From the Everfree, the dark storm clouds had rolled in before the Pegasi could mobilize and beat back the storm. When they saw the grey behemoths of water vapor covering the skies, many of the Pegasi had tried, but found themselves being thrown back by the wild winds. There just wasn't enough time nor enough Ponies to fight the wild storm so all the Ponies took cover and a frantic message was sent out to Cloudsdale to send an emergency squad at once.
The winds ripped through the market place, throwing the produce, scattering the apples which the Apple family had worked so hard to gather up, tossing the turnips, throwing the carrots into a catastrophe, throwing the flowers into a frenzy. Applejack raced by the Flower Trio, trampling down the roses and lilies, and sidestepping the fruits and veggies in her haste to flee.
She galloped on instinct, following the herd of Ponies who were going feral in their fear. The loud boom of the thunder, the crash of the rain on the stone, were bringing up instincts born in primitive, wandering days before the safety of towns and cities.
Looking up to the sky, she saw a flock of Pegasi led by Dash slamming into the clouds in an attempt to disperse them, but there were too many and they were coming too fast. A jagged bolt of lightning lanced out, struck Dash and she screamed, hurtling down to the earth. Applejack galloped and caught the earthbound Pegasus on her back, wincing a bit at the impact. Dash held on and groaned, spreading out her wings. "I'm going back up there!"
"No way, Sugarcube!" Applejack grabbed Dash's tail in her mouth, pulling her down. Her words were nearly drowned out by the stampeding Ponies and the clatter of the rain. "We need to get ta shelter!"
Dash lept into the air. "I gotta help'em!"
Thunderlane dived down. "You just got hit by lightning! Take a break!"
Dash groaned. "I can-ow!" She winced and nearly fell in midair before Thunderlane steadied her.
Applejack rolled her eyes. The stampede had passed. Now, they were alone in the marketplace. The streets were flooding, fruits and veggies bobbing on the waters, the force of wind and water knocking down the stalls. Dash relented, coming down to the earth. She shook out her wings only for them to be immediately soaked again. She grumbled when she realized the stabbing pain in her primaries stopped her from flying.
High above, the other Pegasi continued their losing struggle, many of them forced to flee the powerful lightning strikes. Dash zoomed ahead. "Let's get out of here!"
Applejack struggled to keep up with her, it suddenly becoming a race. "That's what I was tryin' ta tell ya!"
Their racing kicked up the water and Applejack surged ahead. Not to be put in second place, Dash charged ahead of her. Applejack felt her legs burn from the exertion, but she trampled upon the watery stones in her haste to keep up with her. They were soon joined by a white blur who was screeching. Applejack was the first to recognize it. "Howdy, Rarity."
Rarity shouted. Her coat and mane were soaked, bits of mud splattering both. "What is going on with this weather? Why aren't the Pegasi taking care of it?"
Dash sighed. "It's too big for us! We're gonna need an emergency squad and I don't know how long that will take!"
Rarity continued to run in her mad fury. "I was only out to restock on some groceries when this deluge came out of nowhere! Oh my, I need a bath!"
Applejack snorted. "Looks like you're already gettin' one!"
Rarity lashed the air with her tail. "You rapscallion!"
Applejack and Dash burst into laughter and even Rarity fondly smiled. A second Unicorn joined the stampeding herd and cast a purple bubble around them. Twilight shook out her wet mane. "I don't know what's going on, but this storm's magic is off the charts!"
Dash groaned. "Stupid Everfree magic! What's wrong with that dumb forest?"
"Unicorn magicians have actually speculated that the Everfree is alive in some sense, more so than the normal animus that inhabits all things. It seems to be, for lack of a better word possessed-"
"You can tell me more about that Egghead when we're inside and dry!"
Twilight squeed. "You mean you're really interested?"
Dash almost told her exactly what she thought about the subject, but one look at Twilight's eager face held her tongue. "Yeah, sure."
"Eeeek! Somepony help!"
Dash looked around at the familiar voice. Fluttershy was being knocked around by the storm, the winds throwing her in every direction. Twilight dropped the shield so that Dash could dart out and grab her. She held on tight as Dash returned to the safety of Twilight's shield.
The five Ponies continued their mad dash through the streets, not quite sure where they were going, instinct guiding them to bunch up close. As they passed Sugarcube Corner, they heard a wild shout and looked around. Pinkie was in the middle of the storm, holding the door open against it. Her mane was shaking in the gale, the wind howling in its attempt to knock her off of her hooves. At once they dove through her door into the warmth and safety of Sugarcube Corner and Pinkie retrieved several towels. They allowed her to dry them off and all sat down as she laid out some muffins for them.
"Some storm, huh?"
They all nodded and Twilight segued into a lecture about the various ghosts possessing the Everfree Forest. Pinkie smiled and nodded along while they all chomped on the muffins. Outside, the storm continued to rage. Dash spread out her wings and attempted to lift into the air, yelping in pain. Fluttershy pulled at her shoulders, forcing her to take a seat, an unusually assertive move for her which caught everypony's attention. Twilight blinked. "You okay, Dash?"
"No, she isn't." Fluttershy pursed her lips. "You need to rest this wing, if you don't mind."
Dash sighed. "You're not my mom, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to tell her?"
"W-what? I'm a little too old for that threat to work." She paused. "Also, please don't. You know how she gets."
"Then ye'd best sit down." Applejack cracked a grin.
Dash pouted, but did as she was told. "I wish I could get back up there. I feel so useless."
Twilight frowned and laid a hoof on her shoulder. "I know you want to help, but you need to take care of yourself."
Still, the Pegasus was frowning, clearly having fallen into a bad mood. She nibbled at the remains of her muffin, grabbed a second one. Twilight motioned to Pinkie who, getting the hint, broke into an eager smile. "Hey, know what we should do? Have a game of truth-or-dare!"
Dash's ears perked up at this suggestion. "Oh yeah! I am the best at this game!"
Applejack put down her muffin, a dangerous grin spreading over her face. "I bet I'm better than you."
"Oh yeah? What'cha wanna bet?"
"Hmm, a month of carrying apples." Applejack popped the muffin into her mouth. "And if I lose?"
"You in a maid outfit cleaning my house."
"Alright."
Rarity levitated a manebrush which Pinkie had been kind enough to bring her and began to pull it through her mane. "And how exactly does one win a truth-or-dare context?"
Twilight scratched her chin. "One of them would have to come up with a dare the other wouldn't consider doing or couldn't do to completion. Nothing extreme or gross though."
Dash gave her a flat look. "I bet you have a book on how to play truth or dare."
The sarcasm went over her head. "I do actually, but it's raining too hard for me to go and get it."
"Right. Let's just start. More muffins, Pinkie?"
"Okie Dokie Lokie!" Pinkie bounced into the kitchen and came back a few moments later with another plate of muffins which she laid out on the table. They dug into the muffins. Pinkie pulled up a chair and sat down. "You can go first, Dashie."
Dashie swallowed her muffin. "Okay. AJ, I dare you to, um, put on one of Pinkie's frilly dresses-"
"Okay, why do you keep wantin' ta dress me up-"
"And sing the Smile Song."
"Hey! That's my song!"
Dash smirked over at Pinkie. "You still got your Gala dress?"
"Sure do!" She darted up the stairs in a pink blur and returned a few moments later with the frilly pink and blue thing. Applejack glared at Dash and then struggled to get it on. While Pinkie was "pleasingly plump", Applejack had a much leaner figure created by her life of labor so the dress nearly swallowed her up. Try as they might, her friends couldn't hold in their giggles. Even Applejack cracked a grin as she attempted to move around in the garment, nearly tripping over the hemline, Pinkie pie steadying her at the last minute.
Applejack reared up and burst into song. As she sang the happy tune, a laugh started deep in her belly. By the time she finished the chorus, she could no longer keep it in. She burst into laughter and all of her friends joined in. They all started to sing together, Pinkie singing the loudest. Even Dash joined in, if softly.
She shook her head. "Alright, Dash's turn. Truth or dare?"
Dash reclined. "Like you need to ask. Dare."
"I dare you to walk slowly."
She blinked. "What kind of lame dare is that?"
Applejack's grin was downright evil. "Go on, do it."
Dash crossed her forelegs. "I don't wanna."
"Are ya forefeiting?"
"No way!"
"Then go on."
Dash hopped down, flapping her wings very slowly, just to get the cricks out. She put one hoof in front of the other, resisting the urge to bolt, fighting against her natural instinct to run fast. She took one more step, then one more. Pinkie drummed a hoof on the table, feeling bored just watching.
Applejack was still grinning. "Go all the way to the kitchen."
Dash's groan could have been heard from space. She fell into a pattern, left hoof, then right. Then back to left. Then back to right. Her tail slashed at the air. She bit her lip from fighting her own natural instinct to charge forward. She took several torturously long steps towards her destination, breathing slowly in a quasi-meditative state. She could do this. She knew she could do this. Breaking out of the pattern, she sped up slightly and then stopped. There was no way that could be counted as fast.
She continued at her crawling pace. The kitchen seemed to stretch further away with each step she took. Was she sweating? Now her tail was frantically waving.
"Is she alright?" Pinkie whispered to Applejack.
Applejack stared, the grin replaced by an expression of worry. "I'm actually not sure. You, uh, you okay there RD?"
"Fine!" Dash shouted, gritting her teeth. Her tail was now going so fast that it was beating up its own breeze. She sighed, wishing she could spread out her wings, but they still hurt. Going slowly was only making her long to go fast. The kitchen was coming closer even if she could swear it was getting further away.
A bead of sweat stung her eyes. "Of, buck this." She bolted over the last inch.
Applejack offered her a muffin as she returned to the table in disgrace. "It'll be good to have some extra help with the harvest."
"Ah, shaddup." Despite her words, she took the muffin.
"Don't be like that, RD." Applejack playfully patted her shoulder.
Dash sighed. "You know how I feel about losing."
Twilight cleared her throat. "Technically, the game isn't over yet. Why not best two out of three?"
"What d'ya say, RD?"
Dash's glum expression vanished. "You're on!"
Twilight looked around. "Who wants to go next?"
Pinkie excitedly raised her hoof. "Ooooh, me! Pick me!"
"Alright, Pinkie. Truth or dare?"
Pinkie thought for a moment. Then another moment. Finally, she made a decision. "Truth!"
Twilight nodded. "Okay. Is there anything you're scared of?"
"Nope!" Her eyes cut sharply to the left.
Twilight frowned. "You're lying. That's against the rules."
Pinkie stroked her own tail. "There's nothing I'm scared of. I giggle at the ghosties remember?"
Twilight nuzzled Pinkie. "Hey, we're all friends here. If you can't talk about your fears with your friends, who can you talk to them about?"
Pinkie continued to look away. Twilight drew back. "But if you don't want to talk about it, I understand."
The others looked at her, concern evident in their faces. Finally, Pinkie relented. "Alright. The one thing I'm scared of is losing my friends."
Dash shoved her. "That ain't gonna happen. I'm not going anywhere."
"And I think I speak for everypony here when I say we ain't either." There were murmurs of agreement.
The air seemed to come back into her and the brief melancholy faded away, replaced by a smile. "Okay, your turn. Truth or dare."
"Truth."
"Anything you're scared of?"
Twilight hadn't though revenge was something Pinkie was capable of, but turnabout was fair play. "Disappointing the Princess. Or my parents. Or one of my friends. Or the mayor. Or the head of the hay board. Or Miss Cheerilee."
Pinkie held up her hoof. "Okay, we get it, sheesh."
Dash stretched. "Who doesn't disappoint their parents? I love my parents and they love me, but yeah, I'm pretty sure they spent my entire teenagehood wishing I was Fluttershy." She popped a muffin in her mouth. "Got any lemonade, Pinkie?"
"Coming right up!" She bounced away and returned later
Fluttershy played with her mane. "Oh, I doubt that. You know they always supported you."
"Sure they did. But we had our arguments."
"I sometimes think my parents wished they had you as a daughter."
Dash put down her drink. "Come on, Flutters, you know that isn't true."
Fluttershy pawed at the ground, sipped her lemonade. "I'm not saying they don't love me. Of course they do. I was just so..." She sighed. "Different. More of an Earth Pony than a Pegasus. They didn't understand me."
"Fluttershy..." Dash was suddenly at a loss for words.
She blinked, nodded to Twilight. "I'm sorry, this was your turn."
Twilight hesitated. "So, I kind of think there's some things we should talk about?"
Pinkie patted Fluttershy's back. "Are you okay?"
Fluttershy nuzzled her. "I'm alright."
Twilight sipped her lemonade. "Maybe I should tell you all why I'm so scared of disappointing others."
She found that everyone's attention was now on her. "It started when I first became Celestia's student. Everyone was so proud of me, but the truth is, I wasn't very good at first. It took me years and years to get where I am now. And there were...bullies." She sniffled. Why did hot tears come to her eyes at the memory all these years later? "Shining tried to tell them to knock it off, but he didn't want to really hurt them." Like they really deserved. "They were just little fillies, but they could get mean. And they're favorite thing to tell me was that if I didn't do well enough the Princess would kick me out and my parents would throw me out." She shook her head and noticed her friends had moved closer to her. Their presence was a comfort. "I knew it wasn't true, but you hear something enough times, you start thinking it's true."
"Absolutely disgraceful. Bullies of any age are simply terrible." Rarity placed a foreleg over Twilight.
Applejack gave her a look. "Uh, Rarity?"
Rarity sighed. "And I was too, Applejack. I'm not excepting myself from that statement."
"Ah, ya weren't so bad."
"I was terrible. At least you straightened me out."
Applejack slowly sipped her juice. "I'm not sure me bullying you was the right way to do that, but I was a filly."
"We both were." Rarity raised her glass. "But we're friends now, aren't we?"
"Of course we are."
They clinked their glasses. Rarity set hers down as well. "My turn. My fear, one of them, is that I'll go back to being that fillyhood bully."
Applejack nodded her head. "I wouldn't let ya, ya know that."
"Oh, I know, but it almost happened, didn't it? When I...when I broke my promise to Twilight to go to that banquet. I could feel that selfish snob rising up in me again."
Twilight now wrapped a foreleg around her. "But in the end, you took up for us, didn't you?"
A smile spread over Rarity's lips. "I suppose I did, didn't I? I guess I'm better now."
Applejack patted her back. "You are. Well, since we're all doin' this, I'll go next. My greatest fear is losin' someone I love. I don't wanna talk about why."
There was a long, uncomfortable silence in which they all avoided looking at each other and sipped their lemonade while Applejack lowered her hat. She lifted it back up. "Oh, for land's sake. I ain't made of glass. Who wants to go next?"
Dash rustled her wings and preened a singed feather. "I don't want to talk about it."
"This counts as part of our bet."
"I'm scared of losing. No sappy reason for it."
Fluttershy shrugged. "Um, if I go, it might take a while."
Dash stood and did a bit of shadow boxing, nearly whacking AJ who lightly tapped her and nearly sent her off balance. She sat down and pouted. "Too much sappy stuff. I wanna go back to the dares."
"I dare ya to run ten laps outside."
Dash glanced outside. The storm had blown out while they'd been talking. The emergency squad would be confused when they got their, but they might still have work to do. The streams of sunlight would take time to evaporate the water from the flooded streets. "Ya know what?" She settled back down in her chair. "I think I'll just take the loss this time."
"Fair, but we can still do a little race later. I'm gonna need to stretch my legs."
"Deal."
They hoof bumped.
Fluttershy put down her empty glass. "When I was five years old, I was kidnapped."
They all turned their attention to her, expressions of concern on their faces. She attempted to swallow. "Pinkie, may I have some more lemonade, if you don't mind?"
Even Pinkie looked shaken by the revelation, but picked up the cup and quickly trotted to the kitchen. Dash stared at Fluttershy. "You never told me about that."
Fluttershy held onto the empty cup. "It never came up, but everyone was sharing and I felt so close to all of you. I wanted to share too."
Twilight took Fluttershy's hooves in her own. "We're listening."
She took a deep, shuddering breath. Pinkie prinked back into the room, the silver tray on her back somehow not falling from her back. Setting the cup of lemonade on the lemonade, she sat down. Fluttershy took a long sip. Pinkie sat next to her.
All of her friends crowded around her, offering her what comfort they could. In a voice that nearly shook, Fluttershy began her tale. "When I was five, my parents took me on a trip to Las Pegasus." She was shaking, memories she'd held back for years coming to the forefront. Pinkie rubbed the space between her wings, an uncharacteristically serious expression on her face.
After a brief pause, Fluttershy continued. "I was already a nervous filly, but I got excited when I saw the zoo. I slipped away from my mom..." There was another shuddering intake of breath. "I got scared being away from her after I'd looked at all the animals. A...a mare came up to me and said my mom was looking for me. I...I believed her." There was a note of shame to her voice and she shook her head. "I...I shouldn't have."
"You were only a foal." Twilight stroked her face. "What happened wasn't your fault."
Fluttershy nodded. "She took me by the foreleg, had me sit on her back. Even got me ice cream. I thought she was a nice mare. After I ate the ice cream, I got sleepy. I later understood it was drugged."
Dash's feathers trembled in rage. "What was she trying to do?"
"It was for an adoption ring. I woke up in a basement. There were a bunch of other foals. I was...I was so scared." She wrapped her wings around herself. "I didn't know where I was and it was so dark and so cold. A guard saw her take me. He trailed her, he and his squad burst in. That scared me more." She put her hooves to her head. "There was so much noise and fighting." She shuddered. "So much."
Dash placed a wing over her. Suddenly, Fluttershy found herself in a group hug. Without even realizing it, tears had started to brim in her eyes and now had fallen down her cheeks. In a show of tenderness she almost solely saved for her, Dash wiped away her tears with a brush of her wing.
(Dash saved tenderness for her and foals. Fluttershy tried not to think about that too hard.) Wrapped up in the group hug, she didn't feel scared anymore to talk about what she had needed to for so long. "When the guard came, I was scared. I huddled up in a little ball and I, I didn't talk for about a year."
The embrace was warm. Comforting. She relaxed in it. Dash cursed. "I wish I could get my hooves on those Ponies."
"It's alright now." Fluttershy wrapped a wing around Dash, another around Pinkie. Two of her best friends in the world. She wished suddenly that she could embrace them all within her wings. "I've never talked about that with anypony."
Twilight drew away, but stayed close. "Fluttershy, one thing I've learned about friends is that a good friend is one you can talk about with anything. Would you mind if I wrote about this in a letter to Princess Celestia?"
"Of course. I might write one myself." She extricated herself from the hug. "Thank you. I really am alright now."
Pinkie pouted. "Enough sad stories. We all have fears, but it's okay, cause we've all got each other too right?"
They all clinked their glasses to that.
