A Revolution [ In Love ]

-- Act Four - Chapter 9 --- Three's Company...

Fan fiction by Foxvolt

--

Stepping out of the hospital was almost as sweet and savory as graduating flight school.

Dash fluttered her wings freely, stretching her sore muscles. She needed to get back in shape, after three days.

' I WILL do a sonic Rainboom... If it's the last thing I do... ' Dash thought to herself.

But for now, she had some cleaning to do...

With a grin wide as the horizon that lay before her, she took to the sky. Her destination, Home.

The feeling of the wind and the sky was just as euphoric as she hoped it would have been. Rustling through her mane, tingling her fur.

She dipped and dived, twirling in the air with practiced ease and grace. It was such a sense of freedom, soaring above everything again. How she had missed it.

The lights of Ponyville flashed by below her, and she admired their beauty, as they zoomed past.

She soon arrived on her doorstep, dropping to her hooves with a soft *thud*

She looked back at the expanse of endless sky, and sighed before walking into her abode.

It was a scene of chaos, personal items and miscellaneous things were strewn about the floor, some sticking out of the cloud, some in the walls. The bottle of Tylenol was still beside her bed where she had taken them, and the pills seemed to have to fallen through the floor.

With a great sigh, she stooped down, and retrieved the bottle, tossing it in a nearby trash can...

-- Several excruciating hours later, the entire house had been cleaned, and Dash was exhausted. Her exuberance was all but present as she could barely indulge in her accomplishment of cleanliness. Finally, with one last dramatic sigh, she collapsed onto her bed, exhausted. --

-- The Next Day, In The Royal Palace --

Celestia opened her eyes, and stared at the top of her bed's canopy. Her eyes were opened not from sleep, she could not get a wink of that, but from thought.

It was the fifteenth. Hearts and Hooves day had passed again.

She had nopony beside her.

' It's not fair! ' Celestia thought in a spur of rage.

' To be eternal... Is to outlive all things... '

Celestia felt the hardest part of her realization, and it welled up into her eyes. She squeezed them shut, and tears snuck their way between the lids, rolling down her face.

' Even love... '

It was few and far between that the Princess shed tears. The last time was when her sister, Luna, had been banished. Celestia was not heartless, just hardened from endless years of experience.

She admired the lives of other ponies, so carefree, so easy... So simple.

It is a hard thing, knowing that you will only die due to some random act of violence, to know you will never really age. To know you will never change.

Celestia opened her eyes, and looked at her cutie mark through teary eyes.

The sun, the heavenly body she took responsibility for day after day.

It was her duty to keep the seasons going, that was that.

But why should she be chained like she was? Why couldn't there be a stallion who could live beside her? Some ponies are even pairing with their own gender... That is definitely new...

Celestia laughed lightly at the thought of two mares in the same bed. That'll be the day.

' Young and reckless minds shall do as they please I suppose. '

Celestia's mind flashed to the image of Applejack and Rainbow Dash cuddled against each other in the hospital bed. It had been wrong of her to spy, but... It was something she would never forget. A revolution of sorts, a new way of thinking, where gender may be disregarded... It was a comforting thought, but slightly disturbing...

Quickly changing her train of thought, the princess walked to her balcony, and willed the sun to rise, with her magic taking hold...

--

Rainbow Dash felt something warm against her eyelids, as she was disturbed from her sleep. Cracking them open, she realized it was the sun being risen, the light being poured through her open curtain.

Sunlight...

" Aww man, I slept in! " Dash yelled aloud, suddenly alert. She had MINUTES to be to the weather station, or they would probrobally cut her pay AGAIN!

She threw on a vest with a star of authority, stepped outside, rinsing off in the rainbow falls, and took off as fast as she could towards the weather station, the intense G-force blowing any water droplets away.

She dodged several carts and pegasi going to and from the marketplace, aiming for her work.

It was in sight, and Dash pulled straight up, soaring well above the building, then backflipped into a dive straight down.

The pressure built, and she could feel the wind drag.

I'm gonna be late, c'mon!

She covered ground quickly, and pulled up just above the ground, barrel rolling to the front of the building.

She shook herself off, and walked into the building as the clock struck nine.

Several ponies glanced at her, and returned to what they were doing.

Walking behind the desk, she clocked herself in and walked into her office.

Mounds of papers lay on her desk, most were probably reports from the previous week, for which there was no use. Poking through the piles, she extracted the following week's forecast plans, and schedules, then casually kicked the rest of the papers into a large recycling bin.

She sat behind her desk, and reviewed the formations and schedules for the weather.

Tomorrow Steel Hoof leads a patrol over the Everfree to grab some cumulus, then drags them to the storage area for the next day's downpour, that Ditzy Doo leads...

The first thought in Dash's mind was " She really did change her name! " Then, " Derpy's scheduled to lead a storm division.

" IRON HOOF!! " Dash yelled, ignoring a perfectly good P.A. System. " MY OFFICE. NOW. "

All activity stopped in the building. Several whispers were heard, as the hoof steps were heard again.

' Fifteen minutes in and I already have a potential disaster... Great... Whatever, I'll get somepony to fix it. ' Dash thought, resting her head against her hoof.

There was a knock at the door. Dash raised her head, and Steel Hoof walked into the office.

" You rang Rainbow? " He asked.

Steel Hoof was one of the main stallions in charge of the plowing division, for winter, and clearing thunderstorms, for any other season.

" Actually, I yelled. I find it more... Effective. " Dash sighed. " You were the one to schedule all events and formations for the past and next few days, right? "

He nodded.

" Then why... " Dash slid the paper of the plans for the Fifteenth across her desk, " Is Derpy Hooves leading formation six? We've discussed her capabilities. "

Steel hoof stiffened slightly. " I... Her name is Ditzy Doo now, Rainbow- "

" Dash, please. " Dash corrected. Calling out on procedure wasn't a strong point in her nature, but it helped relieve some stress. Just like yelling. Yelling very loudly.

" Dash... " The stallion corrected, " I think she can handle it. We've had her on Patrol and Mail for months, I think she deserves a chance, even after her... Slip up from December... "

Both ponies shivered at the mention of the December incident. Tons of Serviceponies time and bits were spent repairing a nearly-fatal accident that was caused by nopony other that, yours truly, Derp- Ditzy.

Dash was about to object, had not a knock on the door sounded.

It opened, and Ditzy trotted in, letter in teeth, and walked to Dash's desk. She smiled as she dropped it, and trotted back out, with a wave of her hoof. As the door closed again, there was a *Thud*, and the sound of papers being spilled sounded.

" Sorry, Sorry. "

Steel Hoof sighed, shaking his head. Dash mirrored.

" She has one more shot at this. I want this to go off without a hitch, or she's on probatitory mail delivery. I don't wanna put any pony down, but she's... Dangerous. Sorry pal, but this is it. " Dash closed her eyes. Ditzy was a great pony, just too clumsy for much responsibility.

Steel Hoof nodded, and Dash didn't need to see him to know what he was thinking.

He turned to leave the room, and Dash called after him.

" I just wanted to say... " She smiled a bit. " Good job, she probably does deserve a chance. "

Steel hoof smiled, and the two Bro-hoofed. Then Steel Hoof left, and Dash was alone with nothing to do. Like usual.

That was her job, and she had to now entertain herself for hours, making it look like she was busy.

She glanced at the letter Derpy had dropped on her desk, and noted the Royal Seal ink stamp.

Cautiously, she tore the top off, a pink slip revealing itself. She tool it out and unfolded it, beginning to read

" My Loyal subject, Ms/Mrs Dash

A team of my royal guards will be with you shortly after you finish reading this letter to escort you to the royal palace. I have sent a similar notification to Ms. Applejack, as I wish to question you both on a subject I believe you both have cordial knowledge of.

Your workplace will be notified, and please do as the guards say.

Regards,
Princess Celestia of the Royal Family. "

Dash read the letter again, and again.

Guards would be here soon after she finished reading the letter? How would they know when she finished reading the lett-

At that precise moment, a flash emitted from the other aide of the room, and two unicorn stallions dressed in gold appeared before her.

" We are here to escort you to the royal palace, please come with us, Princess Celestia requests a word with you and your colleague.

As if by instinct, Dash walked to them. She wasn't aware of the situation, it happened too quickly. All she could remember was the sensation of magic coursing through her as the two stallions stood beside her.

With another flash of bright light, they were gone. The pink slip of paper fell from the desk dash had placed it on, floating slowly to the floor, and landing without a sound.

--

End Chapter 9