Into the Unknown

"What?" asked everyone in unison.

Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and restated, "I'm moving to Manehatten."

Pinkie Pie burst out with uproarious laughter making everypony turn and look at her.

"What's so funny Sugarcube?" Applejack asked.

"This has to have been one of Dashie's best pranks in a while!" Pinkie exclaimed as she rolled around on her back.

"It's not a prank Pinkie." Dash said as she stepped forward and hugged her.

"But Dash..." Pinkie started, "you can't go."

Dash just hugged Pinkie harder, and soon the other girl's were hugging Dash as well.

"I have to." Dash said quietly.

"But why Darling?" Rarity asked.

"I got a promotion. I'm no longer a weather team captain. Now I'm a regional overseer." Dash said with a sad smile.

"And the regional office you're assigned to is in..." Twilight began.

"Manehatten." Dash finished.

"That's so far away." Fluttershy pointed out.

"I know, but I'll still come and visit whenever I can." Dash said.

The group broke their hug and Dash flew up into the air.

"Stay here girls. I'll be right back." Rainbow said as she took off.

She came back moments later with a couple baskets in her hooves. Rarity grabbed them with her magic as Rainbow Dash landed. She trotted over to her friends and began to unpack them.

"What's this?" Twilight asked.

"I figured that if this was going to be one of the last times we hang out for awhile, it had better be at least somewhat cool." Dash said as she continued to pull out food and games.

"Is there any way we could make you stay?" Pinkie asked with tears in her eyes.

"I'm... I'm sorry Pinkie. I have to go. The pay is good, the insurance is great, and plus my house is owned by the Weather Bureau. If I don't go with the job I'll lose everything." Dash said sadly.

"We could support you!" Pinkie said out loud.

"If we all worked together we definitely could, darling." Rarity agreed.

Rainbow Dash sat and thought for a moment, "Where would I live?"

"I have plenty of extra rooms in the castle." Twilight said.

"And how would I make money?"

"You could work with me." Rarity offered.

"No. Just no." was all Rainbow said. "No offence Rarity, but dresses?" she made a face, "Not my thing."

"You could find a job somewhere else in Ponyville. I'm sure there's something here for you." Fluttershy stated.

"Now for the big one, the insurance?"

The other's just looked back and forth at one another. Each hoping that the other would have an answer.

"Do you know just how much damage I cause with my stunts?" Rainbow asked.

"6,572 bits on average." Twilight said almost immediately.

Rainbow Dash looked over to her with a shocked face, "Really that much?"

Twilight just slowly nodded her head.

"I can't afford to lose my insurance, and I'm definitely not gonna stop training." Rainbow Dash said.

Pinkie Pie just got up and started walking away.

"Where are you going Pinkie?" Fluttershy asked.

"I've got to go plan Dashie's Going Away Party." Pinkie said with a few sobs at the end. Soon she just broke out into tears and galloped away.

"So, I guess this is really happening huh?" Twilight asked with a sad smile.

"Yeah." Dash answered quietly. "But like I said I will come visit whenever I get a chance."

Rarity placed a hoof on Dashes shoulder, "We know you will dear." She wrapped Dash in another hug before saying, "I'm terribly sorry, but I must be going. I have a rather large order to fill." Rarity stood and began walking away.

Rainbow Dash looked over at her two remaining friends and sighed. Twilight got up and walked over to her, as did Fluttershy. The three just sat in blissful silence and watched as the sun began to set in the west. The sky began to turn into a menagerie of reds and purples as the sun sank lower.

"Are you guys mad at me?" Rainbow asked breaking the silence.

"Not at all." Fluttershy said comfortingly.

"You're doing what's best for you. We can't be mad about that," Twilight said with a smile, "but we can be sad about it."

The silence returned and the three mares sat and watched the stars appear in the night sky one at a time.