The boxes clanged as Rainbow hurriedly tore through boxes. She couldn't believe she had left it so last minute! Scootaloo had asked for her to go to her interview for a job, as her guardian, being an orphan. But Rainbow had forgotten it was today, and was searching through the attic for the book which helped her ace interviews or exams 'Impressing 101' She spotted a gleam of blue, and assuming it was the book, grinned and grabbed it from underneath a mountain of boxes. They rattled and shook as Rainbow braced for impact. They stood still, and Rainbow sighed. Turning around, the ground vibrated as the boxes toppled on top of her. Groaning, she got up, frantically searching for the book.

Rainbow spotted it, and rolled her eyes when she saw it was a flying book, not 'Impressing 101' But something fell out of the book. An envelope addressed to... Rainbow Dash? Puzzled, she tore open the seal, which said it was from 2017. But that was fifteen years ago! How had an envelope that old not been delivered? And how was it in her old book is she had never seen it before?

Curious, she opened it, and scanned over the text:

Dear Future Rainbow Dash,

What is being alive all about? What does it mean? Why do we feel emotions? Why aren’t we stiff as rock? Life is a rollercoaster. Ups and downs of life. Love and despair, happiness sadness. But why? We all get pulled back to Equestria from our ‘heavenly world’ or ‘terrible hell’. It all leads to reality once again, it's like a cycle. Love. Something we are all born with. Some show it more than others, while some put it aside and pursue hatred, leading to agony and pain.

But who creates love? The ones near us, family and friends. I hate to admit it, but I loved my friends. You heard me. Loved. I don’t love my friends now. Why you ask? Something called pride comes in some of our paths, like mine. ‘Toughness’ is a lie. We are all soft, emotive etc. So am I. But fools like me have pride standing in the way of showing this side. So I act fake, or to be precise ‘tough’.

But when you’re tough, you’re hard. Cold. Cruel. So that’s what I became. In my most eventful year, 2017, I loved ponies like I’ve never loved. But that’s what’s funny. You know why ponies be tough? They can hate with power, but they love even more freely. In order to control this overflowing love, you have to stop it. Either have too much love, or plain spite. And people choose spite. I loved with all my heart, my friends, everyone. Life was perfect.

That’s where the twist comes. According so far, I loved freely, so what about toughness? Sometimes you don’t tell people you love them, but inside, you always do. So guess what, I was hated. Despised. Because like previously said, I choose to show hate, unlike the love I really felt. It hurt me inside, loving but being hated in return. But I brought that upon myself, and I can’t complain. And here I am, now, stopped loving entirely. Because I’ve learnt, you have to show you love. And if you don’t, what’s the point? It all leads to pain anyway. So it's better to not love at all. As previously mentioned, we all love. So of course, I couldn’t entirely stop loving. I loved someone others than parents, friends. His name is Soarin. Everything from his looks to his kind, compassionate personality, was worth loving. I can’t show. Again, stupid pride comes in. You have to show love. And I have to shun it. So instead of loving him on the outside as well, I act like I hate him.

And I’m hated in return. Being hated by the one you love isn’t easy. But that’s life. It really is a roller-coaster. I’m writing this, imagining what would happen if someone would see this. Why do I feel this way? Like I don’t want to be seen soft, vulnerable? Ponies say you know yourself the most. But I don’t. I don’t know why I’m like this. Funny, I still love my friends, to some extent. We, well, I, don’t really say nice things. More like sarcastic and witty banter. But fair enough. We are friends, somehow.

They don’t treat me like they treat each other. As I enter the room, I see their eyes narrow, as if putting up their guard. Instead of being kind, we be mean, in a playful manner, of course. No one takes it personally. Except Fluttershy. Well, love comes in all forms. Embrace it while you can, or forever lose it. In my case, well, you see, I have lost it.

I hope you’ve become truly happy with your life, and have mended all errors. And perhaps Soarin can see the real you by now. But despite everything, I am, somewhat happy. I’m a Wonderbolt, which means life is pretty okay. Life changes though, in certain areas. And I hope yours has changed. For the better, not for the worse. And I’m gonna say my favourite quote before I leave. Not my fake one ‘When the going goes tough, the tough don’t notice because they have hard shells’ The real one:

'I acted like it wasn’t a big deal, but inside it was breaking my heart'

Love, Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash dropped the letter shocked. She vaguely remembered writing a letter back then, but didn't know what it was about. Tears stung her eyes as she remembered all the pain she was going through, when her friends and her had a fight, and she blocked out all forms of love. Rainbow felt memories stream through her mind, seeing her tough times at the Wonderbolts, when she realized she was in love with Soarin, her dispute with Spitfire, who was Soarin's girlfriend at the time, her almost being banned from the Wonderbolts.

Here she was, after all these years, finally satisfied with her life. After all her ups and downs, she had learnt to love freely, and wasn't ashamed anymore.

"Rainbow, made you coffee!"

Rainbow's heart flew as she heard that voice. It was Soarin. Trotting downstairs, she was shocked. Her cloud home was decorated with rainbow streamers and balloons, and a banner saying 'Happy Birthday Rainbow Dash!"

"W-W-What?" stuttered Rainbow, as Soarin flew over to her beaming.

"Its your birthday Dash! How could you forget?" asked Soarin.

Rainbow Dash stared, seeing her friends and family, with her, and she had never been so appreciative of them in her life. Her eyes watered as she broke down and started sobbing like a filly. Everyone looked at her, puzzled, and Soarin hugged her tightly as she wept.

"Come on, what's wrong?" said Soarin, stroking her mane.

"I'm so happy you're all here" replied Rainbow, choking between tears. Soarin laughed.

"It's my beautiful wife's birthday, where else would I be?" he laughed. Rainbow Dash looked up, and her heart felt at peace. After all heartache, she had made it, gaining her friends again, a husband, and another small surprise.

Rainbow lead Soarin to a room, where a snoring sky blue colt with a rainbow mane shaped like his father slept in his cott.

"I'm so lucky" sighed Rainbow. Soarin chuckled.

"Since when are you so sentimental?"

Rainbow beamed, "A mare very close to me reminded me of how my old life was, and how lucky I am today"

Author's Note

I know, I was going to update my old stories... But I couldn't resist the opportunity to write this. This time, I promise to finish the old ones! Enjoy!!