Conversing, Memories, and Encouragement
Daddy Told Me...
Conversing, Memories and Encouragement
By Happy Soul
Fluttershy fell. Fluttershy fell as I failed to notice. But my life-changing mistake won't go unnoticed for now. It didn't effect me, but a beloved friend, one I'd never wished to hurt. And to think I was doing this for her honour is sickening, to think I went ahead and performed the Sonic Rainboom while her life was at risk. Her pride was hurt enough as it is, and now I had pushed her back even more. Why couldn't it have just happened to me?
Fluttershy may have earned her cutie mark, but she lost something worse in my opinion. Since it pretty much defines me, my ego, and my life. She lost her flight that day, all because of a stupid pegasus being a show-off. I could have just talked it out with the bullies, or helped Fluttershy through her pain at least. But no, I had to be all flashy and noticed and a total idiot. My lust for attention nearly killed my friend. If it wasn't for the doctors... Fluttershy would have been put out of her misery. But she's alive, and we only talk rarely. I know she doesn't like fights.
So, when I go ahead and make the slow walk to her home- I never fly to her home- this is all I'm thinking about. It's all I ever think about when I walk anywhere. It doesn't have to be Fluttershy's. I still fly, only to my home and to perform weather duties, to get somewhere on the ground, or maybe up to Cloudsdale to meet a friend. Fluttershy was my only true friend, though. Nothing can replace her.
I kick a small stone out of my path with my hoof, then revert my eyes to the cottage ahead, taking a deep breath. When I see it I wince a little, but continue walking. My mane is slightly glazed with grey, but I am not old. I know that, and sometimes I wish I was, just so I could forget everything like many old ponies do. Before I know it I am up at Fluttershy's door and knocking slowly.
The door opens and a yellow face pokes out, her pink mane draped over the right side of it. She's smiling, and looks genuinely happy I'm here. I manage a smile. "Hey Fluttershy."
"Hello there Rainbow Dash. Please come in." I hesitate then oblige, walking into her joyful home.
We sit down on small chairs across from each other. Fluttershy blushes and, surprisingly starts the conversation. "Rainbow, you know I don't feel like that. Let it go."
I look down at the floor and my right hoof tenses.
"You don't fly any more. The Wonderbolt Reserves need you more than ever, you know. You shouldn't have quit."
My right hoof is clenched so much it is beginning to hurt.
"Rainbow Dash, talk to me." I can feel her determined stare boring into my skull. "I invited you here to make casual chat, and perhaps, I thought, talk like we did as kids."
She carries on. "I trust you, Rainbow Dash. Speak to me, any kind of response will do."
I look up at my friend, my eyes welling up. "Don't trust me, Fluttershy. Never trust anypony."
I stand on the makeshift podium, the bullies looking up at me, jealousy obvious in their eyes while I puff out my chest. "How about that for a win?" I say.
The dark brown one looks up at me and huffs. I think he was the one who crashed into the pillar, but I'm not completely sure as it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I remember flying past the tan one so fast that he spun out as I performed the Rainboom.
But the aftermath isn't great as I realise my mistake and rush off the podium in search for my friend. My wings unfurl and I jump clean off the clouds; I swear I can hear the bullies gasping as I rush downwards. My body is pointed downwards like a bullet, but as the ground comes up to meet me, I go into a normal position and flap my wings. I am pushed down twenty more metres or so, but my momentum shifts and I fly the rest of the fifty metres or so to the ground.
As my hooves touch the fresh grass, I grimace. The scent and feel of grass is unusual, but not foreign to me, since I have been to the ground before, but not often. I begin to call for my shy friend. "Fluttershy! It's me! Rainbow Dash!" My face twists into one of extreme concern, and my eyes well up as my voice cracks. "F-lutter-shy?"
I walk around, as it pains me greatly to fly. Eventually I come to a group of animals all looking at something on the ground. This something is a pony, and has a butter-coloured coat, a pink mane and... a cutie mark? I look at my own and then back to hers. It's not the cutie mark that surprises me, though. It's the blood stain around her and the deep gashes at the base of her wings.
"Fluttershy!" I cry. "What happened? Flutter-shy?" Her eyes are shut tight, tears streaming down her face. The rest of her body doesn't move at all. Even though it hurts to fly, I almost do the Sonic Rainboom again as I fly back up to the clouds yelling for help from, well, anypony. My voice cracks even more than it did as ponies hear me and call the paramedics. "This is... a-ll my... fau-lt..."
I collapse in a heap on the clouds, panting. It shouldn't be like this. Ponies rush up to me, and I make out the figures of my parents amongst the crowd, my Mum shaking me. I am curled up, but I ignore the crowds of ponies and look over my shoulder to the break in the clouds, then to the starting line, then to the podium. No. It shouldn't be like this. "This is..."
"...All my... faul-t..." I cover my face with my hooves, trying to hide. But I know I can't; Fluttershy can be persistent when she wants to. My head flicks violently to the side, still covered by my hooves. "All... my fault."
"No, it isn't. Look at you! Your mane is greyed and your eyes are distant. You have great potential, Rainbow Dash. And, Rainbow, I will do all I can in my power to get you to bounce back to your old self. Confident, cheerful..."
"But the bullies!" I cry. "If they'd just go away, I'd still be in the Wonderbolts Reserves, maybe in the Wonderbolts themselves! They're pushing me back! And I'm scared."
"And since when was Rainbow Dash scared of silly bullies? Since when, Rainbow Dash?"
"Since the race. Since I saw you in hospital. Since you forgave me all those years ago! Since they started bullying me again! I have no idea, Flutters! And it won't leave my head!" By now I'm slamming my hooves into the armchair's arms, as if they will help me. "Don't you understand? It's been haunting me most of my life and you're ignoring it!"
"I-I..." Fluttershy chokes, tears welling up. She blinks them out and stares me full-on. "If you're going to cause a heated argument in my house, I suggest you get out." Her hoof is pointing to the door and is shaking slightly. I shrink down in my seat. "Rainbow, did you hear what I just said?"
I nod. I'm not a liar. My wings press tightly against my sides as if the pain of it is going to relieve the emotional pain I am feeling, and my watery eyes drift over to the door. "I heard you... I heard you just fine." And with that I gallop out at full speed but immediately trip over my hooves. My wings unfurl and I take to the skies, much as I object. My body seems to have a mind of its own now.
This has happened countless times before, but today it feels different. Maybe I'm actually considering what she's been trying to convince me for almost two years? Yes, the whole accident happened ten years ago, but the tears have only just started flowing. I had joined the Wonderbolts Reserves and everything... but threw it away as soon as the other reserves started bullying me, telling me what I can do and what I can't do. How dare they?
A new-found determination overtakes me and I slam by body into a cloud, sending it hurtling into the open air. Who's to say it's my fault? Who's to say I have to throw my life away? Who's to say-
My train of thought is interrupted by a familiar face looking up at me. She is silent and I don't look back, but I know she's there. I can feel her watching. Waiting for me to speak. I spin around to find a certain lavender princess down below. "Hey, Twilight," I seethe. I guess all of my anger isn't gone yet, and I carry on, saying, "How are you today?"
"What's up with you? You aren't getting all upset over Fluttershy again, are you? Hmm... but if you were, you wouldn't be flying... so what's wrong?" Twilight tilts her head. "Rainbow?"
I land next to Twilight in a flawless arc. "I am upset over Fluttershy, also angry."
"Angry? At Fluttershy? Why?"
"I'm angry at myself, Twilight. I think Fluttershy's finally nailed the message into my thick skull."
"Don't go calling yourself dumb, Rainbow Dash. She's been trying that for years. Why is it different now?"
"It just is," I say. "I'm going to practice some manoeuvres now."
"You're not slipping away that easily. You never practice manoeuvres any more."
"I am going to! It's different this time! I'll even prove it to you!"
I fly upwards as fast as I can at this moment, flip over, and do a diving loop back down. Then I go into a dizzying array of corkscrews, then barrel rolls, then heartline twists. I come to a stop mere metres away from my friend's face. "Told you, Twi."
Twilight giggles at me. Why is she giggling? "You sure proved me wrong. Mind if I watch?"
I sigh in utter defeat. I have nothing to lose. "Yeah, okay, but my skills'll be a bit rusty."
"That's fine. Let's get on with it then, Rainbow."
"Tell me what to do." I am on the ground, looking her straight in the eyes.
"Pardon me?"
"Just... tell me what you want to see, so I... can bounce back to my old self, as Pinkie would say."
"Okay, get in the air for me. Good. Now do me a basic Dragon Dream."
"A Dragon Dream? Come on, it's been years."
"You seemed to perform those corkscrews just fine. Now do me a Dragon Dream." She sighs, rubbing her temple. "Okay, more simple. A... triple loop."
"Now that I can do just fine."
Author's Note
IMPORTANT NOTE: This story will be mainly about an alternate Rainbow Dash's mind, so don't be put off if her personality doesn't seem right. It's all part of the story, and as it goes on she'll seem more and more like her canon self. Maybe. Just throwing that out there.
Refreshments, Tears, Flying, and Injuries
Daddy Told Me...
Refreshments, Tears, Flying, and Injuries
By Happy Soul
I yawn as I settle down on the grass after a smooth landing next to Twilight. She looks over at me. "That's pretty good for the first proper time in around two years, isn't it? I doubt I'll be able to do that with my wings in a long time, knowing me." She giggles as she sits on the park bench. I join her and she looks up to the clouds. "I fancy a little time in the clouds. Do you want to fly with me?"
I'm panting rather heavily and it takes a few seconds for me to formulate a response. "Yeah, just... give me... a minute," I pant in between breaths and carry on, "To get my... breath back." Twilight looks at me and over to Sugarcube Corner, then to the floor, and finally to me.
"We can wait longer than that if you want. So... are you feeling any better, Rainbow? After everything, you're finally getting back your reputation as a Wonderbolt Reserve. I'd be happy if I were you."
"I guess I'm a little bit happier."
"I bet so. I've just been thinking; want to grab a drink and a cupcake at Sugarcube Corner?"
"It's not the best thing to go flying after eating anything, or eating after flying, but a drink sounds really good now. Yeah, let's go grab a drink and sit down outside... say hi to Pinkie maybe."
Twilight agrees and we do the one minute walk to Sugarcube Corner. The two of us sit down at a table and order drinks, and when they are delivered we sip to our hearts' content, silent and looking at the world around us. After I finish my refreshment, I let out a small burp which doesn't go unnoticed by Twilight. She giggles, and I find myself letting out a small chuckle. I can't remember the last time I laughed, or smiled. I turn away but Twi is laughing. My laugh's volume raises and becomes equal to hers, and I find myself having a good time for once. "Things are really looking up, huh?" Twilight smiles, finishing her drink.
I shoot her down a little as my face curls into a frown. "I've not been happy long enough to agree on that, Twilight. Give me time, it's been almost two years of relentless bullying. I've hurt my friend to fulfill my ego, quit on my biggest dream because of bullies, and now I'm here with you, laughing.
"I may have fulfilled the destinies of the Elements, and without me Equestria would be in peril, but for years we've not had any trouble involving the Elements whatsoever. The Elements are important to me, as much as they are to anypony who's relying on them, and I care about the power of friendship, but in the long run I've created a broken friendship, and that's the worst thing of all.
"We are laughing, having a good time, but that doesn't clearly mean my life is looking up, Twilight. This memory will be a great one, but bad memories are more easily remembered than good ones. A lot of my life has been good memories, but an equal amount bad. That's why I'm more sad than happy right now, but... this might just sound ridiculous, but what I'm saying, what I've said in this whole speech, is from the bottom of my heart."
Twilight is just staring at me, shocked. If I were to be another me looking at her, I'm sure I would. I am just as boggled about this as Twilight is, so I don't blame her. And to get Twilight this messed up is some accomplishment, if I do say so myself. I'm a little worried, so I speak to her to make sure she's not completely broken. "Twilight? Are you okay?"
Twilight's mouth moves, but no words come out. Eventually she swallows and looks at me with a serene smile. "This is everything to you. This is everything to me, Dash. This is everything. This is what I've learned all these years as Celestia's faithful friendship student. And you've just said everything she wanted me to understand in a few simple words. I'm so proud of you..."
Twilight envelopes me in a hug and I just hug her back. We're both crying our eyes out. I'm sure we're creating a scene, but we don't care. That we're okay and together is all that matters now. The sunset glow is warm on my sky blue fur. We pull away and look at each other. I'm sure we hugged for an eternity but it was only mere seconds in real time.
Twilight looks away, picking up a napkin in her magic aura and brushing her cheek with it gently. She settles it down on the table and she makes a simple suggestion. "Should we fly now?"
We've just taken off and we're heading towards the burning sun like we're chasing it. "Celestia's done a really good job this time," Twilight says.
"Yeah," I reply. I sigh as my eyes drift to Ponyville below, getting smaller and smaller as we ascend. When we break through a small layer of clouds, only Twilight's Castle rises above them like a mountain's peak, majestic in all its loneliness. Like I've felt all my life starting from about thirteen. I'm twenty now, almost twenty-one.
Twilight sighs gently and looks over her shoulder to my house in the distance. I turn my head too but when I see it my eyes avert to the ground rushing by us. It isn't rushing quickly, but at just the correct speed. This may not have been love, but it was friendship, and this was good enough for me.
My purple-coated friend looks at me with a smile. "You okay?"
"Yeah, fine." I fold my forelegs across my chest and let out a sigh.
"Rainbow, I've known you for years," she says, "and this isn't the old you."
"I know, but the old me hasn't been here for almost two years. Why do you just assume everything's fine now, Twilight?" Twilight looks at me with concern. "Just because I said some words and now we're flying together doesn't mean everything's okay!"
Twilight just looks forward, not smiling. "Yeah, I guess you're right. This is going to take time..."
"Lots of time," I correct. "Lots of it."
Twilight just frowns and looks below her and through a gap in the clouds. Sweet Apple Acres is in the break when I look. Musty tears stain my eyes and I dive while Twilight's not looking and fly below the cloud line. I feel horrid, but I need time alone.
Twilight starts calling for me as I stay where I am. When I realise she's coming through the cloud layer, I plummet towards the ground in a tearful daze. My wings unfold and my landing isn't very smooth, but it'll do. My body scrapes across the floor, and I get up when I recover. The left side of my chest has a small graze on it, but it doesn't hurt that much; I've been through worse.
I find myself next to Sugarcube Corner, closing for the night. Looking up at it, I crack a small smile but walk away after, not noticing the small limp I have. Nopony's around. I can see lights turning off as the moon rises for its cycle across the sky, but I ignore the beautiful sight.
I find a wall through my blurred vision, and reach out for it. When I reach it I slump down against it, my body shaking from my tears. I only then just realise that when I wipe away my tears, my hoof has a cut alone the middle. I stare down at it for a few intense seconds before scraping it in the dirt, leaving a nasty red mark on the ground.
I don't know how long I sit there. It may be mere minutes, or it may be hours. I don't care. And, amidst the turmoil in my mind, I make a solemn promise to myself, my bleeding forehoof clenched to my chest.
"I'm going to get better, even if it kills me."
Author's Note
ATTENTION: This chapter does not include shipping, and it is not likely non-canon shipping between main characters will be in this story. But maybe. This is only friendshipping, but it may evolve into something more.
This story will be in short, sweet chapters like this and the first so I can get content out often. I hope that's okay with you :)
