//------------------------------// // Should one expect heartache? // Story: Can they work it out? // by Dashie Auditore //------------------------------// Was this really what she was to expect of those five ponies? Betrayal? Distrust? Lies? Did they think her strong confident stance could withstand such an assault from whom she respected and trusted most? These were among many questions that prevented Rainbow Dash from sleeping. It was 5 A.M. and she could not even feel the slightest bit tired, because all she felt was hurt, irritated, angered, but above all else, the feeling that scared her the most, was loneliness. In a town of four hundred ponies, many of which she knows personally, she felt more alone then anyone in the history of Equestria could have ever felt. She could still remember the day, because it haunted her ears with the words and plagued her eyes with visions of what had transpired in the ally on 8th street. All five of them, glaring her down, saying that of the six of them, it was her who had gone too far. Her who had brought this all upon herself. Her would made Scootaloo, her number one fan, the closest thing Rainbow Dash had to a sister, up and leave her to admire the new town super hero. Even she could admit now that while she may have stepped over the line, her so called friends jumped right of the same deep end in a carriage and hit her with the door before they launched. "Not fair..." She whispered to herself as she turned her head and looked out her window. "It's not fair..." Dash slowly stood up and leaned out the window. "IT'S NOT FAIR!" Rainbow breathed with boiling blood. Her shout had fallen on deaf ears with her homes fair distance to the town, but if given the chance, she'd yell it right in those five mare's faces. The only reason she didn't the previous day, was because it hadn't really sunk in what transpired. She was so hit with shock that it was her friends, that she failed to come to grips with what happened for almost an hour. It was after, on the trip home, that the spear those ponies stabbed into her hit her heart. She had only left to go get some lunch, and she hadn't left the house since. Truly pulling in and realizing what had happened. She didn't even actually write to Princess Celestia, she asked Twilight if she could have some time to hash out what she should really say, and the pony agreed to let her have some time, but now Dash didn't even want to see the purple unicorn. Not today, not tomorrow, maybe not ever again. She walked back down to her bed and plopped herself down on it. The last couple of days had been rough, but whereas she thought they'd lead to a good relaxing break, it only ended up where she is now, and another day was about to begin. A day of glares from passing ponies who hadn't forgiven her actions. A day of actively avoiding five particular locations, and even then, being extremely careful on the roads themselves. But among all, it was a day Rainbow had planned for a short while, and now thinking on it, she might as well get going. She hoped it would be as easy as it was in her mind. Dash slowly climbed down her house and passed by a picture of them all, one of her favorites. It was all of them not too long after they became the Elements of Harmony. Sworn protectors of Equestria, and just as written in the corner of the picture, "Best Friends Forever". Rainbow stared at the picture nearly five minutes, recalling the entire day. The quest, the fight, the ceremony, and finally ending with the picture being taken by all of them. She raised her hoof up and held the frame for a moment, then laid the picture face down. Then with her cheeks still stained of tears no one would ever know she cried, she shot off from her home and headed for Canterlot. The moon was still over the land, the sun was a few hours away, and Rainbow Dash could fly to Canterlot in whatever little amount peace she could find. *** A few hours after their friend had left, unannounced to them, the four Mare-Do-Wells gathered at the boutique with the dress maker. Who took their outfits and stowed them away, to be salvaged on later projects. "I must say girls, this fabric could come in handy for my winter collection this year." Rarity spoke hanging the last one up and envisioning a nice purple set. "If ya say so, ah'm jus' glad we ain' have ta go prancin' around in 'em no more. They ride up a lil'." Applejack commented on the tight design. "Well maybe next time YOU can labor on such short notice for four exactly identical outfits. I just made them all the same size to save some time." "Thank you again Rarity, believe us though, it was way harder then it looked, costume problems aside. I'm more than happy letting Rainbow do all the heroics around Ponyville." Said the purple pony. "Speakin' of, do ya girls think we might a bit of been a bit...out of place? Doin' somethin' like that to Dash?" "We've gone over this before Applejack, Rainbow's the kind of pony that when things get going to her head, it's that much harder for her to hear reason, you saw how much she barely listened to us." "Ah don' know, ah think we still could've tried." "I have to agree with Applejack though." Came the white unicorn. "We may have done a bit too much. I think we could have tried talking her down, but then again, as Twilight said, she is the kind of pony where things fly over her head easier the bigger her own head gets. Though, maybe it being the five of us might have been a bit harsh, but at the same time we each had skills to fit only certain parts." "Exactly, and you know, sometimes for ponies to see the truth you have to be a little harsher with them, and you all saw how she was when she caught Pinkie, she understood what we were trying to get across to her." Twilight and the others gave a small nod of understanding. They had thought this out in the heat of the moment, but it had it's reasons. "Which reminds me, I need to swing by her house." "Why's that?" "Rainbow hasn't written her letter to Princess Celestia yet. She wanted some time to really think it over and figure out what to say. I was just going to go over and see if she was ready. "Why don't we all go? We could all have a nice little get together and have lunch and make sure there's no hard feelings." Rarity piped up. The others all agreed that would be a nice idea. The six of them hadn't hung out like that in a good while, the closest being those couple of times Dash paraded herself for the heroic attention, so maybe this time they could just be together as friends. *** With the moon still out, Rainbow Dash knew this meant Princess Luna was on watch in one of the towers of Canterlot. She was the mare Dash needed to speak to most of all, but she didn't want to tell Luna straight away what it was, so she came up with a hypothetical story that might get her the answers she needed. While there were others Rainbow Dash wanted to speak to, she also wanted to make her decision today, and Luna would sleep a good portion of the day, so Rainbow figured it would probably be best to ask her first, though she had the hardest, oddest, and most difficult question to answer Dash. She needed to know, for above all else, the only pony that might be able to keep all six of them together was Luna. The trick would be getting passed the guard, but she hoped that the Princess would see her unmistakable rainbow trail and allow her in, since it wasn't often either of the six came to Canterlot Castle and made sure one of the Princess's saw them. To ensure this, she made a few circles around Canterlot itself, leaving a needed lengthy trail, before landing close to the gates and strolling slowly up to them. The two guards there dropped their spears in her path, just to her expectation. "Halt, visiting hours start at nine." One said. "I need to speak to Princess Luna, it's important." "I'm sorry, you'll have to wait." "But I'm an Element of Harmony. Saved Equestria a couple times? You know, nothing special or anything." "Princess Luna is not to be disturbed unless-" The large white doors of the castle swing open, and before them all stood the mare in question. Standing taller than them all, she looked down at the pegasus, who, just like the guards, had bowed instantly upon seeing her. "RAINBOW DA-whoops. Sorry, Ahem, Rainbow Dash." Old habits really did take long to die off. But they had all gotten used to it, but that didn't mean it stopped their ears from ringing. "Princess Luna, I...uh...I wanted to ask you something. Could we uh...talk a little more privately?" "Of course Rainbow Dash, please come in." Ushered in, Rainbow didn't even gawk at the beauty of the castle, for she had seen it and much more many times before. Instead, she hung her head and ears a little low as she and the Princess walked to a more private balcony that over looked Canterlot. When it was only them, Dash felt a bit more safe asking the question. "So, uh, Princess...I was wondering...about the Elements." The alicorn's look changed a good ways. Dash was not the kind of pony to really question the Elements in any way, she expected this from Twilight, who had already done so on multiple occasions, so now she was twice as curious. "Yes?" "Uh...let's just say...uh...let's say that Applejack stopped being honest. Especially to the rest of us Elements. Could she still be the Element of Honesty? Or would someone else have to take her place?" "This is quite an odd and vauge hypothetical story Rainbow Dash. But, to answer to see where pray tell you are going with this, it would depend. If Applejack felt she could no longer be honest with the other Elements, and if she held the reason firm, then she could in fact no longer be an Element, but only because it could jeopardize the fate of Equestria if not the world. But an Element signifies more than just a bond between friends. They are the six elements that tie us all together. Honesty, Laughter, Magic, Kindness, Generosity, and Loyalty are what brings everyone together in some way shape or form. The Elements draw from that power as much as they do you and your friends bonds. I'm sure you've noticed Applejack has lied or fibbed at least one time or more since becoming an Element, and Pinkie Pie does not laugh all the time, yet you six still come together to defend us all and pull through in some of the darkest of times." "Okay...so...if Applejack was...mad at us. So mad, and for good reason, that she stopped being honest to us because of it, she could be replaced by another pony?" "Yes and no. She could be replaced absolutely, but have you not seen before that whenever you or your friends aren't quite "all together" then the Elements become useless? If "Applejack" were to stop being her element, unless another pony took her place with the same connections and bonds to keep the others uplifted, their depression from the loss of their friend could prevent them from using the Elements." "Oh...really?" "Indeed, so I must ask, why would you desire to leave behind your work as an Element? I'll answer your questions honestly, but only if you speak truthfully and honestly with me. Your friends have done something to you that hurt you, have they not? Is that why I found you not sleeping this morning? Is this why you weave a hypothetical tale, dancing around the true issue and not admitting the truth?" Luna stepped calmly over and rested a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "Such a question is not easy to ask, and such a pain needed to desire the answer is not easy to bare. Whatever the issue it may be, Rainbow Dash, rest assured, will only be between us. I've had my own problems with whom I've called friends, and so I extend my hoof to you to aid you how it may be needed. But while I have told you how the elements work, the choice is entirely yours. If you wish to leave this life for another, it can be done, and if you so deem to, I will support your freedom to choose so. But you must speak with me first, and allow me to see if the damage is repairable." Rainbow looked up to the princess's eyes. The soft smile on her lips and the glisten in her eyes of hope to help the poor pony. Dash took a small second before giving a nod, to which she was offered an easier and warmer stay with tea, in the privacy of Luna's chamber, as Celestia would be raising the sun soon. The pegasus was hopeful as they strolled through the castle walls. Of her meetings she hoped to have today, of which none were with the alter egos of Mare-Do-Well, if anypony could rekindle the flame that they all had, the good times they've all shared, it would be Princess Luna. While she could speak with Celestia as well, for some reason she felt safer and more trusting of Luna of their conversations. Possibly because Twilight's not her pupil working to learn Friendship, so for her teacher to hear of Rainbow's possible desertion of them all, the sun princess may try to intervene, and who knew what would come of that. Whatever the reason or result might have been, today the only pony Rainbow needed to see in this castle, was serving her tea in her chambers.