Twisted Magicby Wild & LightningChaptersProtologueChapter 1~ The Ol' SwitcherooChapter 3~ Time For A Change In SceneryChapter 4~ Officially, an AppleProtologuePinkie Pie sat directly under the cloud house of the mare Rainbow Dash ,while shielding her eyes from the morning sun, she was jumping, trying to get high in the air so she could try to call to Rainbow, without waking up all of Ponyville. Pinkie had about ten minutes before her shift at sugarcube corner started and she wanted to hang out with Rainbow like she did yesterday, When Rainbow had to wake up early for weather duty, and of course, she finished in ten seconds flat! So they talked for about 8 minutes before Dash had to go help Derpy with a flying coordination lesson. After about fifteen minutes of fruitless jumping, she gave up, defeated. The pink mare started shuffling back to sugercube corner, the normal spring in her step had faded away to a dejected shuffle in the past few days. She didn't have to glance up to know that the Pegasus ponies where clearing the sky, twisting and turning in mid-air, laughing without a care in the world. She looked at her pink hooves as she shuffled back to sugercube corner, the thought of baking, frosting, delivering, and watching Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake drained all the energy from her. She shuffled past her friend Twilight's Library, past Spike, who was taking out the garbage, and went on to a long day at work... ******************************** Spike watched Pinkie Pie shuffle past him. "Hey Pinkie!" She heard him, but left no response, The faded pink mare just kept shuffling back to sugarcube corner. "Hmmmm...." He went back inside the library. He saw the purple unicorn Twilight Sparkle "Twilight... Has Pinkie... Been acting uh.. Different around you, or anypony in the matter?" the purple dragon asked, his brows furrowed in worry for their pink, sugar filled friend. "Spike, don't be so-so.. Weird! Pinkie is always happy and...-" she cut off, realizing that Pinkie HAS been acting strangely upset. "Well, now that I think about it, yes. She has been acting strange." Twilight thought for a moment "I'm going to go talk to her and ask her what is wrong" She decided. "Isn't she at work?" Spike asked, raising a brow at the purple pony "She has been working there for Celestia knows how long, Spike. I'm sure Mr. And Mrs. Cake won't mind her taking a break" she neighed stubbornly "Ok...anyways, I think I'm going to stay here and clean the library a bit, I'm not into girl drama much" Spike said. "Uhh, No I think it would be best if you came with me." Twilight said glaring at her assistant "What, you dont trust you number one assistant?!" Spike puffed out his chest a bit, having the same cocky attitude as Rainbow Dash, That lasted for about a second. Twilight kept her glare on Spike silencing him for a mere second "HEY!! THAT WAS ONE TIME!" Spike pouted "And its not happening again, lets go" Twilight trotted over to Spike and her horn glowed, with A flash of purple light Spike blinked, and saw that they where right outside Sugercube corner. ************************************* Twilight trotted in "Pinkie!" she called, and the bright pink earth pony came out of the kitchen. "Twilight? I was not expecting you here" The words stumbled out of the Party pony's mouth as she spoke without emotion and kept a straight face. "Well I wanted to talk to you, can you take a break?" Twilight asked Pinkie "Erm I dunno Twilight" Twilight gave Pinkie a stare that would put Fluttershy's stare to the tombstone. "Sure Twilight" she followed ,grumbling something nopony could understand,Twilight outside, still dragging her hooves along with her as she walked. "Pinkie... You have been acting differently lately, is something wrong?" Twilight asked Pinkie looked down, scuffing a hoof in the dirt "No... N-Nothing is wrong" she neighed quietly "Yes there is, and I want to know" Twilight said firmly, her purple eyes where narrowed as she looked at Pinkie "Have you ever felt so left out just because you don't have something?" Pinkie asked, looking at her hooves "Well, no... Just tell me what is on your mind" Twilight insisted in a friendly but annoying matter. Pinkie sighed, "Twilight, I want to fly... I want real feathered wings, not the weird ones you made Rarity the day Rainbow Dash won the best young fliers competition" she whispered, her sad gaze traveling past Twilight to a group of young Pegasus ponies having fun. Twilight saw the sadness in her friend's expression "Um... I-I don't know.... You know what, I will check my library, I just got a new box of books from Canterlot, there may be a spell in there" she neighed Pinkie brightened up immedetly "Really Twilight? Oh thank you! Let's go!" she squealed and started bouncing in the direction of the library. Twilight Sparkle held back a chuckle and trotted after her, Spike in tow. ******************************** "HERE IT IS!" Pinkie dramaticly leaped out of a pile of books, holding up a ancient looking book. It was a dark pruple and had the title 'Transofromation Spells for Dummies' Pinkie chucked it at Twilight, who stopped it a inch from her face with a flash of purple magic from her horn. Her eyes swiped over each page quickly concentrateing, trying not to miss anything that had to do with pegasi. "It looks like the hardest spell I have ever tried, I might not be able to do it..." she neighed uncertainly. She was met but the large, teary eyes of Pinkie "But I will try it" "Yippie!" Pinkie squealed, bouncing onto a pile of books she closed her eyes, waiting for Twilight to cast the spell. Twilight took a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut and pointed her horn at Pinkie, first only a few sparkes, than suddenly all of ponyville was drowned in a flash of white light that faded away almost instantly. Pinkie blinked open her eyes, but squeeze them shut. She slowly turned her head to the side, feeling some weight, than opened her eyes. "IT WORKED!" she squealed, seeing pink feathered wings, and at the same exaggeration moment, a scream of terror was heard right outside the library. Twilight looked at the book again, this time noticing that the spell warnings went onto the next page. She flipped the page, reading, her eyes grew wide as she relized what she did. "Aw Buck" ~Wild Wings Chapter 1~ The Ol' SwitcherooRainbow Dash was flying from her home in Cloudsdale down to Ponyville. Dash was off weather duty, for now. So she had enough time to fly down to Twilight’s library, grab the next Daring Doo book in the series, and bust outta there. THEN hide under the covers of her cloud bed and read. “Perfect.” Dash muttered under her breath. “Day made.” Rainbow Dash started gliding with her back to the ground, then started flying normally when she almost smashed into a tree. She was inches away from the library when a white flash blinded her, then left as soon as it came, after she went tumbling to the ground. “You okay Rainbow Dash?” Derpy flew over to Dash her helping up. “Great.” Rainbow groaned and readjusted her saddlebags, she stopped in mid-process. She dropped everything in shock as she looked at were her wings were supposed to be “AHHHHHHHHHHH!” Dash let out a blood curdling scream as she left everything and ran into the library. Rainbow almost ripped the door off its hinges on her way inside. “WHATDIDYOUDO?!” She yelled at Twilight Sparkle, not noticing the other pink pony at first “Rainbow Dash! Oh my goodness! Let me explain!” Twilight exclaimed “I KNOW YOU DID SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF CRAP DOESN’T HAPPEN UNLESS MAGIC IS INVOLVED AND-“ Rainbow was interrupted by a pink blur that was flying and jumping around the library. “You didn’t Twi…..” “I didn’t know the spell would take the closest Pegasus’s wings! Honest!” Twilight Said worriedly as she skimmed the warning page for the fifth time. “REVERSE IT!” Rainbow stomped a hoof angrily. “Hang on..” Rainbow Dash sent Twilight a look that said ‘Do it now or they will find you in a ditch later.’ Twilight got the message and went to work while Pinkie was still prancing around. “Oh Dashie! Isn’t this great!? We can fly together all day!” Pinkie squeaked to Dash, she just noticed the lack of the cyan pony's wings, she looked at Rainbow Dash with question in her eyes “Yeah, Great” She mumbled. Pinkie was about to say something else when Rarity came in with Rainbow’s saddlebag. “Now Rainbow, You must stop leaving your things everywhere. Look how dirty you bag is now darling” Rainbow glared "That is not my biggest pro-" Pinkie sprung up to Rarity, innterupting Dash “OHMYGOSH! Rarity! Look at my wings!” “W-wings?” Rarity shuddered. “They aren’t your wings Pinkie, THEYRE MINE!” Rainbow Dash yelled Rarity looked at Rainbow’s bare back and Pinkie’s wings. “Twilight, what is going on?” Rarity asked the purple unicorn “I cast a spell on Pinkie to give her wings and it took the wings of the closest Pegasus which was Rainbow.” Twilight connected eyes with the book again. “Oh… Dear" Rarity said, shocked “Twi, if I can never fly again I’m going to go INSANE!” She stomped her hoof for emphasis, again. “Twilight, I’m afraid Rainbow here is correct. You don’t want to see her that way.” Rarity said pointedly Twilight agreed and flipped the page and sat there reading the first sentence over, and over again. “What is it darling?” Rarity asked. Twilight sat there with a puppy dog face, trying to get out from saying it. “The spell is permanent” Twilight whispered. “What?” Rainbow asked again. “The Spell…. is PERMANENT, as in, even if I tried the spell on you and Pinkie was standing two inches away, those wings are never coming off of her back" Twilight looked as if she was about to cry as the guilt of possibly ruining her friend's whole life set in. Rainbows jaw dropped in horror as she took the sentence in. 'The spell is perminant' the words rang in her head, causing her knees to tremble. Twilight was filled to the brim with guilt as she sat there with Rarity. In the horror of it all, nopony realized that Pinkie was gone. ~Ligtning Chaser~ Chapter 3~ Time For A Change In SceneryHoof beats echoed off the dusty cobble of ponyville as a bright pink pegasus ran, Did I really just make Twilight ruin Rainbow's life? Rainbow is my best friend! she yelled at herself mentally to NEVER do anything that involved Twilight's magic. She ran, passing every pony but not glancing up at them "Hey Pinkie" most of them called, a little curious as why the party pony had wings. She galloped as fast as she could towards the hills to think, her blue eyes stayed right in front of her hooves. She was shocked when she noticed that her hooves where not pounding on the ground, but just moving like she was galloping. She glanced to her side, and low and behold, her wings where flapping, each flap making her go faster and higher. Her brows furrowed and she stretched her front legs out in front of her, and her back legs behind her, and she visibly picked up a speed she has only seen Dash hit. She gasped a little, but kept on going, each wingbeat making her go faster and faster. She closed her eyes, all her worries seemed to be swept away from the wind, she stayed like that for a minute before she crashed into something soft, but cool and firm. She opened her eyes to see puffy whiteness, meaning she crashed into a cloud. She climbed all the way onto it, relaxing No wonder Dashie likes to sleep on them all day... "Oh bucking buck, Rainbow Dash" she slammed her head onto the cloud in frustration. She glanced down at the ground, noticing that she was over the Everfree Forest "Maybe Zecora will know what to do..." she mumbled, jumping off the cloud and gliding to the ground. She knew it was unlikely though 'Those wings are never coming off her back' Twilight's words rang in her head. She stopped in mid-flight, a idea spawning in her head. She gave a little squealing noise and flew as fast as she could to Cloudsdale. ****************************************** "I-I'm sorry Rainbow... I don't know what to say" Twilight whispered, despair in her eyes she lay a hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. Rainbow shrugged the hoof off, she looked at Twilight, giving the saddest of all smiles "I'll just have to try life as a earth pony" she whispered, trying to convince herself mostly. "I'm sure Applejack would not mind some extra help at the farm" she said, her chest felt like it was about to pop with sadness. "If you want I could teleport us to Sweet Apple Acres" Twilight said weakly. "No, I'll walk" And I don't trust your magic she held back that comment. She dully trotted out the ripped down door, just realizing that the door would probably cost tons of bits to repair Buck it, she can fix it herself she thought, trying to wipe the evidence of her previous sobbing her tear ducts dry from her moist face. She gave up, her face was still dark and moist as she walked up the trail to the Apple family's house. The cyan and rainbow former Pegasus hesitated before knocking on the door, How would Applejack react? What would she think of me, the amazing Rainbow Dash, crawling to her for a place to stay and a job? she thought. She went on a small hope that she would not be judged too badly from the other headstrong mare and knocked on the door. She took a half step back as Granny Smith opened the door. Granny recognized Rainbow Dash "Wha ya be doin' at this time 'a day? Applejack is out workin the southern field" Granny said, adjusting her glasses. "Well, um... There was a accident, and I can't live in my old home, or keep my old job so I was wondering if I could get a job here and possibly live here...?" Rainbow said, biting her lip she scuffed a hoof in the dirt. "Ah friend of Applejack is a friend of mine" Granny Smith said, Rainbow smiled a little "Wha yer waitin fer? Get on in here ya whippersnapper!" she neighed, pulling Rainbow Dash inside. Rainbow looked around the house as the elderly green pony lead her up the stairs, she went to the end the hall and opened the door "This here room was Holly Apple's, but Ah be guessin she dont need it now" she said quietly, opening the door. Rainbow could feel the breeze rushing into the room, like when she opened a box for the first time in years. Like a tomb. She looked around the room, it had a queen bed, and two windows, both had magnificent views of the farm. "Holly deserved the best room in the house" Granny Smith said, limping in. She picked up a photo, Rainbow looked over her shoulder to see a much younger looking Granny Smith and a dark red mare with a even darker mane, she has light golden yellow eyes. Rainbow would confidently admit it, this mare was beautiful. "My darling daughter... I miss you so much..." Rainbow herd Granny Smith whisper, the old mare set the photo back. "Enough ah the past, I'll let ya get settled" Granny Smith shook her head, and left the room. Rainbow Dash was left with her thoughts This must be Applejack's mother! she realized. She slowly walked around the room, looking at the pictures. There was Holly on her wedding day, standing next to a yellowish orange stallion with a red mane. The next picture was Granny, Holly, the stallion, and a newborn Big, or Little Macintosh. She looked at picture after picture, after a few there was a newborn Applejack, a few more pictures later she saw a pregnant Holly, with Applejack and Little Mac next to her. And that was the end of the pictures. Rainbow Dash was lost in thought, thinking when she herd a dinner bell. A few minutes later Applejack and Big Mac came trotting in from the southern field. Rainbow had to stop herself from jumping out the window to meet her friend. Instead she turned from the window and trotted down the stairs, to whatever kind of awkward confrontation was bound to happen. Rainbow reached the bottom of the stairs and watched as the four members of the house got everything ready for dinner. Big Macintosh was setting out four plates, Applebloom was setting out the silverware, Applejack was washing her hooves. Is this what it's like to be in a real family? Not one that ships you off the flight school to never see you again the day you spread your wings? she thought. A hint of sadness seeped into her eyes, but she shrugged it off. Granny Smith went ahead and we out Rainbow Dash's plate, which earned her off looked from her three grandchildren. Rainbow walked into the dining room, Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom looked over at her oddly "Uh... Dash?" Applejack asked. "She will be a living with us, and be helpin work the farm" Granny Smith said, and that was that. All the ponies sat at the table, Granny Smith at the head of the table, Rainbow on one side of Granny Smith, Applejack on the other, Big Mac next to Applejack, and Applebloom next to her. "Ah, Rainbow Dash, what happened to your wings?" Applebloom asked curiously. "APPLEBLOOM!" Applejack said sharply, sending a look at Applebloom "What?" Applebloom asked curiously "No no, it's fine." Rainbow said quietly "Twilight Sparkle did this to me" she said simply, looking down at her plate "She tried a spell to give Pinkie wings, but she did not read the warnings" "Ah Rainbow Dash, you ah always welcome here" Applejack said comfortingly "Eyyuuup" "She will be a stayin in Holly's old room" Granny Smith said, that earned her a shocked look from every member of the apple family. "Granny!" Applejack said, "Ya know how special that room is!" Nobody seemed to notice the saddest look in the world from Applebloom. "Ah made my choice. So deal with it" Granny Smith said, and she started eating her sandwich and applesauce. The rest of the night went uneventful, the rest of the family accepted Rainbow's arrival. "Hey Rainbow Dash, tomorrow we gonna be working the North field" Applejack said, Rainbow nodded and went up the stairs, intent on sleeping. She went into the bedroom at the end of the hall, and walked inside and lay on the bed. She closed her eyes, exhausted from the events of the day she fell into a dreamless sleep. ~Wild Wings Chapter 4~ Officially, an AppleRainbow Dash was slowly tossing and turning in her ‘dreamless’ sleep. Small beads of sweat ran down her face as she clenched her teeth. She was once again, dreaming about the sky she lived for, the lack of the cool wind running through her mane, and her dreams of being a Wonderbolt down the drain. Rainbow shot up like a rocket, gasping and heaving for air. After about a minute of futile gasping she couldn’t get her breathing back in order. She put her hooves on her face and sighed. She just sat there like that, thinking. Hoof-beats on the wood floor snapped her out of her thoughts but she didn’t move, she couldn’t move. Out of the corner of her left eye she saw Applejack slowly pushing open the door. And there was Dash…Breathing just like she finished a marathon and hooves on her face like they were permanently attached there. “Rainbow?” Applejack yawned and walked closer to the bed “I heard you down the hall, good thing Applebloom and the others are heavy sleepers.” Rainbow Dash didn’t move but her breathing was close to normal. After a long silence Dash finally spoke. “I can’t do it….” Rainbow Dash croaked. “Do… what sugarcube?” Rainbow slowly moved her hooves away from her face and looked at them. Applejack was getting more concerned for her friend by the second. “I feel… I feel like-“.Rainbow stopped, not being able to finish. “Like?” Applejack pressed on. “Like my life has no meaning anymore. My life, devoted to flying… gone. My dream about being in the Wonderbolts…gone, and my cutie mark, it means nothing without my wings.” Rainbow stopped again and raised her head and her anger flowed in. “EVERYTHING I LIVE FOR AND CARE ABOUT IS GONE” Rainbow screeched in anger. Tears were starting to stain her cheeks. When Rainbow Dash had turned around Applejack got a look into Rainbow’s eyes. Although she saw Rainbow’s face for only a second before she moved it back again she was speechless from what she saw. The usually strong and proud Rainbow Dash had tears in her eyes. In all her life Applejack had never seen Rainbow Dash cry. It’s true that there had been moments when Rainbow was sad or couldn’t hide some tears like the time when Applejack had ran away but this time it was different. Applejack had the bad feeling in her gut, and she couldn’t explain it. “Rainbow, Ah’ know you miss your wings… and we both know it wasn’t smart of Twilight to not read the warnings on that spell she had goin' on, but that don’t mean your life is over sugarcube.” A reassuring smile flowed onto Applejack’s face. Rainbow was still looking ahead of her eyes furrowed. “What if you lost Sweet Apple Acers?” Applejack was about to speak but Rainbow cut her off. “What if… a fire burned the whole place down to ashes… and you had to work someplace else, like the Carousel Boutique. Someplace else that didn’t fit you at all. Someplace else… whe-“ Rainbow couldn’t talk anymore, she closed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth. Applejack was on the verge of tears seeing Rainbow Dash at this state. But little did the two mares know that there was an audience behind the door. * * * “Granny, what do we do?” Applebloom whispered. “Well, err-“Granny Smith stopped speaking to think. Applebloom looked up at Big Macintosh. “Big Mac?” She looked up at him with huge eyes. “Nope.” Applebloom narrowed her eyes because of his response. “Well we gotta think of somethin’… we just gotta. Rainbow Dash is part of our family now and she needs her family!” Granny Smith looked down at Applebloom. "Now Applebloom, there’s no need to get your tail in a twist, I bet she already has a family.” “Nope” Big Mac interrupted. “AJ told me she doesn’t” Applebloom grabbed onto one of Big Mac’s legs. “Whataya mean she don’t have no family! Everyponys’ gotta have a family!” Applebloom whimpered “That’s all I know.” Big Mac answered truthfully Applejack walked out of the room and sighed “Ah’m sorry Apples, Its late we should get back to bed.” Applebloom bit onto Applejack's tail to keep her from walking to her room. “Applejack, is it true Rainbow has no family?” Applejack turned around “Shh… yes its true.” Applejack whispered “But why?” “She never told me the full story, but rumors say her parents abandoned her and left on the streets.” Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Applebloom all looked disgusted. “My next guess is that when she was old enough she enrolled herself into flight school.” There was a long silence. “I’m going to bed”, Applejack broke the silence. “Goodnight” * * * Rainbow Dash cracked open her eyes and sat up. Well I’m depressed….. Rainbow thought. She rolled out of bed then shuffled to the door and walked downstairs to see the Apples eating breakfast. “Morning Rainbow” Applejack Said back turned facing the sink “Yeah… G’morning” Rainbow sat down in the chair she sat in last night and held up her face with her hooves. “Are you hungry?” Asked Applebloom, with a huge smile across her face. “No, not really.” “We’re going to be heading out to the fields soon, about five minutes.” Applejack spoke again “What time is it?” Rainbow pulled her face up. Applejack saw she had huge bags under her eyes and that she had a hallow expression. “Err… Bout’ six thirty” Applejack sat in her chair across from Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow, did you get any sleep last night?” Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack in the eyes “No, well maybe an hour or two.” Applejack raised an eyebrow. “And what were you doin’ after I left your room?” Applejack questioned. Rainbow Dash looked down then back up at AJ “Thinking” Applejack gave Rainbow a sorrowful smile and got up to hug Rainbow Dash. Rainbow weirdly accepted because she knew she needed everything she could get. After what seemed like forever the hug ended and Rainbow was holding her head up with her hooves again. Applejack turned around to see Big Mac trotting down the stairs. “Morning Macintosh” “Eeeyup, Wha’ time is it?” He asked grabbing an apple from one of the small baskets on the counter. “Round six thirty last time ah’ checked” Big Mac turned around and face Applejack, she was in front of the table now. Big Macintosh moved his head to the side quizzically, looking at Rainbow Dash. “What’s her problem?” Applejack turned around. “Oh she’s jus-“, Applejack stopped when she saw Rainbow. Her head was on the table and her front hooves were sprawled out and she was snoring and drooling like a pig. Applejack looked at Big Mac and shrugged; they both smirked and headed out to the fields. * * * Rainbow Dash was awoken from her deep sleep by three fillies yelling, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER BRAIN OPERATORS, YAY!” “AHHHH! NO!” Rainbow jumped out of her chair and started walking to the door. “C’mon’ Please Rainbow Dash? It's just a simple brain operation!” Scootaloo begged waving a knife around. “NO” Rainbow turned around walking backwards to the door pointing a hoof at them. “NO.” and she walked out the door backwards, putting a hoof to her eyes and pointing it back at them, she then started heading to the north fields. She quickly found Applejack and Macintosh lifting huge baskets of apples over to their apple cellar. “Well howdy Rainbow” Applejack grunted, “We could use some help” “Right” Dash nodded and threw two baskets on her back and started effortlessly trotting over to the cellar. She went back to get two more and saw a dumbstruck Applejack looking at her. “….what?” Rainbow put two more baskets on her back. “Those baskets are mighty heavy.” Rainbow glanced at the baskets on her back. “Nothing I’m not used to” she finished and started trotting to the cellar. After working for an hour they barley cut through the pile of baskets. “Hey, AJ?” Applejack was lifting another basket “Yeah Rainbow?” Applejack grunted as she spoke. “Err, what do you guys do after this?” They got to their destination and put the baskets on the ground for Macintosh to carry down. “Well, we usually go down to the marketplace and sell apples at the stand, but that’s closed for the week. So we just go back to the house and… I dunno visit.” Rainbow nodded and got the next two baskets when she felt something tugging at her tail she glanced down and saw an orb on pink magic. Twilight… She thought. She spun around to see Twilight and Spike rushing towards her “Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!” Twilight finally caught up to her gasping for air. “It’s… Pinkie…Can’t… Find her… Need help.” Rainbow narrowed her eyes. “I’m not helping you” “Rainbow! This is serious! Twilight gasped. Rainbow Dash’s expression hardened. “You know what else is serious?” She lifted her back up higher. “Dash, Pinkie could be hurt!” “Well it’s not like I can go look for her.” Rainbow replied sharply, and walked over to get another basket. “She’s really mad at you Twilight” Spike whispered in her ear, “I think you should give her another day to cool off” Twilight looked back at him and replied. “No Spike, I need to talk to her.” Spike put his claws up in surrender and Twilight walked to Rainbow. “Rainbow I’m going to talk to you whether you like it or not.” Twilight gave an affirmative nod, but Rainbow Dash just kept her gaze forward “Knock yourself out Twilight; I’m not going to listen.” Twilight was taken aback by the comment. “Well… I um.” “Exactly, kay bye.” Rainbow Dash turned around and gave Twilight a sarcastic salute and got another set of baskets. “Bye?... BYE?!” Twilight was getting nowhere with Dash. “Yup.” “Okay Twilight I think we should-“Spike was cut off by Twilight. “Rainbow Dash I see you’re mad, but as a good friend I will-“Twilight was also cut off by a raging Rainbow Dash walking up to her. “MAD? OH NO, IM FURIOUS!” she screamed. “Well Rainbow calm down and we can work this out.” Rainbow looked like she got bucked in the face. “WORK THIS OUT?! Tell me Twilight, how do I work this out, huh?” Twilight didn’t speak and Spike looked like he wanted popcorn. “Exactly you can’t, you’ve really blown it this time Twilight, and I don’t forgive easy.” Dash’s last words faced into a menacing whisper. “My dreams are DESTROYED Twilight, My house? I have to sell it. Being a Wonderbolt? HA! Fat chance now! And don’t get me started on how I am now officially useless.” Rainbow Dash started walking away when she turned her head around a tad “I think I’ve made my point, go find a ditch someplace. Maybe another pegasus is down there waiting for you to rip their wings off too. ” Rainbow Dash got the two baskets back onto her back and started walking towards Applejack and Macintosh who were staring at her, shocked. Just as Twilight and Spike. The rest of the day went surprisingly as planned. * * * Luna’s moon was now high in the dark sky and Pinkie was still no place to be found. Twilight walked into the library with Spike and closed the door forceful buck. “Twilight… You okay?” Twilight flopped herself on the ground and sat on her haunches. “No Spike, I am not alright. Rainbow Dash hates me and it’s my fault.” Twilight replied rubbing her face with her spare hoof. Spike sighed “C’mon Twilight! This will all light up a bit soon! She’s the element of loyalty of Celestia’s sake!” Twilight looked up at Spike. “I don’t know Spike. I mean did you SEE her?! She was so angry! She’s never going to forgive me!” Twilight was now pacing around the library when she heard a light knock on the door. She walked over and opened it. “Hello Twilight darling.” Rarity welcomed herself into the library with a flip of her mane. “Um, come in?” Rarity looked at Twilight. “Well I’m just here for the new shipping’s of those fashion magazines.” Twilight was halfway up the stairs by now and groaned. “Ask Spike, goodnight Rarity” * * * Rainbow Dash was on one of the couches in the Apple’s living room with Everypony else. Big Macintosh was telling them the entire story about the time an apple tree fell on him… again. She now realized he’s quite the talker when he’s around family, not as much as the ordinary pony but he talks more than one would expect. They were all telling random stories and laughing as they did so. After Big Macintosh finished Applebloom piped up. “Rainbow Dash can you tell a story next?” She squealed with a hyperactive nod. “Aw shoot, I don’t have anything to tell.” She replied with a smirk. Applejack shook her head. “There’s gotta be at somethin’ in that little noggin of yers.” Granny Smith cackled to herself. “You’re such a liar Dash” Applejack laughed to herself. “Eeeyup” Big Macintosh agreed. “Well what do I tell?” Rainbow replied with a slight chuckle. “Can you tell us about your parents Rainbow?” Rainbow Dash’s face looked just like it did that morning in an instant. “Well…I…um…” “To be honest Dash, Ahm’ kinda curious mah'self.” Big Mac half shrugged. “Ah’ think we all are Rainbow” Granny Smith shakily nodded her head. “Right… okay.” Rainbow sighed and sat up more. “It all started when I was a filly, younger than Applebloom here.” Rainbow looked down at Applebloom and ruffled her mane. “I started off as a really young flier, but I was only allowed to go flying with my mom. So we went out one night and a thunderstorm came in. we got separated by the winds, but once it was over I couldn’t find her anywhere. The only thing I found has the hat she always wore. And that’s when I knew she was gone.” Everybody just looked at Dash with disbelief as she continued. “When I went back home my Dad was wondering what happened and I told him. He had a mental breakdown and left looking for her.” Rainbow Dash stopped and looked down. The Apples realizing it was too hard for Rainbow to tell. “You don’t have to finish if you don’t want to sugarcube…” Applejack cracked a small smile and Big Mac ‘Eeeyuped’ for the one hundredth time that day. “No, I already started. It wouldn’t be fair.” She rose her head up once again to continue. “After days my Dad never came back, and when he finally did it wasn't the same, so I ran away. I was homeless and lived on the streets of Cloudsdale… and don’t ask how I got food…” Rainbow and everybody else made nasty belching noises. “Let’s just say I’ve never liked being around a street garbage cans ever since. Anyway, I just sat on the streets and waited, and waited, and waited until I was finally old enough to enroll into flight school. So enrolled myself and forged my parent’s signatures.” Everypony started lightly laughing at this but stopped as she continued. “I was one of the best fliers in the class and because of that a lot of fillies and colts got jealous and picked on me A LOT, they also picked on the weakest flier there, Fluttershy. We stuck together ever since that race where I got my cutie mark.” “Didn’t she fall off that cloud?” Applebloom interrupted “Well, yeah. But I went down after to see if she was okay.” “Oh gotcha.” “So after seven years in flight school I finally dropped out and moved to Ponyville, built my cloud house with the help of Fluttershy, Yadda, yadda.” Rainbow Dash finished with a wave of her hoof. “So, about a month or two after I settled in, my Dad came and he didn’t look good… at all” Rainbow Dash sighed. “My Dad asked if I would fly with him one last time, I didn’t know what he meant but I agreed and we flew for a couple hours until he crash landed on a ledge at Foal Mountains. He told me he loved me and that he wanted me to be the best I could be, and… he died in my hooves. That’s when I caught on with what he meant ‘Fly with him one last time’. The whole room was silent. “What?!” Rainbow asked throwing her hooves up in the air and leaning back on the couch the way she was before “You guys wanted to hear about my parents, that’s the story.” Applebloom’s face looked like she just saw somepony being murdered, Applejack’s looked like she ate too many apples and she was about the throw up, Granny Smith looked like she got a blow to the gut, And Big Macintosh looked like somebody hit him on the side of the head with a frying pan. “Man Rainbow, Ah’ didn’t know any of that happened.” Applejack snapped out of her daze and so did everypony else after she spoke. “Yeah! We thought you had a family like us.” Applebloom added in. "Eeeyup.” “Ha… Well I wish, but I’m kind of being used to being alone. So it doesn’t really affect me as much as it used too.” Applebloom scooted over and hugged Rainbow Dash. And then came Applejack, then Big Mac, and Granny Smith. “You have us as your family whenever you need us Rainbow” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash wasn’t used to this, at all. But it made her feel warm inside. Not like she would ever admit it. “R-really?” “Really, because family always comes first.” Big Macintosh choked through the tight hug. Because family always comes first… The words played in Rainbow’s head like a symphony. “Ah’ think we should hit the hay. Goodnight everypony” Applejack neighed ending the hug. “Goooooodnaht!” Applebloom sang. “Night’” Big Macintosh added “Ehm, that’s what ah’ said.” Granny Smith rambled. “Yeah….Goodnight.” Rainbow finished. They all walked up the stairs in a line and went their separate ways. Rainbow got to her room and sat on the bed looking back at the photos. Thanks Holly. Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She clunked herself on the bed and closed her eyes. I finally have a family. And as it happened by magic, Everypony in that house fell asleep in a blissful state. If only, but soon that magic is about to get Twisted. ~Lightning Chaser~
ProtologuePinkie Pie sat directly under the cloud house of the mare Rainbow Dash ,while shielding her eyes from the morning sun, she was jumping, trying to get high in the air so she could try to call to Rainbow, without waking up all of Ponyville. Pinkie had about ten minutes before her shift at sugarcube corner started and she wanted to hang out with Rainbow like she did yesterday, When Rainbow had to wake up early for weather duty, and of course, she finished in ten seconds flat! So they talked for about 8 minutes before Dash had to go help Derpy with a flying coordination lesson. After about fifteen minutes of fruitless jumping, she gave up, defeated. The pink mare started shuffling back to sugercube corner, the normal spring in her step had faded away to a dejected shuffle in the past few days. She didn't have to glance up to know that the Pegasus ponies where clearing the sky, twisting and turning in mid-air, laughing without a care in the world. She looked at her pink hooves as she shuffled back to sugercube corner, the thought of baking, frosting, delivering, and watching Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake drained all the energy from her. She shuffled past her friend Twilight's Library, past Spike, who was taking out the garbage, and went on to a long day at work... ******************************** Spike watched Pinkie Pie shuffle past him. "Hey Pinkie!" She heard him, but left no response, The faded pink mare just kept shuffling back to sugarcube corner. "Hmmmm...." He went back inside the library. He saw the purple unicorn Twilight Sparkle "Twilight... Has Pinkie... Been acting uh.. Different around you, or anypony in the matter?" the purple dragon asked, his brows furrowed in worry for their pink, sugar filled friend. "Spike, don't be so-so.. Weird! Pinkie is always happy and...-" she cut off, realizing that Pinkie HAS been acting strangely upset. "Well, now that I think about it, yes. She has been acting strange." Twilight thought for a moment "I'm going to go talk to her and ask her what is wrong" She decided. "Isn't she at work?" Spike asked, raising a brow at the purple pony "She has been working there for Celestia knows how long, Spike. I'm sure Mr. And Mrs. Cake won't mind her taking a break" she neighed stubbornly "Ok...anyways, I think I'm going to stay here and clean the library a bit, I'm not into girl drama much" Spike said. "Uhh, No I think it would be best if you came with me." Twilight said glaring at her assistant "What, you dont trust you number one assistant?!" Spike puffed out his chest a bit, having the same cocky attitude as Rainbow Dash, That lasted for about a second. Twilight kept her glare on Spike silencing him for a mere second "HEY!! THAT WAS ONE TIME!" Spike pouted "And its not happening again, lets go" Twilight trotted over to Spike and her horn glowed, with A flash of purple light Spike blinked, and saw that they where right outside Sugercube corner. ************************************* Twilight trotted in "Pinkie!" she called, and the bright pink earth pony came out of the kitchen. "Twilight? I was not expecting you here" The words stumbled out of the Party pony's mouth as she spoke without emotion and kept a straight face. "Well I wanted to talk to you, can you take a break?" Twilight asked Pinkie "Erm I dunno Twilight" Twilight gave Pinkie a stare that would put Fluttershy's stare to the tombstone. "Sure Twilight" she followed ,grumbling something nopony could understand,Twilight outside, still dragging her hooves along with her as she walked. "Pinkie... You have been acting differently lately, is something wrong?" Twilight asked Pinkie looked down, scuffing a hoof in the dirt "No... N-Nothing is wrong" she neighed quietly "Yes there is, and I want to know" Twilight said firmly, her purple eyes where narrowed as she looked at Pinkie "Have you ever felt so left out just because you don't have something?" Pinkie asked, looking at her hooves "Well, no... Just tell me what is on your mind" Twilight insisted in a friendly but annoying matter. Pinkie sighed, "Twilight, I want to fly... I want real feathered wings, not the weird ones you made Rarity the day Rainbow Dash won the best young fliers competition" she whispered, her sad gaze traveling past Twilight to a group of young Pegasus ponies having fun. Twilight saw the sadness in her friend's expression "Um... I-I don't know.... You know what, I will check my library, I just got a new box of books from Canterlot, there may be a spell in there" she neighed Pinkie brightened up immedetly "Really Twilight? Oh thank you! Let's go!" she squealed and started bouncing in the direction of the library. Twilight Sparkle held back a chuckle and trotted after her, Spike in tow. ******************************** "HERE IT IS!" Pinkie dramaticly leaped out of a pile of books, holding up a ancient looking book. It was a dark pruple and had the title 'Transofromation Spells for Dummies' Pinkie chucked it at Twilight, who stopped it a inch from her face with a flash of purple magic from her horn. Her eyes swiped over each page quickly concentrateing, trying not to miss anything that had to do with pegasi. "It looks like the hardest spell I have ever tried, I might not be able to do it..." she neighed uncertainly. She was met but the large, teary eyes of Pinkie "But I will try it" "Yippie!" Pinkie squealed, bouncing onto a pile of books she closed her eyes, waiting for Twilight to cast the spell. Twilight took a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut and pointed her horn at Pinkie, first only a few sparkes, than suddenly all of ponyville was drowned in a flash of white light that faded away almost instantly. Pinkie blinked open her eyes, but squeeze them shut. She slowly turned her head to the side, feeling some weight, than opened her eyes. "IT WORKED!" she squealed, seeing pink feathered wings, and at the same exaggeration moment, a scream of terror was heard right outside the library. Twilight looked at the book again, this time noticing that the spell warnings went onto the next page. She flipped the page, reading, her eyes grew wide as she relized what she did. "Aw Buck" ~Wild Wings
Chapter 1~ The Ol' SwitcherooRainbow Dash was flying from her home in Cloudsdale down to Ponyville. Dash was off weather duty, for now. So she had enough time to fly down to Twilight’s library, grab the next Daring Doo book in the series, and bust outta there. THEN hide under the covers of her cloud bed and read. “Perfect.” Dash muttered under her breath. “Day made.” Rainbow Dash started gliding with her back to the ground, then started flying normally when she almost smashed into a tree. She was inches away from the library when a white flash blinded her, then left as soon as it came, after she went tumbling to the ground. “You okay Rainbow Dash?” Derpy flew over to Dash her helping up. “Great.” Rainbow groaned and readjusted her saddlebags, she stopped in mid-process. She dropped everything in shock as she looked at were her wings were supposed to be “AHHHHHHHHHHH!” Dash let out a blood curdling scream as she left everything and ran into the library. Rainbow almost ripped the door off its hinges on her way inside. “WHATDIDYOUDO?!” She yelled at Twilight Sparkle, not noticing the other pink pony at first “Rainbow Dash! Oh my goodness! Let me explain!” Twilight exclaimed “I KNOW YOU DID SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF CRAP DOESN’T HAPPEN UNLESS MAGIC IS INVOLVED AND-“ Rainbow was interrupted by a pink blur that was flying and jumping around the library. “You didn’t Twi…..” “I didn’t know the spell would take the closest Pegasus’s wings! Honest!” Twilight Said worriedly as she skimmed the warning page for the fifth time. “REVERSE IT!” Rainbow stomped a hoof angrily. “Hang on..” Rainbow Dash sent Twilight a look that said ‘Do it now or they will find you in a ditch later.’ Twilight got the message and went to work while Pinkie was still prancing around. “Oh Dashie! Isn’t this great!? We can fly together all day!” Pinkie squeaked to Dash, she just noticed the lack of the cyan pony's wings, she looked at Rainbow Dash with question in her eyes “Yeah, Great” She mumbled. Pinkie was about to say something else when Rarity came in with Rainbow’s saddlebag. “Now Rainbow, You must stop leaving your things everywhere. Look how dirty you bag is now darling” Rainbow glared "That is not my biggest pro-" Pinkie sprung up to Rarity, innterupting Dash “OHMYGOSH! Rarity! Look at my wings!” “W-wings?” Rarity shuddered. “They aren’t your wings Pinkie, THEYRE MINE!” Rainbow Dash yelled Rarity looked at Rainbow’s bare back and Pinkie’s wings. “Twilight, what is going on?” Rarity asked the purple unicorn “I cast a spell on Pinkie to give her wings and it took the wings of the closest Pegasus which was Rainbow.” Twilight connected eyes with the book again. “Oh… Dear" Rarity said, shocked “Twi, if I can never fly again I’m going to go INSANE!” She stomped her hoof for emphasis, again. “Twilight, I’m afraid Rainbow here is correct. You don’t want to see her that way.” Rarity said pointedly Twilight agreed and flipped the page and sat there reading the first sentence over, and over again. “What is it darling?” Rarity asked. Twilight sat there with a puppy dog face, trying to get out from saying it. “The spell is permanent” Twilight whispered. “What?” Rainbow asked again. “The Spell…. is PERMANENT, as in, even if I tried the spell on you and Pinkie was standing two inches away, those wings are never coming off of her back" Twilight looked as if she was about to cry as the guilt of possibly ruining her friend's whole life set in. Rainbows jaw dropped in horror as she took the sentence in. 'The spell is perminant' the words rang in her head, causing her knees to tremble. Twilight was filled to the brim with guilt as she sat there with Rarity. In the horror of it all, nopony realized that Pinkie was gone. ~Ligtning Chaser~
Chapter 3~ Time For A Change In SceneryHoof beats echoed off the dusty cobble of ponyville as a bright pink pegasus ran, Did I really just make Twilight ruin Rainbow's life? Rainbow is my best friend! she yelled at herself mentally to NEVER do anything that involved Twilight's magic. She ran, passing every pony but not glancing up at them "Hey Pinkie" most of them called, a little curious as why the party pony had wings. She galloped as fast as she could towards the hills to think, her blue eyes stayed right in front of her hooves. She was shocked when she noticed that her hooves where not pounding on the ground, but just moving like she was galloping. She glanced to her side, and low and behold, her wings where flapping, each flap making her go faster and higher. Her brows furrowed and she stretched her front legs out in front of her, and her back legs behind her, and she visibly picked up a speed she has only seen Dash hit. She gasped a little, but kept on going, each wingbeat making her go faster and faster. She closed her eyes, all her worries seemed to be swept away from the wind, she stayed like that for a minute before she crashed into something soft, but cool and firm. She opened her eyes to see puffy whiteness, meaning she crashed into a cloud. She climbed all the way onto it, relaxing No wonder Dashie likes to sleep on them all day... "Oh bucking buck, Rainbow Dash" she slammed her head onto the cloud in frustration. She glanced down at the ground, noticing that she was over the Everfree Forest "Maybe Zecora will know what to do..." she mumbled, jumping off the cloud and gliding to the ground. She knew it was unlikely though 'Those wings are never coming off her back' Twilight's words rang in her head. She stopped in mid-flight, a idea spawning in her head. She gave a little squealing noise and flew as fast as she could to Cloudsdale. ****************************************** "I-I'm sorry Rainbow... I don't know what to say" Twilight whispered, despair in her eyes she lay a hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. Rainbow shrugged the hoof off, she looked at Twilight, giving the saddest of all smiles "I'll just have to try life as a earth pony" she whispered, trying to convince herself mostly. "I'm sure Applejack would not mind some extra help at the farm" she said, her chest felt like it was about to pop with sadness. "If you want I could teleport us to Sweet Apple Acres" Twilight said weakly. "No, I'll walk" And I don't trust your magic she held back that comment. She dully trotted out the ripped down door, just realizing that the door would probably cost tons of bits to repair Buck it, she can fix it herself she thought, trying to wipe the evidence of her previous sobbing her tear ducts dry from her moist face. She gave up, her face was still dark and moist as she walked up the trail to the Apple family's house. The cyan and rainbow former Pegasus hesitated before knocking on the door, How would Applejack react? What would she think of me, the amazing Rainbow Dash, crawling to her for a place to stay and a job? she thought. She went on a small hope that she would not be judged too badly from the other headstrong mare and knocked on the door. She took a half step back as Granny Smith opened the door. Granny recognized Rainbow Dash "Wha ya be doin' at this time 'a day? Applejack is out workin the southern field" Granny said, adjusting her glasses. "Well, um... There was a accident, and I can't live in my old home, or keep my old job so I was wondering if I could get a job here and possibly live here...?" Rainbow said, biting her lip she scuffed a hoof in the dirt. "Ah friend of Applejack is a friend of mine" Granny Smith said, Rainbow smiled a little "Wha yer waitin fer? Get on in here ya whippersnapper!" she neighed, pulling Rainbow Dash inside. Rainbow looked around the house as the elderly green pony lead her up the stairs, she went to the end the hall and opened the door "This here room was Holly Apple's, but Ah be guessin she dont need it now" she said quietly, opening the door. Rainbow could feel the breeze rushing into the room, like when she opened a box for the first time in years. Like a tomb. She looked around the room, it had a queen bed, and two windows, both had magnificent views of the farm. "Holly deserved the best room in the house" Granny Smith said, limping in. She picked up a photo, Rainbow looked over her shoulder to see a much younger looking Granny Smith and a dark red mare with a even darker mane, she has light golden yellow eyes. Rainbow would confidently admit it, this mare was beautiful. "My darling daughter... I miss you so much..." Rainbow herd Granny Smith whisper, the old mare set the photo back. "Enough ah the past, I'll let ya get settled" Granny Smith shook her head, and left the room. Rainbow Dash was left with her thoughts This must be Applejack's mother! she realized. She slowly walked around the room, looking at the pictures. There was Holly on her wedding day, standing next to a yellowish orange stallion with a red mane. The next picture was Granny, Holly, the stallion, and a newborn Big, or Little Macintosh. She looked at picture after picture, after a few there was a newborn Applejack, a few more pictures later she saw a pregnant Holly, with Applejack and Little Mac next to her. And that was the end of the pictures. Rainbow Dash was lost in thought, thinking when she herd a dinner bell. A few minutes later Applejack and Big Mac came trotting in from the southern field. Rainbow had to stop herself from jumping out the window to meet her friend. Instead she turned from the window and trotted down the stairs, to whatever kind of awkward confrontation was bound to happen. Rainbow reached the bottom of the stairs and watched as the four members of the house got everything ready for dinner. Big Macintosh was setting out four plates, Applebloom was setting out the silverware, Applejack was washing her hooves. Is this what it's like to be in a real family? Not one that ships you off the flight school to never see you again the day you spread your wings? she thought. A hint of sadness seeped into her eyes, but she shrugged it off. Granny Smith went ahead and we out Rainbow Dash's plate, which earned her off looked from her three grandchildren. Rainbow walked into the dining room, Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom looked over at her oddly "Uh... Dash?" Applejack asked. "She will be a living with us, and be helpin work the farm" Granny Smith said, and that was that. All the ponies sat at the table, Granny Smith at the head of the table, Rainbow on one side of Granny Smith, Applejack on the other, Big Mac next to Applejack, and Applebloom next to her. "Ah, Rainbow Dash, what happened to your wings?" Applebloom asked curiously. "APPLEBLOOM!" Applejack said sharply, sending a look at Applebloom "What?" Applebloom asked curiously "No no, it's fine." Rainbow said quietly "Twilight Sparkle did this to me" she said simply, looking down at her plate "She tried a spell to give Pinkie wings, but she did not read the warnings" "Ah Rainbow Dash, you ah always welcome here" Applejack said comfortingly "Eyyuuup" "She will be a stayin in Holly's old room" Granny Smith said, that earned her a shocked look from every member of the apple family. "Granny!" Applejack said, "Ya know how special that room is!" Nobody seemed to notice the saddest look in the world from Applebloom. "Ah made my choice. So deal with it" Granny Smith said, and she started eating her sandwich and applesauce. The rest of the night went uneventful, the rest of the family accepted Rainbow's arrival. "Hey Rainbow Dash, tomorrow we gonna be working the North field" Applejack said, Rainbow nodded and went up the stairs, intent on sleeping. She went into the bedroom at the end of the hall, and walked inside and lay on the bed. She closed her eyes, exhausted from the events of the day she fell into a dreamless sleep. ~Wild Wings
Chapter 4~ Officially, an AppleRainbow Dash was slowly tossing and turning in her ‘dreamless’ sleep. Small beads of sweat ran down her face as she clenched her teeth. She was once again, dreaming about the sky she lived for, the lack of the cool wind running through her mane, and her dreams of being a Wonderbolt down the drain. Rainbow shot up like a rocket, gasping and heaving for air. After about a minute of futile gasping she couldn’t get her breathing back in order. She put her hooves on her face and sighed. She just sat there like that, thinking. Hoof-beats on the wood floor snapped her out of her thoughts but she didn’t move, she couldn’t move. Out of the corner of her left eye she saw Applejack slowly pushing open the door. And there was Dash…Breathing just like she finished a marathon and hooves on her face like they were permanently attached there. “Rainbow?” Applejack yawned and walked closer to the bed “I heard you down the hall, good thing Applebloom and the others are heavy sleepers.” Rainbow Dash didn’t move but her breathing was close to normal. After a long silence Dash finally spoke. “I can’t do it….” Rainbow Dash croaked. “Do… what sugarcube?” Rainbow slowly moved her hooves away from her face and looked at them. Applejack was getting more concerned for her friend by the second. “I feel… I feel like-“.Rainbow stopped, not being able to finish. “Like?” Applejack pressed on. “Like my life has no meaning anymore. My life, devoted to flying… gone. My dream about being in the Wonderbolts…gone, and my cutie mark, it means nothing without my wings.” Rainbow stopped again and raised her head and her anger flowed in. “EVERYTHING I LIVE FOR AND CARE ABOUT IS GONE” Rainbow screeched in anger. Tears were starting to stain her cheeks. When Rainbow Dash had turned around Applejack got a look into Rainbow’s eyes. Although she saw Rainbow’s face for only a second before she moved it back again she was speechless from what she saw. The usually strong and proud Rainbow Dash had tears in her eyes. In all her life Applejack had never seen Rainbow Dash cry. It’s true that there had been moments when Rainbow was sad or couldn’t hide some tears like the time when Applejack had ran away but this time it was different. Applejack had the bad feeling in her gut, and she couldn’t explain it. “Rainbow, Ah’ know you miss your wings… and we both know it wasn’t smart of Twilight to not read the warnings on that spell she had goin' on, but that don’t mean your life is over sugarcube.” A reassuring smile flowed onto Applejack’s face. Rainbow was still looking ahead of her eyes furrowed. “What if you lost Sweet Apple Acers?” Applejack was about to speak but Rainbow cut her off. “What if… a fire burned the whole place down to ashes… and you had to work someplace else, like the Carousel Boutique. Someplace else that didn’t fit you at all. Someplace else… whe-“ Rainbow couldn’t talk anymore, she closed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth. Applejack was on the verge of tears seeing Rainbow Dash at this state. But little did the two mares know that there was an audience behind the door. * * * “Granny, what do we do?” Applebloom whispered. “Well, err-“Granny Smith stopped speaking to think. Applebloom looked up at Big Macintosh. “Big Mac?” She looked up at him with huge eyes. “Nope.” Applebloom narrowed her eyes because of his response. “Well we gotta think of somethin’… we just gotta. Rainbow Dash is part of our family now and she needs her family!” Granny Smith looked down at Applebloom. "Now Applebloom, there’s no need to get your tail in a twist, I bet she already has a family.” “Nope” Big Mac interrupted. “AJ told me she doesn’t” Applebloom grabbed onto one of Big Mac’s legs. “Whataya mean she don’t have no family! Everyponys’ gotta have a family!” Applebloom whimpered “That’s all I know.” Big Mac answered truthfully Applejack walked out of the room and sighed “Ah’m sorry Apples, Its late we should get back to bed.” Applebloom bit onto Applejack's tail to keep her from walking to her room. “Applejack, is it true Rainbow has no family?” Applejack turned around “Shh… yes its true.” Applejack whispered “But why?” “She never told me the full story, but rumors say her parents abandoned her and left on the streets.” Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Applebloom all looked disgusted. “My next guess is that when she was old enough she enrolled herself into flight school.” There was a long silence. “I’m going to bed”, Applejack broke the silence. “Goodnight” * * * Rainbow Dash cracked open her eyes and sat up. Well I’m depressed….. Rainbow thought. She rolled out of bed then shuffled to the door and walked downstairs to see the Apples eating breakfast. “Morning Rainbow” Applejack Said back turned facing the sink “Yeah… G’morning” Rainbow sat down in the chair she sat in last night and held up her face with her hooves. “Are you hungry?” Asked Applebloom, with a huge smile across her face. “No, not really.” “We’re going to be heading out to the fields soon, about five minutes.” Applejack spoke again “What time is it?” Rainbow pulled her face up. Applejack saw she had huge bags under her eyes and that she had a hallow expression. “Err… Bout’ six thirty” Applejack sat in her chair across from Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow, did you get any sleep last night?” Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack in the eyes “No, well maybe an hour or two.” Applejack raised an eyebrow. “And what were you doin’ after I left your room?” Applejack questioned. Rainbow Dash looked down then back up at AJ “Thinking” Applejack gave Rainbow a sorrowful smile and got up to hug Rainbow Dash. Rainbow weirdly accepted because she knew she needed everything she could get. After what seemed like forever the hug ended and Rainbow was holding her head up with her hooves again. Applejack turned around to see Big Mac trotting down the stairs. “Morning Macintosh” “Eeeyup, Wha’ time is it?” He asked grabbing an apple from one of the small baskets on the counter. “Round six thirty last time ah’ checked” Big Mac turned around and face Applejack, she was in front of the table now. Big Macintosh moved his head to the side quizzically, looking at Rainbow Dash. “What’s her problem?” Applejack turned around. “Oh she’s jus-“, Applejack stopped when she saw Rainbow. Her head was on the table and her front hooves were sprawled out and she was snoring and drooling like a pig. Applejack looked at Big Mac and shrugged; they both smirked and headed out to the fields. * * * Rainbow Dash was awoken from her deep sleep by three fillies yelling, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER BRAIN OPERATORS, YAY!” “AHHHH! NO!” Rainbow jumped out of her chair and started walking to the door. “C’mon’ Please Rainbow Dash? It's just a simple brain operation!” Scootaloo begged waving a knife around. “NO” Rainbow turned around walking backwards to the door pointing a hoof at them. “NO.” and she walked out the door backwards, putting a hoof to her eyes and pointing it back at them, she then started heading to the north fields. She quickly found Applejack and Macintosh lifting huge baskets of apples over to their apple cellar. “Well howdy Rainbow” Applejack grunted, “We could use some help” “Right” Dash nodded and threw two baskets on her back and started effortlessly trotting over to the cellar. She went back to get two more and saw a dumbstruck Applejack looking at her. “….what?” Rainbow put two more baskets on her back. “Those baskets are mighty heavy.” Rainbow glanced at the baskets on her back. “Nothing I’m not used to” she finished and started trotting to the cellar. After working for an hour they barley cut through the pile of baskets. “Hey, AJ?” Applejack was lifting another basket “Yeah Rainbow?” Applejack grunted as she spoke. “Err, what do you guys do after this?” They got to their destination and put the baskets on the ground for Macintosh to carry down. “Well, we usually go down to the marketplace and sell apples at the stand, but that’s closed for the week. So we just go back to the house and… I dunno visit.” Rainbow nodded and got the next two baskets when she felt something tugging at her tail she glanced down and saw an orb on pink magic. Twilight… She thought. She spun around to see Twilight and Spike rushing towards her “Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!” Twilight finally caught up to her gasping for air. “It’s… Pinkie…Can’t… Find her… Need help.” Rainbow narrowed her eyes. “I’m not helping you” “Rainbow! This is serious! Twilight gasped. Rainbow Dash’s expression hardened. “You know what else is serious?” She lifted her back up higher. “Dash, Pinkie could be hurt!” “Well it’s not like I can go look for her.” Rainbow replied sharply, and walked over to get another basket. “She’s really mad at you Twilight” Spike whispered in her ear, “I think you should give her another day to cool off” Twilight looked back at him and replied. “No Spike, I need to talk to her.” Spike put his claws up in surrender and Twilight walked to Rainbow. “Rainbow I’m going to talk to you whether you like it or not.” Twilight gave an affirmative nod, but Rainbow Dash just kept her gaze forward “Knock yourself out Twilight; I’m not going to listen.” Twilight was taken aback by the comment. “Well… I um.” “Exactly, kay bye.” Rainbow Dash turned around and gave Twilight a sarcastic salute and got another set of baskets. “Bye?... BYE?!” Twilight was getting nowhere with Dash. “Yup.” “Okay Twilight I think we should-“Spike was cut off by Twilight. “Rainbow Dash I see you’re mad, but as a good friend I will-“Twilight was also cut off by a raging Rainbow Dash walking up to her. “MAD? OH NO, IM FURIOUS!” she screamed. “Well Rainbow calm down and we can work this out.” Rainbow looked like she got bucked in the face. “WORK THIS OUT?! Tell me Twilight, how do I work this out, huh?” Twilight didn’t speak and Spike looked like he wanted popcorn. “Exactly you can’t, you’ve really blown it this time Twilight, and I don’t forgive easy.” Dash’s last words faced into a menacing whisper. “My dreams are DESTROYED Twilight, My house? I have to sell it. Being a Wonderbolt? HA! Fat chance now! And don’t get me started on how I am now officially useless.” Rainbow Dash started walking away when she turned her head around a tad “I think I’ve made my point, go find a ditch someplace. Maybe another pegasus is down there waiting for you to rip their wings off too. ” Rainbow Dash got the two baskets back onto her back and started walking towards Applejack and Macintosh who were staring at her, shocked. Just as Twilight and Spike. The rest of the day went surprisingly as planned. * * * Luna’s moon was now high in the dark sky and Pinkie was still no place to be found. Twilight walked into the library with Spike and closed the door forceful buck. “Twilight… You okay?” Twilight flopped herself on the ground and sat on her haunches. “No Spike, I am not alright. Rainbow Dash hates me and it’s my fault.” Twilight replied rubbing her face with her spare hoof. Spike sighed “C’mon Twilight! This will all light up a bit soon! She’s the element of loyalty of Celestia’s sake!” Twilight looked up at Spike. “I don’t know Spike. I mean did you SEE her?! She was so angry! She’s never going to forgive me!” Twilight was now pacing around the library when she heard a light knock on the door. She walked over and opened it. “Hello Twilight darling.” Rarity welcomed herself into the library with a flip of her mane. “Um, come in?” Rarity looked at Twilight. “Well I’m just here for the new shipping’s of those fashion magazines.” Twilight was halfway up the stairs by now and groaned. “Ask Spike, goodnight Rarity” * * * Rainbow Dash was on one of the couches in the Apple’s living room with Everypony else. Big Macintosh was telling them the entire story about the time an apple tree fell on him… again. She now realized he’s quite the talker when he’s around family, not as much as the ordinary pony but he talks more than one would expect. They were all telling random stories and laughing as they did so. After Big Macintosh finished Applebloom piped up. “Rainbow Dash can you tell a story next?” She squealed with a hyperactive nod. “Aw shoot, I don’t have anything to tell.” She replied with a smirk. Applejack shook her head. “There’s gotta be at somethin’ in that little noggin of yers.” Granny Smith cackled to herself. “You’re such a liar Dash” Applejack laughed to herself. “Eeeyup” Big Macintosh agreed. “Well what do I tell?” Rainbow replied with a slight chuckle. “Can you tell us about your parents Rainbow?” Rainbow Dash’s face looked just like it did that morning in an instant. “Well…I…um…” “To be honest Dash, Ahm’ kinda curious mah'self.” Big Mac half shrugged. “Ah’ think we all are Rainbow” Granny Smith shakily nodded her head. “Right… okay.” Rainbow sighed and sat up more. “It all started when I was a filly, younger than Applebloom here.” Rainbow looked down at Applebloom and ruffled her mane. “I started off as a really young flier, but I was only allowed to go flying with my mom. So we went out one night and a thunderstorm came in. we got separated by the winds, but once it was over I couldn’t find her anywhere. The only thing I found has the hat she always wore. And that’s when I knew she was gone.” Everybody just looked at Dash with disbelief as she continued. “When I went back home my Dad was wondering what happened and I told him. He had a mental breakdown and left looking for her.” Rainbow Dash stopped and looked down. The Apples realizing it was too hard for Rainbow to tell. “You don’t have to finish if you don’t want to sugarcube…” Applejack cracked a small smile and Big Mac ‘Eeeyuped’ for the one hundredth time that day. “No, I already started. It wouldn’t be fair.” She rose her head up once again to continue. “After days my Dad never came back, and when he finally did it wasn't the same, so I ran away. I was homeless and lived on the streets of Cloudsdale… and don’t ask how I got food…” Rainbow and everybody else made nasty belching noises. “Let’s just say I’ve never liked being around a street garbage cans ever since. Anyway, I just sat on the streets and waited, and waited, and waited until I was finally old enough to enroll into flight school. So enrolled myself and forged my parent’s signatures.” Everypony started lightly laughing at this but stopped as she continued. “I was one of the best fliers in the class and because of that a lot of fillies and colts got jealous and picked on me A LOT, they also picked on the weakest flier there, Fluttershy. We stuck together ever since that race where I got my cutie mark.” “Didn’t she fall off that cloud?” Applebloom interrupted “Well, yeah. But I went down after to see if she was okay.” “Oh gotcha.” “So after seven years in flight school I finally dropped out and moved to Ponyville, built my cloud house with the help of Fluttershy, Yadda, yadda.” Rainbow Dash finished with a wave of her hoof. “So, about a month or two after I settled in, my Dad came and he didn’t look good… at all” Rainbow Dash sighed. “My Dad asked if I would fly with him one last time, I didn’t know what he meant but I agreed and we flew for a couple hours until he crash landed on a ledge at Foal Mountains. He told me he loved me and that he wanted me to be the best I could be, and… he died in my hooves. That’s when I caught on with what he meant ‘Fly with him one last time’. The whole room was silent. “What?!” Rainbow asked throwing her hooves up in the air and leaning back on the couch the way she was before “You guys wanted to hear about my parents, that’s the story.” Applebloom’s face looked like she just saw somepony being murdered, Applejack’s looked like she ate too many apples and she was about the throw up, Granny Smith looked like she got a blow to the gut, And Big Macintosh looked like somebody hit him on the side of the head with a frying pan. “Man Rainbow, Ah’ didn’t know any of that happened.” Applejack snapped out of her daze and so did everypony else after she spoke. “Yeah! We thought you had a family like us.” Applebloom added in. "Eeeyup.” “Ha… Well I wish, but I’m kind of being used to being alone. So it doesn’t really affect me as much as it used too.” Applebloom scooted over and hugged Rainbow Dash. And then came Applejack, then Big Mac, and Granny Smith. “You have us as your family whenever you need us Rainbow” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash wasn’t used to this, at all. But it made her feel warm inside. Not like she would ever admit it. “R-really?” “Really, because family always comes first.” Big Macintosh choked through the tight hug. Because family always comes first… The words played in Rainbow’s head like a symphony. “Ah’ think we should hit the hay. Goodnight everypony” Applejack neighed ending the hug. “Goooooodnaht!” Applebloom sang. “Night’” Big Macintosh added “Ehm, that’s what ah’ said.” Granny Smith rambled. “Yeah….Goodnight.” Rainbow finished. They all walked up the stairs in a line and went their separate ways. Rainbow got to her room and sat on the bed looking back at the photos. Thanks Holly. Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She clunked herself on the bed and closed her eyes. I finally have a family. And as it happened by magic, Everypony in that house fell asleep in a blissful state. If only, but soon that magic is about to get Twisted. ~Lightning Chaser~
