Chapters It was a cool morning in Ponyville, perfect weather for about anything. Everypony was out doing SOMETHING… Well, almost everypony. One blue Pegasus was sleeping on a cloud, enjoying her nap. That only lasted a few minutes. “Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! Wake up!” Spike, a purple and green baby dragon, shouted at her from below. Her eyes immediately opened, and she was not happy. She looked down at him and scowled. “What could you possibly want? I was in the middle of a good dream there, Spike.” Dash said, the annoyance practically dripping from her voice. “I have a letter from Princess Celestia herself! She says theres a pony coming from Los Pegasus that she thinks you might want to meet! And they need a place to stay!” Spike yelled, reading the letter. Rainbow was intrigued, but she didn’t want to show it after she had yelled at him like that. “When is this pony coming?” was all she asked. “Tomorrow morning. So are you going to do it? The Princess needs an answer.” Spike replied, getting impatient. Noticing this, Dash pretended to think about it little longer to make him mad. Then she finally said “Alright, fine. She can stay with me.” And Spike ran off to write a note to Celestia.
***
The next morning, Rainbow Dash was up bright and early waiting for her guest. She had been waiting and waiting on the ground below her sky bound home. She wasn’t angry, though, because she knew she had gotten up too early. Her visitor probably wouldn’t be here for a few more hours; it was so early, the sun wasn’t out yet. But she was too excited to NOT get up. She never had a visitor from Los Pegasus before. She doubted that anypony ever visited from there to Ponyville. Finally, after hours of waiting, a Pegasus pony with a beautiful white mane arrived. At first, she didn’t think this was her guest, because this pony was a stallion, and she had expected a mare. But the pony rushed at her and hugged her. “Rainbow Dash! It’s so good to meet you!” he exclaimed, and she pushed out of his embrace. “Um, I think there may have been some kind of mistake. I was expecting a mare. Besides, isn’t it a little inappropriate to have a guy staying in my house?” Rainbow asked nervously. “Not if you knew who I was. I guess Celestia didn’t tell you…. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Indigo Rush. I guess they thought it would be cute to give us matching names…” and he gave a sort of chuckle. The name fit, considering the fact that his coat was an amazing shade of indigo. Now Rainbow Dash was sort of weirded out. This stallion trots up and claims he knows her and says their names match. Is that not the least bit weird? “What are you talking about, Indigo ? WHO thought it would be cute to give us matching names?” She questioned. “Here, maybe this will help explain it…” and he turned to reveal his flank. She was shocked to see that it was adorned with a white cloud and a grey, black, and white lightning bolt, just like hers, only 20% cooler.
***
“NO! I DON’T HAVE A TWIN BROTHER! HE DOESN’T HAVE MY CUTIE MARK, HE DOESN’T MATCH MY NAME, AND HE DOESN’T KNOW MY PARENTS AND NEVER WILL!” Dash shouted angrily at her friends over lunch the next day. “It could be marvelous having a brother! Give it a chance, darling!” Rarity exclaimed. “But I don’t want this. I don’t want to be burdened with the fact that I now have a brother who my parents lied to me about and now he just waltzes his way into my town, to my house, and expects me to house him!” Dash was ranting now. Going on and on about how life isn’t fair and how nopony else had to deal with problems as bad as her’s. “RAINBOW DASH! Please stop. First of all, he expects you to house him because you did tell Princess Celestia that you would.” “But she didn’t tell me that it was my BROTHER!” Twilight had to admit that Dash was right about that one. “You 2 have so much to catch up on! Your entire LIVES, to be exact! You have to relive your entire life!” Pinkie exclaimed. “No way, Pinkie. He’s only staying for 2 months.” Plus Dash didn’t want to relive her entire life. Ain't nopony had time for that! “She has a point… oh! I know! We could just throw him a party! Then we’ll do all our catching up there!” Rainbow was about to object, but then she realized that a party wasn’t a bad idea at all.
***
“So, whaddya say?” Dash asked her brother. He shook his head. “I don’t know. I mean, is a party really necessary? I’ll only be here for a month or 2. Then I’m headed to Manehatten.” He didn’t really WANT to go to a party. He preferred keeping to himself and doing what he needed to. That was the difference between him and Rainbow Dash. “Oh, please? You haven’t lived until you’ve been to a Pinkie Pie Party! Pleeassse?” Dashie begged at his hooves. He rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll go to your party. But only for the cake! So when is it?” Dash looked around nervously. “I may have perhaps sort of arranged the party for whenever you agreed to come. So right now.” Before he could reply, Rainbow flew away. He followed her. It was sort of strange seeing her fly. She left a rainbow trail, sort of like his own, except his was black, white, grey, and indigo. They were similar in more ways than he originally thought they were. They finally got to Sugarcube Corner and as soon as they walked in, Pinkie blew her party cannon. “WELCOME TO PONYVILLE, VIOLET RUSH!” everyone shouted. The banner said that too. “Uh, Pinkie? His name is Indigo…” Dash said quietly. “I TOLD YOU! BUT NO, YOU HAD TO SAY VIOLET!” Rarity exclaimed. “Hey, it was an honest mistake! Don’t yell at ‘er for it!” Applejack chimed in. “Why are you taking sides?” Rarity asked, sounding disgusted. “She wasn’t taking anypony’s side, she was just saying that you shouldn’t have yelled at her for it!” Twilight joined the argument. Soon it turned into a huge debate about who was on who’s side. Rainbow Dash somehow got pulled into it, too. Fluttershy and Indigo stood awkwardly outside the argument. He didn’t really know what was going on, and he tried to make small talk with Fluttershy, but all she did was give him a squeak and a whimper. He glanced at her a couple of times. She looked so small and innocent as she tried to stop the fight. “Um… guys… guys…” Indie chuckled to himself. She wasn’t going to get anywhere with that. “Guys…” she tried again. “GUYS!!! STOP ARGUING!!! I… I mean… please stop….” She hid her face with her hooves. Indigo was pretty much shocked about her outburst. She just seemed so… cute. But looks can be deceiving, he thought. Everyone calmed down, Rainbow apologized for how the party started. He shrugged it off and went to go get some cake.
Double RainbowDashie’s Story
“What do you think of my brother?” Rainbow Dash asked Fluttershy. “Oh, he’s cool, I guess…” Fluttershy replied quietly. “Well at least you think so, because I’m not so sure I like him yet.” Dash said. Fluttershy just kind of mumbled. Was she agreeing? Dash had no idea, so she just shrugged it off.
All of the sudden, Rarity pulled her aside. “Oh my… Rainbow Dash, how dare you!” Rarity whisper-yelled. “What did I do?” Dash asked. “You never told us that your brother was so… handsome.” Rarity replied, staring at him. He had finished his cake and was now bobbing for apples as AJ cheered him on. “Oh please, Rarity. He’s a dork. He ate the entire cake in one sitting!” Dash glanced at the plate, which now only held crumbs. “Who cares? He’s gorgeous. Especially his mane. Oh, his mane…” Dash rolled her eyes. “You guys are disgusting. He’s my brother!” Dash shouted. “You would have denied that yesterday. I think you’re just being overprotective of your little brother.” Rarity teased in a baby voice. “He isn’t my LITTLE brother. Who knows who was born first…” Dash mumbled and walked away.
About an hour later, Rainbow Dash found Indigo at a table with all of her friends. He was telling some story about Los Pegasus, and he had everyone’s attention. It made Dash sick. “Hey, Indie, let’s go. It’s time for your tour of Ponyville.” She said, making up an excuse to leave. “Oh, but this is so much fun! Come on, Dash, just a few more minutes?” Indigo said, putting on a puppy pout. “No, now. Come on, I uh… I wanna show you the Everfree Forest. We can go meet Zecora.” Dash told her brother. He sighed. “Okay, if you insist.” Indigo Rush sat up and walked over to his sister. “I’ll see you ladies later!” Indigo called as the twins left the party
“What was that about?” Indigo asked his sister as they flew above the town. “What?” Dash asked, even though she knew what he meant. “You know, that! We were having fun! And, forgive me if I’m wrong, but I think your friends like me.” Indigo said, sounding satisfied. Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Pfft, you think? Rarity was practically drooling over you.” Dash replied angrily. “Rarity… was she that one with the pink stripes in her hair?” Indigo asked. Rainbow slapped her forehead with her hoof. “No, Indigo, that was Twilight Sparkle. Rarity was the white unicorn, Pinkie Pie is the pink one who threw that party for you, Applejack was the one who was cheering you on when you were apple bobbing, and Fluttershy was the one who didn’t speak! Do you understand now?” Rainbow Dash shouted. Some of the citizens of Ponyville stared up at the sky, where the argument was taking place.
Indigo didn’t really want to fight, so he changed the subject. “Are we going to meet Zecomaria or what?” He asked his sister. “Her name is Zecora.” She mumbled and led him to the Everfree Forest.
Rainbow Dash landed at the front of the forest, because she felt like scaring her brother. She knew there was nothing to be afraid of, except occasionally timber wolves, but Indigo didn’t know that yet. “We’re going in there? Can we not just fly over?” Indigo said worriedly. “That wouldn’t be any fun, would it? why, are you a scaredy pony?” Dash teased. “Of course not. I’m not scared. Let’s go.” Indigo said, but he didn’t move. Rainbow Dash had to push him out of his spot, but she finally got him again.
The twins walked through the forest, and nothing worth mentioning happened for a while. At one point, though, there was a crunching noise, like something ad stepped on a branch. “What was that?” Indigo asked, staring around the forest. Rainbow Dash seized the opportunity to scare him out of his wits. “Oh, nothing. It’s probably just a bunny. But who knows? It could be a manticore. Indie, if it’s a manticore, we’re as good as dead. But it’s probably a bunny.” Dash told her brother, trying to keep the smirk off her face. “Oh… uh… okay then…” Indigo said. Another crunch. “So, what exactly is a manticore?” Indigo asked. “Just a cat. A big cat. With wings. And a stinger, not unlike one of a scorpion.” Dash replied. “You get stuck with one of those poison needles, you’re a goner. But like I said, it’s probably just a bunny.” Dash could practically hear her brother’s hooves trembling. Then, another crunching noise. Indigo darted into the air and hugged a branch on a tree, like it would protect him from whatever was out there. Rainbow Dash fell on the ground laughing when she saw what was making the crunching noise. “See! I told you it was a bunny!” Dash said in between her laughs. Indigo came back down to the ground and dusted himself off. “Rainbow Dash, we are never to speak of this again.” He said in a steady voice. “Yeah right!” Dash replied.
The two spent the rest of the way to Zecora’s house arguing about what had just happened. They had almost passed right by, but Zecora heard them arguing and called out two them! “Rainbow Dash! Young stallion! What causes you to bicker and argue about who is more valiant?” Zecora called. Rainbow Dash broke out laughing, so Indigo Rush had to recount the story. “…So then a bunny came out from the bushes, and I got a little spooked.” He said. Dash laughed. “A little? You flew into the tree! You were being such a filly!” Rainbow Dash fell on the ground with laughter again. “That is enough, you two. Now, I am Zecora. Who are you?” She asked, approaching Indigo. “I’m Indigo Rush. I’m Rainbow’s twin brother.” He answered her. “Rainbow Dash, you have a brother? Why didn’t you tell me of the son born of your mother?” She asked. Indigo leaned over toward his sister and whispered. “Does she always talk in rhymes?” Dash nodded. “Pretty much.” She said, then turned to Zecora. “I would have told you, but I didn’t know about it.” Dash said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice. “I wonder why not? Never mind. It’s none of my business, it’s not.”
The three of them sat in Zecora’s house, sipping one of her weird herbal mixtures. Dash dumped it out when Zecora wasn’t looking. “Tell me about yourself, young Indigo Rush. Since you’ve been here, you’ve seemed very hush.” Zecora said. Indigo set his cup down, not really wanting it either. “Well, I was raised in Los Pegasus, by my adopted parents, I guess. I’ve stopped here in Ponyville to see my sister on my way to Manehatten.” He told the zebra. “You never told me why you’re going to Manehatten.” Rainbow Dash said trying to pick one of Zecora’s herbs out of her teeth. “The Wonderbolts are holding auditions for a replacement for Fleetfoot. She injured her wing and is gonna be out for a few months. I’ve always wanted to be a Wonderbolt, so I figured that now may be my chance! They’ll love my performance and keep me on the team even after Fleetfoot comes back.” He replied. Rainbow Dash jumped up fast, too fast, and hit her head on the ceiling. She hovered there, rubbing her head. “No way! I wanna be a Wonderbolt! I could audition too! Why didn’t you tell me you were auditioning for the Wonderbolts before?!” Dash flew around in circles out of pure happiness. “Oh, but Dash, what if one of us gets picked over the other? And besides, you’d be touring with them for four months and you wouldn’t get to see your friends! I mean, that is, if you win.” Indigo said. Dash knew he was right, and she didn’t want to hurt his feeing when she won the gig. “Oh! I got it! We can audition together! That way, it’s all or nothing! It’s perfect!” Dash exclaimed. “That’s genius! Let’s start practicing now!” And the twins left Zecora’s house without even saying goodbye. Zecora shook her head, because she knew this wouldn’t end well.
Chapter 3: Fly For Your Life
Double RainbowChapter 3
The next morning, Fluttershy came to visit Rainbow Dash and her brother at Dash’s home in the sky. When she got there, the twins were trying to do some flying routine, or something. Whatever they were doing, it did not look good. “Um, excuse me.” Fluttershy said quietly. The twins didn’t hear her, and bumped into each other, sparking the billionth argument of the morning. “…Me? That was not my fault! You were doing it wrong!” Dash yelled. “Oh really? How did I mess it up?” Indigo asked her, giving her a challenging look. “Well first of all, your form was all wrong. Second, you flew up instead of to the left when I told you to, then you…” and Dash named any possible mistake he could have made. The argument went on and on, and Fluttershy waited patiently. Finally, when she figured, she decided to speak up again. “Um, Rainbow Dash? Indigo? I brought you some cupcakes, courtesy of Pinkie Pie.” She said quietly. The argument seized immediately and the two flew down to her. “Food?” Indigo asked, staring at her basket. “Oh, yes. Pinkie was busy this morning, so I volunteered to take them. She says they’re ‘welcome to Ponyville’ cupcakes. You have to share with Dash though.” Fluttershy said, handing him the basket. He ducked his head in and ate one. “My compliments to the chef.” He said, then ducked his head back into the basket. Rainbow Dash shook her head. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing today?” Fluttershy asked her friend, gesturing to the sky. “Oh, Indie and I are going to audition for the Wonderbolts together! When he leaves for Manehatten, I’m going with him, cause that’s where the auditions are!” Dash exclaimed happily. Fluttershy shook her head. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea… what if you make it? We won’t see you for a long time. Besides, you’re in charge of the weather around here. You can’t just skip out on it.” Fluttershy said. “No problem. I can always get someone to cover for me, and as for you guys… Well, you can live without me for a few months, right?” Dash asked. “I guess so. But what happens if you don’t make it? You’ll be crushed.” The yellow Pegasus was trying her best to talk her friend out of it. “Fluttershy, who says I won’t make it? We’ll just do a sonic rainboom or something, and bam, we’re in!” She said, looking up at the sky. “But Rainbow Dash, you’re the only one who can do a sonic rainboom! Do you really think your brother can do it?” Fluttershy asked. Indigo pulled his head of the basket. “You can do a sonic rainboom? But those are just legends! My parents in Los Pegasus would tell me stories about them at bedtime! You actually pulled one off?” He asked. Rainbow Dash looked proud. “I’ve done a few in my time.” Indigo pretended to bow to his sister. Rainbow Dash only stood there proudly. Fluttershy shook her head. “We can do a double sonic rainboom! We could like, fly together at top speed and make the single biggest rainboom the world has ever seen!” Dash said. Indie shook his head. “I can’t do that. But you know what I can do? The Twister.” He said. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy stared at him blankly. “What the hay is that?” Rainbow Dash asked her brother. He sighed. “I basically just spin around until I make a tornado.” He said. Dash blinked. “Any Pegasus could do that, Indie. Probably even Fluttershy. No offense, Shy.” Dash said. “Oh, none taken.” Fluttershy said. Indie looked at the ground and his ears drooped. “I can’t do anything very cool. Just tricks.” He said sadly. Futtershy could hardy bear seeing someone so sad. She ran over to him and patted his back. “Oh, cheer up. Rainbow Dash is one of the best fliers in Equestria! She can teach you everything. After all, practice makes perfect.” Fluttershy said. Indigo looked up at her. “Um… Thanks… That makes me feel a little better.” He said, averting his eyes from hers. Fluttershy backed away and bumped into Rainbow Dash. “Oh, I’m sorry! I’m going to go now. And Dash, if you’re going to go through with this, give Indie some of the spotlight. I know how you are.” Fluttershy said and headed down the trail. Rainbow Dash shook her head, making her multi-colored mane shake. “What is THAT supposed to mean?” She asked, herself, but she knew exactly what Fluttershy meant. But Dash would never admit to that, of course.
***
Fluttershy decided to head over to Twilight’s house and tell her what was up. She knocked on the door and heard her friend call, “Hold on! I’ll be there in a second!” so Fluttershy waited patiently. She heard some books crashing and then she heard Twilight again. “Spike, could you please start cleaning this up? Someone is at the door.” Fluttershy heard Spike the dragon make an “uuuggghhh!” sound, and then Twilight Sparkle opened the door. “Oh, hi Fluttershy! Come on in.” Twilight said, stepping aside to let the Pegasus in. Shy trotted in and sat down on one of Twilight’s reading chairs. “Hey, Fluttershy! What brings you to casa de Twilight?” Spike asked her. Twilight began helping Spike pick the fallen books up. “I came by to tell you about Rainbow Dash and Indigo.” Fluttershy said quietly. “What’s going on with them? Is something wrong?” Twilight asked her Pegasus friend. “Oh, nothing is wrong, exactly. It’s just… well, Indigo Rush came to visit on his way to Manehatten, where the Wonderbolts are holding tryouts because one of their fliers is hurt for a long time. Anyway, Dash found out and now they’re going to try out as a brother-sister team. I just don’t think it will end well, knowing Rainbow Dash.” Futtershy explained to the lavender unicorn. “You’re probably right, but I also know Rainbow Dash, and if she’s determined to do something, you know she’s gonna do it. I would just leave them to what they’re doing, and we’ll see how it plays out.” Twilight replied. “I know, I just don’t want them to get their feelings hurt!” Fluttershy cried. “Don’t worry about it, alright? They’ll be fine. You wanna go get something to eat or something?” Twilight asked, and Fluttershy nodded. “Okay… that would be just fine.” So Twilight grabbed her saddle bag and the two headed out the door, leaving Spike behind. “Well, thanks for the invite.” The dragon mumbled as he went back to cleaning the books.
***
“That’s not good enough, Indie! You have got to get your time down! You’re not fast enough!” Rainbow Dash called to her brother. Indigo sat on a cloud. “Why aren’t you doing any of the work here? You need practice, too.” He said. Dash flew up to meet her brother in the clouds. “Um, excuse me, but I am Rainbow Dash herself. I’m Scootaloo’s idol, I’ve successfully performed at least three Rainbooms in my life, and I’m basically the living manifestation of loyalty itself! I don’t need NEARLY as much practice as you do, Young Grasshopper.” Dash replied arrogantly. “I think that’s your way of admitting that you’re lazy.” Indigo said. “I am not lazy!” Dash gasped. “Then why don’t you train a little bit, huh? Give me a break!” Indigo shouted, flying up from the cloud he sat on. “I already told you, I don’t need to train!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “If you don’t practice this at all, then you’re going to blow our chances of ever becoming Wonderbolts!” Indigo shouted back, equally loud. “At least they know I exist!” Dash screamed, and immediately regretted it. Indigo lunged at her, but Dash got out of the way just in time. Dash sped off as fast as she could, with Indigo on her tail. Dash was so caught up in making sure Indigo didn’t catch her that she nearly knocked Cloudchaser out of the sky. “Watch it, Dash!” Cloudchaser called. “Sorry!” Dash replied, though she was already long past Cloudchaser by then.
***
“Rainbow Dash! Get back here!” Indigo called. He lost his sister. Okay, so maybe she was a lot faster than he was, but that doesn’t mean she was totally exempt from practicing the routine at all! How are you supposed to practice a routine made for two ponies if only one pony is willing to cooperate? “Hi there!” Indigo heard behind him. He turned around to see a grey, cross-eyed pegasus. “Um… hi?” He said, wondering why this strange pony was talking to him. “Whatcha doing?” The pegasus asked him. “Uh… I’m looking for a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane. Seen her?” He asked. “Of course I have, silly! Everypony knows Rainbow Dash!” She said. Indigo felt like he might win this battle with his sister. “Good! Where did she go?” Indigo asked hopefully. “Oh, you meant just now? Well, she just went that way. I don’t really know where she is.” She said, pointing in the direction that Indigo had just come from. Indigo facehoofed. “Alright, thanks, Bubbles.” He replied. “My name is Derpy!... I think….” But Indigo was already gone.
***
Dash flew a while, not realizing that she was directly above the Everfree Forest. She knew how much Indigo hated it, so he wouldn’t look there. She dropped down and decided to go to Zecora’s for a while, because she didn’t exactly love this place, either. She went as fast as she could and made it to Zecora’s place in 10 seconds flat. “Zecora, you gotta hide me for a while!” Dash called through the door. Zecora opened it and Dash stepped in without waiting for Zecora invite her in. “What are you hiding from, Rainbow Dash? Is Pinkie Pie throwing another party bash?” Zecora asked. “No, no. My brother is mad at me, and now he’s after me.” Dash replied. Zecora nodded. “I thought you were fearless and brave, but now you beg for protection in my little cave?” Zecora asked, making some of that weird herbal tea that nopony liked. “I am fearless and brave! Just… My brother is bigger than me, and he’s angry right now.” Dash said sheepishly. “Is this the same Rainbow Dash that kicked a dragon in the face, fought a hydra, beat Discord, and saved the pony race?” Zecora asked and sipped her tea. “Well, yeah! But…” Zecora cut her off. “No, there are no excuses. Now go find your brother, for he is on the loose!” Zecora said. Rainbow Dash sighed, knowing she was right. “Alright, fine. But if he kills me, I blame you!” Dash said, flying out the door. Zecora laughed, because if Rainbow Dash died, she couldn’t blame anyone.
***
“There you are!” Indigo said. He had given up the chase about an hour ago, and now he was sitting in Sugarcube Corner, eating everything Pinkie told him to try. That was when Rainbow Dash walked in. “Hey, Indigo. I’ve been looking all over for you!” She said, sitting at his table. “Oh, Rainbow Dash! You wanna help me bake some cupcakes real fast?” Pinkie asked her friend. Rainbow Dash wasn’t quite sure why, but that idea didn’t really sound very appealing. “No thanks, Pinkie.” She replied. Pinkie hopped away to get another cake for Indigo. “Maybe another day?” She called from the kitchen. “I don’t know, maybe.” Dash called back. “There are some weird ponies in this town.” Indigo said randomly. Right then, Pinkie hopped back in balancing a chocolate cake on her head. “What clued you in?” Dash laughed. “No, seriously! When I was looking for you earlier, I passed a house and I happened to look in. There was some guy bathing in jelly.” Indigo said, shuddering at the image. “Hugh Jelly is strangely obsessed with tubs of jelly. It’s just who he is.” Dash said. There was an awkward silence then, so Dash figured she should apologize. “Sorry, Indie. I didn’t mean to make you so mad.” Dash said. “Nah, it’s alright. But you still need practice, just like I do.” Indigo replied. “You’re right. We need to work together. So, what do you say about practicing now?” Rainbow Dash asked her brother. “Yeah, sure.” Indigo said. Pinkie came hopping in with yet another cake, this time looking strawberry flavored. “Who wants cake?” Pinkie asked them. Indigo looked at his sister. “After this cake?” He asked her. “I bet I can eat my half faster than you.” She replied. Before Indigo could reply, Pinkie screamed “Ready, set, go!” And the eating race was on.