Act 1 - Change
Chapter 1 – A Call to Adventure
*****
The air feels strange. For some reason, I know today is going to be different. Something interesting is going to happen. Whether good or bad, I will face it. Backing down is just not my style.
“Dash? Is that you up there?” A voice called to her. She recognized it quickly as Mayor Mare and quick was she to respond. She flipped around in her laid-back state and peeked over the edge of the small cloud she was on.
“You bet it is! What’s up?” Dash leaned over the edge and gave the pony below a smug “I’m ready for anything” look.
The Mayor didn’t share her smugness. “Could I speak to you for a moment? It’s quite important.”
Important, huh? Then again Mayor wasn’t one for small talk. It was probably some sort of weather-related matter. That’s what most ponies want from me anyways.
“Sure!” The pegasus flew down to her in a wide swoop. “Lay it on me.”
“You may not be too enthusiastic once I tell you, but…here.” The mayor digs in her bag and pulls out a scroll. “It’s a letter. It wasn’t sealed so I looked.”
“What? Lemme see that.” Rainbow snatched the letter from her and placed it on the ground, unrolling it to take a look inside. Dash’s eyes grew wider and wider as she read. Once she finished, she glanced up at Mayor with a confused expression. “What is this?!”
“If you want to take it, I won’t get upset. You’ve been a great asset in Ponyville, but I know we’re holding you back. You can make quite a living there.”
“Y-yeah, but…I can’t just leave like that. What about my friends? I can’t abandon them.” Dash was appalled that Mayor even supported the decision. She couldn’t look her in the eye. She’s right. I could make something of myself there…maybe even get recognized by the Wonderbolts, but this…this is…
“You have time to think it over. The letter says you have until next week.” The Mayor smiled and turned around, walking away from her. Dash could only watch as she left. When she could no longer see her, she glanced back down at the letter. She read it again and again, not believing it was real.
“A week’s hardly enough time…” She rolled the letter up again and let out a frustrated sigh.
*****
A half-hour later, Dash decided to visit the one pony she knew she could trust.
Thump thump thump! She knocked on the front door of Sugar Cube Corner, matching the pounding of her heart. What do I say? How do I tell them? Would they hate me? Dash looked down as a bead of sweat dripped from her forehead. She shut her eyes. Maybe I shouldn’t! I could just throw away the letter and never speak of it again. Her eyes turned to the letter tucked under her right wing. She began to envision the possibilities…the fame and the bits she would earn…it would be awesome. Ponies would know me all around Equestria! I wouldn’t have to barely make my way here…I could live like a queen if I go.
Her eyes returned to the door which has yet to be answered. She knocked again forcefully. “Why isn’t she here?” She thought aloud.
“Because I’m over here silly!” A loud, squeaky voice squealed behind her. It frightened Dash, causing her to leap into the air and smash through the awning above the door. Pieces of wood and décor crumbled to the ground. Dash was now hovering in the air, shaking her head of her pain and dizziness. An ear-piercing giggle made her pain worse.
“Pinkie Pie! Don’t do that! Don’t sneak up on ponies like that!” She rubbed her forehead.
“Sorry, Dashie! I was out delivering baked goods! I just got back.”
“You do deliveries now?”
“Yep! And I just love the smile on everypony’s face when they see Pinkie Pie giving them something sweet to eat!” She beamed up at Rainbow, and then her eyes slowly shifted downward towards the ground. Dash followed her gaze…the letter! “Ooo! What’s this?”
Dash swooped down and snatched it before the pink pony could swipe it. “Don’t touch that! It’s…why I wanted to talk to you. I need help deciding something.” Her face again fell apart, an overwhelming frustration that even Pinkie could sense.
“Deciding what? Is it an invitation?! Because if it was I would totally be ‘YES YES YES!!’” Pinkie pumped her hoof into the air.
A miniscule smile crept at the corner of the pegasus’s lips. “Really?! I mean…it’s sort of an invitation, but what about you and others? How would you feel if I were to leave Ponyville for a while?”
“Well, Applejack left for a while and we did all right. Remember?”
Dash sighed and shook her head. “Yeah, but also remember we had to chase her down in Dodge. It was a fiasco!”
“But it all worked out in the end, right? And we were all the better because of it!”
“Better, huh? Maybe…” Rainbow continued to think of the benefits…but would they outweigh her friends?
“Where are you going anyway? Are you going to a flying competition somewhere?! Because it would be no problem to go and watch you do your stuff!”
The cyan mare smiled. “Not exactly…Close though.”
“Oo! I am?! Wait! Don’t tell me! Don’t tell me! It’s a…Wonderbolts show!”
“Uh uh.”
“An autograph signing?!”
“You’re getting way cold now.”
“Hold on!...I got it! You got a job offering to work as a professional racer in Las Pegasus!”
Rainbow’s eyes cracked open and darted to the side. “W-what?! How did you…”
“Mayor Mare told the whole town about your letter! Lalala!” sang Pinkie as she trotted inside Sugar Cube Corner.
She told everypony?! Why would she do that?! Dash flew in after her and stopped her.
“Wait! So if you knew…why didn’t you ask me about it right away? Don’t you want to know if I’m leaving or not?” She hovered in front of the pink pony who sat down to ponder her question.
“Well, I didn’t have to! You would never leave your friends!” She made a silly yet familiar pose. “‘I would never leave Ponyville hangin’!’” She giggled. “Am I right?”
The pegasus just stared at her wide-eyed as a couple streams of sweat trickling down her forehead. Dash chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of her head. “Y-yeah! Of course! I am the element of Loyalty after all. I will never leave...” She paused for a moment as her uncertainty grew even larger. “…never.”
*****
“Las Pegasus, you say? Not the most regal of cities if you ask me, but definitely a place for a pony such as you.” A white unicorn was a little more honest than Dash was asking for, but she decided to visit and ask each of her friends what they thought. She was still unsure if she wanted to go.
“A pony like me, huh? What does that mean?” She smirked annoyingly. It figures Rarity would put herself over Dash.
“Oh, come on, Rainbow Dash. That city is full of daring, excitement, and competition! It suits you like a well-made outfit. Oh! Like this one.” She trotted over to one being displayed on a ponnequin. It was unique for sure…it was a one-piece that was rainbow-colored.
“Wait a minute.” Dash flew over to her. “What is this?”
“Dash, when I heard about your…offer. I decided to make this as a small gift. I hope you’ll use it. I know it resembles the Wonderbolt’s design, but I knew you would appreciate that more than anypony.”
It took Rainbow a couple seconds to realize what was going on, and then she smiled. “Hold on…so you’re okay with me leaving?” Her smile grew as did her eyes.
“I’m not saying I fully agree with you gallivanting around in such a dirty place, but who am I to say that you wouldn’t appreciate that sort of thing…but yes. I suppose that I’m ‘okay’ with you taking that offer.”
Rainbow squeed and embraced the unicorn. “Thanks, Rarity! Wow, you’re the last pony I’d expect to be fine with it.”
Rarity chuckled nervously and pushed the pegasus off of her with a hoof. “Hardly. Just don’t tear the flight suit. It wasn’t easy getting those colors perfect.”
“It looks great! I’ll be super careful with it.” Her eyes sparkled until Rarity stepped in front of her.
“Actually, I still need to do some finishing touches. I’ll have it delivered to your house, all right?” She had a look of concern on her face.
“Yeah, okay. I have a week to decide anyways. Plus I need to ask everypony else what they think.”
“Well, I’m sure they’re thrilled. I’ve always wanted to live in Canterlot, so…”
“Yeah yeah, I know. We saw the whole thing at Twilight’s last birthday party.”
Rarity blushed. “Oh, that’s right. I remember. Well, no matter! It’s entirely your decision, Rainbow. Don’t let anypony tell you different.” Then Rarity suddenly pushed Dash away from the suit. “Now, shoo! I can’t concentrate with the sound of those silly wings flapping everywhere.”
Dash grinned and let out the smallest of giggles, “Thanks aga…”
“Shhh! Go on, Rainbow. You don’t need to thank me. I’m just doing my part as a good friend.” Rarity began lifting various bits and bobs as she spoke. Dash nodded and trotted out the door, taking off as soon as she was outside. Once she could no longer hear the sound of Rainbow’s wings, Rarity let out a saddened sigh and continued her work.
*****
“You want to leave?” asked an adamant, concerned purple unicorn. She went to Twilight Sparkle next. She was wise and blunt…she would tell Rainbow if it bothered her. “I can’t say I’m all for it, but…I know you. This is a chance of a lifetime. You wouldn’t pass up an opportunity like this.”
She’s right. I would die for a chance like this! But now that I’ve made such good friends here…it would be tough starting over again.
“But you’re not sure if I should?” Dash moved closer, but Twilight walked away and circled the library. She was in the middle of cleaning the library for the umpteenth time, using her magic to lift books here and there along with a pink feather duster.
“Las Pegasus is a huge switch from Ponyville, Rainbow. You might not appreciate the radical change in atmosphere. I hear it’s the “City That Never Sleeps”. I know how fond you are of naps.”
Dash sighed. “I can deal with that!” She moved close to her again. “But I want to know how you feel about it.”
The two stared at each other for a moment…before Twilight smiled and walked away again. Her voice was quiet and sincere. “Rainbow, I’ve only known you for a couple years. Granted you and the others were probably the best things that have ever happened to me…I’m not going to hold you back if you want to move on. You’ve always looked out of your element here. You’re the kind of pony I would expect to find in a place like Las Pegasus.” The unicorn walked back to her. “But if you want my honest opinion…you should go. You can always come back if you don’t like it there. We won’t think ill of you for doing something that you want to do. It’s not our place to keep you here. It’s not our decision to make. Just know that we’ll support you no matter what.”
Rainbow returned a smile and wiped her eyes. “Thank you, Twilight. That…that may have been what I needed to hear to go through with this.”
Twilight let out a small hum of satisfaction. “Well, good, but I would still talk to the others before you make a decision. I may just be speaking for myself.” She once again walked away from the pegasus.
“Already have. There’s just Applejack and…Fluttershy left.” Dash cringed as she knew that Shy would take it the hardest. She wasn’t sure if she should save her for last.
“Fluttershy. You’d better be easy on her. You know how she gets.”
“All too well…” Dash mumbled. “I’ll…catch you later, Twi.” She got a nod from the unicorn. Dash was on her way out when she looked back. Twilight was staring at the ground with the slightest of frowns. It only took that to make Rainbow feel guilty again…nopony wanted her to go. Why couldn’t they just be honest with her?
*****
The sun was setting.
“Hey, AJ!” Rainbow flew in over Sweet Apple Acres searching for her. It was such a big place. She could be anywhere. In fact, she was within earshot and hiding from her inside her barn. Applejack peeked from the doorway and could see Rainbow fruitlessly searching for her around every tree. “Where are you? I want to talk to you about my offer.”
“Go away Dash…” AJ whispered to herself as she returned behind the barn entrance. “Ah don’t feel like talkin’…” She sunk to the ground and beat her hoof on the space in front of her. She sighed.
At that moment, Dash flew inside the barn and instantly spotted her. “Oh, there you are…what the hay, AJ? Why are ya…” Her voice cut off as Applejack stood and entered the light…tears running down her cheeks. Though she wasn’t sad…
“Darn it, Rainbow!” She yelled with a shove to the cyan pegasus, pushing her outside. “Can’t ya see I ain’t in no mood for this right now! Get on outta here! Take yer silly racin’ job and leave!”
AJ continued to shove her. Rainbow didn’t know whether to feel guilty or angry at the sudden aggressive behavior of one of her best friends…so she felt both. “So what?! Maybe I will!”
“Fine!!” The earth pony’s voice cracked and she lunged at Dash, trying to ram her. The pegasus easily avoided it by leaping into the air and hovering above her. “Do what y’all want! Ah don’t care…” Her anger broke down as she sunk to the ground once more. “Y’all were always such a pain in rear-end anyhow…”
Dash stared with her jaw slightly hanging, feeling her own tears starting to emerge. “Applejack…I…”
“I know what y’all are gonna say…so just save it. It’s y’all’s choice and I have no say. I just didn’t reckon’ it’d be so soon.” She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Then I won’t go.”
“I figured you’d say that, Dash. Ah…wait what?” Her eyes snapped open as she glanced up at her.
“I’m not gonna go if my friends don’t want me to. It might be the opportunity of a lifetime…but I could never be happy with myself. If I’ve learned one thing since Twilight came to Ponyville is that it’s wrong to only think of yourself. So I won’t go…simple as that.” Rainbow crossed her arms and nodded to herself, happy with the response she’d given…when she was suddenly pulled to the ground by a perfect lasso. “Waahh!”
Applejack leaned on the downed pegasus and chuckled. “Well, Ah’ll be…didn’t think ya had it in ya. Ah thought you were as stubborn as a bulldog, but y’all got me all surprised.”
Rainbow tried to fidget her way out from under AJ, but to no avail. “Yeah! No problem! It’s what friends are for, right?” She gave the farmer pony a big cheesy grin.
*****
It’s night…and only one more…Fluttershy. It should be no problem, right? I mean if AJ doesn’t want me to go, then I won’t. So it shouldn’t be hard telling her I’m staying.
Rainbow landed in front of Fluttershy’s cottage and walked slowly up to her front door. She contemplated on how this will go.
Ugh…I can already see it. She’s going to be crying her eyes out and I’ll have to console her like the eight hundred other times before. I’ll tell her “everything will be all right” and then she won’t believe me. So I’ll have to tell her again and again until I can somehow make a happy tune out of how much I’m not going.
She was inches from the door when she sighed and firmly knocked on the door. “Fluttershy, you here? I need to talk to you.” She waited a moment before knocking again. “Fluttershy?!” Dash then heard something below her. A piece of paper slid out from under the door. “What the…”
The note read, “You’re probably wondering why I’m not answering, but I’m sure you know why more than anypony. I know this is a huge deal for somepony like you. I mean you’ve always wanted to be a big-time racer ever since you were a filly! You deserve it and I’m sure you’ll knock the competition right out of the sky! Good luck, Rainbow Dash. I’ll be cheering for you. Your dearest friend, Fluttershy.”
No…she wants me to go?! Two ponies want me to stay…now three ponies want me to go! But…but…
Dash growled in frustration and took off, blowing the note away into the wind. From one of the windows watched a single eye…full of tears. Once it could no longer see Rainbow, it vanished into the darkness of the house.
*****
Midnight. Rainbow returned home and bucked the front door shut behind her. She walked slowly upstairs and stared at the ground as she tried to figure things out.
So Applejack and Pinkie don’t want me to go…well, Pinkie didn’t say that exactly, but I know more than anypony she doesn’t want to lose a friend. Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy have already accepted that I’m going…and Rarity even made that awesome flight suit for me.
Rainbow threw herself onto her bed and looked around the ceiling for answers.
If I were a smart pony like Twilight, I would probably just take this as a 3-2 victory and go, but then I would have lied to Applejack! She’d probably come after me…just like I went after her. Dash sighed. I don’t know anymore. The easier choice is to stay…and maybe it’s even a better choice.
She turned in her bed to face her nightstand. A dozen Daring Do books were stacked on it. But would it be the most interesting one? It’s like a call to adventure! What lies beyond Ponyville and in the depths of the city of Las Pegasus? Ponies of all different kinds! Amazing sights to see! Exciting races to be won!
Her eyes caught one of the books’ titles: Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone. It was the first book that she read of that series. Maybe I’ll encounter a terrifying villain and have to combat him in showdown of epic proportions! I would revered and famous for being the greatest, bravest, most dependable of pegasi in all of Las Pegasus!
Dash giggled at her silly, romantic thoughts. She spotted another title and her eyes glazed over. Or maybe I would meet the pony of my dreams. A pegasus who was good enough to show me up…make me look like a chump compared to his awesome ability. She chuckled and put her hooves together. Then it turns out he was a spy all along…trying to usurp me from my title as World’s Greatest Flier, and then bam! I would blow him away with a Sonic Rainboom! The city would go wild! Soon the Wonderbolts would recognize me and come to see me perform. I would destroy the competition. Spitfire would approach me and ask if I wanted to become the Captain of the Wonderbolts.
“No need to ask because I am there! Haha!” She squealed at the scenario. She sat up with a grin, but then thoughts of her friends pierced her fantasy. “What about them…? Would they really be that sad to see me go?” She took her pillow and embraced it. “I’ve never seen AJ break down like that before. She was crazy upset. I never knew I was that important to her.” She shuffled around and sighed. “Maybe it’s the right thing to do…to stay. They need me here. They would have to find a replacement…ha! Fat chance!”
Rainbow yawned and buried her muzzle into the soft fabric of her pillow. “They wouldn’t do that…” She trailed off…followed by a gentle snoring.