A Request from the Heart

Rainbow Dash had done it. She had finally been promoted to the manager of the entire region’s weather team. However, while the promotion was well-deserved and very appreciated, it came with its own set of daunting tasks: Endless piles of paper work, long hours, and managing the weather teams, from Ponyville to Canterlot, sapped the energy out of Rainbow Dash’s mind and body. To the contrary, the bigger paychecks and increased benefits were more than enough to make up for it.

She sat for a while in silence at her new desk, staring aimlessly at the door to her office and listening to the birds chirp as they flew by her window. Sometimes she would recline in her new genuine leather chair in an effort to catch a few z’s, but to no avail. She finally decided to go out for an afternoon fly. One unlocked window later, and she was off.

With her rainbow contour following close behind, she tore through the skies of Ponyville and stunned the invisible stadium of ponies watching her various flips, corkscrews, and barrel rolls. She wove effortlessly through the skies, letting the warm afternoon sun let its rays bathe her body in light. After flying for what felt like hours, she saw something familiar. She let out a huff and smiled, and touched down soon after.

The verdant field had started to become dotted with different colored flowers as Spring made its approach. She walked with her head bowed and her tail hanging limp behind her as she gradually made her way over to the little clearing.

She did this every day, or at least when she had the time to. She often became occupied, since her new job sought to that. However, regardless of what she was doing, time could always be made for a trip every single day. On one occasion, it was raining to the point of certain places getting flooded, and she was out there with a raincoat and hat on. No one knew where she would go or what she did during the hours between twelve and one o’clock; but then again, they didn’t really have to.

She reached the spot. It was a little patch of grass she had cleared out herself, and requested the weather team keep rain away from. It was a marker, for it was the spot where she had met Him. Her life had changed the day they met, and wanted to keep a special spot to remember that day by. As she came to this sacred little spot of hers, she laid in the grass and folded her wings to her sides as she settled in for her hour of what she called, “talking time”.

She took a deep breath, looked up at the sky, and started. “Hey, uh… how are you? I mean, I’d imagine you’re good and all, but I never really know for sure. I can fly pretty high, but getting up there is something I haven’t been able to do yet, but I’ll get there one day! Let’s see, what’s new for me… Oh, I got a new promotion! I mean, why wouldn’t I, right? I mean, I know I’m like, the most awesome-est thing in the universe! It’s about time they realized it, right? Hehe… yeah…” Her words faded as she tried to think of what to say. “So, it’s been a year. Can you believe that?! I can’t believe it’s been a year since we met? I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing things have been. Scoots is doing amazing! She goes to high school this coming year, which, honestly, I’m nervous about. She reminds me a lot of myself, and if that’s the case, she’s gonna have a real hard time with some things. I really need some help with knowing how to deal with that.”

There was a shift in the wind, and suddenly a breeze blew against her face. It was soft and warm like a steady flow of sunshine caressing her cheek. She looked down and bit her lip, dreading what she was about to say.

She looked up again, and spoke softly, letting the words out slowly. “There’s another thing...Her parents died in a buggy crash a few months back, and I honestly don’t know how she’s managed to hold on so long. I’ll be honest, she’s probably a lot stronger than I would have been.” She paused, swallowing hard. “But she’s going to break soon, I know it. I get letters from her all the time. She talks about how bad foster care is, and how the parents that come in never seem to notice her, even though she’s always trying to shine. She doesn’t know why anyone doesn’t want her, and it kills me every time she mentions it.” Rainbow looked up at the silent sky, staring for a few seconds. “I don’t know. Can you do… just something with it? I don’t care what it is… just as long as you give her someone to love her. She deserves that much.” With that, she huffed away with tears starting to gather in her eyes.

The breeze shifted once more, this time towards the skies.

Meanwhile, in a land that is unreachable unless accessed a very specific way, a King sat on a throne made of solidified rainbows and clouds. He was dressed in a long flowing crimson robe, that flashed a violet color when the light hit it; a simple golden crown placed upon his head. His scepter was nothing more than a simple wooden shepherd’s cane, and holes were in his hands and feet. Above the throne was written, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords". A winged man dressed in gleaming white armor flew to him, and bowed deeply. Once he rose, he cleared his throat.

“Your Majesty, I have that list you requested. It just came in this evening, from a blue pegasus pony. From a land called Equestria.”

The king took the scroll from the angel, and read it over. “Ah, Rainbow Dash! I love when I get to hear from her! Hmm… let me see. Oh, I miss walking with her on that field, I'd say I'll have to visit again sometime." He read further on. "Oh my. Yes, I’m very aware of this situation. Poor thing...however, I have had a solution in the works for quite some time now, and I just know that all the parties involved will love it!” He excitedly took a quill out from a container holding a very deeply red-colored ink in it, and scribbled something on the scroll, handing it back to the angel. “Thank you, Nathaniel. See that this is carried out according to My word. I pray this works.”

The angel chuckled a little bit at the King saying that. "Why would you pray when you're the One who's in charge?"

The King smiled, “Well, my young Nathaniel, There are three of us, after all. Would you like me to explain that again?”

Nathaniel threw his hands up, “No! Not that again!” He flew away quickly as the King let out a jolly belly laugh.

“Oh, that will never stop being funny…”

Back in Ponyville, about a month later, an out-of-breath Rainbow Dash was busting some clouds in the sky, cleaning up some sloppy mistakes. She wiped her forehead off as she looked around for anymore clouds that needed re-arranging. While she didn’t find any clouds, an excited Scootaloo nearly crashed into her mentor.

Rainbow was busy catching her breath when Scootaloo hovered in her face with a beaming smile and tears in her eyes, “Rainbow Dash! I have such amazing news! You may want to stop flying for this one.”

Raising an eyebrow and looking at Scootaloo through squinted eyes, Rainbow replied, “Is this one of those things where you start off with good news then that bad news thing happens? Because, I’m not in the mood for bad news today.”

“No bad news, I swear! This is all good!”

They flew down, touching down on soft green summer grass. “Okay, so you know how my life has been hell since my parents died, right?” Scootaloo asked this with smile on her face as her words raced out of her mouth, prompting Rainbow Dash to take a step back.

“Uh, yeah… Um, are you sure you’re okay?”

“Absolutely! And you know why I’m okay?!”

“Uh… no clue. Can we hurry this up? You’re starting to freak me out a little, Squirt.”

“I’m getting adopted!”

Rainbow’s mouth dropped and her eyes went wide. “No way, you’re kidding! That’s amazing, Scoots!” She picked Scootaloo up and hugged her tightly, prompting a squeak from the filly. “You have no idea how much I wanted this for you!”

“R-really?”

“Yes! Who’s adopting you? I bet it’s someone totally awesome and amazing! Who is it?!”

“It’s Applejack and her family!”

Rainbow stopped dead in her tracks. “Are you serious? That’s like, the best family to ever be adopted in! And you get a new step sister too? Can we please trade places?”

Scootaloo and Rainbow laughed, but fell silent. Rainbow looked at Scootaloo with tender eyes, a warm feeling rushing through her body. “Scoots, I’m so glad for you. I have been praying every night that something would be done. I’ve been praying ever since I heard about it! See? Just have faith kid, it’ll come back to ya.”

Scootaloo smiled. “I’ve been praying too. Strength in numbers, right?” She nudged Dash’s side, earning a giggle from the elder pegasus.

A moment of silence passed between the two, and Scootaloo took a deep breath and let it out. “Well, Applejack said I can start to move in any time I want. So, I’m gonna go and start today! After I get done, you wanna chill? I can show you some moves I’m choreographing for the acrobatics club at school!”

“Sure thing, squirt! Just make sure to knock first today instead of coming right in, I’m probably going to be doing some remodeling today.”

“Okay. See you later, Rainbow Dash!” With that, she zoomed into the sky toward the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

Rainbow Dash looked back up at the sky, tears forming and starting to roll down her face. “Thank you I just… yeah. Thank you.” She flew back to her house, determined to install a new washer and dryer unit.

Author's Note

Here it is, the follow up story to "The One Above All". I hope you all enjoy. Now, here's the thing: I'm thinking about extending this a little bit. Not sure how, but if I do wind up doing that, I'll figure out a way. No guarantees for now, so I'll just leave the status as "incomplete" for now, so I can go back to it as I wish. Thank you all so much for your love and support, and we'll see where this story goes.