Loud as Thunder
That night it rained. It doused PonyVille with more water than it’d seen in ages. The gossiping ponies had quickly assumed that Rainbow Dash had fallen asleep on the job once again. However, that wasn’t nearly the case. She was so consumed in her own anger, or what she thought to be anger, that she didn’t have time to tend to her duties.
I said I was sorry, Dash thought. Aren’t you supposed to forgive your best friends? Whatever, she’ll come back. They always come back.
But, Dash knew that wasn’t true. For some reason this situation was bothering her a lot. And even more surprising, she wasn’t really as mad at Twilight as she thought she was. This was all too confusing for her, so Rainbow Dash decided to talk to her kindest friend, Fluttershy.
Flutter always knew what to do, even when they were just little fillies in flight school. She knew exactly how to calm Dash down for an exam, how to get better if you’re sick, and what to do if somepony was angry with you. Just like right now.
On the fly over to Fluttershy’s place she contemplated telling her she was visiting for another reason, then bring up Twilight’s house some time before she left. Maybe I could tell her Tank was feeling lonely, Dash considered. Then he can play with Angel while I find a way to bring up my problem. No, it’s not a problem, per say. That would mean that I feel bad about it. But I don’t, it was an accident and I apologized. Calling it a problem would mean that I cared, which I don’t. It’s just that no pony rejects The Dash and gets away with it.
She approached Fluttershy’s door and knocked her hoof on the door several times in a special secret rhythm that only her and Flutter used. The light was on, so she fully expected an immediate answer. The door took a while to open, but when it did there was not a happy greeting waiting on the other side.
“Oh… Rainbow Dash... Hi,” Fluttershy said meekly.
“Hey, Flutter. What’s up?” Dash asked.
“Oh… Just, nothing. Doing some Spring-cleaning, maybe. It’s uh, not really a good time,” Fluttershy rambled quietly.
“It’s summer,” Dash retorted.
“Right, well, its summer cleaning. I’m going to have to ask you go, Rainbow Dash,” She mumbled shyly, looking down at her hooves.
This assertiveness did not fit Fluttershy one bit. And neither did the lying. Upon recognizing this, Dash assumed Fluttershy must be in big trouble. She dashed past Fluttershy and into the house saying, “Stop hiding and let me give you a piece of my mind, you malicious tick!”
“I… how did you know I was here,” Said none other than Twilight Sparkle.
Oh, buck. Dash had really done it this time. Now Twilight thought that Dash was calling her a tick., which was one of the biggest insults you could give a pony. Ticks can be real bastards sometimes.
“I wasn’t, I didn’t… I had no idea you were here. I was just bringing Tank over to see Angel. And when Fluttershy seemed so shaken up I… I figured that someone was holder her hostage or something.”
“Right, then where is Tank?” Twilight questioned Dash.
“I forgot him at home,” she said truthfully.
“Well, if you’ll excuse me I’m in the middle of a book. One of the ones that are still in tact, that is.”
“Hey, I said I was sorry and that’s that. I just came here to see Fluttershy, so I guess I’ll be leaving now,” Dash proclaimed with her head held high. Just like Thunder Dash had taught her.
“I thought you were the most loyal pony I knew. I guess I was wrong,” Twilight called after her as she left. And she was right.
Dash didn’t sleep very well that night. She woke up feeling sick and groggy, but she knew she had to get out of cloud and get ready to visit Cheerilee’s class for career day. She had been really excited about it all week, but she wasn’t too thrilled anymore. Weather Patrol was a fun job and all, but its hard to make little fillies believe that without a lot of enthusiasm.
Maybe she wouldn’t go. She knew she didn’t possess the enthusiasm nor the motivation to talk up Weather Patrol today. Besides, it’d be more interesting if she went to career day once she got her job as a Wonder Bolt. They were the best flyers
in Equestria, which is why Dash believed she deserved to be one of them.
After a quick rain shower she made her way down to the town. Her destination was Sugar Cube Corner. If her random pal, Pinkie Pie, couldn’t cheer her up there was no way she would make it through career day. Pinkie was gripping a plate of cupcakes in her mouth to bring over to the sweets cart for selling. Something seemed off, Pinkie seemed too calm and composed. This, for pinkie, was the equivalent of any pony else when they’re down in the dumps.
“Hey, Pinkie Pie!” she tried to sound uppity.
“Oh, hey, Rainbow Dash,” She said apathetically.
“Whatchya doing’?”
“Just restocking the vending cart with sweets. I’m really busy, so I’ll see you later,” She excused herself.
“Wait, Pinkie! I was hoping we could hang out,” Dash called after her.
“I don’t see how you can be so calm after what you’ve done to Twilight,” and Pinkie left.
Guilt is a monster that reaches out to consume you. Guilt is a tsunami of black nothingness that takes you over. Guilt is Nightmare Moon’s dark wrath unleashing upon you. Guilt is a sinking feeling that Rainbow Dash had only felt once before. And it still hadn’t faded away. But she was too strong to admit it, even to herself.
She didn’t have the strength to let Cheerilee down today. She simply didn’t have it in her. So, Dash slowly made her way to the schoolhouse with her tail between her legs. She took a deep, drawn out breath before she stepped in. Just then, she realized that she hadn’t prepared anything to say. She entered an unusual state of panic for her, not being able if it was from sleep deprivation or from stress. Or maybe it was both.
“Class, put your hooves together for our special guest, Rainbow Dash!” Cheerilee introduced her.
The class applauded and Cheerilee reminded her to take the stage. Dash had been okay at improvising while she was in flight school. She never really did her reports ahead of time, so she had to be.
This thought reminded her of her Jr. Flying Safety report. It was one of the biggest reports of a flyers life, and she hadn’t prepared a single word for it. At that point it was safe to say that she was one of the class clowns. She figured she’d just make things up as she went and throw in some jokes. She figured that the class would love it, so then the teacher would too. She was wrong.
On her way up to the podium she stumbled over her own hoof. Clumsy so wasn’t her style. Get it together, Dash, she told herself. Just keep calm and get this over with. Just a brief little speech then it’s over.
"I'm part of the local weather patrol here. I’m in charge of keeping the clouds clear and the storms-" Dash was interrupted.
"Well then where we're you when it was raining and messing up my mane yesterday?" asked Diamond Tiara.
"I was… " Dash's words drifted into the abyss.
Dash's throat dried up and the room began to spin. The pressure was far too much for her and so was the stress. She felt like a bubbling volcano about to erupt.
Think quickly, Dash. They're all waiting for your response, she thought. Just open your mouth and let it flow.
Then she cracked.
"See, I was asked to help do renovation on my friend, Twilight's, house and she gave me the wrecking ball to demolish the north side but I kind of over did it and well... I wrecked her house. It just crumbled because I was trying to show off and impress everyone which I do all of the time when really I'm the most insecure pony i know and I guess you could say that I’m always looking for the approval of others and.. And now none of my friends will talk to me.." she babbled.
For the love of Celestia, that was not what she had wanted to say to the class. The volcano has erupted and continued to destroy everything in sight. Just like when Dash was a filly.
"Rainbow Dash, would you like a glass of water?" Miss Cheerilee asked.
"No, I'm good, I think I'll just.."
Dash backed away then sped out of the school with tears whipping behind her in the wind. She galloped her way to the Everfree Forest. She knew it was a strange place, but it was the only way to get away from every pony. With the exception of Zecora, of course.
Even at this time of day the forest was dark. It's amazing that the plants can grow with little to no sunlight. Of course, every pony knows that these aren't normal plants. They have stripes and polka dots and colors of all kinds. They grow in twists and twirls, shapes and swirls. Most importantly, they have crazy appetites.
As Rainbow Dash trotted further into the forest things began to poke at her. But as long as they were flies and not Parasprites it was okay with her. The occasional mosquito would nip at her, but they usually left her alone after one swing of her hoof.
"Rainbow Dash!" shouted a male voice in the distance.
The mare whipped around so fast that she almost lost her hoofing. Once she gained her posture she was able to pinpoint the ghostly figure that had called out to her. It was definitely not a mare, by the size of it. It looked like someone shed seen before. Maybe her brother. But it couldn't possibly be. He's gone.
The dark pony grew nearer, and the closer he got the more he looked like Thunder Dash. Rainbows heart leapt and her head was still spinning. She stumbled towards the figure and their gazes met. It was him.
"I must be seeing things. I'm seeing things, you're dead," dash tried to convince herself.
"Ey, kiddo. It's been a while," Thunder greeted.