The story and our encounter
BOOM!!!!!!
I stood at the edge of the Everfree forest, like I always had, feeling a bit of pride well up as I watched the rainbow rings spread across the sky.
'Must be her again.' I thought, nodding to myself when I saw a figure flying in lazy spirals towards the ground.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched the figure get mobbed by excited colts and fillies. She had grown so much since I had seen her last, now she was a great figure of importance.
I still remembered the first time I saw her...
I stood at the edge of the Everfree.
In a field between here and Ponyville, a cloud white pegasus mare floated around a smaller light blue pegasus filly with a rainbow mane, trying to encourage it into the air. The filly had her eyes screwed shut in concentration as her tiny wings buzzed in high-speed circles, resulting in the cutest little humming noise.
Slowly, the filly began to rise into the air, causing the mare to cry out with joy. The filly opened her eyes before looking down and gasping in surprise. She wobbled for a minute but steadied herself. With a whoop of excitement, she began zooming around the mare, who was laughing loudly.
I smiled, her first and most important accomplishment forever branded into my memory.
The two continued to fly and play with each other until the sun began to set. As they started heading back to the town, the mare turned her head and our eyes met.
Her eyes widened slightly and began to tear up, a small smile playing over her face.
The filly seemed to notice and looked back, but I had already moved out of view. She said something to the mare, who merely stared at the forest for a moment more, before turning back and leading the filly home.
When they had disappeared from sight, I stepped out from behind the tree and watched the moon rise. That filly would become a great mare one day, I just knew it.
And so I had watched her, never making my presence known, knowing how ponies would react if they saw a creature such as myself.
The day her mother died from a chance lightning strike was the worst of our lives. I almost made myself join the white mare in the after-life, but that would be breaking a promise.
It hurt me worse than anything, knowing that the light blue filly would be alone for most of her life, with neither a mother or father to guide her as she grew.
Well, that's not really true. She would always have a father, but not in a way that others would.
That was the last of her that I saw for a while. She was taken in by an uncle and moved to Cloudsdale. With her gone, I stayed in the depths of the Everfree, waiting for her to return.
I didn't know when she would come back, but somehow, I knew for certain that she would.
The first news I received of her after several years was in the form of a newspaper article. There were always a few papers that escaped from the delivery ponies and found their way to the Everfree, where I collected and read them to keep up on current events.
Anyway, I had just picked up the most recent paper that had found its way to the edge of the Everfree, when something on the front page caught my eye. As I read it, my smile widened and tears began to fall from my eyes.
The article reported that the day before, two pegasi colts had been bullying a smaller pegasus mare, when they had been approached by a light blue pegasus filly with a rainbow mane by the name of Rainbow Dash.
I stopped reading and gazed up at the clouds drifting across the sky, remembering how the filly would always zip around the field.
'So that's what you named her. It fits, doesn't it Cloudy?' I could almost see the white mare's face amongst the clouds.
The rest of the article described how Rainbow challenged the bullies to a race and eventually created the sonic rainboom.
'Well that answers the question about what that explosion yesterday was.'
I folded up the newspaper and stuck it into my back pocket. I gave the sky one last look before making my way back into the depths of the forest.
Rainbow Dash eventually returned to Ponyville and became a weather pony. I would often stand at the edge of the Everfree, the furthest I was ever able to go, and watch her as she flew over the town, scattering or doing amazing loops around the clouds as she went.
But she never came anywhere near the forest. Well, there was that one time.....
I don't know the reason, but one day, the sky suddenly went dark, a full moon shining through the few gaps in the branches of the trees. It didn't bother me much, as stranger things have happened in this forest, but I heard the sound hoof steps and whispered talking.
I took to the trees and waited above one of the paths, waiting to see just who and what was approaching. Imagine my surprise when six ponies; two unicorns, two earth ponies, and two pegasi, go treading under me! And better yet, one of them was Rainbow Dash!
I felt tears come to my eyes and I quickly wiped them away. Now was not the time to get emotional. I had to figure out what these ponies wanted in the forest.
However, I had moved a little too slowly. A single tear had escaped my hand and fell, striking Rainbow's wing. It stiffened slightly and her head snapped upwards. Thankfully, the branches here were thick and so hid me from sight. I held my breath as Rainbow stood there, staring directly at my hiding place, her magenta eyes full of curiosity and suspicion.
The other ponies have disappeared from sight by now and one of them calls back to Rainbow, who gives a quick, "I'm coming!" and takes off after them.
I breathe a sigh of relief before going out of my way to follow them, not only interested in their motives for being here, but I'm also worried for Rainbow.
I follow them and witness their many challenges along the way to wherever their going. The cliff, then the manticore, the forest, they even helped my good friend Steven Magnet, a sea serpent who resides in the Everfree river. I was especially proud of Rainbows loyalty to her friends at the bridge. (For all those wondering, there are other ways to cross the gorge to the castle.)
Sadly, I could not follow them into the castle of the two sisters, as I had earlier discovered an enchantment that prevents non-equine creatures from entering the castle. I watched uncertainly as Rainbow Dash entered. If anything happened to her, I don't know what I would do, but it appears that all I could do now was wait.
I heard screams and strange evil laughter and saw lights, both rainbow and bright sunlight radiate from that castle. Even today I don't bother asking what all of it was, it's not my affair.
But I was releaved when Rainbow left unscathed.
'Stay with those girls Rainbow.' I thought, 'They'll be your greatest allies.'
I silently followed them as they retook the forest path back to Ponyville, never taking my eyes off of the rainbow pegasus.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Rainbow Dash said something to the others, before shooting up into the air and out of sight. The others shrugged and continued along the ground back to their town.
Once they were out of sight and hearing range, I dropped back down to the ground and stretched. Staying in the trees for that long can leave a guy quite cramped.
"So you were the thing following us!"
I jumped in surprise and whirled around to see Rainbow Dash behind me, her wings spread and head lowered in a threatening manner.
We stared at each other for more moments than I could count, before I decided to play innocent.
"I apologize. I meant no harm, only curious as to why ponies would go willingly into the Everfree." I spoke casually.
"Hmmmm." Rainbow seemed to be trying to decide if she could trust me. Folding her wings, she turned away and stared off into the sunset.
That did it. At that moment she looked more like her mother than any other time I had seen her. I couldn't take it, and I broke down, tears flowing from my eyes as I dropped to the ground, weeping.
Rainbow turned in surprise and backed up a bit, startled. But then she approached; cautious, yet curious.
As soon as she was in range, I shot out my arms and grabbed her, pulling her close and burying my head in her shoulder, my arms hugging her neck in a tight hug. I was sobbing freely now.
The rainbow pony attempted to escape, but eventually relented to my death grip with embarrassment and some curiosity. She stood there quietly until I had calmed down a bit.
I reached up with one hand and began to stroke her mane.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, how much your personality reflects your mother's." I whispered.
She pulled away at that, her wings flaring up again.
"You know nothing about my mom!" She shouted at me furiously.
I shook my head, tears still dripping from my eyes.
"Your mom never told you did she? Well, I don't blame her, she had no reason to."
Rainbow Dash looked at me like I was insane.
"W-what are you talking about!" She stuttered nervously.
I reached into my shirt and pulled out the locket. It was a silver oval on a silver chain. I took it off and held it out towards Rainbow before opening it to reveal a picture of a white pegasus mare sitting on a red stool. But what really caught her attention was the other character in the picture. In between the fore-hooves of the mare was a tine foal wrapped in a blanket.
This foal was blue and had a rainbow colored mane.
Rainbow Dash was speechless as she stared at the photo. She looked up to meet my smiling gaze.
"Rainbow. It's true. I'm your father."
It was this moment that I had been dreading. How would she react to this revelation. Would her mind break from whatever? Would she leave forever and not see me ever again? I could only hope it wasn't either of them.
"Dash, don't question how, I'm not even sure. Just ask yourself. Is it true?"
There is only silence from her, before she shoots up into the air and disappears into the clouds.
Maybe I shouldn't have told her, but I couldn't help it. And now she's gone.
I turn away and walk several steps before the sound registers. I look over my shoulder just as I'm tackled at high speed by a sobbing, rainbow maned pegasus.
We hit the ground and roll for a few meters. When we stop I turn over and embrace my daughter.
"Daddy!" She sobs. The brave pony I've heard so much about is now crying to me. I don't care.
"Shh. It's alright. I'm here." I coo as I gently rock her back and forth. Tears have begun streaming from my eyes again. I don't care.
We are officially family again. Maybe I'll eventually be able to live in Ponyville, but right now I want to be with my daughter.
Now, Rainbow Dash knows she has someone to care for her.
A friend and a parent.
Me.
I am MineLittleDashie and today, I can start being a father again.