The Selfish One: Part One
It’s always nice to have a day off. A day off bestows upon one the opportunity to release pent up tension and stress. It’s time available to indulge in personal hobbies and activities. To finish up extra work and to enjoy much needed relaxation. A day off from the constant pressures of paid labor is a coveted luxury, so it wasn’t surprising when a certain cyan pegasus squealed in joy after receiving one of her own. She so dearly needed it, too. As diligent as she was, Rainbow Dash still found it difficult to balance her job, Wonderbolt training, and social life without suffering from mental strain and fatigue.
Sleep was her slice of heaven. On a regular workday, ten hours of overnight rejuvenation were always appreciated. However, a personal day left a blank space in the pegasus’s schedule. She wasn’t required to wake at a set time, so in this instance her alarm clock served no use.
She already knew how she was to use her free time. It was a rather simple concept: snooze like she never snoozed before.
Snoozing was like breathing to Rainbow Dash. It wasn’t only a necessary part of her daily routine; it was a sought out bonus to her day. It was the extra frosting to her cake. Staying in bed and slumbering into the afternoon was the plan, and to her nothing was going to interrupt it. She found total bliss in the world of reveries. Her future role within the Wonderbolts, her friends and family, the blue skies and the white clouds, the rush from soaring at sonic speeds…Everything delightful could be reproduced by the wonders of dreams.
Enlightenment. Pure enlightenment. It was the release of body and mind, and it was paradise. A paradise that, on this day, Rainbow Dash truly wished she could remain in for the rest of her lovely existence.
For, on this day, the spirited little pony was to encounter a true awakening.
The Selfish One
The phone rang.
One ring, two rings, three rings. It was bothersome. Too many rings. Too many sounds. Too many throbs for the head. Four rings, five rings, six. It was too much. Why wouldn’t it stop? Seven rings, eight rings, nine –
CLICK. Hello, what’s up? …… Oh, it’s you. How’s it going? …… I’m kind of busy right now……because I’m not at the phone! Heh, heh! I so got you, didn’t I? Yeah, this is Rainbow Dash. Leave a message at the beep. BEEP.
A faint hiss resonated from the answering machine’s speaker, traveling across the tiny room. A click followed after a few seconds, and then there was once again that sweet, sweet silence. It was a beautiful moment for the slightly conscious pegasus, because it allowed her to finally drift back into her harmonic sleep. The phone had rung, and it had gotten her to squeeze her eyelids shut in frustration, but that was all over now. Again she was free to dream about anything on her mind. No more annoying rings, no more faint background hisses, no more –
One ring, two rings, three rings. Why? Why was it back? Four rings, five rings, six. Did it have to be so loud? Couldn’t it just wait? Couldn’t it wait until the afternoon? Seven rings, eight rings, nine –
CLICK. Hello, what’s up? …… Oh, it’s you. How’s it going? ……
“Oh, come ooon.” Rainbow Dash grunted in desperation, burying her face into a warm pillow to block out the ear-piercing sounds.
I’m kind of busy right now……because I’m not at the phone! Heh, heh! I so got you, didn’t I? Yeah, this is Rainbow Dash. Leave a message at the beep. BEEP.
Once again the soft, static hisses returned to echo across her room. If the phone ringing hadn’t promptly ruined the mood, the non-existent caller certainly did. When the receiving party is unavailable, calling and leaving a message tended to be the norm. It was basic common courtesy, wasn’t it? Calling two times in a row without leaving a message was borderline harassment this early in the morning.
The click of a call dropping ensued after another few seconds, and to Rainbow Dash’s relief she was permitted to let go of reality. Satisfaction coursed through each pressure point, releasing all her pent up tension. No more extraneous noises, no more real-world responsibilities. Just the simple, relaxing free-fall into slumberland.
Her snout still in the pillow, the pegasus didn’t waste the strength to turn her head. She was too comfortable where she was to care. Her torso lay prone over the cushiony mattress. It was as soft as a fresh new cloud, perhaps even more so. One of her legs hung over the bed while the other rested snugly under a stray pillow. They both slid lazily underneath the two cotton blankets, caressing into each other.
And there it was. The luxury of finding the perfect resting position was a glorious instance for the chronic snoozer. Her quiet breaths slowed until she no longer noticed, and before she knew it she was back flying with the Wonderbolts under a vividly shining sun. Her mane was blown back, wild and uninhibited. Just Rainbow Dash, the team and the blue, blue sky–
One ring, two rings, three rings. Ugh. There it was again. Who was calling so damn much? Four rings, five rings, six. The caller just couldn’t let it go, huh? There was just no pleasing this one! If the phone wasn’t picked up the first two times, why even bother a third time? Seven rings, eight rings, nine –
CLICK. Hello, what’s up? …… Oh, it’s you. How’s it going? ……
“Just. Shut. Up.” Rainbow Dash growled, a growing irritation boiling within her chest. “Stop. Calling.”
I’m kind of busy right now……because I’m not at the phone! Heh, heh! I so got you, didn’t I?
“I’m gonna get whoever this is. Calling me on my day off. What kind of pony does that?” Her eyes remained closed as she fumbled a hoof over her bed desk, half-heartedly reaching out for the phone.
Yeah, this is Rainbow Dash. Leave a message at the beep. BEEP.
There wasn’t an answer. Only the emptiness of a hissing speaker. Hmph, no surprise there, Rainbow thought. Why would there be a message this time? It’s as if the caller was purposefully trying to aggravate her. Congratulations to the prankster, because it was definitely working.
This time Rainbow Dash didn’t let the phone hang up to produce a third click. Her hoof landed on the familiar arched shape, and after quickly bringing the plastic to her ear she barked into the mouthpiece.
“What is it?! What do you want?!” She didn’t think about the consequences. In her groggy, half-conscious state Rainbow Dash felt justified for all her actions. She was the one undergoing unreasonable, excessive punishment, after all.
“Good afternoon. You seem up and ready for this new day.” A low, husky voice pronounced calmly. The tone of the voice seemed too gravelly to be female, so it must have been a male caller. However the pegasus wasn’t too sure. In her current state of mind, she was only picturing the moment when she could promptly hang up.
“It’s way too early for you to call! You couldn’t wait a few hours?” Rainbow responded angrily, rubbing at her aching eyes.
“Ah, but it’s two in the afternoon, actually. I had thought about calling you in the morning, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Call me merciful, hmm?” The caller didn’t come off snarky or sarcastic. He spoke matter-of-factly, as if everything he stated was unadulterated truth.
“Two…in the afternoon?” That couldn’t be right, she thought. The tired little pegasus focused her eyes to adjust to the darkness in her bedroom. She searched for the switch of the lamp located beside the telephone, and when she flicked it on a hoof went up to shield the sudden light from stabbing at her retinas. Bright. Too bright.
“Yes, yes, go ahead and open up your curtains. It is such a beautiful day today. If you had continued sleeping in you might have missed it.” The caller hummed innocently. “I didn’t want you to be deprived of such an opportunity.”
The last thing she wanted was to be chewed up and swallowed whole by the sun.
“Thanks but no thanks. I see it here. Two o’ five…” Rainbow Dash stared at her tiny, oval-shaped alarm clock. It was classic in its design. There weren’t any illuminated numbers on the timepiece, but instead it displayed two ticking hands. She thought it fit to the interior, and admittedly she was never fond of always catching sight of the current time, especially in the wee hours of dawn. It was less stressful for her, because she’d never feel rushed to get to a certain appointment.
Rainbow sighed in resignation. “Look, sorry for yelling just now. Had no idea it was already two.”
She apologized, but she wasn’t totally invested in the apology itself. She would have slept until much later if it hadn’t been for the caller. He still hadn’t identified himself to her either. Or why he had called to interrupt her precious day off. Tomorrow was to be a very hectic schedule, so the pegasus felt she deserved as much sleep as she could get.
“Who is this, anyway?” Rainbow asked, subconsciously pressing her head to the earpiece. “I can’t recognize your voice. Do I know you?”
“We aren’t particularly acquainted, no.” He answered quickly.
Rainbow Dash sat up in her bed, pushing her head-pillow behind her lower back. She didn’t want to get out of bed. If the purpose for the call could be finished up as quickly as possible, she’d be satisfied and given the chance to perhaps reenter slumberland. It was a long shot, but she’d work at it.
Rainbow waited for the caller to continue speaking. She expected to be given his name, his motivation, and especially his ‘goodbye’ fairly soon.
But he didn’t speak. The undesirably familiar hissing of the phone’s static bounced around the pegasus’s eardrum for an agonizing half-minute before she’d finally had enough.
“So…who are you?” Rainbow Dash exhaled impatiently. Somepony had to get the ball rolling.
He answered punctually. “You don’t have to know my real name to have a conversation. But because I understand anonymity can serve as an inconvenience, I’ll let you call me Cupid.”
What was he going on about now? She didn’t have the patience to find out. “Uh, okay. I don’t get what the point is, but whatever. Can you just tell me what you’ve called me for? I kind of want to get back to sleep.”
“The point of providing you a pseudonym, Rainbow Dash, is to hide my true identity.” Cupid explained. Again his voice was neither snobbish nor mocking. He came off as merely noting a detail.
Rainbow Dash’s tolerance for pointless banter, however, was growing thin. She refrained herself from clearing her throat in contempt. Patience was a virtue, after all. “Fine...Cupid. You still haven’t told me why you called.”
“If I’d hurriedly told you the actual reason for my call, you wouldn’t give me a chance to properly elaborate. So I’ve decided firstly we’d become better acquainted. Wouldn’t you agree that’d be best before we start playing a little game?”
The tired pony yawned. “A game? I’m not really up for anything right now. I’m just trying to hit the hay.”
“Come now, Rainbow Dash. You’re not the type to ever let pass a chance to show off your superbly competitive skills. I assure you’d be delighted by the end of this challenge…one that I’ve prepared especially for you.”
Odd. Rainbow Dash could almost hear the smile stretching behind Cupid’s dry tone.
“No thanks. Maybe another day. Next time you could just leave a message, alright?”
“You’ve no idea how much work I’ve put into this day. The least you could do is indulge me a bit.” Cupid chuckled lightly, pressing forward with his unnerving invitation.
“I can’t. I’m pretty busy all week, and I don’t have the time for –“
“Such a poor sport. Everyone in this town hails you as this great contender, as this extravagant wonder pony. Though as of now I’m of the impression that you’d shell out mere excuses to avoid the risk of losing. How disappointing…”
It was painfully obvious to Rainbow of Cupid’s attempt to goad her into whatever arrangement he’d set up. It wasn’t new to her, since she’d come upon such behaviors from many rivals in her past. The sports pegasus had emotionally matured well over the years, and she wasn’t going to allow pride to push her into anything.
“You’re not going to trick me into doing what you want.” She said with a little more grit behind her words. The point had to get through somehow.
Cupid ignored her. “Ah, there’s that fire. So you want to immediately arrive to the fun part, I see. I’ll be forthright in admitting that I’d looked forward to more playful conversation. But no matter. We can begin now, if you’re in such a hurry to.”
“Okay, I’m getting a little tired of this. Are you supposed to be pranking me or something? Cause’ you’re doing a bad job at it, and I’m hanging up.” She wasn’t enduring it any longer. She could understand the merriment in the occasional prank, but stripping someone away from their sleep was going too far. Sleep was her close friend. The two had been split up by an outside force, and they desperately wanted to be together again.
“Pranks are too juvenile. No, you don’t deserve that, Rainbow Dash.” He replied in a slow and clear manner, placing emphasis on the pony’s name once again. “You deserve something much more enlightening. Something to remember for the rest of your life.”
Rainbow almost laughed. “Yeah, I’m hanging up now.” She made to immediately hang up the phone, but muffled sounds from the earpiece piqued her curiosity. The caller had said something, and if she could guess, it sounded like a question. She didn’t quite understand it, but this time her inquisitive nature got the better of her. She swiftly brought it back to her ear to listen to the rest of the question.
“ – you truly are?” Cupid finished and paused.
“What? I didn’t get that first part.” Rainbow wondered why she was even bothering. It’s not as if she actually cared to know. Yet she still asked, even as her interest in the call had already waned considerably.
A dark, chilling snicker parried back, causing the pegasus to tremble. It was unanticipated. The caller’s polite, welcoming nature had vanished, replaced by a discomforting aggressiveness.
“I’ll repeat my question only because I appreciate the irony.” Cupid tittered ominously. “Do you, Rainbow Dash, realize how disgustingly selfish you truly are?”
The pegasus gripped the earpiece tightly in her hoof. “What did you say?”
“Did you not hear me the second time around?” Cupid almost seemed amused. “I guess it’s fitting for a disgustingly selfish little pony like you. Never stopping to listen, always focused on yourself. Just like all those times when bright young colts had lined up at your dressing room door, waiting for the chance to confess their utmost affection for their newly famed Wonderbolt. But their feelings never mattered to you. You’d never let them have that sweet innocence–“
“Joke’s over. Don’t call me again.” At this point she’d had enough.
Before she could thrust the phone away from her ear, Cupid rebounded.
“I’ll let your inappropriate interruption slide this once.” His said bitterly, and a split second later his voice returned to its original calm. “However, consequences will follow the next time you decide to cut me off. Understand, my selfish little pony?”
His provocations only intensified Rainbow’s short temper. “Never call me again, you got that?” She barked angrily. “Don’t you dare call this number!”
“Today is a special day. If you choose to let it pass by hiding under the covers, you might just end up alone for the rest of your life. I guess that’s how the cookie will crumble for the selfish one.”
The noise from the earpiece suddenly clicked into a dead dial tone.
Resentment was immediately replaced by shock. The pegasus’s mouth hung open in daft silence, her eyes glazed in the midst of a stupor. Her entire body went stiff as a board, and her mind whirred into chaos, thinking, wondering, analyzing, asking…She didn’t understand why the caller had placed more emphasis on the word ‘alone’, or why he’d come off as domineering, almost startling. She didn’t want to understand. It was a meddlesome affair that had gone on for longer than she should have allowed it to. It was a mistake on her part to continue listening, because nothing but abject chills crawled up her spine as she slowly hung up the phone.
The click of the phone fitting into its base brought on an ease to her confusion. Blinking, Rainbow turned to stare at the wireless device. It was as if she needed to confirm that it was actually hung up. And after a full minute of staring catatonically at the wretched telephone, she shook her head with vigor, wiping her thoughts clean of the call prior. The pegasus then breathed a huge sigh of relief, and she sunk back under the blankets to fall back asleep.
Yet she couldn’t doze off. She waited and shifted and counted all the sheep…yet she was unable to push pass the threshold into slumberland. The lights were off, the phone wasn’t ringing, the blankets were warm, the mattress was cushiony, the pillow was soft, her wings were folded in snugly, her eyes were heavy and tired...Still she wasn’t entering her Eden of fantasies.
So close to slipping through. She was so close. But for the life of her she couldn’t do it. So in her frustrated, conscious state she began to wonder. What was wrong? Oftentimes she’d have no trouble seeking REM experiences, so why was today different?
Deep down the pegasus knew the answer. In the back of her mind, she knew. She never intended to confront it, because it was a ridiculous piece of insignificance to her day. It was simply the result of an anonymous caller’s annoying nature. The product of his stupidity.
She shouldn’t have been moved by it…but the constant lies she told herself finally weighed her down. It was his obnoxious comments. Rainbow Dash had been disconcerted by those dumb, stupid, idiotic, crack-pot remarks from that dumb, stupid, idiotic, crack-pot Cupid. His voice had been ringing in her head ever since he’d shushed her up, and it was making her gag. She couldn’t believe she’d been affected so easily by something so trivial.
“Selfish? Who does that asshole think he is?” She mumbled to herself, scrunching up her face in utter distaste at the thought of Cupid’s voice. “Disgustingly selfish? What the buck does that mean?”
Rainbow didn’t find it fair that she had to suffer for somepony’s lame excuse for a prank. Disgustingly selfish, Cupid had said. It was merely an insult directed at her. Why she had been disrespected so harshly racked the pegasus’s brain. She knew because of her popularity as an Element of Harmony that she had many friends and supporters. Her role within the Wonderbolts was also making itself known throughout the heart of Equestria. Fame was an inevitable byproduct for both these involvements, so it wasn’t surprising she’d at times become the center of attention.
But Rainbow also recognized that popularity had its consequences. For one thing, it brought with it jealousy. She couldn’t think of any reason for Cupid’s call other than the fact that he was jealous. She figured he’d likely be a covetous wreck. Somepony who glared at her with some unjustifiable hatred, only because he could. Envy made such a creature more pathetic than he already was, she thought. It was despicable but nothing she couldn’t handle.
Alone, he’d uttered. Alone for the rest of her life. She didn’t even waste any moments pondering on it. She was secure in knowing she had amazing friends, who were never late to be at her side in a time of need. Nopony could convince her otherwise. She’d been through too many learning experiences to give somepony like Cupid an opportunity to belittle her personal development.
He’d also brought up her admirers. Most recently the newly positioned Wonderbolt had earned herself a large fanbase. Consequently it seemed a part of the fanbase looked less at her uniform and more at her physical attributes. A multitude of colts had been making it more difficult for her to leave the barrack’s dressing room in peace. As much as she enjoyed attention from the crowds, the kind of praise these colts were showing her bordered on loving affection, or perhaps simple lust. Rainbow couldn’t help being uncomfortable with their gawking and constant idolization. Her fellow troupe leader Spitfire had warned her prior to initiation. It wasn’t much trouble for the athletically endowed pegasus, yet it wasn’t something she appreciated being reminded of. Cupid’s own remark proved to be mildly disheartening; no matter how much she hated to admit it.
The phone then rang again.
Despite her musings Rainbow reacted instantly, jumping out to the phone with expert reflexes. She wanted to give this caller a piece of her mind.
“Look, bub! I don’t know how you got my number, but if you don’t stop calling me, I’ll find you and report you!” She snarled intimidatingly into the mouthpiece, attempting to readdress her dominance. The last call had been a fluke, and she hadn’t been prepared, but this time she was ready.
“You’re quite fortunate that it was I who had called. If it was somepony else, you might have startled them.” Cupid didn’t wait to provide a rebuttal. “But it demonstrates how you’re so disgustingly selfish. You certainly didn’t take into regard the well-being of others, and you only thought about your own satisfaction. You think yelling into the phone will help you regain some imaginary sense of control? I’d advise you think twice before acting.”
Rainbow paused. Her head began to ache. “…I know what you’re doing, and it’s not working. So stop calling me or you’ll regret it.”
“I beg to differ, because I believe it is in fact working. Why, you didn’t even resist answering the phone this time. It seems you were awake, hmm?” Rainbow could hear Cupid smack his lips together. “Perhaps it was I who kept you awake?”
“What do you think?” She spat. And at that she slammed the phone down, hearing the click as it disconnected. Crossing her forehooves with a huff, Rainbow blew the bangs away from her eyes. “What the buck’s his problem?”
It took a few minutes before she calmed down again. The pace of her palpitating heart eased back into its regular beat. She was tired, confused and most of all upset. What was she going to do now? Duck under the covers and wish desperately for sleep? As hopeful as she’d wanted to be, Rainbow could see the futility of those actions. She wasn’t going back to sleep, because she was too alert and aggravated to try.
“It’s his fault…” Rainbow’s enmity simmered. She despised having been so ruffled up by an unknown source. His calls had succeeded in staggering her, a truth she abhorred greatly. And yet the after-effects still lingered in the air, pushing down on the pegasus’s comfort zones, puncturing them. A couple rings of the phone, a dumb question and more nonsense were all it took to push her buttons? Indeed it was a saddening reality for the prideful little pony.
She considered disconnecting the phone completely. At least she wouldn’t have to be bothered again by his calls. Although the downside to unplugging it was not being able to receive any notices. Postal mail was a profitable service, as it was regarded as a formal, more refined means of communication among the citizens of Equestria. However the telephone and the cellular were grand inventions that had immediately gave way to quicker contact between users, and it, too, gained mass approval from consumers. It seemed nowadays all her friends and employers reached out to Rainbow Dash almost solely through phone lines.
She had no choice but to keep the phone connected. At any time of the day an actual call of importance could possibly ring through, and she needed to make sure the answer machine picked it up. At this the fuming pony held onto the conviction that she would not allow anymore anonymous callers to pester her. Because she was stronger than them. She’d prove it to both herself and to Cupid.
Give her the opportunity, and she’d show no hesitance in donning her true colors. The fight inside had never ceased, even in the most dire of times. It was Rainbow Dash. To battle heatedly, like a predator upon its prey. To maintain her reservations, staying loyal not only to her friends but also to herself. To maneuver intuitively, making the right decisions, relying on instinct and careful thought. She’d made a mistake answering the last call, but she wouldn’t be fooled again.
The question that now entered her mind was how to proceed. She’d come upon the conclusion that sleep was no longer a viable option.
After climbing out of her cushioned haven, Rainbow spent the next few minutes partaking in her morning routine. She stretched her limbs and wings, hopped in and out of the shower, and gulped down a bowl of frosty cereal. She half-expected the phone to ring incessantly, though to her surprise Cupid didn’t interrupt.
Her day off hadn’t gone her way, but she was going to change that. Rainbow figured the time she’d have spent sleeping would be put to better use with some flight training. It’d let her blow off some frustration and steam, and inevitably bring her focus away from Cupid and his senseless drivels. At least it was easy for her to get excited about going out, something she could appreciate now that she was up.
Her hoof had clasped the doorknob when the phone rang. Rainbow froze in place, her ears perked up as warning bells chimed in her head. By the fourth ring she’d looked back towards the phone, gritting her teeth. She’d met a fork in the road: to answer the call, or to leave it to voicemail? Perhaps it was the Wonderbolts calling in a state of emergency? A friend inviting her to an event? Or was it in fact that meddling Cupid? Seven rings passed, and the restless pony opted to allow voicemail to present her fate. The idea to exit the residence and completely ignore the voicemail altogether was tempting. Yet she knew she’d have to listen to it eventually, so she remained stock still, the tension in the air growing abnormally thick.
CLICK. Hello, what’s up? …… Oh, it’s you. How’s it going? …… I’m kind of busy right now……because I’m not at the phone! Heh, heh! I so got you, didn’t I? Yeah, this is Rainbow Dash. Leave a message at the beep. BEEP.
Rainbow gasped faintly when Cupid’s wry tone resounded in the room. No more faint hissing. No more silence.
“I see you’re washed and your stomach’s satisfied. Good thing you’ve taken my instruction to enjoy this day into serious consideration. Now that the introductions are over with I believe it’s time to start you off with the first challenge.”
Rainbow’s eyes shot open. How did he know what she’d been doing? Was she being watched? All of the windows’ curtains were closed, so nopony could have flown by and peeked inside on her activities. So how…?
An abject shudder sprung from the pegasus’s core. She immediately tensed, sharpening her senses to their maximum potential. She could discern that something was amiss. A heavy, pressing sensation drilled at her. The daredevil pegasus was convinced she was about to be flung into the midst of chaos. It was the kind of hunch she’d been conditioned to accept. Too many times had she been involved in bizarre circumstance to ignore her instincts. And now they were kicking at her cerebrum with exceeding force.
Cupid’s voice continued to resonate from the answering machine. “A peculiar little creature will be at your door within the next minute. He will be holding a note meant for your eyes only. If you let him read the note, or if you tell him the contents of it in any way, I’ll know. If you break this rule –“
Rainbow had shot across the room, her wings flapping madly, keeping herself afloat. She was shouting into the transmitter a split-second later. “Who are you?!”
“I warned you about interrupting me again.” Cupid said sternly. “Now you shall face your first consequence. But because this is only your second offense, I’ll keep the discipline at a minimum. Next time I won’t be so forgiving.”
She wasn’t swayed in the slightest. “How are you spying on me? Where are you?” Rainbow eyed her surroundings intensely, trying to catch sight of anything unusual, anything out of the norm. Yet her household was empty. Nothing made itself out to be an obvious threat. And if someone had been in the vicinity, she’d have already been alarmed by the extraneous presence.
The mysterious caller on the other end of the line wasn’t giving her anything to work with. He disregarded every inquiry she lashed out. Instead he gave her what he’d planned to give her. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Since you didn’t let me finish, I’ll let you find out for yourself what will happen when you break the rules. That shall be your first discipline.” Every word from his mouth oozed an unsettling air of excitement and anticipation. It sickened Rainbow Dash.
“If you don’t stop calling this number you’ll get a taste of my discipline!” There she was, spouting more irrational attacks at the anonymous Cupid. She just couldn’t bring herself to a halt. Her limits had been pushed almost to the point of no return.
“As with all games there is a means to victory. The way to win is quite simple, actually. Though I doubt you’d have an easy time with it, being the kind of player you are.” Cupid paused briefly before announcing, “The way to win will be decided solely on your willingness to confess your bad habits.”
“What are you talking about?” She snarled. “Something’s gotta be wrong with your head! Like I’d ever confess anything to you!”
“If and when you admit to your disgustingly selfish behavior, I’ll promptly cease all calls and you’ll never hear from me again. That’s how this game is ultimately won.”
Rainbow couldn’t endure the mockery. “Buck off! I don’t care what your up to, and it’s stopping now!” In an instant she disconnected the cable line. Nothing came out of the receiver then.
She didn’t have time to register what she’d done. Because on cue, three loud knocks echoed inside her cloud home, bringing her focus to this new development. They’d come from the front door, Rainbow recognized. She whipped her head towards the entrance, staring daggers at the wooden frame. Three more knocks followed, and the edgy pegasus still hadn’t moved an inch.
Who was it? Cupid? One of his accomplices? Or was the visitor unrelated to the whole debacle? The only other ponies that knew of her current day off were the Elements of Harmony and the Wonderbolts. That left her with a very large group of individuals to sift through. Any one of them could be paying her a visit. And in any case, she wouldn’t be able to successfully make a correct guess by refusing to answer the door. She’d have to open it in the end. Though she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t acknowledge her own apprehensiveness.
For all she knew, the peculiar creature Cupid had mentioned earlier had finally arrived at her doorstep. It seemed likely, given the fact that he hadn’t discontinued his farcical ramblings. Rainbow Dash inhaled deeply, steeling her nerves.
“Who is it?” She exhaled loudly, setting the phone back into its base.
“Uh, it’s Spike!”
“Spike?” She repeated, dumbfounded. The last voice she’d expected to hear from was Twilight Sparkle’s trusty little assistant. The unease she’d been harboring melted away at the call of her dear friend. She didn’t completely let down her guard, but she did resolve to let the baby dragon inside.
She opened the door partly ajar, giving her eyes an opportunity to grow adjusted to the brightness of the sun. Taking a quick peek outside, she discovered a beaming young drake. He was alone. “Spike? What are you doing here? How did you even get up here?”
Rainbow Dash’s home was located high above the heart of Ponyville. Flying and air transport were the two common methods for passage to Cloudsdale. It was not an everyday occurrence to be paid a visit by one who mainly roamed on land, be it an Earth pony or unicorn…and especially by a dragon who hadn’t even sprouted wings.
“Come on, how else do I get anywhere nowadays? I just had Twilight teleport me here. She enchanted me with the cloudwalking spell for the day so I could see you.”
The alert pegasus fully opened the door, remaining inside as she scanned the perimeter. No pegasi were to be seen, not even a single cloud for prying spectators to hide behind. Where was Cupid? Was he nearby? Or was everything really just a bluff? Like she originally predicted, could it all have been a stupid prank he’d concocted for sheer enjoyment? Did he find pleasure in rendering her a livid mess? What an asshole, Rainbow thought.
“So, Dash, are you ready to continue the game? I can’t wait to see what Cupid wants us to do next!”
For a second Rainbow couldn’t comprehend what the dragon had said. Shaking her head, she looked back down at the bright-eyed assistant. His smile stretched widely, eagerness apparent in his visage.
“Huh?” Was all she could utter.
“He told me to give you this, but that I couldn’t open it, or else I’d be breaking the rules!” Spike handed the puzzled pony a small, enclosed letter. On one side of the note was the insignia of the letter ‘C’. On the other side was a wax seal.
She stared at the letter cautiously, eyeing it, taking note of every detail. There were no smudges to be found, or any kind of hoofprint. The note was flat and properly sealed, so it probably only contained a single slip of parchment. It was suspicious, to say the least. There was no doubt about it; this letter was definitely from that asshole.
“Hurry up and open it! I’ve wanted to know what’s inside since I first got it! I bet it has instructions on where to go next! I can’t wait anymore!” Spike urged the befuddled pegasus.
Alarm bells rung again in her head. The same hunch she’d received earlier from the previous phone calls crawled back up her spine, chilling her to the bone. Whatever was inside wasn’t going to be anything good, and for some reason Spike was coming off as elated for this new development. What the buck was going on? She was totally confused.
“Wait, why are you here? What’s that guy been telling you?” Rainbow asked, clearly needing more information before deciding on her next course of action.
“I’ll tell you later! Just open it!” The dragon insisted, hopping impatiently.
She didn’t like it. She didn’t like any of it. The phone calls, the grogginess, the letter…none of it was connecting logically to the poor little pegasus. By opening the seal she’d be conceding to Cupid’s manipulations. She knew this, but she didn’t fully grasp the severity of the situation. Because at this moment curiosity had once again gotten the better of her, similarly to the moment she’d pressed her ear to listen to Cupid’s barely audible question.
Without giving it another thought, Rainbow Dash swiped her hoof over the seal, breaking it cleanly. She pulled out the folded parchment and examined its contents. He’d left a written note, printed with black ink from a typewriter. No sign of writing by hoof; perhaps another attempt at concealing his identity.
Upon reading it, the pegasus’s heart began to race furiously.
I knew you’d come along for the ride, Rainbow Dash. It was just a matter of time until you’d selfishly betray your own survival instincts, just to have that deliciously appetizing chance at satisfying curiosity. Selfishness is an inherent trait that describes you so well I cannot even fathom another word to replace it.
Remember, you must not allow your precious friend to know the contents of this note. If you do, then you’d be breaking the rules of the game. And you don’t want to do that, trust me.
He’s so eager to play, too. So don’t break his heart like you do the others.
Speaking of broken hearts, I’ll let you in on a secret. Take it as a consolation prize for your participation.
Spike. Yes, the very Spike staring up at you with all the enthusiasm in the world…
He’s secretly been harboring sentiments of affection for you. In other words…
He’s loved you for quite some time. I’ll let you mull over that information. Do what you want with it. But be aware that this is absolute truth.
Ready to continue playing? Your first challenge awaits you at Sweet Apple Acres.
Don’t forget that this is a game I’ve put so much heart and passion into creating, just for you. Have fun with it. It’s an opportunity to finally redeem yourself for your disgustingly selfish behavior.
Love,
Cupid
“What does it say?” Spike piped up, bringing Rainbow’s concentration away from the note. He extended his hand towards her. “Here, can I read it?”
The Selfish One: Part One
End
Author's Note
This is a first attempt at writing mystery. Hope you guys like it. Any comments would be truly appreciated.
