Chapters Rainbow Dash was hovering above the Everfree, wings absentmindedly beating to keep her in the air while she considered her next move. She was practising for the next Young Fliers Competition, which was to be held in Cloudsdale next month. Sure, last time she’d made an impact. Saving the Wonderbolts like that? The Rainboom? That was awesome.
This time, however... Dash wanted to blow the competition out of the sky. Literally. Which was why she was practising: for the biggest flying innovation since she herself had proven the Rainboom to be more than an old mare’s tale. The Double Rainboom was something she’d never even heard about before Twilight had pulled out one of her musty old books, but now she was determined to try it.
The concept was to complete a normal Rainboom- a task in itself- then to slow down just enough to slip below the sound barrier, then break it again. The problem was, if she slowed down while diving at those speeds she’d rip her wings off. The solution to this was to pull out of the first dive and swerve upwards, losing speed before diving a second time. Twilight had assured her that it should work, but Dash was still a little...apprehensive. Not scared though: she’d never felt more alive than when she was pushing her body beyond the limits of its capability. All the same, she was rather attached to her wings...
“Just do it Dash. You’re the best flier in Equestria after all. Let’s make this 20% cooler.”
She fell out of the sky, diving toward the ground, her whole body somehow tense and relaxed at the same time, her face screwed up against the rapidly increasing pressure, a whining sound in her ears.
Rainbow was ready for it, she could feel it, the sound barrier was about to be SHATTERED by her Rainboom. Suddenly- WHAM! She connected with something soft and warm, and was catapulted backwards up through the sky.
Being Equestria’s greatest flier, she quickly realigned herself, diving to see who she had hit: who had been flying out in the middle of the Everfree forest? She could see a small shape spiralling out of control towards the ground; accelerating, she was able to make out a slight grey figure with a flaxen mane. The pegasus’ wing was bent at an odd angle and she was trying to slow her uncontrolled descent with the other. Dash saw the ground approaching rapidly and knew that the small pegasus would be lucky to survive making impact from this height, at this speed.
Instinctively, she went into freefall, desperately trying to catch up the fragile pony before she smashed into the ground.
Having slowed down to a relatively normal speed, her rainbow trail fading, she headed for Ponyville’s hospital, where the mare could get her wing checked. Judging by the angle, and the speed at which they had collided, her wing was broken in at least one place, possibly two.
Dash peeked down at the mare in her arms; it was Derpy, Ponyville’s mailmare and unofficial mascot. Additionally... the cutest mare Dash had ever seen. She was shy, so they hadn’t spoken, but Dash had always wanted to get to know her better .Good job, Dashie. Way to go, she fumed internally, way to pick up a mare. Way to screw up.
Stealing another glance, Dashie realised that the wall-eyed mare was shyly glancing up at her from behind her forelock. When their eyes met, she blushed and looked away, wincing slightly in pain from the motion. Dash automatically re-adjusted her grip and couldn’t help but notice how soft Derpy was.
“I’m so sorry I-“
“Thank you so much for-“
Face burning, Rainbow focused on the rhythm of her wing beats, trying to keep Derpy’s wing from jolting as she flew.
“Hey! We need a doctor over here!”
A harried looking Nurse Redheart trotted over, muttering
Rainbow made to carry Derpy across the waiting room to the door that was being indicated, but was stopped by the Nurse.
“She can walk, can’t she? It’s just the wing?”
Now that the Nurse had pointed it out, Rainbow could suddenly feel how tightly and protectively she was holding Derpy, and how the little mare was actually... holding her back, looking up at her with calm, trusting eyes. As Dash gently lowered her to the ground, lingering just to make sure that Derpy’s hooves supported her weight –and that was the only reason- she felt like she didn’t ever want to let her go.
Derpy stood for a moment, looking adorably woozy, then, whispered while looking at the ground;
She quickly leaned up and pecked Dash on the cheek, blushing, and turned and walked through the door, disappearing from view around a corner.
A lightness, a feeling of utter joy, more potent than a Rainboom, better than winning a race or any competition, spread through Dash’s body. She stood there, stunned and smiling, for a while. What would she do now? It was too late to go in after her... she could sit in the waiting room until Derpy came out, but what if they made her stay the night? Just how badly had she injured the little pegasus?
Dash decided she would stay in the waiting room. If Derpy didn’t come out before it closed, she’d come back the next day and ask to see her. Just to see if she’s okay. I wonder if she likes chocolate? Doesn’t she like muffins? A lot? I’ll ask Pinkie Pie to teach me how to make them.
She slouched down in the waiting room, pulled out a hospital copy of Daring Do and the Archaeological Escapades of Awesomeness, and began to read. With the thought of Derpy hurt, it was impossible to stay still and concentrate on the plotline. After a while she put away the book and took to simply staring at the wall. She stayed until the hospital staff forced her to leave.
Author's Note
Just the usual, guys: first fic ever, please do point out any inconsistencies or mistakes. Hope you liked it!
Derpy's eyes snapped open, blinking several times before the scene above her clarified. A wide, white expanse stretching far into her peripheral vision was all she could see from her supine position, and a synthetic smell of bleach pierced her olfactory awareness. She was aware of a cool breeze and, turning her head, could see the late summer morning's sunlight piercing what looked like a hospital ward. She was in a bed near a window looking out onto a lazy blue sky, with a curtain on the other side of her.
"Welcome back, Derpy. You've been out for a while!"
The voice made her jump, or would have if her limbs hadn't felt so heavy. Turning her head to the other side, she saw Doc Horse, holding a clipboard and smiling at her.
"Wh-What day is it?"
"It's Thursday, Derpy. The anaesthetic we used to operate on your wing could be making your brain a little fuzzy. Don't worry, it'll come back. Yesterday, you were brought in around..."
The Doc's voice blurred into the background's summery noises as Derpy's memories began fighting for prominence: flying above the Everfree; a sudden, sickening thud; agony in her wing; in Rainbow Dash's warm embrace; leaning in for the kiss...
Suddenly, she started again, attempting to squirm out of bed, however her limbs were still sluggish and she was impeded by her bandaged wing, managing merely to become entangled in her bedsheets. Doctor Horse hurried forward to the side of the bed, ready to steady her if she began to fall.
"What's wrong, Derpy?", he asked concernedly.
Still struggling to extricate herself from the sheets, Derpy huffed:
"It's okay, the post has already been and gone this morning. I'm somewhat surprised that you managed to sleep through it, actually. Your shift's covered. In fact, a letter was delivered for you, from the Postmistress. You certainly picked the right mare to crash into, Derpy."
Chuckling, the Doc hoofed over a letter and moved out of view beyond the curtain, undoubtedly to attend another pony in his busy morning schedule.
Curious, Derpy opened the letter, somewhat messily, pulled it out, and began to read:
Dear Derpy: I hope you're feeling well, dear; I heard about that accident. Don't worry about your shift, that Rainbow Dash volunteered to cover it for you. She's not doing too badly, but we did have a spot of bother when she determined to deliver all of Ponyville's mail "in ten seconds flat". Luckily, we did mange to redirect most of the mail correctly, but not after Twilight Sparkle stepped in. While it may indeed be faster, I do not approve of using magic to deliver the mail; however, in this case it is a necessary evil. Despite our initial problems, Ponyville's mail was, after all, delivered in time. All the same, I'll be glad when you're better and ready to resume your shift Get well soon, Derpy!
The note was footed by an illegible scrawl that Derpy knew to be the Postmistress's signature.
She had only begun to contemplate the ways in which post might be delivered "in ten seconds flat" before she heard a thud and a rattle of the window next to her bed. Turning, she could see only the shaking, closed, windowpane and a single blue feather lazily drifting downward outside. A sheepish cyan head wearing an embarrassed grin poked into the frame's view and began to gesture toward the window, enacting what looked like an interpretive dance about Winter Wrap Up, but which Derpy construed to be a request to open the window.
Joining in the odd mime routine, Derpy attempted to convey that alighting her bed was, in her current, bandaged state, rather unwise. Her movements were getting more smooth, and, unaccustomed to the ease of movement which rendered the previously super-pony efforts required to move her limbs unnecessary, almost toppled from the bed again.
Rainbow's face contorted with laughter -amid a brief flash of concern for Derpy's wellbeing- before pulling a face that could have only expressed an epiphany, in which she managed to somehow elongate her face unnaturally whilst also squishing her cheeks together with her hooves, and she disappeared. A few seconds later, in quick succession: the sound of banging doors, followed by myriad undignified screeches and an indignant roar of "NO FLYING IN THE CORRIDORS!", Dash's head poked around the corner of Derpy's privacy curtain, to see her shaking with deep belly laughs, helplessly flailing her limbs in order to fully express her feelings.
"Hey! What's so funny?", Dash demanded as she scooted forward to the bedside, holding a large package in her hooves.
"Oh, nothing..." snickered Derpy, "Just... your face!"
"Oh yeah? Well, we'll see what's so funny about my face when you see... THIS!"
And, opening the box, she plopped the box she had been holding onto Derpy's bed, and, pausing before the big reveal, allowed a familiar and infinitely tempting scent to pervade the air. All traces of amusement vanished from Derpy's face as her eyes widened and she let out an ecstatic squeak:
Proud of herself, Dash replied, smirking;
"On the other hand, it would be a shame to let all of these sweet, sweet muffins go to waste..."
The look on Derpy's face as she all but dove into the muffins had made the morning's labour more than worth it, thought Dash as she nibbled on one herself; definitely worth it.
Author's Note
This chapter as been brought to you by the power of procrastination. Hope you enjoy!
Dash soared over the roof of the hospital, angling just enough to fit her wingspan through the diagonal length of the window, and glided into the ward. Once she’d cleared the bed, which was just a blur in her peripheral vision, she touched down, swinging her weight around behind her so that she was facing the way she’d come. A deafening squeal echoed through the ward as her hooves slid along the tiled floor.
With a smile smugly tweaked to the side, Dash prepared to behold that beautiful mixture of surprise and childish glee that appeared on Derpy’s face whenever she made such an entrance, and to receive the warm greeting that she was now sure of, never the less enthusiastic for its twice daily occurrence. Upon hearing nothing but an angry
Could she have gone home? Wouldn’t she wait for me? The Doc said that she could leave today, but I thought that she’d still be here... What happened? Did I say something? Was I too brash? I know I messed up with that tuba; why did I think it a good idea to send her a tuba?
Lost in thought, stressing out, Dash hadn’t heard the Doc’s hoofsteps until he was standing right beside her.
“Looking for Derpy, Rainbow? I’m afraid you’ve just missed her. She left this morning; we gave her the all clear.”
Heart now well and truly around her hooves, Dash nodded and mechanically turned back towards the window. Maybe she’d drop by Derpy’s house, all casual-like, and ask how she was. Maybe she’d write to her... to someone, anyway, and swing by the Post Office later to drop it off, just as Derpy was coming off-shift.
Just as she was preparing to take off through the window, Dash was stopped by a hoof on her shoulder, and turned to face the Doc, who was smiling apologetically.
“Uh, Rainbow, maybe don’t use the window. Hospital policy, you know how it is. No flying in the corridors and all that.”
“Right, yeah, got it. I’ll just go out the doors, then”.
Head low, Dash began to walk toward the curtain dividing Derpy’s ‘room’ at the end of the ward. She felt... odd. Heavy. Upset. Just the thought of seeing Derpy had made her feel so light inside. Her hospital visits had become the highlight of each day; she hadn’t realised just how much Derpy had meant to her. She was coming to the realisation that the little mailmare had touched her heart.
It doesn’t mean anything. She was probably busy. She had to be somewhere, or something. Anyway, Dash, what makes you so special? Why would you think that she’d stay for you? Why-
Ripping the dividing curtain across, she was suddenly stupefied as a raucous noise assailed her ears: horns, party poppers and-she could just hear it- a tuba ? Bright streamers erupted from either side of her, and a cloud of pink obscured her vision.
“Were you surprised? Were you? Were you? I bet you were! ‘Cause you came in, and your face was all like ‘I’m so sad, I bet all of Ponyville’s lakes could be filled with the tears my soul is weeping’! And I was all like, SURPRISE! And your face was all like, WHAAAAAT? It was priceless!”
Rainbow was unable to change the shape of her face from an expression of gobsmacked surprise, but as Pinkie Pie continued to babble excitedly, she could make out the faces of her friends and various denizens of the hospital: Applejack over near the wall, next to a huge barrel of cider; Rarity conversing with Filthy Rich; Nurse Snowheart, holding a cup in one hoof and tending to a pot plant with the other; Mr Greenhooves, shredding it on the dance floor and enjoying his new hip to its fullest capacity.
“Wow, Pinkie, this is really amazing- wait, how did you get a dance floor in here? And why didn't I hea-“
Dash was cut short by Pinkie sliding out of her field of view, one hoof over her mouth, displaying an obnoxiously prolonged wink.
“Shh....”
She was spared from the mental confusion of figuring out just how Pinkie had managed to disappear and then reappear, instantly, on the dance floor a good ten wingspans away, by the awareness of another being beside her.
Startled, Dash turned to see the cool grey face and sweet golden brown eyes of Derpy, shining with excitement. Her bandages had been taken off, and there was a tuba round her neck. Leaning in, she whispered, giggling, into Dash’s ear,
Relief flooded through Dash’s entire body, cooling her down from the inside out, and her face split in a broad grin, for the first time breaking the mask of shock that it had been frozen in. Instinctively, Rainbow swept her up in a bear hug and swung her in a huge arc, barely avoiding some nearby nurses.
Looking into Derpy’s eyes as the scenery blurred, holding her tightly, Dash leaned in, closed her eyes, and kissed her squarely on the lips. The taste of Derpy flooded through her, like a shot to her system. Her heartbeat was loud in her ears; everything else had been dulled. Everything seemed to move in slow motion, spiralling out from on the point where their lips touched.
Thus it was in slow motion that Dash felt her centre of gravity swing away from her body, felt herself began to fall towards Derpy. Twisting mid-air, she reversed their positions so that it was her body that slammed into the tile floor, jarring from the impact, and it was Derpy’s warm body that fell into her arms.
Opening her eyes again, slightly dazed from the consecutive collisions, Dash saw Derpy’s face just a few featherlengths away, her adorable eyes peering concernedly into her own. The loud beat of the bass speaker shook the floor underneath them as Rainbow hugged Derpy closer, and with impeccable timing (as is always the case in such situations) yelled,
Instantly becoming aware of the ring of ponies around them, Dash’s ears twitched as the full awkwardness of the situation sunk in. It really didn’t help that, while nopony near them was speaking, from the left it was easy to hear a shrill
The awkwardness deepened.
Derpy’s eyes widened, and it was possible to make out the sound of a shattering record.
Dash was praying for some terrible event to threaten Ponyville so that everyone would look away, or at least somepony would say something. Where was an Ursa when you needed one? An Ursa Minor destroying the main street of Ponyville would definitely distract attention from her intensely blushing face, right?
Finally, just as the final vestiges of her soul were being consumed by mortification, Dash heard a quiet
Despite in the previous moment being intensely sensitive to the stares of those surrounding them, suddenly Dash found herself unable to care much as she received an urgent delivery of a small bundle of enthusiastic, adorable and delectable kisses, care of Ponyville’s favourite mailmare.
The music began again in the background with an epic drop and the sound of an unfortunate somepony being thrown out of a window by an epic onslaught of wub.
Author's Note
This chapter is brought to you by the power of exam stress, epic procrastination and inopportune cold-catchings. Please enjoy this chapter, and feel free to point out any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Amid the Streets of Ponyville
Derpy's hurt wing brushed against the narrow shelves used to haphazardly store the parcels and packages awaiting pickup, and she winced slightly. That area was still painful, and being chronically accident-prone, Derpy earned her fair share of dings and bumps in the confines of her own home, let alone in a workplace sporting a bruised wing.
However, she was ecstatic to be back at work, doing what she loved best; sorting, scribbling, erratically sticking 'return to sender' stickers on letters and parcels, organising re-directs, and, her favourite, distributing parcel cards to the post-office boxes. The Postmistress watched bemusedly from a corner, shaking her head and smiling. Derpy's system may be haphazard, but she always worked her hardest, and to general surprise, the Postmistress considered her the best mailmare under her care.
Which, she mused, could be more of a reflection on the work ethics of the other postponies... Her gaze lingered on the wizened stallion in the corner, sporting an outsize hunting cap and dozing lightly, muttering under her breath. Despite appearances though, she knew him to be of great assistance in the archives, and besides which, during his seemingly interminable years in her service he had memorized the address and post office box number of everypony in Ponyville. Satisfied with the proceedings, she left to preside over the counters and assist with difficult customers.
Humming a pop-y tune, and occasionally breaking into song, Derpy placed the last few of the many parcels she had processed that morning onto the appropriate shelf.La la la la la la... All I really need's a smile to brighten up my day... da da da da da da ... if I am sad or blue...da da da da da da da da... and Dashie loves me too ..."
It was almost ten: she had been up since four, first letter sorting, then a brief lull until the parcel drop at seven. Derpy knew she should be tired, but she had never been so excited to be alive: the sky was almost hidden behind the shifting, billowing giants of clouds, there was a warm, gentle breeze blowing that she knew would make for perfect flying conditions higher up.
The schedule on the wall told Derpy that she'd be clocking off in five minutes, and back at five for the evening post just before closing time. Before, she would have busied those last few minutes folding boxes, or distributing 'unaddressed mail', as she had to call it so as not to offend those who paid good money to advertise their goods in the mailboxes of Equestrian citizens, but today she couldn't settle to anything, waiting to come off shift.
As the clock struck ten, all that betrayed Derpy's erstwhile presence was a clattering of hooves resounding through the side street in which the Post Office sat, and all the fillies at the front counter hid giggles behind their hooves before being reprimanded by the Postmistress and returning to their work.
Having merged into the main street, Derpy slowed her stride to a gentle trot. Apart from it being dangerous to canter in crowded places such as the main street, she simply revelled in the life present, and wanted to savour it all: the chattering voices, the sweet smells of flowers and daisy cakes, the calls of artists and artisans lauding their wares.
There was something a bit odd, she noticed: the eyes of those chattering ponies, diners and florists and artisans seemed to follow her, and more than once she caught her name. She didn't mind; she was a well known figure in Ponyville, and called out greetings to those whose eyes she met.
There was a lot to gossip about, after all, she reasoned. The altercation between Vinyl Scratch and Nurse Fractia had bloomed into an all-out blood feud between the musical and medical communities: both sides had clashed, in ways both subtle ('mislaid' medical fees, mysterious refusals to grant a bill of good health, much illicit orchestral activity in the halls) and more violent. A few prominent members of Ponyville society had spent a night in the local prison after being charged with 'aggravated assault with a blunt instrument'.
Her having been there, at the time that this blood-feud had begun, gave her testimony much credence in the eyes of the local gossips, but thus far she had successfully avoided them. Besides which, they might even have been talking about the other consequence of the party- that she, Derpy, had tamed the raging bachelor Rainbow Dash!Well, no, that wasn't true at all , she thought. I thought that Dashie was super aloof, and really mysterious, and maybe a bit scary. But it turns out that she's as kind, and as sweet as anypony I know! Besides -and she began to giggle- it's hard to be in awe of such a massive cuddle-fiend!
Almost unconsciously, she quickened her pace as she near her house, which she knew contained not only her prized collection of exotic muffin recipes, but also- how she could barely believe it- a sleeping, adorably drowsy Rainbow Dash! Derpy's trot- canter became more of a skip as she envisioned strolling into the bedroom: holding a trayful of muffins, a teapot and a mug of steaming coffee, she would open the curtains and nonchalantly say " 'Morning, Dashie!"
And as she bounded through the gate, flew up the path and threw open the front door, her sky-high mood plummeted faster than her jaw as she heard somepony, in a shrill voice, call out to her:
"Freak! Weirdo! Fillyfooler! "
Author's Note
So, sorry for being inactive for so long: I went on holiday to Africa and Europe, which was pretty sweet. However, I'm back now, and so will be posting (hopefully) regular chapters! As ever, if I have made any mistakes, please do feel free to correct them. Hope you like it!
“ Fillyfooler!”
Dash cursed as her pleasant, drowsy state was shattered by the shrill squeals coming from outside the house. Couldn't the foal be more considerate of those trying to sleep at this ungodly hour? For Celestia's sake, it was only- she peered blearily at the clock over the door- ten a.m. and an as-yet unidentifiable number of minutes. Ten a.m. was way too early for such a ruckus, what in Equestria were that filly's parents - Dashie's train of thought suddenly jumped the tracks as her brain's machinery was beginning to squeal into motion- ten a.m. was the time Derpy got off work.
With that thought finally piercing the caffeine-deprived fug of her brain, everything seemed to click into place. Kicking off the sheets and scrambling out of bed in an ungainly fashion, she began to canter toward the front door, avoiding the various tables and shelves filled with flowers, books and little works of art that Derpy had strewn all over her house with mixed successes. The clattering of her hooves was echoed at intervals with a crash or the protesting din of furniture thrown hastily to one side. She would have flown, but her wings needed a stretch to work out the stiffness after such a long sleep, and Derpy had had to have some stern words with her about the impracticality of flying inside a house that wasn't made entirely of clouds.
As she rounded a corner in the hallway, she almost ran straight into Derpy, who was standing facing into the cottage, mouth slightly open and tears welling up inside her eyes. Gently scooting past her, Dash stuck her head out of the door and saw nothing but what could be expected in a quiet suburb of Ponyville on a school morning: empty streets, compulsively well-kept lawns and an ever retreating cloud of dust hinting at the rapid retreat of a very intolerant little filly. Resisting the urge to scream certain choice phrases at the dissipating cloud (they were only just back on speaking terms with the neighbors after an embarrassing incident she was still loathe to mention, except to protest that she was entirely innocent of all wrongdoing), she withdrew with a sigh and moved to face Derpy.
Rather than seeing her mare-friend immediately, however, Dash had to look around, and finally down, to see a little puddle of adorable grey misery on the polished floorboards at her feet.
As she knelt beside Derpy, Dash pulled her into a close hug, holding her so tightly she squeaked and burying her own face in that sweet-smelling golden mane. Her stomach and entire torso was churning with an almost overpowering wave of fury, her mind of spinning and wheeling and crashing into the same blank brick wall and her heart was filling with the tears that she wouldn't let leak out of her eyes. For a second she held it in, but then her willpower was overcome and she allowed her own body to shake in concord with Derpy's wracking sobs.
Her marefriend- her marefriend - the sweetest, kindest, most caring and compassionate pony was the only thing this Celestia damned town had going for it. Didn't they realise how lucky they were to even have her here? Her smiles were contagious, her sweet nature touched every pony who saw her and the aura of love that just rolled off her continually made her a animated beam of sunlight. But now this special pony- this pony- was sobbing her heart out on the floor of her own home.
All because of the intolerance of one little filly- and Dash had a very strong idea of who that filly might be. It just seemed so insurmountable- she knew that the scream was the voicing of what most of the town was thinking, and what they were probably saying too.
But then she mentally shook herself, told herself to be strong. Hadn't she been shrugging off similar insults for her whole life? And things were different now, a lot better than they had been before. At least, in some places.
Dash pulled out from the tight hug, and held Derpy at arm's length, looking into her rich caramel eyes which were still glazed over with tears.
"Hey....Hey, shh.... It's okay, it's going to be okay. Someone needs to teach that filly some manners, but that's not important right now. She's not important right now. What is important to me is that you know that I love you.
Gazing into those sweet, shiny orbs, Dash felt another wave of emotion well inside her, but this time it was quite different: it was soft, and warm, and felt a lot like a tight hug. Leaning in again, she wrapped her special- no, Celestia damn it, her extraordinary - somepony in her arms again, and whispered in her ear conspiratorially:
" 'Sides, you know that Luna likes mares too, and she's a goddess. That's why they're so against it, because in the old days they associated it with Nightmare Moon, but I guess its slipped out of common knowledge. But I know for a fact that it was a part of her identity before and after her banishment, and she's the Goddess of the Moon. She can't be so wrong, can she?"
And giving enough time for Derpy to comprehend what she had said, but not quite enough for her to wonder just how Dash knew the intimacies of Luna's preferences, Rainbow nudged her head around and kissed Derpy on the forehead, and then on the lips.
Author's Note
Well, there's another one. I guess it's been awhile, but I wasn't really feeling motivated. Something happened today (a few things, I guess), and I just had to let it all out. So I wrote this in 50 mins, I hope that it doesn't have too many continuity/ grammatical errors in it.
If there are any, please do let me know in the comments below. I also hope that you like it, and if anyone reading this is experiencing any kind of discrimination at all, I just want to let you know that Dash's words are my own (and yes, apart from the fact that I wrote them), to you and to everyone.
In the Place of Vengeance
In the Place of Vengeance
Derpy woke up with a start, blearily peering around the darkening room. She was wrapped in a toasty little burrito of blankets and fluffy rugs, her mane all mussed and her eyes heavy. A little known fact about Derpy Hooves: she was the bemused owner of a near-perfect internal body clock, which in this case meant she knew exactly what time it was and just how late she was for her evening shift.
Oh, horse-apples...
Hey Derps, Don't freak out if you wake up and get this, okay? You were pretty tired, so I should be back before you wake up. Don't worry about your shift, I got it covered. I've just got some business to take care of, but I'll be back soon. Dashie
Derpy broke into a broad smile upon reading the note, and a pink blush crept across her cheeks as she re-read the note before climbing to her feet and making a mental note to invest in some rugs. Preferably thick ones, for safety, because, uh, floorboards are slippery and that could be dangerous for somepony if they weren't paying attention. Yeah, that was it.
I can't believe I slept through my shift! It was sweet of Dashie to go in and cover my shift. And... I won't forget what she said to me! I''ll take it to heart! After all, I'm ashamed of her either, and I won't let this change the way I feel. I can't believe I was so silly. She's worth more than that...
All the same, I should bring something for the mares at work to apologise... like muffins! Everyone loves muffins, right? And I can save some for Dashie, she was amazing today...
She began to walk into the kitchen, stifling a slight yawn, but perking up and already mentally running through her ingredients list to determine what she could make- or rather, what she couldn't make. It wasn't Zap Apple season, so her Zap Apple Splat Muffins were out, and while she'd always wanted to try it, her Poison Joke Surprise Muffins could probably wait until Halloween, even if Twilight had said something about not being able to distribute potentially harmful substances to the townspeople without their consent...
Flour and sugar began to fly around the kitchen as Derpy worked her magic in the kitchen as only she could, improvising what all of Ponyville would wager their share of Apple Family cider would be amazing muffins, which begged the question as to why she had a recipe collection at all...
And as Derpy was occupied with her masterpieces in the kitchen, the breeze that was now picking up and blowing stronger throughout the whole house tugged a little note out from where it was partially tucked under the woven doormat of her porch. Thunder (and the sound of Derpy's mixer) began to rumble through the town, citizens closed their doors and windows, and the handwritten note blew out through the streets, rising, writhing and falling again with the wind's embrace, until it became wedged in a tree outside the Town Hall. There as the rain began to fall, its words were blurred and obscured by the heavy drops:
Derpy: One of our mailmares heard about today, and we're all so sorry about what happened. We've got that new stallion taking your shift for you, so you don't need to come in. I hope that you're feeling all right after the incident, and we'd just like to say that we here at the Post Office all consider you and that sweet (if sometime erratic) mare you live with to be valuable and cherished members of our community Sincerely,
...
Dash was walking along the streets of Ponyville's wealthiest suburb: along each side of her were the country residences of the Canterlot Elite, such as Fleur de Lis and Fancy Pants (an extravagant villa of many marble columns and balconies), and of the local noveau riche who attempted to imitate them. Her usually friendly and open expression was darker than the thunderclouds massing above her head, and ponies who met her eye hurried to cross to the other side of the street so quickly that some of them tripped over their own tails.
She was in the kind of mood which would have seen her flying through the storm despite the strong and unpredictable thermal updrafts and risk of electrocution, but she also reasoned that if she were injured she'd be unable to do anything about that little brat with those parents she was going to have some stern words with in the very, very near future.
In fact, she was torn between having words with her parents and hefting a series of very large rocks through their front, double height windows imported from Germaney. A smirk that would have sent a cockatrice scuttling back into the undergrowth crossed her muzzle as she wondered just how well their triple glazing would stand up to the combined force of gravity acting on a heavy object and the strength of one very pissed off fillyfooler .
However, Dash could envision with uncanny accuracy the expression on Derpy's face if she heard that Dash had acted so vindictively, and that was enough to stop her. A brief, rebellious thought-it's not like she'd have to know - crossed her mind before she brushed it away. Something about Derpy just made her want to be better, to be kinder and gentler, to be a good pony. Something that was strong enough to counteract the dark urges running through her mind.
Suddenly, just as the clouds overhead were massing so thickly that they had all but obscured sun, letting only the weakest rays slip through to assure ponies that it was, in fact, still the day, Dash came to an abrupt stop facing the Rich mansion, home of Filthy Rich, erstwhile home of Spoilt Rich (nee Rotten), and their progeny, Diamond Tiara.
Otherwise known as a royal pain in the...
Gripping the gold-plated knocker, she raised it and brought it down aggressively three times, each time growing easier (despite its ridiculous weight) as her anger re-doubled her determination. The echoes of her knocking reverberated through the massive halls and galleries hidden behind the door, and then there was silence.
And silence...
And an almost imperceptible tapping of hoofsteps on stone floors, muffled by the thickness of the teak door, engraved and highlighted with gold leaf accents.
And then the door was wrenched open inwards, and the speech that Dash had rehearsed in her head through her resentful march up here was lost in her head as she saw the state of the pony on the threshold. Filthy Rich was clearly inebriated, supporting himself on the door frame, eyes red-rimmed and sagging. Seeing, her, he began to close the door just as soon as it had opened wide enough to register her presence, slurring:
"Look, whatever it is you're selling, I don't give a Royal-"
Rainbow all but smashed her hoof into the door, keeping it open despite his (admittedly weak) attempt to close it.
"Filthy Rich. I'm not here to sell you anything, but I think that perhaps I could enlighten you as to certain aspects of your daughter's behavior which I - and Equestria's law- believe are unacceptable and you have a responsibility to change, unless you want to have a talk with the Princess of Friendship. And I can assure you that she will be a good deal less friendly than her name might suggest."
Her firm voice seemed to spark some sort of recognition within him, and he looked her in the face for the first time, becoming more sober under her purposeful gaze. A small clatter of hoofsteps behind him broke their eye contact, and the door slammed in her face again.
Standing on the porch, Dash had a horrible feeling in her stomach, a nausea that seemed to paralyze her whole body, except for her breathing which was getting faster and louder, until she could hear it.
Sweet Luna, what have I done?
From behind the door, she heard a bellow ofMy REPUTATION, you little- ", a smash and a shrill scream.
The scream jolted her leaden limbs into action, and her wings flared automatically before she consciously commanded them to. Within a split second she'd left the porch and was streaking along the side of the house, the rainbow light in her wake illuminated by the flashes splitting the sky.
A window, she needed a window. A sudden thought struck her, and she rose above the house. there it was- a skylight running the length of the house. Through it, she could see the mezzanine level housing the families' bedrooms, and to the side and below it, the double-height gallery. Along it, a dark, unsteady shadow was lurching with an eerie calmness, but between the sonorous thunder, she could make out snatches of what he was screaming, and for a second her eyes unfocused and she dropped a few feet in the air as she remembered a different house, a different time, but a sickeningly similar scenario.
Focusing again, she searched feverishly for the small form she knew would be making her way up the stairs-foals always hide where they feel safe - and into the bedrooms. Into one, particular, abandoned bedroom. There! At the head of the stairs, a glint of metal.
She's still wearing that tiara. Her mother gave it to her.
And then, in slow motion she saw that at the other end of the mezzanine, in symmetry with his daughter, another figure at the head of another set of stairs. He had known where his daughter would go. This has happened before. This has happened before.. Looking down, feeling like she was freefalling without her wings, Dash saw the little face of Diamond Tiara looking up at the sky. A flash of lightning lit the tableaux, and all Rainbow could see was Diamond's face, blanched by the harsh light. Not fear, not terror. Not even helplessness, but a small, sad smile, like she could see into Dash's past and share all of her pain. Like she , rather than a filly desperately in need of a savior, was there to save Rainbow.
Filthy Rich began to advance on his daughter, and the scene fell into darkness once again. Without considering, without thinking, Dash dropped out of the sky. She felt as if she had rehearsed this a hundred times, and a strange calmness stole over her as she realised that she knew exactly what to do: it would be easy to get into the house. There was only one way that she could get back out. She couldn't trust her eyes not to confuse her in the storm, so she closed them as with a CRASH she broke the sound barrier, barely before sweeping through the skylight, where, seconds before, an intact pane of industrial-strength glass had blocked her path.
Rainbow angled slightly so as to slow herself down, and she could feel her ligaments protesting and tearing as her wings bore the brunt of the force of her rapid deceleration. She could see in her minds eye Diamond's position, and she hoped- she trusted in Celestia- that the filly hadn't moved from the top of the stairs.
And she skimmed the floor with her underline as she scooped a small weight into her arms, rolled onto her back so that the filly was shielded, and with a second ear-splitting BOOM shattered every window in the house as the sky opened, a deluge of rain plummeted from the clouds, and Dash flew out through the cloud of shard and powder that had been a triple-glazed, double- height window imported from Germaney.
Derpy, worried by her mare-friend's prolonged absence, opened the door with a smile and a teasing scold dying on her lips as she took in her soaked special somepony: cuts all down her sides, wings limp, and a small, quivering bundle in her arms. Without needing an explanation, without questioning the iron look in Dash's eyes, she folded them both into her warm arms and pulled all three inside, closing the door against the raging storm with her back hoof. There was a smell of fresh cinnamon apples muffins in the air, and in the brief moment when she looked outside before closing the door, there was a Double Rainboom reflected in her eyes.
Author's Note
Well, that happened. Uh, hope it wasn't too incongruous with the rest of the story. I was just reading a comment about Diamond receiving her comeuppance, and began to wonder just how that scene would play out. Thus, the redemption of Diamond Tiara.
Well, not quite. She'll have to undergo quite a bit of character development, and I think it's funny to imagine her and Rainbow clashing over small things while they find their equilibrium. But yeah, I wasn't really expecting that to happen. guess I'll have to change the tags now.
Anyway, as always, please do feel free to point out any errors grammar-wise (and no, bad writing isn't one of them). Hope you like it!
