Rain rain go away
come again another day
I recalled the tune as I walked down the roads of Ponyville, enjoying the lack of company. All the ponies stayed inside when it rained, and I really appreciated that. It was one of the only times I could really be myself. I could always be myself in the rain.
I enjoyed these moments, I cherished them with all my heart. I keep them, and remember them in times of sorrow. Gosh how I love the rain.
I closed my eyes, and listened to it's beauty.
I could hear the water running down the streets beside me, making that distinctive trickling noise that came with all streams. The volume and pitch varied depending on what the rain had made contact with. I heard the pools of rain building atop the roofs of houses spilling down onto the patios of homes, hitting brick as the spillage made it's way down.
The spillage's impact with the ground was violent, yet gentle. I could hear the explosiveness of the water, imagining it spraying everywhere creating an everlasting mobile crater that was supplied by the rain.
I listened harder.
I could hear the sounds of water hitting plant matter. It sounded soft and more passive then the immobile ground. I imagined the the rain, softly gliding down the leaves, as if to catch the rain from exploding as does when hitting the brick.
The acoustics of the rain, were titillating.
But nothing could drown out the sound of the raindrops hitting the road. That sound, that distinct marvelous sound. The entire collection of the constant pattering of raindrops hitting the ground, reverberating through the moist air. It was like a roar and it followed me everywhere. When you think of rain, that's the sound you think of. That's the sound your trying to imitate as your teacher asks to pat your hooves gently on the carpet in your days of kindergarten. That's the sound, that makes me smile. The sound of rain.
I opened my eyes with the biggest grin on my face. The rain was amazing. It was awe inspiring. It makes me want to laugh, cry, and dance all at the same time.
I remember the first time I felt the rain gloss over my face. I was a little filly at the time, back when I used to live in Cloudsdale. Our school was going down to the surface for our bi-monthly field trip. The subject was biology.
We brought a questionnaire and surveyed the surface wildlife. Most kids didn't do anything productive, they just poked around and only sought to cause ruckus among the animal life. I just clung to the teacher and hoped it would all end soon.
It never rains in Cloudsdale, obviously because all the actual raining happens under Cloudsdale, which was part of the reason I moved to the surface.
It was lunch time and all the fillies and colts were playing freeze tag. I just sat there with my teacher. Not really talking, just being around him. I just didn't want to be with the other kids, I found their bantering irritating.
Then, I felt a drop. I thought somepony was drooling on me from above, but I could only see the cloudy grey sky as it's shade covered as far as the eye could see. I continued staring up. Wondering if maybe it would happen again.
Then, another drop fell onto my left cheek. I flinched in response to it's cold touch, but still I looked up at the sky. I was curious, but also mesmerized. I didn't question what was happening, I felt I just had to let it happen. Whatever it was.
I was immersed into the moment. I had never felt anything like it. It started with a few drops, before transforming into a constant drizzle. It felt cold at first, but as it continued to rain, it felt like a warm blanket wrapping around everywhere it touched. I reached out my hoof and felt it's warmth. It felt amazing, like the soft touch of some angelic being.
I got up on all four hooves when it really started to come down. I could see in the corner of my eye some kids freaking out over the crazy phenomenon. Not me, I felt alive. The teacher was laughing behind me. I looked over to him and started laughing too.
"It's just rain fillies and colts! it won't hurt you! Follow me under the tree if it really bothers you!" Cried the teacher.
I looked back at the field. Some kids went flying to the tree in a hurry while others just continued to run out in the rain, continuing their games. I looked over to the sky, then back at my teacher. He gestured to me, nodding his head. I smiled contently and ran as fast as I could through the rain. I flew up into the air, letting the rain envelope me as I flew through the sky. I felt alive, I felt like myself. Some ponies joined me, and we danced in the air. Like multicloured leaves soaring through the wind. Us the paint brush, the air our canvas, and the rain our spectator. It was glorious. I felt alive, and I felt like myself. Free from the tethers of reality. Free from anxiety and introversion.
I imagined myself, flying up into the air, trying to recreate that sensation I felt oh so many years ago. I felt it every time. I felt free, every single time I flew into the rain.
I finally grounded myself back into reality, taking a look at my surroundings. The rain made everything look so beautiful. Everything had this sheen of brilliance that made the world pop up. Dry rocks, turned into sparkling spectacles. Once dull leaves on trees, glimmering with radiance in what little sunlight had gone through the clouds.
The puddles were like distorted mirrors., taking a picture of the sky before changing it around to their liking.
I chanced upon a small tree that was planted on somebody's yard. The once immobile organism had been given new life as it's small, yet mighty, branches swayed gracefully with aid from the storm's winds. I watched it dance back and fourth before I too joined in it's dance. We danced together in the rain.
I like to think that the tree was only able to dance for the same reason I was dancing. Because there was no one around. I felt lucky to be one of the only ponies to witness it's dancing. Like it could reveal itself to me. Like it trusted me. The thought made me smile.
As we danced in the rain, thunder boomed from the distance. Normally, I wouldn't be phased, but because I was so immersed in the moment, I staggered forward and tripped. Expecting mud all over my snout, I instead found myself in the branches of the tree.
I grazed my hoof along the branches, feeling it's damp texture. I took a deep breath in, smelling the intense petrichor and almost getting a high off of it. Oh the petrichor. It was one of her favorite characteristics about the rain. That smell, that breathtaking smell. Words, could not describe it. I loved it.
I pressed my face against the trunk of the tree and hugged it tightly, taking deep breathes to soak up all the Pretichor. It wasn't too big to tower over her, but it was just enough for her to just barely hug around it.
I used to be an instructor for cloud production back in Cloudsdale. I got the job because it was what everypony said I was supposed to do. My cutie mark was rain, so my destiny therefore was rain production. But I knew, right from the get go that I would feel dissatisfied with my job. I didn't want to make rain, I wanted to experience it. I wanted to look up at the sky and feel it touch my cheek like it did when I was a filly, but the only way that would happen, is if I were to go to the surface. That was impossible, I could never have a life on the surface. That was, until he came.
Me and a couple of my gal pals at the time got free tickets to the Wonderbolts show as an added bonus to our pay check. But when the 4 of us went to the show, their were barely any seats left. So when we eventually found some seats, there was only enough for the 3 of us. I volunteered to go find another seat. I tried to find a seat that was close to the group, but ended up trotting to the other side of the stadium.
I eventually sat down near the back of the stadium. That's when I saw him, wearing some goggles and carrying a weird fancy cane that had fabric attached to it. He was a unicorn, meaning he must have paid a lot to get up into Cloudsdale.
He sat right beside me, even though there was a seat right next to him that he could have taken. I sat there staring at the ground and feeling uncomfortable.
Who was this pony? And what is he holding? I questioned in the back of my mind.
I continued to stare at the ground, wondering who this pony was. When the show started, I glanced up at the stallion to get a better look, only to see that he was staring at me with a smirk plastered on his face.
Was he staring at me the whole time!? I blushed and looked straight forward, daring not to make eye contact with the strange stallion. I had never felt so uncomfortable as I did at that moment.
Stop staring at me...
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him lift his head up towards the sky. I dared not shift my gaze out of fear we would make eye contact again. Then, he lifted his weird contraption into the air and I watched in awe as the sides opened up to create a dome above myself and he.
I opened my mouth to complain but was silenced by a sound. A familiar, wonderful sound that brought memories of that time back in kindergarten. I looked up and could hear the sounds of water droplets hitting the contraption.
The stallion looked up and smirked.
"I told them! I told them those everfree clouds would come! But they never listen to the scientist. Those dim witted politicians,". I was absolutely astonished and mesmerized. It was raining, in Cloudsdale.
How is this possible? How did he know? Who is this pony? What was he holding? I asked all these questions, repeated them, and more. But they were all silenced as I gazed into his eyes. His eyes were like waterfalls leading into an abyss. They sparkled like the water droplets reflecting the light that dropped around us. I wanted to run out into the rain, but was to captivated by his eyes.
"I'm Sunshower,"
"Cloud," He replied.
As everything around us was in chaos and ponies were running left and right to get out of the rain, we just sat there. It was breathtaking. He, was breathtaking.
Soon after we went inside, we talked about who we were, what we liked, what we did, etc. He was a scientist who studied weather patterns in the Everfree forest who lived in Ponyville. Seeing that I had an interest in rain, he asked me if I wanted to join him on one of his expeditions. I said yes with enthusiastic vigor and hugged him. He smelt like an oak tree dribbled with petrichor. I hugged him tighter and smiled.
I never went back to Cloudsdale after that.
Nyctophilia
I continued on my way to the outskirts of Ponyville. I passed the train station before continuing off into into the wet muddy fields. I slowed my pace, trying to avoid the muddy spots on the field. Mostly though, I had no choice other then to walk through the mud in displeasure. I stopped and gazed up at the sky. It was still raining. Less then heavily, but more then a drizzle.
I closed my eyes as I let tranquility overtake me and relaxed as I stood out in the rain. Water droplets ran down the sides of my cheeks and fur as if coaxing me to sleep. I imagined looking at myself from afar and admiring at how graceful I must have looked.
I opened my eyes again to the sound of thunder catching up with me. I whipped around and heard it again. It's mighty crackle flew through the air and frightening all that stood in it's wake. But it could never scare me. The next time it thundered, it came a lot closer then before. As if, it was following me.
I put a smirk onto my face and giggled a little. I looked out at the field. I scraped the grass with my hoof and snorted in anticipation.
"Come and get me," I whispered.
I ran, full speed ahead feeling the mud splash onto my fur, staining it brown and sticking to it as if clinging on for dear life. Some flew up into my mouth. I gagged and spit it out before laughing manically.
"Woohoo!" I cried at the top of my lungs while laughing in joy. "Try and catch me!". I ran as the thunder started to produce a constant boom that always trailed right behind me. It was close, but it wasn't loud at all. I tried to jump in as many puddles as possible. Prancing around from puddle to puddle. I felt like a child.
As I splashed, I could see the grass underneath the water as my kinetic energy made temporary craters. Like a small window into what laid at the bottom of those puddles. Water would splash in every direction, washing off the mud as I went along. I felt a if it was chasing me, like we were playing tag.
I eventually tripped and flew into the air. But before I landed, I managed to turn myself over and land on my back. I laid there in silence for a couple of moments before bursting out in laughter. I returned to silence, trying to listen out for the thunder. I couldn't hear it. I smiled and listened to the roar of the rain surrounding me everywhere I went. It always felt so relaxing listening to the rain.
I moved my limbs up and down to make a mud angel. After a while of this, I got up and looked at my handy work. It looked horrible. I rolled my eyes thinking, whatever and continued on my way.
We named her Rainshine. She was gorgeous in every way. Her mane was turquoise like mine, but with highlights of sky blue mixed in, just like her father. And also just like her father, her coat was all white. When she sleeps, her snores were the most adorable thing in the world. Only second to the way she smiled. She was our pride and joy. When we felt down, she was the one thing that could turn it all around.
I could no longer tag along on the expeditions into the Everfree forest to study cloud activity. I was forced to stay at home and take care of the baby. Which really, I didn't complain all that much. Sure, it was sad knowing my days of adventuring would cease for a while, but I cherished every moment with her. It was well worth the sacrifice.
When Rainshine turned 7, we were confident enough to hire a babysitter to take care of her. I could finally rejoin the monthly expedition. It was when our team entered the heart of the Everfree forest did we discover Rainshine. It turned out that she hid inside one of my colleagues bags. I was so mad at the time. I scolded her for a good 5 minutes. She was passive, and didn't care much for being patronized. So, when we decided to keep moving, Rainshine spoke up and told us that it was going to rain 4 km northbound.
Cloud thought she was ridiculous. He said that the chance of any kind of weather activity in the area was 4%. Rainshine complained and complained, swearing that it was going to rain there. One of our staff said that she had to get samples from the pond near the area anyways. Might as well now then later.
So, we agreed and continued to walk along. Rainshine got out one of our umbrellas and propped it open. Her father laughed in disbelief. And, wouldn't you know it, it rained.
"I told you! I told you! I told you it would rain, but you never listened!" I looked over to Cloud who stared at me. I laughed and he laughed harder as we recalled the day we met at the wonder bolts stadium.
Our daughter, could not only detect weather pattern days in advance, but also determine precisely where it would happen. She joined us on our expeditions ever since.
The water still rained heavily all around me. Continuing it's dull roar that permeated the everything. My fur and mane were at their maximum carrying capacity for soaking up any water. My movements then started to become sluggish, though it never bothered me.
Then, I finally reached my destination. I could see it just ahead of me, a hill where a single bench had sat atop it. A place that was a reservoir for many memories.
It was gradual, but I could feel the ground beneath me beginning to steepen. Though it was strange, I didn't remember the hill being so difficult to climb. And you see how I use the word climb instead of walk which was what I should have been doing as I did so many months ago.
Halfway through, I stopped to take a break. Having my head hung low, I raised it and looked up to the top. I took a deep breath, searching for that marvelous petrichor. But it had turned out that my time in the rain had me desensitized to it's fragrance. Still, reminding myself of the fresh air didn't hurt me.
When I finally reached the top, I staggered towards the bench with flimsy hooves and took a deep sigh of laxness. I propped myself onto the bench. At first, then wood felt cold to touch, but after a few moments the cold subsided and my body heat was able to offer comfort. The sounds of thunder began to boom from a far off distance.
We always called this place "the hill," though that was improperly worded because it was actually a cliff.
I was overjoyed when she received her cutiemark. I cried tears of joy. Her cutiemark meant it was official. She was now a permanent member of our team. We celebrated with a small party with a couple of our friends, and a couple of Rainshine's. Rainshine didn't have to many friends, but the ones she did have were inseparable to her. Tightly bounded from the strings of friendship that brought them together.
A few days later, we had the expedition. It turns out that one of Rainshine's friends had the Pegasus pox. It was in it's early stages so detecting it would've been impossible without special equipment. Fortunately, Rainshine didn't catch the disease. Unfortunately, I had.
I had to skip out on the expedition. They begged me stay, but I kept protesting I wanted to go. Eventually, logic kicked in and I agreed. They too pestered on about staying, yet I insisted they go on the expedition. I told them that they had to go or else our research would be discontinued by the government. They had to go.
I wish they never came to their senses.
The expeditions usually took around a week or so, and in that time my pegasus pox only got worse. It was a rare case where if I didn't receive medical attention, the disease could have been lethal. So after I collapsed on the floor, I was rushed to the hospital. One of my old friends was visiting at the time, what luck.
After I was rushed to the hospital I woke up to nurses chattering about all around me. When I finally awoke, I immediately asked, "Where's my family?"
"They haven't came back ma'm." one of the nurses replied.
"But they should be here by now," I complained.
"I'm sorry ma'm I just don't know."
And so, I laid down on that bed. I waited for days. I hoped, prayed and wished as hard as I could, all so they would be back. Then, after my 4th day hospitalized,they finally put up a search warrant.
Everyday, the police would come in and tell the situation on and everyday they would tell me the same thing. I was terrified, but still I hoped for their return.
My condition wasn't getting any better either. Thank goodness it didn't get worse then it did, but it never got better. Right as I was about to lose hope, the officer told me that they were found. But the way he said it, made my heart slumped into the pits of my stomach.
I don't want t get into the details, but they were found at the the bottom of some ravine deep in the Everfree. I was advised not to see the pictures, but I had to see them for the sake of my sanity. I really wish I didn't.
So for a another week or so, I sat in my bed. A lot of nights had me crying and screaming for my family to be with me. I thought I was going to die. And all I wanted was for my family to be with me. I just wanted them to be around me, to comfort me, to tell me how their day was, to just about anything. As long as they were there, I would have been happy.
I eventually got better, but it had turned out the disease had taken away my magic abilities and I could no longer fly. I could never again fly through the rain. But then again, fate had not aloud me to die which I was, in part, grateful for. Just for the sake of life.
The months after that seemed to just strip me apart. I was eventually reduced to feeling alone, bitter, hateful, and just a concoction of negative emotions. I was alone. And alone I would always be.
And so that brings us back to here. It's been exactly a year since they were confirmed to be dead. I sit here on this bench, imagining the world I would have lived if they were in it. I look over to my right and it's a sunny day outside, gross weather if I may add, and I see him raising her into the sky.
"I wanna be like mommy dad!" I would hear her cry as her father's magic made her soar through the sky. I imagine her laughing as I keep crying out to be careful. What a life I could have had with them. What a world that would have been.
"What a life we could have had..." I said though I wasn't able to hear myself under all the rain. As if in response, the clouds above started to thunder softly. I smiled when the clouds did that.
"I sometimes wonder if it's you up there. You and our child. Sprinkling down on us mortals. Watching me, protecting me." I said aloud. I smiled. But my smile gradually turned into a frown.
"Why? Why did you have to go..." I whispered to myself.
"Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn't you both just come home...why couldn't..." I paused.
"Why couldn't we be happy!? Why! Why! Why!" I yelled up at the clouds.
The clouds didn't respond. Nothing responded. I didn't blame them, you can't tell if somebody is crying in the rain. You can't tell tears and raindrops apart.
I sobbed there on the bench just as I did when I finally got out of the hospital. Never, for a moment did I forget why I suffered. Why I was miserable. Why I was crying. Never, did I forget why I loved the rain. I can be myself in the rain. I could always be myself around them.
The rain continued to pour down. It comforted me as I sobbed, and eventually my crying had ceased.
I took a step forward. The clouds crackled in response. My body felt distorted and my face soar from the uncomfortable position I had took on bench as I sobbed.
I took another step. The clouds now softly thundered above me as if questioning my actions.
Another step. That's when it clicked. Suddenly, thunder and lightning violently jolted all around me with such fury it scared me half to death. I staggered back a little.
"I'm sorry, I just can't..." The clouds continued to thrash about violently with thunder and rage telling me to step back. To run in the opposite direction to try and scare me to live. But now, I wasn't phased at all. I continued to walk forward. I continued to walk forward to the edge of the cliff.
Bursts of lightning shot through the sky creating a terrifying showcase of sounds and visuals. I did not want to nor could I slow down my pace at this moment.
With every step I took, the sky above me only grew more chaotic as hell was being unleashed above and all around me. I was being pushed by powers unknown to my conscious being. My will to live drowned by the sadness and grief of their loss. I couldn't live. It was to much to bear, to much to endure. I just wanted them by my side once more, to hear them one more time.
I was at the edge of the cliff now. My hooves firm on the ground despite it's lubricated surface. The wind pushed me back with such force that the water droplets around me once my friends, had now turned into painful daggers that shot pains similar to to pins and needles everywhere where stimuli could be felt.
I looked back for a moment. In this moment that lasted for a fraction of second I saw my life without them. I saw myself moving back to Cloudsdale. I saw myself meeting up with some pals and seeing how they were doing. Along the way, meeting a new stallion who had a motherless foal, and being her new mother, a new family. I saw myself moving on and continuing to live my life without them in peace. I saw a new life of happiness.
But by this point it was too late. Gravity had pulled me down.
I saw the raging sea that the storm had fueled to become all the more deadly crashing against the sides of the cliff in anger. I didn't feel anything I had no time to feel regret. Only the lingering pain of sadness over took me as I fell off that cliff.
I close my eyes and listen to the rain. Oh how I loved the rain. I could always be myself in the rain. The rain made everything seem so beautiful. It always reminded me of them. And for a moment, under the roar of the relaxing patters of rain drops, under the lightning and thunder, under the cacophony that was the rain, I could hear them laughing. I heard them laughing from over the cliff. I could see them running around the field as they played tag.
I smiled. Soon, I would join them. And that thought, was even more lovely and brought me more joy then my love for the rain could ever bring. Yes, I loved the rain, but not as much as I loved them.
Rain rain go away
come again another day
the little fillies want to play
rain rain go away
Author's Note
My school is on strike so I've been inside all week and i's raining a lot outside. Decided to go for a walk, and it felt awesome. The walk inspired this fic. I really recommend walking in the rain with a bathing suit and some sandals. The harder it pours, the better. It feels awesome. Leave a towel at your front door before you go, for obvious reasons. You might be surprised of all the ideas that pop into your head.
