash looked up at her.

“Filly, you don’t even know!”