Awoken: Fall of the Rainbow Factory

Wow. Awoken chapter 3. This fanfiction is really starting to become an obsession. Just telling y’all now, but this is going to be the hardest chapter for me to write, because of what I got planned for it. I’m probably going to start crying halfway through, actually. Hopefully none of you guys do, but if you do, that simply means I did my job as a writer. 

Toodledoo!

Quillin Words

Twilight Sparkle POV

Twilight sluggishly walked to the bookshelf and looked for the one book that she needed. To think that she’d use it so soon….Twilight wanted to cry, but after last night, her tears were all but spent. She didn’t want to believe what Hate Seed had told them, but it all made sense. How Rainbow Dash would just not be in Ponyville on certain days, how some fillies were never heard from again after they failed their test…..It was just too much. Everypony in that room had broken up into tears by the end of his story.

“I wish I could tell you that this was all a bad dream…..but just the fact that I’m here proves that it’s not.”

Finally, the book she needed was before her bloodshot eyes. A Pony’s Guide to Pegasus Funerals. Funnily enough, Rainbow Dash had come to visit her the first time she was reading this book…..

*Flashback*

Twilight Sparkle was doing a little research on pegasi when she stumbled across A Pony’s Guide to Pegasus Funerals. Frowning, Twilight read the back cover. Surely pegasi funerals couldn’t be that different from regular funerals. Her curiosity now piqued, Twilight started to open the cover just as a scream was being heard just outside her window.

“Not again…” Twilight groaned. She summoned her magic and used a cushioning spell on all of her bookshelves, to protect them from the incoming pegasus. As if on cue, Rainbow Dash flew through Twilight’s window and soared into the barrier Twilight erected, crashing to the floor in a multi-colored heap.

Rainbow Dash sat up and shook her head. “Sorry Twilight. New—”

“New trick, I know, I know.” Twilight said, voice full of indignation. “Rainbow Dash, you really need to be more careful.”

“What?! What’s the use in being the most dare-devilest pony in Ponyville if I’m careful?!” Rainbow cried, now hovering above, arms crossed in protest.

“Whatever! Just try to avoid my library!”

That was when Rainbow Dash noticed the book on Twilight’s desk. “Hey, why are you reading that?”

“What?” Twilight looked around, finally casting her gaze on where Rainbow was pointing. “Oh, that. I was just doing some pegasus research, and I stumbled on it.”

“Oh, Twilight, you egghead!” Rainbow Dash giggled. “If you wanted info on pegasus funerals, you should ask a pegasus pony! Not trust some dinky old book!”

Twilight looked hurt. “Books always give correct and accurate information.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Right. And I’m Fluttershy. Anyway, just let me tell you how it’s done. I’ve done plenty of research myself on the topic.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You? Research? Don’t make me laugh.”

“Not like I wanted too! It was part of the Junior Speedsters entrance exam!” Rainbow protested. “After I started reading about it, I just kind of got hooked. I’m not an egghead like you.”

“Hey!…so how exactly is a pegasus funeral different from unicorn and earth pony funerals?”

Rainbow grinned smugly. She’d never thought the day would come when she would teach Twilight something. “Well, you see…” Rainbow Dash said, clearing her throat. “As you know, most unicorns and earth ponies simply bury their dead, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, pegasi tend to be more respectful to their dead. We like to preserve the body.” Rainbow Dash explained. “If done right, the body looks literally just the way it looked in life. There are a few exceptions though….”

Twilight shook her head, desperately wanting to know more. “And? What are the exceptions?”

“One such exception is cremation. A lot of times, a pegasus prefers to be cremated.” Rainbow Dash said. “We however, unlike most ponies, don’t like to keep the ashes. They’re like bad luck to us, so we scatter them into the wind to free the spirit of the pegasus. In other cases where scattered remains are involved—like if a pony got murdered or something—we burn the remains and spread their ashes.  We then take some prized possessions of that pony and paint a portrait of her. After that we sculpt a statue of the pony, out of any material that either the pony or their family chooses. Once that’s all done, we take all of those materials and make a small shrine anywhere they’d want. Now, if there were no remains to cremate at all, you’d take their most prized possession, and cremate that instead.”

“Wow…..that’s amazing!” Twilight exclaimed. “What about you Rainbow Dash? What do you want to do for your funeral?” This left her mouth before she realized what an insensitive question it was. Rainbow looked around, a little uncomfortable. “I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have asked.”

Rainbow gave out a nervous laugh. “No, it’s ok. It’s fine, really. You’d need to know someday.” Rainbow fell quiet and scrunched her eyebrows, thinking deeply. “I personally wouldn’t want my body to get all mummified and stuff; that would be creepy! So, I’d like it if I were cremated and then scattered into the wind. One last flight, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it.” Twilight Sparkle replied. “But what about the painting, possessions, statue?”

Rainbow thought for a moment. “Well, I’d say I’d like a portrait of me just smiling, all happy to be free and stuff. Maybe a second one of me doing my Sonic Rainboom, and a third of just me being all serious. As for the statue, I’d love one made of marble, like all of the famous pegasi. Now, I do have a fail-safe, just in case y’all have no body parts whatsoever to work with.”

“Rainbow?!” Twilight gasped. “Why would that ever happen?”

The cyan pony shrugged. “I just like to be safe. You never know what could happen. Like, what if I fail a Sonic Rainboom at a flight show, and fly off, and then SPLAT! No more Rainbow Dash!”

Feeling queasy, Twilight simply motioned for Rainbow Dash to mention her fail-safe. Instead of saying anything, Rainbow Dash reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a small necklace. I bet it’s some Wonderbolts autographed memorabilia or something, Twilight thought. However, now that she got a closer look at it…..

“This is a golden cloud locket that I’ve had since I was a filly.” Rainbow Dash said softly. “My mom and dad got it for me the day I earned my cutie mark. This means more to me than anything else in the world. It’s not because of what it is; rather, it’s what’s inside…” She opened it, revealing the most awe-inspiring, most incredible thing ever—a lock of her rainbow mane.

“Some of your hair?” Twilight said, giving at her friend with a quizzical look. “Why is that—” Then she noticed the other thing inside the locket. It was a picture of the six of them, sharing apple juice after Applejack’s apple-bucking craze. They were all smiling and having a good time, and just seeing the picture put warm feelings in Twilight’s heart.

“You see Twilight?” Rainbow Dash said with a smile. “You guys mean more to me than anything in this whole world. I couldn’t ever leave you guys. That’s why wherever I go, I always have this locket with me. Even if the Wonderbolts asked me to join them, if I had to leave my friends behind, I don’t think I could ever do that.” She then closed the locket and put it back in her saddlebags. “So that’s what I’d want you guys to cremate just in case there’s no me to cremate. If I ever die and that happens, you’ll find this in my house in the drawer next to my bed, in the bottom most compartment. I need you to promise me that you won’t tell the others about this until the time comes, though, ok?”

Twilight nodded, a solemn feeling in her gut. “I promise Rainbow Dash.”

“Pinkie Pie promise?”

“Oh, give it a rest.”

*End of Flashback*

Twilight smiled through her tears as she remembered that day. It appears that what Rainbow Dash had told her would actually be of use…..though Twilight wished it wasn’t so. Rainbow Dash did say that she took the locket with her wherever she went, but she also explained that the locket had been enchanted so that when she died, it would go to the place that she kept it at home. At least they had that much comfort knowing that Rainbow Dash’s most prized possession was safe.

She just wished the same thing could be said for her friend.

Applejack POV

Applejack crushed another apple, causing the juices of the fruit to squeeze out into a jar below. She sighed. To think that she’d have to do the refreshments for Rainbow Dash’s funeral reception was almost too much to bear. But, according to pegasi custom, there had to be a reception afterwards to celebrate the pegasus’s life, so the drink had to be the pony’s favorite. The apples being used were the best of her crop, and they produced the sweetest nectar anypony tasted.

Applejack was sure that it would be the bitterest juice she’d ever taste.

Tired of making apple juice, AJ got out of the tub and started taking a walk around the orchard. For the umpteenth time, Applejack gazed at the sky, remembering the days when every now and then, she’d hear her best friend soaring above screaming in excited delight. Now, that wouldn’t ever happen again. AJ turned her gaze over to a crater nearby. She smiled, remembering how that thing even got there….

*Flashback*

AJ was as excited as dog with a bone when she came up with the idea. Why didn’t she think of this years ago? Had she done so, apple-bucking season would end in a matter of minutes—no, seconds! All she needed was the help of a certain cyan pegasus. Applejack galloped all over Ponyville trying to find her friend, but to no avail. Rainbow Dash didn’t seem to be around. Stopping in front of Sugar Cube Corner, Apple Jack was about to head inside to cool down before heading back to the farm, when she noticed a rainbow tail swishing on a cloud above.

“Rainbow!”

The pegasus flipped over and peered down at Applejack. “Sup, AJ? You call?”

“Yeah! I need some help on the farm. Mind giving me and Big Mac a hoof?”

Rainbow flew down and landed in front of the cowpony. “Sure, why not? Today’s my day off with the weather squad anyway.” Applejack smiled, thankful to have such a wonderful pony as her best friend. Her thoughts wandered for a moment, thinking how dreary a place Ponyville would be if Rainbow Dash wasn’t here to add spice to the everyday life of everypony. The thought itself was enough to make AJ want to cry. Then she shook her head. Applejack didn’t have time for this. She had work to do. So, Applejack smiled at her best friend, and the two walked back to Sweet Apple Acres. As they walked, they conversed about all the things the two of them had done.

“Remember that time when we pulled that prank on Twilight?”

AJ laughed. “Of course I do! I was crying for days when we did that.”

The prank in reference was when the two of them had come up with an idea to ensnare Twilight Sparkle in a test of sorts. They told her that Princess Celestia had told them that she needed her to complete a practical exam, and she had to be able to complete every bit of magic she’d ever learned. Twilight, as paranoid about tests as she is, immediately shut herself in the library and studied for the next two days, without ever coming outside. When she came to the farm for her “exam”, all she found was a cowpony and a pegasus crying and rolling on the ground laughing.

Their laughter died down after a while as they continued down the path to the farm. For a minute, there was an awkward silence between them. Then Rainbow Dash spoke.

“H-hey, AJ? Can I tell you a secret?” She whispered, keeping her voice as low as possible.

Applejack, a little confused, nodded. “Sure thing Rainbow. Anything.”

“Well…” Rainbow started. “I’ve been having these nightmares. It’s really been going on ever since the Best Young Flyer’s Competition. I-I don’t know what’s causing them.” That last line sounded rather hollow to Applejack, but she let the pony continue. “In these dreams….I seem to be a whole different pony. I torture all of these young fillies, and then strap them to some machine that completely tears them to pieces. Their screams filled me with delight, and my voice was full of sinister mirth as I laughed at their hopeless situation. I don’t understand why I did it.” That line too seemed fishy. This whole thing—it sounded a bit like a confession, actually. AJ shook her suspicious thoughts away, and focused on the Rainbow’s words once more. “Then, last night….it was different. Our friends were there instead of fillies. I-I grabbed you AJ, a-and pulled you aside. You were shaking, crying out for me to help you. Instead of helping you, I did what I always did…I strapped you to the machine, tortured you, then turned it on….after that…I laughed.” Rainbow’s voice died off, the words replaced by soft sobbing and sniffling. Applejack, though she didn’t understand the dream much, put her leg around Rainbow Dash’s shoulder.

“Look sugar cube,” Applejack said softly. “Whatever these dreams are, they’re just that—dreams. You’ve got no need to worry about it coming to reality. Besides, you wouldn’t ever do that to anypony, would you?”

Rainbow muttered something inaudible.

AJ frowned. She thought she knew what her friend said, but that couldn’t be it. “What was that Rainbow Dash? I couldn’t hear you.”

“Oh…it doesn’t matter much.” The rainbow mare said shakily. “Look, we’re here.”

Applejack blinked. So they were; the aroma of crisp red deliciousness was filling the air around them. It seems their talking had made the trip seem a lot shorter than usual. “Wow, you’re right! Anyway, here’s the plan. So apple-bucking season needs to end faster this year because the family’s coming in, and we need those apples to feed them all. So I was just wondering if you would do a Sonic Rainboom to just make all the apples just blow right off, just about ending a two weeks work in about two seconds.”

“That sounds REALLY dangerous…..” Rainbow muttered, before putting on her dare devil’s smile. “I like it!” She lifted off from the ground, doing quick calculations in her head as to how high she need to be to gain enough speed and cause the Sonic Rainboom right at the tree’s level. Once high enough, she issued out a bold cry, and began her descent.

A spectra explosion followed, followed by apples flying everywhere and the delighted screams of two triumphant ponies—two best friends.

*End of Flashback*

Applejack smiled as that memory flashed through her mind. It was beautiful; there was no other way to describe what’d happened that day. Two ponies, entwined by friendship, and a whole lot of fun, Applejack thought sadly. Kind of like a rodeo pony and her rope. Something was bothering her, though. Now that she heard the truth from Hate Seed, something nagged Applejack about this memory. She racked her brain trying to think of it, until it finally came to her. The world around her became blurred as tears obscured her vision, and her knees started to shake.

After Applejack said that Rainbow would never do those horrible things to anypony, she heard her utter a few haunting words.

“But I already have.”

Applejack collapsed on the spot, bursting into tears. Countless times, Rainbow had saved her life, her friends’ lives, and even the lives of ponies she didn’t know. But when Applejack finally had the chance to save her, to keep her friend’s rainbow mane flowing in the wind, to pull her out of the nightmarish path that led to her horrible death…..

Applejack couldn’t save her friend.

Pinkie Pie POV

Pinkie Pie paced around her room in Sugar Cube Corner, strangely not lifting a hoof to help Mr. and Mrs. Cake with the food preparations for Rainbow Dash’s funeral. Her hair, which was normally poofy and frizzy, was now straight as can be. It simply drooped down over her face, hiding her tear stained face as she looked out the window at the amber evening sky. Pinkie desperately waited for a sign of her friend—perhaps a knock on the door, a fast wing beats nearby, or a rainbow streak in the distance. Pinkie wanted that so badly, but deep down, even she knew that it would never happen again.

“Oh Rainbow Dash….” Pinkie cried. “You promised that today we were going to pull some pranks….” And nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise! Her locked-away happy self said.

As she sat next to the window, eyes pinned to the sky, something caught her eye out in the distance. The first star was out, and it was constantly blinking at her, almost winking like it wanted her to wish upon it. Pinkie Pie wistfully stared at it, and made up her mind. She went to her bed and pulled the covers over her.

“Oh Evenstar in the evening sky,” Pinkie whispered, tears flowing down. “Help me now so I won’t cry…”

With that, Pinkie Pie fell into a deep slumber.

*Flashback*

Pinkie Pie was happily bouncing down the road after just having the BEST. PARTY. EVER! Her own friends had planned another surprise party for her like they did last year. She remembered they had avoided her that whole day to make sure it stayed a surprised. That was why they were acting like a bunch of meanies. Pinkie had originally thought that they didn’t want her to be their friend anymore, and that they didn’t like her parties. The idea now sounded so funny that she would actually giggle every time it surfaced in her brain. Pinkie kept on bouncing back to Sugar Cube Corner, when she heard a rush of wind and a thud behind her. She turned around and smiled.

“Hey Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie Pie said, excited to see her pranking partner. “What’s up?”

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Oh, nothing much. I just thought I’d walk home with you for a change, instead of flying.”

Pinkie Pie gasped. “But you LOVE flying! It’s like, your life’s dream! After all, that’s why you got your cutie mark from flying!”

“I know, I know, but I’ve been feeling weird lately, about flying.” Rainbow Dash said, and a small break in her confident look flashed. Just as quickly, it disappeared, however, so Pinkie was sure that it was just her imagination. “You don’t mind me walking with you, do you?”

“Of course not, Rainbow Dash, you silly filly!” Pinkie giggled. “You can do whatever you want with your pal Pinkie Pie!” She once again saw that break in Rainbow’s stature, but dismissed it once more as her imagination. Besides, Rainbow Dash was the bravest pony around. Nothing could bother her. They walked on—well, Pinkie bouncing on, really—and the two of them chatted about the pranks they pulled, the parties they rocked, and the times they shared.

Rainbow Dash suddenly fell silent. The two trotted along, with Pinkie doing most of the talking now. Suddenly, Rainbow spoke up. “Pinkie Pie, would you ever forgive me, if I did something terrible?”

Pinkie Pie let out a huge gasp. “Uh, DUH! But why are you asking me this? Did you do something wrong?”

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash’s eyes filled with malice and her face contorted to a cruel snarl. Almost all too quickly, she shouted, “No! Of course not!” Pinkie Pie backed away, an unsure and scared look on her face. Her friend seemed to have become a completely different pony. Seeing that Pinkie Pie was frightened, Rainbow Dash’s features changed, and those violet irises were kind once more. Immediately, Rainbow Dash felt a pang of guilt in her chest, and her head hung. “Sorry Pinkie Pie….but really I haven’t done anything wrong.” Pinkie thought otherwise; those last words sounded like the rainbow mare was trying to convince herself more than her friend. Seeing that it troubled her, Pinkie decided to press Rainbow a bit.

Pinkie cautiously stared at her friend. “Okie dokie lokie….anyway, what’s bothering you?”

Rainbow Dash let out a huge depressing sigh. “I really don’t know. I just now feel that what I do is just a routine. You know me; I hate routine. It’s just so terrible and so…everyday-is-the-same kind of thing. I want to break free from it.”

Pinkie thought for a second. “Is it a trick that you can’t get down?”

“Well…..in a manner of speaking, yeah.”

“Then it can’t be too hard!” laughed the bubble-gum pink earth pony. “You’re Rainbow Dash! You can do just about ANYTHING!”

Rainbow suddenly stopped walking and stood, staring at the bustling city of Cloudsdale above. “Anything, huh?” Her brows furrowed, and her rainbow mane flew in the wind. Suddenly, a smile broke out. Rainbow Dash turned back towards her friend. “Thanks Pinkie! Thanks for keeping me company and all, but I gotta fly!”

Pinkie Pie was dumbfounded by Rainbow Dash’s unusual act of randomness, but smiled back at her friend. “Sure thing Dashie! Anytime! Oh, how about a couple weeks from now, you and I get together and pull some pranks?”

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Sure thing, Pink. I’ll be there!”

“Pinkie Promise?” She replied, a glint in her eyes.

Rainbow rolled her eyes, but smiled at the random bubble gum pink pony, and chanted and danced in unison with her friend, “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Then their eyes met, and they laughed.

With that she flew off into the great wide blue.

*End of Flashback*

Pinkie Pie stirred in her sleep, starting to feel happy once more. Warmth spread throughout her body, and her hair started to regain its former spunkiness. The memory of that time, when the two of them bonded to each other by an unbreakable promise, made her heart’s wounds start to bind. This dream was what she wished for….something to help her stop crying. Pinkie smiled, and her thoughts flew to Rainbow Dash’s words that day.

“Pinkie Pie, would you would you ever forgive me, if I did anything terrible?”

Her hair now back to cotton candy quality poofiness, Pinkie smiled sadly in her sleep. She thought about what Seed told them, and said, “It’s okay Dashie….I forgive you.”

Rarity POV(this is going to be bad, so don’t flame too much….)

Rarity let out yet another sigh as she tried to fit another corsage together for the umpteenth time. Materials lay strewn across the floor; she’d been at this for two days now, and she was nowhere close to completing her task.

Twilight said that according to what Rainbow Dash preferred and what her book said, the attendees of the funeral had to wear a corsage or a boutonnière. Strange that such a pony as Rainbow would require such a feminine and formal thing. Perhaps it was just tradition. Seeing as the only ones attending the funeral are the five friends plus Seed, so she only needed five corsages. Seed already had a boutonniere to wear—or so he said. Twilight explained that they needed to match the pony for whom it was created for, so Rarity set about the challenge of making just that—five corsages to match the loyal daredevil.

Rarity barely slept for the past few days. Her usually well-kept mane was frizzy, her mascara smeared from crying. In short, Rarity felt she was a fashion disaster, but that was nothing compared to the feeling of losing her friend. And yet, all she could think of was the times she wronged Rainbow Dash—specifically during the Best Young Flyer Competition. So much time had passed since, and Rainbow Dash said she’d forgiven her a long time ago, but it still pained the unicorn’s heart to think that she treated a friend like that. For someone who is supposed to represent generosity, that was a rather selfish thing to do, Rarity thought depressingly. With that, she let out a huge yawn, and threw away yet another failed corsage. Rarity struggled to keep her eyes open, but she soon gave in to dark slumber.

*Flashback*

Rarity was complaining. Again.

But why shouldn’t she? Rainbow Dash wouldn’t let her fix the messy pony’s mane, and that desperately needed a good unicorn’s touch.

“But Rainbow Dash!” Rarity whined. “The Gala is coming up, and you need to look your best!”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “I can just fix my hair on the day of the Gala. I don’t have to do it four horse-flipping days in advance!” Rarity fell silent for a few seconds. The mare did  have a point. But still, how could she stand to march around Ponyville with her mane in such a horrible state? Rainbow often reasoned that it was because she was a pegasus and she flew a lot, so this style made her more streamline. Rarity would then in turn say that Fluttershy had a stylish way of doing her mane. Rainbow would counter by giving her violet irises another tour of her eye sockets, and say, “Yeah, but she doesn’t fly like I do, or as much as I do. She sticks to the ground.”

Rarity would at that point give in…..at least until the next opportunity of attack.

Anyway, Rarity once again gave in. “Fine, you win again.” Rainbow Dash simply sniffed and swished her tail, knowing that the victory was only temporary. “At least let me make you something.”

“Rarity! You already made me an amazing dress set for the Gala.” Rainbow protested. “Anything more would just make me look too—too girly!” Obviously to Rainbow Dash, that word was synonymous to “uncool”.

“Please? Oh pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease—”

Rainbow groaned. “Rarity!”

“Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease—”

“FINE!” Rainbow screamed, simply to stop the incessant whining. “But, it’s got to be simple yet undeniably cool.”

Rarity cheered in victory. “I’ve got just the thing!” She walked over to her many chest of jewels, and used her magic to open up her most impressive collections. Rubies, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds—you name it, and Rarity’s got it. The jewels sparkled in Rainbow’s eyes, but her eyes didn’t sparkle back. The precious stones just seemed too….much. They were especially too girly, too. Rainbow Dash wanted something more her. Her eyes drifted until she came upon a closed box.

“Hey, what’s in this one?”

Rarity looked at the box Rainbow was pointing at. “Oh dear, I completely forgotten about that one! It’s full of opals, Rainbow Dash. Rather boring stones, if you ask me. I collected a bunch for a client, but never used them all.”

Rainbow Dash opened the box and stopped breathing.

The opals were beautiful.

They didn’t have the pizzazz of the other stones, but they made up for that in variety. Each rounded oval gem was made of all the colors of the rainbow—just like her mane. Rainbow Dash knew that this was the jewel for her.

“This is it Rarity!” Rainbow cried. “I want these.”

Rarity gasped in shock. “But-but Dash, those are just so….boring! How could you want those? They have practically no shine!”

“Rarity, my good friend,” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “You have much to learn when it comes to me. These represent me. They don’t seem special, but to somepony they have meaning. I wasn’t anypony special when I was a filly. Heck, I could barely fly! But one day I boomed—or more specifically, Sonic Rainboomed—and became the thing I am now: the best flier in Equestria.” She smiled and shook the box again. “Besides, they match my mane!”

Rarity’s jaw dropped. Rainbow just gave a fashion tip. She thought this day would never come. Her eyes rolled back and her hooves grew week. Rarity then comically fainted to the floor.

“Uh….Rarity?”

“Urhmmm….”

“Ooookay…I think I’ll just go now.”

*End of Flashback*

Rarity smiled as she remembered that day. It was indeed rather funny. Then a small tickling sensation came upon her nose. She tried to blow it off, but it persisted. Annoyed beyond belief now, Rarity opened her eyes, and gasped.

It was a single cyan feather.

She stood up at once, shocked to see a feather that was exactly like the ones on Rainbow Dash’s wings. Rarity was sure she didn’t have any here at the shop, so where did it come from?

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from the morning light outside, and the feather flew off of her nose.

“Wait, Rainbow!” Rarity cried, not thinking for a moment that it was strange to call a feather by name. The feather flew further away, out of Rarity’s grasp. Tears began to leak out of her eyes once more; surely this was a sign from her deceased friend. The feather suddenly stopped flying and began to droop down, till it fell on a box—more specifically, the box Rarity kept her opals in. Rarity at once stopped and covered her mouth with her hoof.

Rainbow Dash had once again told her what she wanted.

“Besides, they match my mane!”

Rarity felt a warmth within that she hadn’t felt in weeks. She smiled, and got to work.

About twenty minutes later, five opal corsages laid across Rarity’s work table, glistening in the morning sunrise.

Fluttershy POV

Fluttershy half-heartedly got up to go feed her chickens. They clucked away in the growing daylight, but the pegasus wasn’t even listening. She was in another world. When she got down the stairs, she spotted Hate Seed still snoozing away on her couch. Looking at the silver winged messenger, Fluttershy’s mind went into deep thought.

Perhaps Rainbow Dash was always right. Was Fluttershy too much a push over? Should she be more assertive? All Fluttershy wanted was for everyone around her to be happy….but now that her spirited rainbow friend was gone, that seemed like a harder task than making a super tornado.

The thing that haunted Fluttershy the most about Hate Seed’s story was why these fillies were…grinded to pieces, as Seed put it. All because they failed their flight test. She shuddered, and realized how close she came to being one of those ponies herself, had it not been for her loyal friend, Rainbow Dash. As the memory swooped over her, Fluttershy lost awareness of all things around her and simply stood, mind entranced by the past.

*Flashback*

Dread filled her heart as soon as she saw the judges above, waiting to pass judgment on her. Fluttershy had hoped that this day would never come, but alas it did.

The day of the infamous Flight Test.

Pegasi who failed were supposedly never heard from again, banished to some far away land. Fluttershy doubted whether the rumor was true, but her mind still filled with images of an icy, snowy wasteland. No animals around whatsoever, no friends to be with. That was her fate; there was no way that such a weak flyer like her could pass. Fluttershy began to walk over to the forfeit spots, when a hoof was felt on her shoulder.

“Just where do you think you’re going?”

Fluttershy turned to see a multi-colored mane, a stark cyan body, and frowning violet eyes boring through her. “I-I was just going to…”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Oh no you don’t! Fluttershy, you’ve got to at least try!”

“But Rainbow Dash, everypony knows that I’m the weakest flyer to ever come out of Cloudsdale!” Fluttershy cried softly. “There’s no way I could fly in front of the judges. I might as well give up.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes grew fiery, and her cutie mark flashed in the sun. “You’re telling me, that just because you don’t think you can do it, you want to just GIVE UP?!” Those last words came out as a scream. Everypony in the area fell silent. Fluttershy began to feel queasy inside; everypony was watching the two of them.

“Rainbow Dash, please…they’re staring at us.” The yellow mare pleaded.

“No! I’m not going to let you do this!” Rainbow Dash shouted, ignoring the shy pony’s plea. “You made it this far in flight school with me, and by the hair on my mane, I WON’T LET YOU JUST END IT LIKE THIS!” Tears began to form in Fluttershy’s eyes; she never liked being yelled at, but now she just felt downright ashamed.

“R-rainbow, please…you’re scaring me…” Fluttershy sobbed.

Realizing that she was close to breaking point, Rainbow quieted down, feeling remorseful for what she’d done. She just caused one of her closest friends to break down to tears. Rainbow Dash cleared her throat, and made one last plea.

“Please Fluttershy, think about your dream!” Rainbow said, putting as much emotion into her words as possible. “If you just quit, all of the animal friends you made will never see you again…..”

Fluttershy, sobbing so much that she couldn’t even speak, simply just shook her head. Not even her own dreams could push her enough to do this. Rainbow Dash, realizing this, gulped, and played her final hand.

She sighed, and said, “Fine….but if you quit, then I will too. I can’t let you back out of this alone. I couldn’t call myself your friend if I didn’t do otherwise. But you know what that would mean, don’t you?” Rainbow Dash said, her words soft and pleading. “It means that not only will you have given up your dreams, but you made me give up mine….my dreams of ever racing with the Wonderbolts, of flying…..of ever doing anything.” Rainbow’s eyes began to tear, hoping that this would reach her friend. “Please Fluttershy…..please just try to earn your wings.”

Through her tears and sniffling, Fluttershy felt a fire start to flicker inside her, then consume her. How could she have caused her friend to cry? The kind, loving Fluttershy just reduced the toughest mare around—her friend—to tears. That fire, once kept low by the rains of despair within her, suddenly was stoked by the winds of anger—anger at herself.

“Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy said, her words firm and loud.

Rainbow looked up, eyes teary and hopeful. “Yeah?” She looked up into eyes, that just moments before were full of hopelessness—eyes now filled to the brim with burning determination.

“Let’s go earn our wings.”

Rainbow Dash gave her trademark daredevil’s grin, and said, “Now you’re talking!”

All that could be heard after that was the sounds of wind being cut by speeding wings, the sounds of triumphant cries of victory, the sounds of unrestrained laugher—the sounds of two friends, earning their wings.

*End of Flashback*

Fluttershy’s eyes opened, as pure joyous laughter echoed throughout the room. At first, she couldn’t tell where it was coming from, but after seeing Seed sprawled on the floor gawking at her in shock, Fluttershy realized that the laughter was coming from her. Immediately, the pony doubled over and her guffaws increased, tears of happiness now flowing down her face.

“Um…Fluttershy, you ok?” Seed asked, his eyebrows raised at the normally meek mare.

Having finally calmed down, Fluttershy stood up straight, and smiled. “Yes, I am, thank you for asking.”

Seed continued to stare at his new companion. “Uh, bad dream?”

“Well,” Fluttershy said, grinning to herself. She looked outside, and saw the most magnificent rainbow. “You could say I just earned my wings again.”

With that, she went outside to feed the chickens, leaving a silver pegasus standing in complete bewilderment, wondering what in Equestria had just happened.

Hoy Crap.

Please tell me I’m not the only one that cried.

I’m sorry, but all of these—especially Applejack’s and Fluttershy’s—were so hard to write because I had to really express the sadness within each of them from losing a friend. I’ll admit that I cried halfway through. But, it’s nowhere near as sad as My Little Dashie.

Speaking of which, have any of you guys read that? I read it, and it is thus far the only literary piece that I’ve read to have reduced me to tears. If you don’t cry from reading My Little Dashie, you have no soul. I really suggest reading it.

One last thing: I made a movie poster for this fic that I’ll be posting on my deviantArt as soon as I upload my “I Am Loyalty” project.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I promise to get the next chapter up soon!

Toodledoo!

Quillin Words

P.S. If you caught the Lord of the Rings reference and comment PM me about it first, I’ll do a fic with your OC about it!