What goes up, Must eventually come down
“Will you stop?”
“Why? It's so funny!”
“No, it's not!”
“You've been here for how long?”
Sunset Shimmer huffed. Of all the people to find out, it had to be Rainbow Dash. “It's not that big of a deal,” she grumbled, “I'm sure people here have the same problem.”
“Perhaps,” laughed Rainbow Dash, opening the door to the school cafeteria, “but I doubt to the same degree as you.”
“Can we just drop it?”
“Drop what?” asked Rarity, who was already standing in the food line.
“Nothing!”
Rainbow released another laugh, “I wouldn't exactly call it nothing.”
“It is nothing!”
Sensing the rising tension, Rarity quickly jumped between the two. “Why don't you let me be the judge of that?” she asked, “Rainbow Dash, what is it that is so funny?”
Rainbow fought down a chuckle, “Sunset is afraid of stairs.”
Sunset's face grew a fiery, hot red, “I'm not afraid of stairs!”
“Just calm down,” Rarity gently said, “Sunset, please explain.”
Sunset released a long breath. Once cooled, she said, “I just mentioned in passing to Rainbow that I'm slightly uncomfortable going down stairs.”
“Which is silly,” Rainbow teased. She swiftly received a backhanded slap of silence from Rarity.
“Sunset, darling,” Rarity said, slightly confused, “I don't quite understand. But, let's get our lunch before we discuss this further.”
The trio grabbed their lunches and their trays and rendezvoused with the rest of their friends at their usual table.
“Now then,” Rarity sat down, “what is all this business about?”
“I don't know what more there is to explain,” Sunset said, “I'm just uncomfortable going down steps.”
Twilight Sparkle slightly frowned, “I don't understand how. I've seen you run up and down stairs like nothing.”
Sunset waned, “It's complicated.”
“Well, try to uncomplicate it,” said Rarity.
Sunset took a moment to gather her thoughts. “It's just, sure, I've been in this world, and a human for some time, but, in some aspects, I still think as a pony. And one of those things is in relation to steep slopes. We're fine going up them, but are often very hesitant to go down them.
“While I know in this form it's not that big of a deal, I still can't help but become antsy when going down a flight of stairs.”
“See?” Rainbow said, “Silly, isn't it?”
“I dunno,” Applejack said, “It makes quite a bit of sense to me.”
“Oh, come-on! Seriously?”
“You've never worked with horses and cows,” the farmer explained, “Gettin' 'em up steps is easy, but gettin' 'em back down is near impossible.”
“But there are stairs in Equestria,” Twilight pointed out, remembering her journey there during spring break.
“Yes,” acquiesced Sunset, “but they're designed by ponies for ponies. They're not nearly as steep as the ones for humans.”
“Still doesn't explain why you have trouble with steps,” Rainbow said.
Sunset threw up her hands. “Ugh!”
“Maybe if we explained it in another way,” offered Twilight, “Rainbow Dash is very much a tactile learner. Maybe we can find some way of showing her exactly what you mean.”
“If you have a plan, I'm all ears.”
“I'll help!” Fluttershy piped up.
“Count me in!” cheered Applejack.
Rainbow Dash looked around the table. “Why do I have the feeling I'm not going to like it?”
Per Twilight's texted instructions, Rainbow Dash met the rest of the girls in the school library. Walking in, she was immediately waved to by her friends on the second floor.
Running up the stairs, Rainbow was met by a strange looking four-legged contraption.
“Uh... what is this?”
“This,” Sunset smiled, “is what will help you see what I've been trying to tell you.”
“Okay... So, how does it work?”
“Quite simple,” answered Twilight, “This is a prosthetic of sorts. Your legs will be strapped in here and your arms here. Once all set, you'll be able to walk like a pony.”
“I trust you remember how to walk like a pony,” Sunset teased.
Rainbow was skeptical. “Will I actually walk like a pony?”
“We had an actual pony try it out.” Twilight pointed to Sunset, who just smirked.
Rainbow looked at her friends, then back to the pony legs, then back to her friends. “Fine,” she grumbled, “If you think it'll help me see your point.”
It didn't take long to get Rainbow Dash in and strapped to her new legs. She took a few paces around the floor to acclimate herself. She started out with a few slow steps, but was soon able to get herself up to a trot.
“I still don't get it,” she said, “I'm a pegasus in Equestria. Can't I just fly?”
“No flying,” Sunset said sternly, “Besides, pegasi only account for about a third of the population. The other two thirds walk on the ground like they do here. Now, we ready to start?”
“Uhm... Sure. So, what are we doing?”
“You're going to walk down the stairs.”
“What?” Rainbow shrieked.
“That's what started this whole thing!”
“Darn tootin',” Applejack agreed, “Ya need ta see thin's from ta hors—er pony's perspective.”
Rainbow Dash grumbled something and walked to the top of the stairs. Then stopped.
“What's the matter, Rainbow Dash?” Sunset's voice was laced with malice.
“I—I don't know if I can walk down.”
“Give it a try. Don't worry. If you fall, Twilight will catch you.”
Applejack and Rarity appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Rarity had fired up her geode and had two diamond plates at the ready.
“We're also right here, darling.”
“What's the hold-up, Dashie?” Sunset said, slyly.
Rainbow tried to hide her apprehension. “Nothing!”
With wobbly legs, Rainbow took her first hoof off the landing and onto the first step. She followed with another hoof and then another. Each movement was calculated and precise, and very slow.
“What's the problem, Rainbow?” Sunset jeered.
“Hey!” the athlete sniped, “It's not as easy as it looks!”
“I did it.”
Rainbow growled. She reached out a hoof for the next step, but quickly recoiled as a shrill cry hit her ears.
“You can do it, Dashie!”
“Dangit, Pinkie Pie!” she roared, “I'm trying to concentrate here!” She looked at her progress. Half way down. She was only half way down. “Okay,” she told herself, “you can do this. You're almost done.”
It was a grueling couple of minutes but soon, Rainbow Dash was back on level ground.
“Not bad,” Twilight praised, as the friends regrouped, “Now, what did you learn?”
“Well,” Rainbow began, “I learned that with my feet so far behind my line of sight, it's kinda hard to see where I'm stepping.”
“And?” coaxed Sunset.
“And, my center of gravity is off, making the slope of the steps a bit hard to take.”
Applejack crossed her arms. “And?”
“And the way my shoulders, hips and knees need to move, it makes it kinda hard to keep from falling forward.”
“So," Twilight asked, "what is your conclusion?”
Rainbow took a moment before calmly answering: “What may be a small step for man, is a giant leap for equine.”
Author's Note
So, yes, without giving too much away earlier, this is a special fic in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the first moon landing and the first moonwalk (que hipster Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin "I did the moonwalk before it was cool" memes).
As a side note, this marks my thirteenth story. I officially have a baker's dozen.
As always, check out the festival, if you haven't already.
I'm never gonna get my schoolwork done.
Godspeed, y'all!
