Rainbow Dash was shocked when she yanked off Mare Do Well's mask.
There, in the costume, was Pinkie Pie.
"P-Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash was speechless. The mask fell to the floor.
Suddenly, two other ponies, looking exactly like Mare Do Well, appeared and pulled the identical masks off their faces.
There, was Twilight and Applejack.
"Twilight...Applejack?..." Rainbow Dash stuttered.
"Yup, we all played Mare Do Well at different times."
At that moment Fluttershy and Rarity appeared too.
"I made the costumes! They are some of my best works! What do you think?" Rarity asked, getting right into Dash's face.
To her surprise, Rainbow Dash pushed her away.
"What do I think?! Guys, you took my title away! Why? Don't you want me to be a hero?" Rainbow Dash asked angrily.
"Of course we do!" Twilight stated in a high-pitched voice. For some reason, the tone she was using that moment made Rainbow Dash want to punch her.
"But real heroes don't brag." Applejack winked, frustrating Rainbow Dash even more.
Real heroes.
Rainbow Dash growled out in anger.
"A REAL HERO?! WHAT, YOU DON'T THINK I'M A REAL HERO?!" Rainbow Dash boomed.
Applejack stood back.
"Well, what ah mean is... you were sort of bragging a little... especially at the fanclub..." Applejack said softly.
"BRAGGING?! THIS IS BECAUSE I HAVE A FAN CLUB?! I SAVE PONIES LIVES FOR CELESTIA'S SAKE! WHY WOULDN'T I HAVE A FAN CLUB? I BET IF YOU WERE THE HERO OF SEVERAL PONIES, SURELY YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT IT JUST A TINY BIT TOO! I'M JUST GIVING MY FANS WHAT THEY WANT!"
Rainbow Dash took a moment to catch her breath before continuing. She turned away and lowered her tone.
"Now... I've lost my name. My fans... Scootaloo, she was like my little sister. Now she doesn't even seem to think I'm there. I've got nothing now..."
Rainbow Dash looked up at the sky. Then she turned back to her friends.
It was only then when they realized how much they must of hurt her.
"Rainbow... we-"
"I don't want to hear it..." Rainbow Dash interrupted, tears stinging her eyes.
She turned away.
"Now if you'll excuse me... I'm gonna' go and try to get my life back."
Before her friends could say anything, Rainbow Dash took off and soared away.
There was a moments silence.
"We... we shouldn't have challenged her like that." Fluttershy looked down at the ground.
"Yeah... she did save pony's lives," Applejack agreed.
"Do you think she'll be ok?" Rarity asked.
"I hope so! When she comes back I'm gonna' throw her the biggest apology party ever!" Pinkie Pie declared.
Twilight said nothing.
"Maybe the best thing we can do right now is apologize," she said after a while.
Her four remaining friends nodded and they trotted out the alleyway.
Rainbow Dash flew back to her house as fast as her wings could take her.
She felt completely betrayed by her friends.
She saved lives. She thought what she was doing was good.
Apparently not.
Real heroes.
Those very words rang in Rainbow Dash's head like a non-stopping church bell.
She was a real hero wasn't she?
Rainbow Dash closed her front door shut. Tank was sitting on the couch as usual. He looked at Rainbow Dash with his big eyes.
"Oh Tank. I don't know what to do." Rainbow Dash picked up her pet, "My friends... they were Mare Do Well the entire time! They've... completely destroyed my reputation... now what am I gonna' do?" she asked hopelessly. She stroked Tank on the shell and settled down on her couch, pondering.
"Friends that betray you aren't real friends at all Rainbow."
Rainbow Dash remembered the exact words of advice that her mother once gave.
"It's best to leave them behind and start anew."
It's best to leave them behind and start anew.
Rainbow Dash suddenly realized.
She would never properly be able to rebuild her reputation here. From this day everypony would be talking about how she was upstaged by the so called Mare Do Well.
Maybe it was best to start anew.
A huge smile grew on Rainbow's face.
"That's it Tank!" Rainbow Dash picked him up and spun him around with her, "Let's leave Ponyville!"
Rainbow Dash was grinning from ear to ear with excitement. This was by far the best idea she had ever thought of.
Rainbow Dash placed her faithful tortoise down and grabbed a bag from her room. She began to pack all her important things. Her medals, her diary and the picture of her and her family. A few loose pictures fell to the ground. They were of Rainbow Dash and her friends. She just kicked them under her cabnet however...
Until she saw one of her and Scootaloo.
She retrieved that one and looked at it closely. There was something on it that she hadn't seen before.
You'll always be my hero!
Scootaloo
Rainbow Dash smiled at that. Her and Scootaloo had shared a lot of good times together.
Maybe she should at least tell her she was leaving.
Rainbow Dash nodded and stuffed the picture into her bag. She flew back downstairs and stared at Tank.
"Should I take you, buddy?" She asked.
Tank just gazed at her as usual. After a moment she grinned and picked him up.
"Of course I should. Your my pet! You deserve to come with me!"
Rainbow Dash looked at her house for the final time.
For one moment she thought the idea was nuts. A mistake.
But she had come too far to stop now. Besides, she was actually... excited about leaving!
Rainbow Dash patted Tank on the forehead and was just about to leave when...
Knock knock.
Rainbow Dash froze.
"Rainbow?" Came the familiar voice of Twilight.
Rainbow Dash sighed quietly with relief. It was her friends. Probably there to apologize.
'Good. This will make it easier for me to tell them.'
Rainbow Dash brushed her fringe off her face, relaxed into a neutral smile and opened the door. There of course was her five friends. At first Rainbow Dash was going to question them about how they could walk on clouds, but then she noticed the auras around their hooves (with the exception of Fluttershy) and realized Twilight must have cast the cloud-walker spell.
"Hey Rainbow."
"Oh, hey guys!"
"Listen Rainbow, we just want to apologize about what happened. We-"
"Oh, it's fine!" Rainbow Dash raised a hoof to stop Twilight, "I actually have some awesome news!"
Her five friends grew curious.
"What is it Rainbow?" Twilight asked.
"I'm leaving Ponyville!" Dash announced excitedly. Her friends gasped.
"L-Leaving, darling?" Rarity stuttered.
"Yup! I figured that my reputation will never be the same here, so I'm leaving to start anew! Think about it! I can go be the hero somewhere else, and you guys can continue being the heroes here so everyone is happy."
Pinkie Pie's mane deflated.
"B-But-"
Rainbow Dash embraced her friends.
"I'll miss you guys too, but hey! This is for the best!" She chirped happily.
"But Rainbow! Your an element of harmony! It's... essential, important that you stay here! We need you here to help defend Equestria!" Twilight explained in a desperate attempt to stop Rainbow from leaving.
"Don't worry Twi! I'm sure you guys will be awesome without the element of loyalty! Besides, with your new hero reputation, you'll have your fans to support you. Take care of that title. I held it once myself."
"But... Dash, we just wanted to teach you a lesson... we didn't know-"
"Sorry guys. I'll be sure to write some letters to you!" Rainbow Dash pulled her friends into one final hug, "peace!"
Rainbow Dash grabbed her stuff once more, flew off and called;
"Feel free to look after my old house!"
She did a spin before heading towards Scootaloo's home.
Pinkie Pie's mane was as deflated as it could get. Twilight stood there speechless. Fluttershy was sobbing quietly while Rarity was comforting her and Applejack held her hat close to her chest.
"She's... gone."
Twilight still couldn't believe it.
"We shouldn't have done it..." Fluttershy whispered through her tears.
"Ah feel awful."
Applejack looked down.
"Do you think we should have stopped her?" Rarity asked.
"...I don't know. It was her choice."
Twilight looked back at her remaining four friends.
"But... what if it was a bad one?" Pinkie Pie asked without a hint of happiness.
Twilight shrugged. For once, she felt like that question was unanswerable.
"I'm gonna' go and have a look at her house."
Twilight walked inside. Rainbow Dash's living room was still full of things. The blue bag she had was quite big but it couldn't carry everything.
Twilight examined a few things before walking into Rainbow's bedroom. It was very nicely decorated. Twilight wouldn't mind having some of it in her library, but she wasn't going to take anything. As much as Rainbow had abandoned the place, Twilight still thought it rude to take the things she left behind.
Suddenly, Twilight banged one of her back legs on the cabnet. It fell down with a crash.
"Ooops!"
Twilight blushed and was about to push the cabnet back up, when she saw what was collecting dust under it.
She levitated one off the floor.
There were the pictures of Rainbow Dash and the rest of the gang. The one Twilight had was a shot of them having a picnic together.
They looked so happy.
But Rainbow Dash must have felt betrayed and left the pictures discarded under the cabnet.
Twilight's eyes filled to the brim with tears. She sunk to the ground and examined the picture. She twisted it to the back and saw what was written on it.
A picnic with my awesome friends!
23rd May, 2011
Still 20% cooler!
Twilight began to cry.
"I'm so sorry Rainbow..." she sobbed.
"I'm so, so sorry."
Rainbow Dash landed on the ground and knocked on the door.
As expected, Scootaloo answered it.
"Oh... Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo grinned with joy.
"Hey there Scoots. Can I come in?" Rainbow Dash asked. Scootaloo nodded and the two sat down in the living room.
"Where are your parents Scoots?" Rainbow asked.
"Oh, they um... they had to go out," Scootaloo replied. Rainbow Dash nodded.
There was a moments silence.
After a minute, Rainbow Dash took a deep breath.
"Listen, Scoots, you know Mare Do Well? How everypony paid so much attention to her and not me?"
Scootaloo looked away.
"Yeah... I know... this is about how your mad at me because I hardly paid attention to you."
Rainbow Dash gently turned Scootaloo's head to look at hers.
"Oh, Scoots. I will never be mad at you. Your like my little sister."
Scootaloo suddenly brightened up. Her smile grew bigger and bigger.
"Really?"
Rainbow Dash wrapped her wing around Scootaloo and pulled her closer.
"Of course!"
Scootaloo snuggled up close to her hero. The two smiled at each other.
However, Rainbow Dash suddenly remembered why she was there.
"But Scoots, listen. We can't do flying lessons next week. Or ever..."
Scootaloo gasped.
"W-Why not?"
Rainbow Dash sighed.
"Um... Mare Do Well has kinda' destroyed my reputation here, so I'm... moving away."
Scootaloo gasped again and began to sob.
"B-But you can't! Rainbow Dash... your my only friend!"
"But you have your parents and your CMC, don't you?"
"Yeah, but your my best friend of all! It-It's like losing a family member! Your gonna' leave and I'll be all alone forever in this house!" Scootaloo wailed.
"But you have your parents?" Dash stated. Scootaloo realized what she said.
"Yeah, I um I-"
Rainbow Dash suddenly found out what Scootaloo was hiding.
"Scootaloo, don't tell me that your-"
"An orphan. I know... I was trying to hide it from you!" Scootaloo cried.
Rainbow Dash grew puzzled.
"What? Why would you do something like that?"
"Because I *sniff* wouldn't think you'd think I was cool if you found out!"
"Oh, Scoots..."
Rainbow Dash wrapped her arms around the crying filly.
"Scoots, just because your an orphan doesn't mean I think your uncool! In fact, this makes you even cooler."
Scootaloo looked up.
"I-It does?"
"Sure! You've lived on your own! You've defended yourself and taken care of yourself. In fact, you might just be 20% cooler like me!" Rainbow and Scootaloo giggled.
"But... how long have you lived alone?"
"...3 years."
3 years.
That amount of time sunk into Rainbow Dash's heart.
"My parents went away one day. They never came back. Never found out what happened to them." Scootaloo wiped her eyes.
"So... you live here all on your own?"
Scootaloo nodded.
"I always hoped you'd ask to stay the night or something. But now your leaving and I'll never get to see you again."
Rainbow Dash smiled.
"...You could come with me," she suggested.
Scootaloo's pupil's shrunk.
"W-What? You mean, I can go and live with you?"
Rainbow Dash nodded.
Scootaloo was so happy she thought she would explode into a bunch of stars.
"YES!" Scootaloo jumped into Rainbow Dash's chest, "I'D LOVE TO!"
Rainbow Dash's eyes filled with tears of happiness as the two embraced.
"But.. what about Sweetie Belle and Applebloom?" she asked.
"Don't worry. We'll visit sometimes, ok?" Rainbow Dash replied.
It might be a challenge, seeing as she wanted to avoid her ex-friends, but if it was worth it for the filly she was willing to take that risk.
Scootaloo smiled.
"But... can I at least write something to them?"
Rainbow Dash nodded. Scootaloo ran upstairs and came back down with a quill and a piece of paper.
Dear CMC,
I bet your wondering where I've gone, huh? Well, turns out I'll be leaving with RD to live somewhere else. She's had her reputation ruined and she's taking me with her to start anew. Cool, isn't it?
Don't worry. She says I can visit you. I'll always be cheering you on from wherever I'm going, no matter what your doing to get your cutie marks.
I'm not sure what the future has planned for me, whether I'll be back often or not, but I just want to say; good luck. Good luck getting your cutie marks... and living your lives. I hope to see you soon.
Your friend always.
Scootaloo
Scootaloo finished off, rolled up the piece of paper and nodded to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash picked her belongings and the little pegasus up. They zoomed out the house together.
At last, they stopped at the clubhouse. Scootaloo took one final look at the clubhouse and popped the letter inside.
Leaving did make her sniffle a bit, but as long as she was with Rainbow Dash, her hero, she was sure she would be happy.
Rainbow Dash left Ponyville. She was sure she heard her friends yelling for her to come back, but she shrugged it off as she held Scootaloo and Tank in her arms.
She was going to keep them safe, and she was sure they would be happy starting their new lives together.
It had been 12 hours since Rainbow Dash had left Ponyville with Scootaloo and Tank.
By this time, they had rented a small apartment in Manehatten. They didn't choose Cloudsdale; Rainbow's ex-friends would easily find her there. They had rented the apartment in a quiet, obscure hotel, where they were safe.
It was late at night. Luna's moon shone brightly in the darkness, moonbeams pouring into the windows. Scootaloo was busy petting Tank as Rainbow Dash smiled down at her.
She was a big sister now. Not an honoury big sister, an actual big sister.
The very fact made her smile.
"He's funny, isn't he?" Scootaloo asked, stroking Tank's shell with her hoof.
Rainbow Dash could tell that Scootaloo was sleepy. She wasn't usually this laid back.
"Yeah. He's pretty cool though, don't you think?"
Scootaloo nodded lightly. Rainbow Dash pulled the orange filly closer to her. Scootaloo looked up at her sister and snuggled into her blue fur.
Rainbow Dash grinned.
"Do you like it here Scoots? I'm sorry if it's a bit small, but I have to save our bits," Rainbow Dash explained, petting Scootaloo's mane.
Scootaloo nodded.
"Yeah... I don't care if it's a bit small. I like being here." Scootaloo slowly closed her eyes, making Dash smile again.
"Your falling asleep on me."
Scootaloo opened her eyes and pulled her head away.
"No I'm not! I'm just... relaxing."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
"Squirt, it's ok if you fall asleep. We have a big day tomorrow."
Rainbow Dash wrapped her wing around the filly and began to rub her back. Scootaloo closed her eyes and smiled, not experiencing the feeling before.
Rainbow Dash still couldn't believe that Scootaloo was an orphan the entire time.
Did she really think Rainbow Dash would hate her just because she didn't have parents?
"Scootaloo... did anypony ever do this to you?"
Scootaloo shook her head slowly. It hurt Rainbow Dash to think about what she missed out on being an orphan. Dash didn't know what having no parents was like, but she was sure it wasn't easy. Or pleasant for that matter.
"My parents were usually so busy... but... I miss them." Scootaloo snuggled up to Rainbow Dash as she looked down at the filly with sympathy.
"I'm sure you do, squirt."
Rainbow Dash hugged her little sister.
"But no matter what, I'll keep you safe. Remember that, ok?"
Scootaloo nodded and after a while she finally drifted off to sleep. Rainbow Dash smiled lightly. She looked down at Tank and petted him. He had long disappeared into his shell, but Rainbow Dash felt good talking to him even if he was asleep.
"That goes for you too, buddy."
Rainbow Dash slid her hoof down Tank's shell before standing up from the sofa and walking into the bedroom. It was very small, only enough space for two small beds and a dresser, but Rainbow Dash was just glad that Scootaloo was ok with it. She placed Scootaloo into her new bed and pulled the cover over her small body. She leaned down and gave Scootaloo a small kiss on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Scoots..."
"Sweet dreams."
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle walked down the street with their sisters.
It was midday, and the Sun cast a bright glow all over Equestria.
"I...I cannot believe that Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo left..." Sweetie Belle stated.
"Ah agree. What happened anyway Applejack?" Applebloom replied, all four ponies freezing at the question.
Applejack and Rarity turned to face their sisters.
Applejack had to tell them. She had to be honest. If she didn't she'd be betraying her element.
She took a deep breath.
"Well... you see sugarcubes... you know Mare Do Well?"
"Yup," Applebloom and Sweetie Belle answered together.
"Well," Rarity decided to take the story from there, "it was me, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Twilight and Fluttershy the entire time."
Sweetie Belle and Applebloom gasped.
"You mean... your both heroes?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Wow! Our sisters are heroes!" Applebloom stated with a little smile, trying to see the brighter side of the situation.
"It ain't like that, sugarcube." Applejack shook her head, "we made a huge mistake. We were trying to teach her a lesson about bragging... but she was just giving her fans what they wanted. Now we're all paying the price."
"You... you drove Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo out of town?" Sweetie Belle couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Rarity and Applejack gave a small nod.
"Yeah sugarcubes... we did."
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other. They simply looked at their sisters with more disbelief, turned around and slowly began to walk away.
Rarity looked down.
"Oh no... I hope they're not too mad..."
Applejack put her arm around her friend.
"Me neither sugarcube... me neither."
After a while, Rarity began walking again.
"Well, let's just get this over with... I hope I don't have to be the one to tell her."
Applejack followed right beside the white unicorn.
"Ah'm with you there."
Rarity and Applejack trotted to their destination; the library. They slowly opened the door.
There with Twilight Sparkle was her.
Princess Celestia. Her mane was sparkling and flowing freely as usual. She looked at the two mates as they slowly trotted into the centre of the library. They stood next to their lavender friend.
A few seconds later, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie entered and stood by the once group of three. Celestia took a deep breath.
"Twilight Sparkle and friends. Your recent letter said that Rainbow Dash has left Ponyville because of a mare named 'Mare Do Well'. I would appreciate if you would explain."
Twilight Sparkle and her four friends nodded. They told Celestia the entire story, from the fanclub, the idea, to Rainbow Dash leaving Ponyville with her pet and newly adopted sister.
Princess Celestia frowned.
"That was not the way to handle the situation, my little ponies. I am quite disappointed."
The five ponies ears dropped.
"While I agree that it is unusual for Rainbow Dash to abandon you and her other friends here, it was her decision and I'm afraid there is not much I can do. I will try and get Rainbow Dash's current location, but everything else will be up to you."
Twilight Sparkle nodded, feeling guilty and ashamed along with the remaining four elements.
"I also expect you to explain to Ponyville why Rainbow Dash left here. Everypony is in shock and I feel it only best you tell them of what has gone on."
Twilight and her friends nodded for the final time.
"Now I must return to Canterlot for a Royal Summit. I will make time to return next week. I will alert you when I have found out your friend's location."
"Yes Princess... thank you."
Twilight and friends looked down with shame as Celestia left the library.
"Citizens of Ponyville," Twilight began as the different voices of the ponies died down.
It had been a week since Rainbow Dash had left with Tank and Scootaloo. Now the remaining five friends were stood on the stage as Ponyville's residents gathered in front of it.
Nopony except the five knew why Rainbow Dash had left, and the citizens didn't even know where Mare-Do-Well had gone either.
Princess Celestia instructed Twilight to inform them all, but fear was gripping her like an icy hoof and she felt a drop of sweat trickle down her forehead. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack were on the stage with her, but it was Twilight who had to do most of the talking, her friends there so they could answer questions if they needed to.
Twilight gave a heavy gulp.
"I am sure you have all been wondering why and where Rainbow Dash and Mare-Do-Well have gone. Well, I am here to inform you all of the answers."
The residents had her full attention. She breathed heavily and closed her eyes.
"Well, last week, before Rainbow Dash left, we saw her in her fan club. We thought she was acting so full of herself... So we selfishly decided to take her spotlight to teach her a lesson... We were mare-do-well the entire time."
Gasps were heard from the crowd and Twilights ears dropped.
"We feel awful about what we've done," Applejack stated, "and we are going to get her back."
"But how? A pony in the crowd asked.
"We have informed Princess Celestia about what has happened, and she is going to find out her current location... How we will get her back, we are still trying to figure out. What we did was a big mistake, and we feel like we have betrayed our dearest friend. She was our hero. We thought she was being selfish, but she was only giving her fans what they wanted," Twilight said, ashamed.
"We will get her back every pony!" Pinkie Pie yelled, "and when we do we can throw her THE BEST PARTY EVER!"
She very cartoonishly grabbed a party popper from behind her back and activated it. Confetti flew from it and swirled into the front of the audience.
That evening, Twilight was sitting in the library and looking at her photos.
There were pictures of her friends everywhere. Picnics, Pinkie Pie's parties, but the one she was particularly staring at was of Rainbow Dash performing her 'best trick yet'.
Twilight remembered it so vividly. They all cheered Dash on as she did her wild mid-air performance, and then they went to Raritys boutique to enjoy some lemonade.
They were so happy, and they thought their friendship would last forever.
Twilight sighed. She couldn't get over what she had done. She had broken a special friendship, and now Rainbow Dash was gone.
Even if they found Rainbow Dash, it was extremely unlikely that she would want to come back to Ponyville. Everything that had happened would never really be forgotten. Things could never go back to how truely happy they once were.
Twilight felt tears in her eyes, but she suddenly heard the door slam as Spike returned from his outing.
"Gee, it sure is cold out there now!" Spike clutched his stomach and shivered, "and I'm starving. What are we having for dinner, Twilight?... Are you ok?"
Twilight stared at him and faked the biggest smile she could.
"I'm sorry, Spike. I've been so busy... why don't you make your own dinner tonight? You can have anything you like!"
Spike gasped and grinned.
"Really?! Thanks, Twilight!" He yelled, running into the kitchen.
As soon as he disappeared, Twilights ears dropped again and she sighed.
"Twilight?"
Twilight looked up suddenly and stared at the kitchen. Spike was standing there.
"Are you sure your ok?"
Twilight smiled at him again.
"Yes, Spike. I'm fine. Don't worry about my dinner. I'll make some for myself later."
Spike smiled and ran back into the kitchen. The next thing Twilight heard was the clash of pots and pans.
"My bad!" Spike shouted.
Twilight shook her head and smiled bleakly, but her heart immediately plummeted again.
She sighed and walked upstairs slowly. She lay on her bed, grabbed a pillow and began to cry on it.
