//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 - Once in a Lifetime // Story: A Color Divided // by MrDynasty //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash woke up from her deep sleep, she realised that Applejack was still sleeping beside her in the bed. Rainbow looked over to the desk cabinet to try and find a clock. She edged out of the bed, trying not to wake Applejack as she got out. Rainbow rummaged through the desk cabinet for a couple seconds until she found a small clock inside it. The time read 8:49. Rainbow looked back over to Applejack who was twitching on the bed. Rainbow placed the small clock back into the cabinet and trotted upstairs towards the main area of the library. In the library was Twilight who was floating books back into their shelves. “Morning Twilight, how are you doing?” Twilight got a small shock at Rainbow’s sudden appearance. “Oh hey Rainbow, I’m just rearranging all of the books… and I’m doing fine, thank you for asking” Twilight trotted towards Rainbow and smiled at her. “So where is Applejack?” “Applejack is still sleeping downstairs, she seems to be pretty tired” Rainbow looked over to the door leading to the lower part of the library; she then looked back at Twilight. Twilight just walked back over to where she was and started placing books back onto their shelves again. Rainbow trotted over to the library entrance door, only to have the door slam open. Rainbow was pulled out the library by Pinkie and was thrown up in the air, only to have Rainbow panic and release her wings and float midair. “Pinkie, I thought I told you not to do that to me” All around Pinkie was decorations and a small cake on a table. There were other ponies there too. Berry Punch, Colgate, Lyra, Bon-Bon and even Ditzy was here. Rainbow flew down and everypony trotted over to her. “So what do you think Dashie? Is it good or is it super duper fantastically amazing?!” Pinkie was bouncing on the spot constantly. “Wow, Pinkie… I can’t believe you managed to pull this off despite only having less than a couple hours to do it. How did you get every other pony here so fast?” Pinkie jumped onto Berry Punch. Berry flinched and looked back at Pinkie who was balancing on top of her. “I just told everypony in the town about you leaving for a while and most of them showed up… and Dashie, you know me, I’m Pinkie Pie, I can get you a party by clicking my hooves together” Pinkie leaped off of Berry and landed face first onto the ground. Pinkie came up, wrapped a hoof around Rainbow and walked her towards all the other ponies. “Pinkie, you don’t haft to introduce me to all the other ponies, I’ve met them all before” Pinkie bounced away from Rainbow and over to Lyra. Twilight opened the door to the library and walked out to see all the decorations. Twilight placed a hoof on her chin and walked over to Rainbow; she hugged her and looked round to Pinkie who was still hopping around the place as usual. “So you are leaving today Rainbow?” Rainbow nodded and just remembered that the guard said that she couldn’t return to Ponyville once she left. Twilight noticed Rainbow Dash’s discomfort and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Rainbow, you seem sad… what’s wrong?” Rainbow looked over to Twilight and smiled, trying to act normal. “Uh, nothing… I’m just…” Twilight never changed her look because she knew Rainbow was trying to hide her discomfort. Rainbow’s ears flopped down as she was about to tell Twilight. “I’m not going to be coming back after I leave Twilight… I have been invited to join the Wonderbolts and I’m going to haft to stay with them if join them.” Twilight had a sad look on her face as Rainbow told her. Twilight just hugged Rainbow. Just then Pinkie came up from behind Rainbow Dash. “You’re not going to come back Dashie?” Pinkie never usually looked sad, but in this case, she was. Rainbow just nodded and stepped back from Pinkie, she knew that Pinkie would burst into tears any second now. “I can’t Pinkie, you heard me… I have a choice to make… it’s either staying with you guys or going for my dreams” Twilight just placed a hoof on her chin and looked back at Rainbow. “What about Applejack? Don’t you love her?” Twilight realised what she just said and everypony heard it and walked over to Rainbow, they all had a surprised look on her face. Rainbow nodded and just looked round to see every pony’s face. “Yes I do love Applejack… but… what do I do?” Twilight placed a hoof on Rainbow and smiled. “Do what your heart tells you Rainbow” Rainbow just let out a tear and looked over at Pinkie. Pinkie was sad; losing Rainbow would hurt Pinkie more than anything would. Rainbow walked over to Pinkie and gave her a hug. “C’mon Pinkie… lets party while we can” Rainbow tried to act happy in front of Pinkie. Pinkie just nodded and smiled. “I’ll be back soon everypony, I’m just going to go visit Fluttershy” Rainbow noticed that Fluttershy was not here, yet she knew that she would have gotten invited. Rainbow left the party and trotted down the path to Fluttershy’s house. -------------------- Rainbow arrived just outside Fluttershy’s cottage and knocked on the door. After a short minute, Angel answered the door and motioned for Rainbow to walk in. Fluttershy came out from upstairs and flew over to Rainbow. “Hi Rainbow, I was just on my way to the party that Pinkie was holding for you, sorry that I’m a little late” Rainbow hugged Fluttershy. “No problem… I just wanted to tell you something, I’ve already told every other pony so I though I’d just come over to tell you.” Rainbow came out the hug and tried to act as happy as she could. “I won’t be coming back to Ponyville once I leave for the event.” Fluttershy had no expression on her face but instead stood still. “You’re… not coming back? Why can’t you?” Rainbow knew Fluttershy would ask this question. “Because… I’ve been invited to join the Wonderbolts themselves and I’ll be going on tour with them across Equestria.” Fluttershy seemed awfully calm for some reason. “Are you alright Fluttershy? You seem… okay” Fluttershy just looked away from Rainbow. Fluttershy was making quiet sounds, almost like she was crying. Rainbow walked over to Fluttershy and lifted her head, she was slightly crying with a couple tears running down her cheeks. “No I’m not… you’re the closest friend I have Rainbow” Rainbow was reminded of the time that she stood up against the ponies who bullied Fluttershy. Rainbow realised that Fluttershy wouldn’t be the same without her by her side. Rainbow wiped the tears off and hugged Fluttershy. When Fluttershy hugged Rainbow back, she started to cry onto Rainbow’s coat. It made Rainbow start to slightly cry too, they were lifetime friends. Rainbow felt like a sister to Fluttershy. Angel just stood and watched as the two ponies hugged each other emotionally. Angel never saw Fluttershy this upset before in all his time that he lived with Fluttershy. Rainbow could never bring herself to let go of Fluttershy, she never wanted to see her upset like this and Rainbow knew how Fluttershy felt about her. “Fluttershy… you’re more than a friend to me, you’re like the sister I never had…” Rainbow couldn’t control herself and started to cry onto Fluttershy. Rainbow slowly pulled out and stopped hugging Fluttershy. Fluttershy stopped too. “I… you’re the greatest friend I’ve ever had Fluttershy, I’ll never forget that.” Fluttershy just broke down and started to cry uncontrollably. “You’re the greatest… friend, I’ve ever had… Rainbow. You are the only pony I can truly call my… best friend.” Fluttershy wiped her eyes and walked over to her couch. “Will you be there when I leave?” Fluttershy just gave no response. “I’ll lose control Rainbow, I’ll just cry in front of every other pony…” Rainbow walked over to Fluttershy and wrapped a hoof around her neck. “I want to you to be there Fluttershy… can you do this for me? Forget every other pony.” Fluttershy looked round at Rainbow and nodded. Rainbow made her way towards the door that she came in, to have Angel open it for her. Rainbow walked out the door and decided that she would head over to see Rarity; she never appeared at the party Pinkie threw for her. Rainbow took flight and headed towards Carousel Boutique -------------------- Rainbow flew across Ponyville, trying to find Carousel Boutique. Eventually, Rainbow came across the shop and slowly glided down towards the entrance door. “Hey, you in there Rarity?” Rainbow knocked on the door three times. The door came open with magic and Rarity was standing behind her counter, sewing crimson felt with light red felt. “Hey Rarity, what are you doing?” Rarity turned round and walked over to Rainbow Dash. “Hello Rainbow Dash, what can I do for you? Oh wait… you asked me a question first. I’m just sewing some dresses for my latest clothes line.” Rainbow looked over to the sewing machine; it looked worn out after all this time. “Rarity, you do know Pinkie was holding a go away party for me today?” Rarity placed a hoof on her chin and sighed deeply. “Yes Rainbow Dash, I forgot about that, after what Pinkie did to my shop, I’ve had no time to myself. Can you forgive me Rainbow?” Rainbow just nodded with a smile on her face. “Will you have time to come down for when I leave to Canterlot?” Rarity again, put her hoof on her chin, she then looked over to the sewing machine and all of it’s felt that was stacked over it. Rarity walked over to her desk. “I guess so Rainbow, I might have time to stop by.” Rainbow walked over to the entrance door slowly. “Thanks, I’ll see you there… I should be leaving in about two hours or so” Rainbow was about to walk out the door as Rarity’s voice sounded once again. “Rainbow Dash, I heard a rumour that you’re in love with Applejack and you two kissed?” Rainbow turned around, looked at Rarity and slightly nodded. “Well that’s wonderful Rainbow… I never expected Applejack to be the type of mare who is into other mares” Rainbow’s ears twitched a little at what Rarity said. “Wait… you expected me to be a lesbian?” Rarity noticed that what she said may have pushed that towards Rainbow. Rarity just nodded slightly. “There is nothing wrong with having a specific sexuality Rainbow, I was only implying that you seemed like the mare with the need for another mare, that’s all.” Rainbow just shrugged the statement off and walked over towards the door again. Rainbow stopped as she opened the door. “…Thanks Rarity” Rarity turned around to find that Rainbow had left the building already. -------------------- Rainbow flew back to the party that Pinkie held for her. She noticed that Fluttershy was at the party, standing beside Twilight. Rainbow floated above the party, looking at everypony who was there. She saw Fluttershy, Berry Punch, Ditzy Doo, Bon-Bon, Golden Harvest and Lyra. Those were the only ponies she could recognise easily. Rainbow stopped floating and landed on the ground, Pinkie appeared behind her and swallowed a cupcake that she had in her mouth. “Where have you been Dashie? I was getting worried to where you was!” Twilight turned around and prodded Pinkie with her hoof. “You mean, where you were?” Rainbow gazed over at Twilight with small smile on her face. “Twilight, you understand that you are talking to Pinkie Pie here? She not a grammar expert you know?” A small laugh came from Rainbow as she finished her sentence. “Yes Rainbow, I do know that, but correcting someponys mistakes can help them get better at avoiding them” Rainbow smirked at Twilight. “You’re talking about Pinkie Pie, Twilight” Pinkie trailed off shortly before Rainbow and Twilight started their conversation, she seemed to have been annoying the other ponies at the party. Twilight just rolled her eyes and walked back over to Fluttershy, who was patiently waiting for Twilights return. Rainbow walked over to Fluttershy along with Twilight. “Sorry Fluttershy, I was just going over to correct Pinkie with some wordplay.” “Oh no worries Twilight, I understand.” Fluttershy just looked over at Rainbow and smiled at her. “So where were you Fluttershy?” Twilight was eager to know what ever Fluttershy was talking about before. Rainbow just stood and listened. “Well um… I saved that bunny, then helped and healed him back to his feet. Then when I told him he was alright to leave, he wouldn’t, so I just kept him as my pet. That’s how I got Angel.” Twilight put a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder and smiled. “That’s amazing Fluttershy.” Fluttershy looked over to Rainbow Dash, who was standing next to Twilight. “Hello Rainbow, how are you?” Rainbow walked closer to Fluttershy, her voice was sometimes could not be heard because of how soft and gentle she spoke. “Oh I’m good, happier that you’re here though. When did you arrive?” “I only arrived about ten minutes ago, I’ve just been talking with Twilight and Pinkie” Pinkie walked over to the talking mares and wrapped her hooves round Rainbow and Fluttershy’s neck. “Is everypony enjoying the party? I hope you are, anyway, there is cake if you want it! Maybe a muffin or a cupcake, which do you prefer? I like cupcakes myself, but muffins are-” Pinkie was cut off by Rainbow Dash, who interrupted her rant over what delicious treat is better than the other. “Pinkie, I don’t think we want anything.” Rainbow smiled and looked over to Fluttershy, who nodded in return. Pinkie let go of Rainbow and Fluttershy and bounced back over to the stallion she was previously talking to. “So, have you told Applejack that you’re leaving? She never seemed to have woken up yet.” Twilight pointed out that Applejack never knew that she was going to Canterlot and might not be coming back. “No, I don’t think I have told her yet, I… I never planned to; she might be get upset you know?” Rainbow was trying to avoid telling Applejack, she loved her and her knowing that she wouldn’t be coming back would upset Applejack, but also upset Rainbow even more. Twilight placed a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “She will obviously be upset, but you can’t just leave without telling her, she will eventually wonder where you went.” Rainbow knew Twilight was right, but she still never wanted to tell Applejack. Rainbow loved her and she never wanted to leave, but when would she get another opportunity like this again? “Twilight… this is a once in a lifetime thing that I’ve been offered here, I can’t turn down something that I’ve wanted my entire life.” Twilight just hugged Rainbow. “Do what your heart tells you Rainbow…” Twilight came out from the hug and walked away, over to the library door. Those words hit Rainbow hard, she never felt so emotionally sick in her life before. -------------------- “Should I wear anything? I guess not… I mean if Pinkie is hosting the party, there will be allot of mess” Rarity paced around her room as her Persian white cat, Opalescence sat and watched. “What do you think Opal?” The cat just sat and licked herself. “Hmm… I guess I’ll just wear nothing, I don’t want Pinkie covering one of my lovely dresses with cake do I?” Rarity walked towards the entrance door and opened it with magic from her horn. Opal sat and watched as her master walked out the door. Rarity slowly trotted over to Twilight’s library, admiring all of the town’s landmarks on her way. “I do hope I’m not late, I hate being late, especially if it’s a friend who wants me to be there.” Rarity got to Twilight’s library only minutes after she left her store. Fluttershy and Twilight were talking together, but Rainbow was not in the crowd of ponies that were chatting and eating cake. The ring leader of this crowd was Pinkie, who seemed to have her face covered in cake. Rarity decided she would trot over to Twilight before Pinkie dragged her into the cake crowd. Twilight spotted Rarity walking over and motioned for her to join the conversation that she was in with Fluttershy. “Rarity, how have you been lately? You seem to be really focused in your work.” “I’m doing fine darling, work has been hard lately, I’ve had to fill out a couple orders that required me to get more gems… sadly Spike wasn’t here so I had to get them myself” Rarity walked up to Fluttershy and smiled at her. “How about you two, how are you both?” Rarity asked. Fluttershy responded happily, her voice was calm and soothing as it normally was. “I’m doing fine Rarity, I’m just a little upset that I might not get to see Rainbow Dash again for a while.” Rarity looked concerned at what Fluttershy said. “We won’t be seeing her for a while? It’s only a reunion; it won’t last longer than a couple days” Twilight sighed and placed her hoof on her head. “She never tells anypony does she?” Twilight paused and looked at her two friends. “Rainbow got invited to the Wonderbolts and she will be going on tour with them, which means she might not be back for a year or two... maybe longer” Rarity just stood there with a worried look on her face. “She never told me this… what about Applejack? Won’t she be upset that Rainbow is leaving?” Twilight rolled her eyes. “She never told Applejack either, she seems to be wanting to leave incognito.” Rarity looked around at the party that was being held. “Throwing a go away party… is not really being incognito if you ask me” Rarity pointed this out, but Twilight replied back with another statement. “I meant that she wants people to know she is leaving, but she doesn’t want people to know that it might be a long, long time before she comes back” Rarity just looked over at Fluttershy, she had her mane slightly over her face. Rarity pulled Fluttershy’s mane away, only to see that Fluttershy was tearing up. Fluttershy was trying to hide her tears by looking away from her two friends. Rarity hugged Fluttershy; Rarity knew that she was upset about this. “Fluttershy, it’s alright. We are all upset about this too, don’t hide your feelings from us, were your friends” Fluttershy smiled at Rarity and hugged her back. “Where is Rainbow Dash by the way Twilight?” Twilight pointed to her library. -------------------- Rainbow Dash walked down the spiral staircase leading to her temporary room in the library. She saw Applejack sleeping calmly on the bed; she seemed to have never woken up yet. Rainbow trotted over to her and stared at her for several seconds. Rainbow couldn’t bring herself to wake up Applejack, but she knew she had to tell her somehow. Rainbow whispered into Applejack’s ear. “Applejack, you awake?” Her ear only twitched slightly as she was still sleeping on the bed. Applejack was still in a deep sleep; Rainbow decided to try and prod her to see if that would wake her up. She got next to no response except for some small movements. “Applejack… Applejack” Rainbow sighed at how much of a deep sleeper Applejack was. Rainbow placed her hoofs on Applejack’s shoulders and shook her, it only took a couple seconds for Applejack to wake up from her sleep and look over at Rainbow. “Did you haft to wake me up Rainbow?” Rainbow nodded and looked at the ground for a couple seconds. “You see Applejack; remember how I told you I was leaving for Canterlot soon?” Applejack just nodded and sorted her hat. “Well… I might not be coming back” Applejack shot up and stared at Rainbow, it made Rainbow uncomfortable. “What do you mean you wont be coming back sugar cube? You’re only going for the reunion and then coming back aren’t you?” Rainbow shook her head and stared at Applejack for a couple seconds. “They invited me to join them, if I do, I’ll be going on tour with them all around Equestria. I will most likely not get to return to Ponyville, I might haft to travel with them and Ponyville is not exactly a popular landmark.” Applejack’s ears flopped down and her mouth hung open. “Won’t you miss me? Won’t you miss our friends?” Rainbow knew where Applejack was going with this conversation. “I will, but this is the one thing in my life that I’ve dreamed of, I’ve lived for this moment since I was born” Rainbow was trying to push the conversation towards her dreams instead of her love for Applejack. Applejack just hugged Rainbow. “Don’t you love me...?” Rainbow’s ears lowered as she pulled out Applejack’s hug. She then walked up the starts staring at the ground, Applejack was softly crying. Rainbow reached the door frame before looking back at Applejack. “I do…” -------------------- Rarity was walking up to the library door, then the door opened and Rainbow Dash trotted out. “Oh… hey Rarity, I’m glad you could make it” Rarity hugged Rainbow swiftly. “Were you not going to tell me you’re not going to be coming back?” Everypony had gathered around Rainbow at this point. One of the guards came up to Rainbow. “Miss Rainbow Dash, we will haft to get moving if you are going to make it in time to Canterlot.” Rainbow looked around her at all of the ponies, they all looked sad. She never saw Fluttershy, but there was a slight whimpering from behind Twilight. “Fluttershy?” Rainbow moved over to Twilight and looked behind her, Fluttershy had her mane over her face and she had her head pointing towards the ground. Rainbow lifted Fluttershy’s head and moved her mane out of her face, she was crying. Fluttershy tried to hide herself from crying. Rainbow looked around to look at everypony’s faces, some of them were tearing up and others just looked sad. Applejack trotted outside of the library to see everypony standing around Rainbow and Fluttershy. She trotted up to Rainbow and looked at Fluttershy, who was still failing to control herself. “Rainbow… do you haft to leave?” Rainbow looked around to Applejack and never made any head movements, instead she just trotted along side the guard, leaving everypony staring at her. Applejack ran up to Rainbow and held her hoof out, everyone was staring at them. “Rainbow… you can get another chance at this in life, but you won’t get to see any of us ever again if you do go now… look at Fluttershy.” Fluttershy was lying on the ground, still crying. Rainbow’s eyes got blurry from some tears. Applejack kept her hoof out and stared at Rainbow. “… Will you stay… with me?” Rainbow looked down to Applejacks hoof. Rainbow held her hoof out and reached for Applejack’s, instead, Rainbow knocked it out the way and stared at Applejack for a moment. Applejack started to cry. Then suddenly, Rainbow reached over to Applejack and kissed her. Everypony was watching as the two mares kissed and shared a moment in their life that could never happen again. Rainbow pulled out from the kiss and hugged Applejack. “Yes… I will” The guard looked over at another guard; they were both confused at what just happened. Rainbow came out from the hug and walked over to Fluttershy; she pulled Fluttershy to her feet and hugged her tightly. “I’ll stay… for you guys” Twilight had tears in her eyes as she walked over to hug Rainbow. “I can’t leave you all behind, I may not get another chance like this in my life… but I won’t get another chance at having amazing friends… and loving someone this much” Rainbow looked over to Applejack and smiled at her. Applejack walked over slowly and kissed Rainbow. Rarity and Pinkie Pie stood and watched as they all shared a moment together; Rarity turned to Pinkie Pie and hugged her. Pinkie Pie returned the hug. Everypony started cheering as Rainbow and Applejack kissed each other. Rainbow pulled out and walked over to the guards. “Twilight, can you take a letter?” Twilight walked up to Rainbow, using her magic to carry a quill and paper over. “Dear Spitfire, I wont be able to make it to the Wonderbolts reunion. Having friends is more important to me than living my dream, my dream can wait. Having good friends may not come once in a lifetime… but truly loving someone can’t. From, Rainbow Dash” Twilight rolled up the letter and handed it over to Rainbow Dash, Rainbow then gave it to the guards. “Give this to Spitfire, I won’t be coming with you to Canterlot I’m afraid.” The guard took the letter and walked away after he nodded to Rainbow Dash. Applejack walked up to Rainbow Dash. “So you’re staying?” Applejack asked. Rainbow turned around and looked around her, everypony was staring at her with a smile on their face. Rainbow kissed Applejack, whispered “I love you” to her and walked past everypony. Rainbow looked back and smiled softly at Applejack and all her friends. “Yes… Yes I am” -------------------- -------------------- Author Notes coming up in an additional chapter.