Shining New Light On an Old Friend (Edited)
Shining New Light On An Old Friend
A short fic based off of "Rarity becomes a Toaster"
All credit goes to the original story and all criticism goes directly to me.
"Darling it wouldn't hurt to take a little time off! You've been working so hard at the academy, we felt that it was about time you took a little break and had some fun."
"Wonderbolts don't have time for fun! We're to busy practicing our awesome flight maneuvers and any screw up could ruin my shot to fly with Spitfire!"
Rarity was the first to notice Rainbow's worn out condition and made sure to get the others together to remedy the situation. Of course Rainbow Dash put up a fight, imploring her dear friends that she NEEDED to keep practicing, but she inevitably caved under Pinkie's immense energy and agreed to attend a "Welcome back" party.
"Shes right Rainbow. Ya may be the greatest flier in Equestria, but even the best fliers need to take a little break." Applejack added, leading the way to Sugarcube Corner. "Sooner or later, you're gonna get yourself hurt and we aren't gonna be around all the time."
"Alright guys...Thanks." Rainbow Dash muttered, a little embarrassed at the thought of being cared for by others. "But why do we have to bring HIM!?"
Fluttershy knew of Rainbow Dash's resentment towards Discord, yet she was adamant on taking him along. "Oh Rainbow Dash can't you just give him another chance?" Fluttershy pleaded, floating alongside her short tempered friend. "He's been working so hard I think it's only fair that we bring him along."
"Come ON Rainbow Crash! We'll have so much FUN!" Discord snickered, floating lackadaisically over his rehabilitator. "I even helped Pinkie make a few "Special" cupcakes! I know you'll just love 'em!"
"Fine." Rainbow huffed, crossing her forelegs in annoyance. "They better be pretty bucking good'"
"Oh they WILL be. Lets just say you'll wake up a brand new mare! Hehehehehe." Oh Rainbow Dash how you've always wanted to shine brighter than the rest. It just so happens I know the perfect way to make THAT dream a reality.
The next day....
It was quite the trial for Discord to accomplish without blowing his cover, yet he had really outdone himself. Rainbow Dash went to sleep that night and she never had a clue. After making sure there wasn't a single setback, Discord quickly relocated Equestria's newest appliance before it even had a chance to stir.
Ugh. What the buck happened to me last night? Rainbow Dash thought, Trying to wake herself from a restless sleep. She could remember the cupcakes, Twilight's horrible dance, and the barrel of cider with Applejack. Everything afterwards was a blur.
Oh well. I needed to get back to my workout routine anyway. With a grunt in effort, Rainbow tried to push herself up. What she was met with with was an odd sensation of nothing. It wasn't a simple onset of tingling that often accompanies numbness, but literal nothingness. It was almost as though she never had legs or wings in the first place. She couldn't even get a tingle from her back.
Oh dear Celestia! What happened!? Did I have an accident!? Am I....A vegetable?
It seems as if Rainbow's greatest fear had come to fruition. Without her wings her dream had become nothing more than a lost cause. She couldn't move, her eyes refused to budge, and her neck had been stretched to the point of agony. Worst of all she was alone. All that accompanied her was the humming of a small fan.
Words were lost to Rainbow, so she just sat and waited, praying for someone to come to her rescue. To her relief, she began to hear two muffled voices slowly moving their way to her position. One of them was getting a lecture on her health.
"Like I said Applejack, you need to stay in bed in rest! You had a CONCUSSION! Don't you know how serious a concussion is?" A motherly voice said, muffled behind the wall.
"Ah know that Nurse Redheart! But Big Mac can't run the farm all by himself!" the other voice pleaded, desperate to get back to Sweet Apple Acres.
"You should have thought about that before you picked a fight with Lyra and her marefriend!" The nurse replied, guiding the stubborn mare, back to her bed. "Maybe you should think about who you're talking to before you pick a fight."
"How was ah supposed to know she was a black belt?" Applejack mumbled, shoving the door open.
Applejack? YES! I knew it! I can finally get some help! Rainbow Dash thought, relief washing over her numb body.
Just as that thought entered her mind, a restless mare pushed her way back into the room. "You'll be able to leave first thing in the morning. Just try and get some rest until then." Nurse Redheart said, helping Applejack back into the hospital bed.
"Could ya at least turn on that lamp for me?" The Applejack muttered, annoyed at the nurses persistence. "Ah can't see a darn thing here in here."
"Of course dear."
Click!
With a small click, Rainbow Dash could see everything in her small line of sight and she was indeed in a hospital. She could see the hospital beds, Applejack glaring at the oblivious nurse, and even the small, black cone wrapped around her head.
HOLY HELL! What the buck happened to me!? Things were wrong. VERY wrong. Whatever happened to her last night, it made her shrink.
Applejack easily towered over her, even as she leaned back in her hospital bed and examined her small picture. Rainbow Dash also noticed that she was "sitting" on a small table, just a couple feet to the farmers right. I'M A LAMP!? DISCORD!!!
"If you need anything just call me and I'll be back a quickly as I can." Nurse Redheart said, making her way to the door.
"Do ya mind locking that door on your way out? I wanna be left alone for a while." Applejack didn't seemed to pleased after the beating she endured at the hooves of the green musician. Yeesh. Lyra sure knows how to kick some flank. I hope I don't ever piss her off.
"Whats the matter dear? It was just a little fight. Everypony has a scuffle or two in their lives." Nurse Redheart cooed, as she made her way back to Applejack's bedside "Lyra understands why you did what you did. A lot of cider can do that to you."
"It aint that Nurse Redheart. I may drink a lot of cider, but I NEVER go out drunk." Applejack whimpered, staring shamefully at her own lap." I picked on Lyra because she had a marefriend."
"Don't tell me you have a thing against fillyfoolers." Nurse Redheart's smile had quickly faded into a disapproving frown." I never thought you would be the type of pony to discriminate against other ponies."
"It wasn't that I hated her for it, but I was jealous of her for it. For coming out to her friends so confidently, for the pride she has in being one, and most of all for having her own loving marefriend." With that a small tear slid down Applejack's bruised cheek, accompanied by a small whimper. "H-how am ah ever gonna live with myself if ah can't tell my own friends?"
"A-Applejack!" Nurse Redheart stuttered. "You're a filly fooler? How long!?"
The farmer nodded, giving the nurse a forlorn look. "I've known since ah was a filly. Never did get along with many of the colts anyhow."
"Oh Applejack why haven't you told anypony yet? Does Granny Smith know?" The farm give a quick shake of head. "Why not? Shes family."
"Nurse Redheart ah'm a farmer not a romantic from some fancy city. Ah now she won't be to happy with me if ah told her." After a few seconds gathering herself, Applejack heaved a sad sigh. "Honestly ah'm just worried about my friends. What if they hate me for bein a filly fooler?"
"Applejack thats just crazy!" Nurse Redheart laughed, giving the shocked mare a small smile. "You trust your firends don't you?"
"Well of course ah do but-" Applejack's response was cut short by Nurse Redheart who interrupted with a raised hoof. "You would do anything for them wouldn't you?"
The farmer gave a small nod, wiping a tear from her cheek. "You are THE, one and only, element of Honesty aren't you?"
"Of course ah am!" Applejack exclaimed. "But what if they-"
"Oh Applejack you have some of the best friends anypony could ask for! I KNOW that they'll accept you no matter the circumstance!" Nurse Redheart exclaimed, pulling in Applejack for a tight hug. "Just tell them and I promise they'll welcome you with open hooves."
"T-thank you Nurse Redheart!" Applejack cried, returning the hug with tear filled eyes. "Thank you."
Wow. If Rainbow Dash had eyes, she would be crying up a storm. I....I never knew. It still didn't solve Rainbow Dash's problem. She could see but she was still stuck, and it seemed that her friends couldn't see her or even hear her for that matter.
"Just call me if you need anypony to talk to. I promise, I'll come running back as quickly as I can." And with that Nurse Redheart was gone.
*sigh* "Ah just hope Rainbow doesn't hate me for it. If ah I lost her ah don't.....ah don't know what ah would do without her." Wiping a final tear from her bloodshot eyes, she began to stretch for the sentient lamp, still sitting on the small table.
"Wow wow wow!" A voice yelled, saving the defenseless Rainbow Dash. "Don't you DARE lay a hoof on my little lamp!"
In a flashy plume of smoke, Discord stepped out with a sad look plastered on his sarcastic face. "How could you treat a poor lamp that way!?" He cried, with a small river of tears pouring down his cheeks. "You ponies are just so cruel!"
"What the hay are you doin here!?" Applejack screamed, climbing out of her bed. "GET OUTTA HERE!
"Fine! I was just here to pick up a friend" He scoffed, snatching the unsuspecting Rainbow Dash from the table. "Now if you'll excuse me." and with a snap of his fingers, Discord vanished with the mortified lamp.
---------------------------------------------------
"HA! How was it as a lamp!" Discord snickered, waiting for a furious reaction from his victim. "Were you scared? Did you cry a little inside? HAHAHAHA!"
No reaction. Rainbow Dash just sat there with a goofy grin, implying otherwise.
"Oh I get it! You're to angry for words. I guess I would be speechless to if I met someone as amazing as mysel-"
In a rush of emotion, Rainbow Dash leaped, catching the prankster in a rib crushing bear hug. "Thank you Discord! Thank you SO MUCH! You stupid prank was actually pretty awesome!"
"WHAT!? Where are the tears!? You're not even a LITTLE mad?" Discord was mortified. He had spent days working this prank out to perfection , yet the mare was SMILING! He was going to be the laughing stock of all pranksters! "What the buck happened in there!?"
"You'll find out later chump! Right now I gotta talk to a couple of my friends!" Dash squeed, flying off towards Ponyville.
