//------------------------------// // Does one event outweigh the rest? // Story: Can they work it out? // by Dashie Auditore //------------------------------// Finally, Rainbow Dash had arrived at Zecora's cottage, and to a bit of luck, she was home. She trotted up to the door and gave it a couple of knocks that echoed a little bit around her. Needless to say, the zebra didn't expect it to be Dash as she excused another guest who was just leaving. Zecora had some tea cooked up but Rainbow declined as she entered the small home. "So my dear friend in rainbow colors, what brings you out here without the others?" "Well...have you heard about the whole...Mare-Do-Well thing?" Rainbow was more confident speaking with Zecora thanks to what little words of advice Luna gave her. Plus, the sooner this was resolved, the sooner she might be able to move passed it, somehow that sounded like a more viable option than it did earlier that morning. "Indeed I have, and quite a show, but your expressions tells me there is more to know." "Well, yeah there is a bit. Okay so...when I was saving ponies before that, the uh...fame started getting to my head. I can admit that now. So then Twilight and the others go and rush off and become Mare-Do-Well and show me up left and right." It didn't take either of them long to realize that vague an explanation makes Rainbow out as the victim. "There are more details than this story you've told, let your emotions and belief come unfold." "Okay, okay. So, they kinda tried one time to tell me to be respectful or humble or something, but I was so ahead of myself I barely even heard it. So they become Mare-Do-Well, ran around saving ponies, and as they did, the whole town starts to favor them over me, because I couldn't match up to Mare-Do-Well, who could fly, was super strong, had pinkie sense, and had magic because it was Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight. They start bragging about themselves in front of me, but they did that secret crud where they talked about Mare-Do-Well, which meant they were actually talking about themselves, and everyone just sort of abandoned me. Even Scootaloo went and favored them over me. I mean...okay fine, it was stupid and selfish and extremely dangerous of me to make problems happen so that I could save the day, but..." Thanks to Luna as well, Dash could now be a bit more open about her own missteps, no matter how big they were, over the week. "You sound troubled from this story you trot around here, so that I may help tell me it all without fear." It took Rainbow a good minute or two before she began to detail it out. She started from when the foal in the baby carriage was flying down the hill. She even quoted things that Luna had told her, because there were some details of the even that even Dash didn't fully comprehend until she had explained them. Zecora was a good listener, and as the pegasus took notice, she questioned if maybe she was unfair a bit. She was getting two outside opinions on the event, maybe she could have just talked to them directly? She hadn't done that yet because earlier the pain felt...more heavy. Now, having opened up about it, she felt better. "From where I sit, my friend of blue, they aren't better and neither are you. You seem upset still at the actions they took, I doubt you've given any of them a second look." "You sound just like Princess Luna. She said neither of us sounded in the right. But..no...I haven't seen any of them all day, like I said I don't want to until I can figure out what to do." "This is why you have come to me then? To seek the answers to bring this to an end? You said you spoke with our princess of the night, what more could I say she did not say already to help your plight?" "I...I don't really know. I just...kinda wanted to see some ponies and see what they thought. I mean...I don't expect much, heck you'll probably say the same things she said, but I think even that would help me a little." Zecora stood up and began to whip up some sort of powder from a few flowers and other ingredients she had scattered around her hut. As she did, the house fell silent. Rainbow thought back to all that had happened across the last few days again, and was glad now she could do so without feeling as much pain. "Here my friend, a quick recipe to aid you dearly." Zecora poured some tea into the cup and handed it to her. "Recall happier times with the others more clearly." Dash took the drink and looked at it the drink, all the herbs from the powder were clearly seen floating around in it. She took a small sip, and it seemed the herbs weren't for a better flavor. "Okay...um...one of the funnest and best memories I have of them, was when we were all at Sugarcube corner and we all talked about how we got our cutie marks. We all went in a circle, and I was last. As they were all going I started to realize they all had the same thing in common, me. I pulled off a sonic rainboom, and on that day me and all of them got our cutie marks because of it." Whatever was in the tea was giving Rainbow's mind pure focus. She was recollecting the day as if it were literally five minutes ago. The sweat smell of the bakery, the individual stories gently rang in her ears. "We had no idea...it was so cool...that we were all sort of friends before we had even met. That I had helped every single one of them in probably the best way possible when they really needed the help." A small smile grew on the pegasi's face as she remember them hugging after they realized it all. The tea made her feel their embrace again, it was warm, tight but soft, she could hear the happy giggling in her ears, and smiled at their smiles in her head. "Good, very good indeed Rainbow my friend, think of another one from beginning to end." "Well, uh, I remember one time before Twilight came to town. My first home was beaten badly by a storm, so while it was getting remade for me in Canterlot, I didn't have a place to stay. Pinkie Pie let me bunk with her in Sugercube Corner. We made so many cupcakes...I thought I'd never lose the weight...and then...one time I got a little out of hoof and I was put on leave from the Weather Team. Applejack took me and put me to work bucking apple trees and helping out across the whole farm so that I could make the hospital payments on my leg, she gave me far more bits than I deserved even from working for her...but she didn't care, she just wanted to help out her friend. Fluttershy organized a surprise birthday party for me. That had one of the best cakes I had ever eaten, she made it special just for the occasion." With each memory coming in so clear, the feelings and love she felt those days came right back hard. She felt them just as powerful as they were one those days, it was thanks to whatever Zecora had whipped up, and even Dash started to realize what she was about to say. "Rainbow Dash, think hard of what I had you recall. Think of your friends one and all. The memories you shared and bonds made strong, is it all to be thrown away on a single wrong?" "Well-" "A wrong by one pony is hard to accept, from five there is no exempt. To see all your friends as you found out, is painful to understand without a doubt." Rainbow sighed deeply as she listened to Zecora's words. "I know...I know...we've been friends so long now, and they've done all kinds of really good things for me, a lot more than I deserved...but...I just never thought to myself that one day it would end up like this. All five of them lying in front of me...and going behind my back." "No friendship is perfect my dear, but that is no reason to fear. A bond between friends is deep and strong, again it shouldn't be thrown away on a single wrong. Large that wrong may be and painful it must have been, I was not there, so it is not something I have seen. But the choice remains yours Rainbow Dash, act how you will be it slow or brash. You witnessed it from start to finish, you will decide if it must diminish. But remember this the next time you see your friends, is it worth bringing this friendship to an unfortunate end?" The pegasus pondered the words a good and quiet while. She ended up staying at the cottage and had some tea as she sunk all the pieces together. The memories before Mare-Do-Well and the revelation of who the caped crusader was as well as the additional tidbits they had done, such as secretly bragging their accomplishments in front of her. She mentally weighed all the memories she could conjure and the feelings each presented, before Rainbow said her thanks and left the house hidden in the trees. *** For one more night, Dash failed to sleep thoroughly. The words of Luna bounced around in her mind, the feelings Zecora gave her felt strong and tugged at her heart. She didn't see any pony else after that, because there weren't many in Ponyville she trusted enough or felt likely enough to give her the advice she needed. That was left with the ones she did see, and she also knew now that Twilight had spoken with Luna and was probably offered the same meet up in Canterlot as she was. To talk it over pony to pony, the one thing none of them really did but had every opportunity to. Rainbow even felt like it could be a good idea. This morning she felt she could barely spit in their general direction, now she had the confidence and backing that she believed she could stand her ground. That she could admit her wrongs and point out there own. From what Princess Luna said though, she felt that perhaps both ponies were in the wrong. Though she would only know Twilight's side after Dash had left, she still hinted that the blame was probably more balanced than the pegasus believed. So she wouldn't be nearly has hard on the five as she wanted to be, if she went to the meet up. They would be there, she could feel it, sitting there waiting for her. Giving her all the time they felt she needed to pop up. After a nearly two hour mental debate that last from twelve to two in the morning, she decided if she caught enough sleep and didn't stay in bed, she'd meet them at a decent time. *** The day after, as Luna had instructed, Twilight was sitting with the others at a restaurant in Canterlot. There was outside seating, which all five of them took and brought a sixth chair over. Needless to say, none of them had a smile on and nor was the table very talkative. When Twilight told them what the Princess told her, all of them about felt sick to their stomachs hearing just how much their actions had caused their friend pain. They didn't know but they all felt like they did. That they all just tip toed around the entire thought with their excuses. Well they were going to end it, if Rainbow Dash showed up. Luna swore that the pegasus would arrive, but they had been there an hour and there was no sign of her, but they would be patient. Each on thought ahead to her arriving and what they would say. How they'd apologize, and admit their wrong doings. Rarity considered even burning the costumes so that the thought of them could never be brought back up. Pinkie Pie was planning a big apologetic party for Rainbow Dash, but she hadn't thought of a good name yet though for it. The other three kept to what they would say now, and kept their eyes searching for the last of their band of friends. Luna wanted them to be ready for this meeting, she asked all of them to wait another day and really think of their actions before, and what they'd do today. Five out of six had shown up, and as time slowly passed by, they wondered at one point if they'd be the only ones to show up. Soon enough though, Twilight tapped the table an got all of their attention. Down the road among all the dressed up and sophisticated looking Canterlot ponies, was a familiar cyan and rainbow colored pony calmly walking down the street towards them. She saw them all, and her expression matched theirs. Unsure, a twinge of worry, and regret. The distance Dash walked to them was maybe fifty feet from the corner she turned, but it felt like miles. Everyone tried to compartmentalize exactly what they would say and how. As Rainbow got to the table, all of them stood and walked in front of her and looked at each other. "I...I...I was stupid...and I made mistakes, I went too far, but you all went too far too." Dash started. She accepted the length of her actions as well as theirs. Her endangering of ponies and their going behind her back for so long. "I admit my problems. I admit it, I got ahead of myself. I admit it, I got cocky. I admit I started problems just to be the hero of them. But...when I finally found out the truth, instead of you girls trying to ease that feeling of...of betrayal away...you stood their and yelled at me that it was all my fault." "Rainbow..." Twilight wanted to speak but a cyan hoof was raised that stopped her. "You know...before that "Thank you" parade you all got...I was sitting on a cloud on the out skits of the park. Crying..." Rainbow looked all of them in the eyes. Silence fell upon them all for that moment. "That's right...you heard me...I was crying. The great and unstoppable Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria and the strongest mare this side of Everfree, crying like a little filly. I was crying because I had NO ONE. You girls weren't there, the town wasn't there, and Scootaloo was only there to tell me her "new favorite hero" was getting a parade. I've felt alone only a hoofful of times in my entire life, and that was by far one of the most painful I had to deal with." She swallowed the knot in her throat. "How am I supposed to be loyal to you girls when you do things like this to me? How can I trust you to not do that to me again?" The five other pairs of eyes bounced off of each other for someone to speak. "You can't..." Came the purple unicorn. "I thought so too...but..." Dash took a second to herself. "The fact that I didn't act when I was supposed to, and the fact that I got so head strong in my abilities that you girls had to step in like this for me to realize what I did...it was mostly my fault. I mean, there was a million things I could have done differently, from start to finish. I didn't do any one of them...and here we are now...you girls had no other way to really step in and make me listen to what you girls were going to say so...I'm sorry girls...I over reacted and I went way too far..." "No Rainbow, you didn't. You can't and shouldn't trust ponies who would do such things...understandable reasons or not, Rainbow, we went too far. We thought we "knew" how you would react, and we were wrong. Dead wrong, and there is no thing more that I wish and pray I could take back more than what happened the last couple of days. All we wanted to do was try and help you, to teach you how to be a humble hero. We...we're so sorry Rainbow Dash...we we're absolute idiots and we didn't realize just how badly we'd hurt you, we chose to think we knew how when we didn't. We dressed up as a fake hero and purposefully jumped into the lime light so that you could see how a real hero should act, and that was not what we should have done at all. Not only that but we felt so ahead of ourselves, we felt we were the righteous ones, and we were much harder on you than we should have been, we should have known, and we did, but we didn't listen to ourselves. Applejack doubted what we did the longest, but I think every single one of us doubted what we were doing a little as well.. We want to make it up to you...we'll do...whatever it may be, to earn your forgiveness and your trust again..." Rainbow stared them all down a short moment. "I...I do forgive you...all of you...already. I know why you did it, and I admit I wasn't exactly known for being a level headed pony or a good listener. But...it's going to take a bit before I can trust you girls as much as I did...I mean I still do thinking about it now...we're like a family...we have ups and downs. This was a big down. It'll take a bit of time...but...I'm not about to turn my back on my friends...my family..." The pegasus had cooled down greatly from yesterday morning, but while she did trust them and still called them family, it wasn't to the same degree as before. But she meant it when she said they could all work together to get that back up there. "Rainbow...w-we..." "We both did things we shouldn't have...but I don't want that to stop us from being friends. We had so many great times together...too many to throw away like this. But...do...uh...yo...uh....do you think we could...talk about it? Just a little bit...and then forget it ever happened?" Rainbow was never one for talking about how she felt, not with one person in private, let alone with five in public. But if anything showed those five how trusting she still was of them, this was more than enough. Eyes all fell on the pegasus, and the all looked into those magenta ones they had been waiting to see for the past day. "Absolutely. We should. Talk it out and then leave it in the past." Twilight held out a hoof to shake Dash's hoof and opened her mouth to speak again, but before she could say another word, it was Rainbow who made a move. The whole way here she thought of what Zecora and Luna said. How neither of them were completely wrong, neither were right, and that this was only one, though a big one, hiccup in their relationships. One slip like this is not enough to bring it all crashing down on top of them. And having now had some extra time to really think of it, the heat of both moments got them all worked up pretty easily, and now it was time to pull back and talk pony to pony with them all. The five of them she thought of as, and still did consider friends. The five ponies she helped save Equestria from Nightmare Moon and Discord, the five she was most loyal to, and the five she care for the most. The blame was being bounced around already, Dash took it first, then they did, which meant that they had both been changed in their views, which meant it as a whole could be worked on more easily. In a quick action, she collected all of her friends in her hooves and hugged them all tightly, just like they did a way back in Sugarcube corner, to which they all instantly wrapped themselves around her in return. They were silent a few long minutes that felt like hours, just hugging each other and letting the feeling wash over them. They didn't need to say anything at that point, just embrace the fact they were all together now. Rainbow held them all close, held their memories close, held their bonds close, because they were her friends and she wasn't about to give them up now. Though earlier she questioned them and herself, now she didn't care. Their intentions were good, as were hers, their actions were bad, so were hers. Neither were right and neither were wrong, but all together, they were still friends, they were still family, and Dash and the others intended it to stay that way.