Bubbles

I remind you how I bolded some things that may come full circle in the end.

Rainbow Dash

When Fluttershy walked in, soaked from crest to hoof like the rest of us, I could only laugh. "Gilda got you too?"

"Yeah..."

I felt a sharp bolt of anger. "Seriously, what's her problem..."

"I think she's just misunderstood..."

"Misun- Misunderstood!? That's not an excuse to be that way. There is no excuse for stupidity."

"There's no excuse for being overdramatic either."

I just stood there baffled. I'd been put down... by Fluttershy? She simply laughed. "So, um, can I ask what we do now?"

"Nothing... until its morning tomorrow."

"What?"

"They plan nothing," I explained. "We get to do... whatever, as long as we show up to work tomorrow and do a good job... Oh! I remembered!" She's gonna get a kick outta this one. "Ditzy brought down the water cannon from the classroom!"

"Oh... yay..."

She brought it down and set it before us in the lobby. It was surprising, how small it was. A bit bigger than a small fan. It looked like a cannon, small and blue with a heavy base, and a big gray tube coming out of its end.

"How far does this thing go again?"

"Oh, four-hundred bodylengths."

"Damn."

"I know, right? Who designed this... no tricks, no magic, just pure science..."

A few ponies had come over to see this. Ditzy took the end of the tube in her mouth and hooked it up to a water tap put into a cloud.

"Get ready."

The cannon sputtered, and soon a beam of whitewater shot out, arcing way past the cloud's edge, down to below.

"Will anypony down there get angry?"

"Nah, there's just plants down there. Plus, we're supposed to help bring rain down on them, why not now?"

We all laughed. She unplugged the cannon.

"Can't believe the firefighters gave us one. Why? Nothing here is flammable. Sure is fun though. But remember, always be sure with your calculations, an imperfect conclusion can mean a life. So, what equation do we use again?"

We stared at her.

"Oh, right, not in class. Got it."

The next two weeks were riddled with Gilda's daily 'pranks'. They were really annoying and hardly funny in any way. Seriously uncool. I think she needs a doctor.

Unleashing a parasprite in the cafeteria... covering the gates to the camp in tin foil... dropping an enchanted sonic grenade in the training area... and of course, the ol' hoof buzzer.

Only problem was that she could actually pull it off without us noticing. Damn fingers.

Eventually she stopped though. The faucets weren't fruit punch anymore. Our doors wouldn't threaten to kill us every time we stepped through. The chairs didn't electrocute you. The pranks faded away, and I suppose she got bored of them.

We all could live safely. Everypony. Except for Ditzy.

I don't know why she didn't like her particularly. Gilda just went after her like they were bitter rivals in a past life. They stopped being pranks and really turned into attacks.

I once woke up one morning to the sound of yelling. I went out to the balcony to see Ditzy floating on a mattress in the middle of the rainbow lake. If she fell in, that would be one heck of a burn.

Rainbow isn't like normal water. If you swim in it, it will feel like you're out there in the sweltering heat of a desert. If you get it in like, a cut or something, then you can probably kiss that limb goodbye.

This is some serious stuff.

It is a mild hot sauce too.

Pegasi and other flight-oriented creatures can already tolerate it pretty well, but others... not so much. However, over years, one can build up a resistance to it, and apparently, some rulers have challenged each other to the death over it in a drinking contest. Idiots.

Anyways, where was I. Oh yeah.

She got locked in the tool shed once with the key... and damn pegasean engineering makes these doors practically impossible to break down. Luckily, she did a few calculations, and said that the big water pump thing should be strong enough to take the door down. Got a good soaking in the process, but she's alive.

I figure that Gilda doesn't really like her because well, Ditzy's a bit sharper than most knifes. And Gilda's a bit duller than most spoons.

Aside from all the physical harassment, she'd verbally tease her as well.

"Why don't you just run on back home, Ditzy?"

"Oh, I need the money here. Trust me, I do."

"What, to pay for your dweeb tutoring?"

"No, not quite. I need this for a job."

"...serving as a dweeb tutor?"

"No, a Wonderbolts coach."

"Wh- you- Wonderbolts?!"

When learning this, I was baffled too. Ditzy? Man, I knew she was cool and all, but this? Wow.

She explained to me that her Fizzicks could help her calculate optimal blah blah blah Wonderbolts. Still, sounds awesome.

This only led to Gilda's assaults becoming stronger, more severe. Nopony liked her anymore, yet she kept on. It even began interfering with her job. One of her labs involved a big water tank with a tap on the bottom, but she set it to leak, flooding the classroom by morning. Ditzy had to replace it with rainbows, despite its cost and danger, so that it would fall through the cloud floor.

But it got out of hoof quite quick.

Ditzy always would smile and pretend she was fine, and would engage with Gilda as if she were just a normal pony, not the harasser from next door. Gilda decided to use 'fair contests' just 'as friends' to harm her.

She'd challenge Ditzy to a flying contest, would slow down under cloud cover, and dash to the exit to wait with a lightning bolt. Luckily, pegasi have a strong tolerance to static electricity. Will sting like it will for any other pony, but won't kill you. Barely.

Then there were cloud-spinning contests, where Gilda would fly through Ditzy's cloud in motion and send her tumbling down to the surface. That's damn dangerous, even for me. Try that at no speeds? Hell no.

There were all matters of ways that Gilda would try to hurt her, even kill sometimes. But Ditzy would always smile like nothing happened.

That is, until one day.

I was simply walking home late at night, because, hey, they don't care what you do as long as you show up to work. I hate curfews. Anyways, I was just walking when I saw Ditzy alone on the side of a street, crying.

Normally I just walk away and give somepony their time alone, but due to Gilda's damn stupidity I decided this was a special case.

I tapped her in the shoulder, and she jumped back as if it was a branding iron.

"H-hello Rainbow..." She sobbed and looked at me through one eye, sideways and wary like prey.

"Hey. What's the matter? Gilda?"

"Y- yeah... I used to be able to tolerate her, but really, there's nothing left for me to keep that up."

"Mmm." I wrapped a hoof around her.

"Wh- why does she hate me so much? She treats the rest of you fine..."

I sat there with her thinking. I never was good with words. And not so much with thinking either. But I have to get something for her, right?

But when something's that obvious, you just have to say it.

"...Some ponies will hate on others. I don't know why, they just do. They don't like that they're different. Everypony hates different. I remember being teased all through kindergarden for my mane." Then I showed them bastards how better I was at flying. Of course, I didn't say that.

I continued my fake-smart lecture, which I found was surprisingly good. Maybe I am smart. "But, that's not enough. Ponies especially hurt those they know are better than themselves. Gilda know's you're smarter than her, so she wants to give you all hell. She's just too stupid to see you're better."

She seemed to have calmed. "You know what, I'll prove it. I'm going to go challenge her to a duel right now." She simply smiled, and flew away.

I watched her go. I knew I did something right. Then I realized she was flying the wrong way and yelled at her to the right direction.

The next day was usual, blah blah blah, and I got home early this time. Hooray! These foals are actually getting pretty good at flying, its amazing. All due to my awesome.

Anyways, I was just popped my head through the doorway when Fluttershy ran up to me.

She looked on the verge of tears. I don't need more crying. But this is Fluttershy, I can expect it to be something not that sappy.

"Th- th- Ditzy... I-"

"Slow down. Breathe deeply." It took a few breaths, but she got it under control. "Now. What did you want to tell me?"

"Ditzy... she's in the hospital right now."

"What?!"

"All the camp was amazed. She- her eye-"

"What happened?!"

"Gilda challenged her to a drinking contest, right? Non-alcoholic beverages, so Ditzy accepted... she really is competative with her. Anyways, just to be sure, she got a middle mare to choose the beverages and proctor it. They got to the point where they had to get under the tap, and, well, when Ditzy came, Gilda filled the jug with rainbow, and pulled it in at last second... Ditzy got three gallons of rainbow poured into her eye."

...okay, maybe Fluttershy does have some serious things to cry about. Well done.

I... I don't know what to say. Its not unexpected seeing Gilda, but this was serious. Does she not know how painful that would be? That injury could... I don't have words for this. I suppose Ditzy will be fine, long as she likes wearing an eyepatch...

Gilda...!

I ran over to her dorm. The ponies in the lobby looked crazed too. They simply told me they hadn't seen her since last night.

Why does Ditzy have to be so stupid? She's smart an all, but wouldn't she have known there was a catch already? Rivalry is good, but seriously... not when it gets dangerous! I know she should prove she's alpha mare and all, but... what was she thinking?!

I dashed over to the hospital.

After a few quick questions I located her room, and rushed in. She was laying in bed with bandages over her eyes. Blood was flowing down from where her left eye should be.

"Ditzy! You there?!"

"...yes..." she spoke quietly.

"What did Gilda do, exactly?" The story seemed a bit fishy, at least for me.

"...come closer."

I leaned in.

"As you've probably figured out, that story isn't gonna cut it. I've told everypony else that gig, and it's not very legit-sounding, is it."

I have to say, it didn't really sound that simple to just jerk a whole keg that easily.

"You wanna hear the real news?"

"Yes!"

"Don't tell anypony else, they could get Gilda fired in so many ways..."

"Why wouldn't you want her to get fired?! That monster-"

"Ssh. We don't need unwanted attention, do we? Now, trust me... I need her job intact for many reasons. One must know what not to do. Now, the science labs have an outside component, just like all the dorm rooms, right?"

"You mean the balcony?"

"Yea. So, we usually fire the cannon off there, as its easier to aim and adds the height aspect to calculations. We bring it downstairs to ground level in the beginning, but whatever. Anyways, the cannon has not only a 180 degree angle adjustment, but a 360 swivel."

"Okay. Quick, get to the point! I must avenge you!"

"...Dash, I know you want to help, but trust me, we must all know our own wrath."

"B- something has to happen!"

"And something will. Give it time. But like you say, to the point. Now, you know how we use rainbows instead of water now in the tank? Well, we had it hooked up to the cannon, and I was just locking up the classroom, all the students gone, when I think Gilda flew onto the balcony.

"Now, I didn't hear her but this is probably what happened. Because I turned around to the sound of her voice, and next thing you know, I get blasted in the face with rainbows. I looked sideways, so I was able to save one of my eyes. My coat got a job too, but that doesn't matter..."

Wait... so Ditzy... "You... made that other thing up? Why?! Gilda's gonna get fired anyways, so why should you care? Plus, if I were you, I'd want her to get out of here as fast as I can!"

"...Rainbow, she was abusing equipment that other time. Plus, that's direct assault. The other plan is a bit less provable. Either way, she'll have her job."

"..." Why... would she keep Gilda alive?! If I were her, I'd tan her hide! Make a bowl from her skull! Why would... I don't even... *sigh*. Well, I can't fight this. Gilda's gonna be in trouble anyways.

When the military dude who does the assemblies heard about what happened, he ran out in search of Gilda with a repeating crossbow. Maybe his medals are legit. I guess we'll never know. At least he knows what a barrel roll actually is.

Anyways, Gilda came back. Damn fool just laughed when she heard of the incident, said nothing of that sort happened. True enough. Crime still happened.

Since nopony could prove it happened, and Ditzy pretended to be asleep, she just was still alive.

Ditzy got released from the hospital a day later, though. Yeah her right eye's fine, and her left survived, but it's... unaligned. She says its practically blind for her. Can't afford to get it removed though, because, well, she's saving up for the Wonderbolts job anyways.

Her right eye may be all smiles just like her, but her left is like a window to the soul. It may be errant and look all silly, but it burns with wrath. I can see it.

I suppose she'll just stay that way.

It's been a week since Ditzy got released from the hospital, and Gilda's been missing... again.

We all assume she left for the bar like she always does, every friday.

I heard a crash from the bunk above. I suppose Ditzy's still turning. That other eye of hers, it probably is looking through her eyelids, following Gilda, like an angry orb of wrath. Always looking, biding, plotting.

But I ain't here to tell stories, I'm here for facts.

The next morning, her body washed up ashore the rainbow lake.

Nopony hardly gave a damn about her, but it was still weird. Guess she had one too many shots, ey?

Everypony else left to go get a casket, and guess what. It was nurse's job to keep the body preserved. Ha!

So I went with Fluttershy and Ditzy to bring it over, cuz at least somepony's got to keep her company, especially like this.

She just stared at the corner when we got there though.

Ditzy was looking around with her one good eye. It'd be a few hours until the chariot came with the supplies; we're far out here.

Eventually she said something. "...I failed the test."

"What?"

"To become a Wonderbolts coach. They said I don't have depth perception with one eye, and that's dangerous. I suppose that career's out the window..."

I looked down over the corpse with disgust. "Y- and you're fine with this?!"

She turned, and her bad eye- the eye of truth- looked over Gilda's body. It rested over her wings.

I suppose Ditzy will be of no help now.

I just kept fiddling with my hooves. Ditzy's bad eye was unwavering. What was it looking at?

I followed its gaze to Gilda's wings.

It was hard to see it, but it was there.

A single blast hole where the feathers were gone, on the left wing.

On the barren flesh was the stain of rainbows. No water washed that.

I looked up to the all-knowing eye. It swiveled madly again and landed on her talons.

Chipped and cracked, no pavement could do that without fifty miles of speed.

One last time the eye moved. It fell to Gilda's throat.

No matter what I saw, everything looked fine. She didn't get strangled. She didn't get hanged. Everything was perfect.

Too perfect.

She fell into a lake, right? That could mean- oh.

All the pieces were in place, was it true?

"Ditzy?"

She turned to me, eyes realigned like magic. And both were angry. "Yes?" She asked calmly.

I stared her in the eyes, both of them. "Ditzy... you know what happened, didn't you."

She looked on to the wall.

"...Yes."

I looked down to her flank, the bubbles. I knew that was true.

Her mad eye, the true eye, the strong eye, it faced me. And I stared back. It all fell into place.

It was like a dream, I saw it. Ditzy prepped the cannon, fired one quick blast, soaked Gilda's wings. Heavy wings means no flight, she fell to the rainbow lake, and drowned.

Not a trace could be found. Or ever would.

Author's note: Because I don't want you all to get mad, hey, I'm making a humorous ending. But it will sound fishy and will lead to someone asking me what really happened over my deathbed that doesn't kill me and leads to a murder.