Faith
by theswimminbrony
On the Last Day Ever, Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches and stared out of a window at Sweet Apple Acres, watching as the first sliver of the sun dipped below the mountains on the horizon.
"I'm scared."
Across the room, a pair of ears shot up.
"What was that, sugarcube?"
"I said I'm scared," the voice repeated.
"Scared? Well, that's a new one on me. What could possibly have the power to bring the fearless Rainbow Dash to her knees?"
"Tch. I dunno. Maybe scared isn't the right word." Rainbow Dash nearly jumped as she felt a hoof wrap around her shoulder. Green eyes stared into hers with worry. "I guess I'm just really, really, really nervous is all."
"Sounds like scared to me," Applejack teased. Rainbow Dash lowered her head in embarrassment. "Come on, Rainbow. What's eatin' ya? You know I'm here to listen."
Rainbow Dash inhaled deeply and opened her eyes to the view of the setting sun once more. "That's it, though. Maybe I don't want you to listen."
"Don't want me to listen?" Applejack scoffed. "Come on, Dash. We're friends. There's nothin' you need to be embarrassed about."
"It's not embarrassing."
"Then what's keeping you from speakin' your mind?"
"I don't want you mad at me. I hate it when you're mad at me."
"Mad? Now why in Celestia's name would I ever be—"
Silence. Awaiting the inevitable, Rainbow Dash bit down on her lip.
"It's about Twi, isn't it?"
Rainbow Dash nodded, the slightest taste of iron entering her mouth. "I mean... it's not that I don't believe in her, Applejack, but..." The slightest bit of green came into her vision, and she turned away. Shame coursed through her veins like a poison. "They've got a point, you know. Those ponies that stand on the streets. With the signs. Who else has ever raised the sun but Celestia?"
"Rainbow Dash, listen."
"You know what they've been calling today, right? The Last Day Ever. It's even on some calendars. Like it's some sort of stupid holiday or something. Well, I don't see anypony celebrating."
"Now hang on a second, Rainbow. Just take a deep breath and calm down."
"I wish I could, Applejack, but... ugh! It's like one of those stupid things where somepony tells you not to think about purple elephants and then that's all you can think about. No matter how hard I try to calm down, or forget about it, I just get more and more worked up and worried and—" The sun caught her eye once more. It slowly fell as if it were attached to a rope whose strands were breaking. They broke, one by one, hardly noticeable at first, until... "What if those ponies are right? What if it doesn't come up tomorrow, like they all say?" Rainbow Dash's head found comfort in her companion's shoulder. "It's scary. It really is."
Applejack's mouth hung open as she searched for words. "I know it is, Rainbow Dash. But you need to have faith in her. Celestia might be leaving, but if she trusts Twilight, then we should, too. You just have to believe in her. She needs you to."
"I do believe in her! At least, I think I do. I want to. I need to." She shook her head. "Celestia, I'm a terrible friend. Some Element of Loyalty I am."
"Rainbow Dash, listen to yourself," Applejack said sternly. "You are not a terrible friend. And you know I'm not one to lie about these things."
"Then why I am doubting her?" Rainbow protested.
"I don't think you're doubting her. You're not the kind of pony to stop believing in her friends." A hoof slowly started to run up and down Rainbow Dash's back. "I think the only pony you're doubting is yourself."
Rainbow Dash scowled. "That doesn't even make sense."
"Sure it does. You're doubting yourself as a friend, and that's making you think like this."
"I still don't get it."
Applejack swallowed a groan. "Listen, I've never been one for all of this fancy-schmancy philosophical talk and whatnot, but you know I can read my friends like Twilight reads her books. I get that you're scared, Dash—I am too, in a way, and so is everypony else—but that doesn't mean you're a bad friend. It just means that you care. And Celestia knows that if there's anypony that cares too much about their friends, it's you."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? You're not calling me sappy, are you?"
"Heh. Now there's the Rainbow Dash I know." Applejack playfully punched her friend. "It ain't sappy, Dash. I just think that you're probably worrying more for Twilight than she is for herself."
"You're kidding me, right? Twilight's, like, the biggest worrywart in all of Ponyville!"
"Besides you."
"Come on, enough with the teasing," Rainbow whined. "Just... keep talking, okay?"
Applejack smiled. "Well, it's a good thing it's not Pinkie you're talkin' to." A chuckle. "Rainbow, there's a lot of ponies in this world that don't have anything to believe in. They've lost everything for no good reason, and they can't muster the least bit of strength to keep themselves goin'. It's a pity, really, to know that there's ponies like that in this world, without any heart or fight left in them. But you" —she waited until Rainbow made eye contact— "You're just the opposite. Your heart's like a never-ending spring of hope or something. You believe in ponies when no one else does, always giving without receiving. Remember how scared Fluttershy was about flying during the tornado? If it weren't for you, I don't think she could ever have found the courage to get up there. I can't tell you how many ponies you've impacted because of the courage you've shown them. How many ponies you've saved when they felt down and out. You'll do whatever it takes to help them, even if it means making a sacrifice. I don't think there's a limit to the amount of trouble you'd go through just to make us happy, Rainbow. And if that's not being a good friend, then I don't know what is." Rainbow Dash sniffled and wiped her eyes. "But now you're the one that needs to get back up. Not just for your sake, but for Twilight's. Got it?" A nod of confirmation. "I know you've still got that fire in your heart. It's just not burning as bright as it usually does. And it's okay to be scared, Rainbow Dash. Really. Sometimes it takes a little fear ignite the flame again."
There was a long embrace that followed, the breaths of the ponies moving in perfect disharmony.
"Thanks, Applejack," Rainbow finally said, her arms still wrapped around Applejack.
"Aw, it was nothin'." The farmer tousled Rainbow's mane. "You feel a little better now?"
"Yeah." Rainbow Dash pulled out of the hug and rested her head against Applejack once again. "I don't think there was anything even wrong with me in the first place, now that I think about it."
"Told ya," Applejack teased. Both pairs of eyes looked out the window just in time to see the final sliver of the day's light make its way below the mountains.
"Beautiful sunset out there. Don't you agree, Rainbow?"
"Yeah. Perfect."
The two watched in silence as darkness covered the land. They both thought of a single pony, wishing they could be there with her as she took the next step in her life. Minutes blended together as both ponies silently waited for the other to speak.
Eventually, one of them did.
"Applejack?"
"What is it, Rainbow?"
"Will you stay here with me? Until I fall asleep?"
"Of course, sugarcube." She pulled her friend closer. "I'll stay with you until the sun comes up."
On the Last Day Ever, Rainbow Dash smiled.
