"Um, Pinkie?" Fluttershy landed in the town square, approaching the party pony cautiously. "Are we... doing the right thing?"
"Whaddaya mean?"
"Well... Rainbow, you know, kind of wants her family life and her social life to be... separate..." The pegasus rubbed the back of her head. "I... just think this might kind of... you know, be violating her boundaries or something."
Pinkie Pie smiled and wrapped a foreleg around her shy friend. "Fluttershy, let me tell you a story. Once, there was a girl and she had a friend. Now this friend was totally happy. Popular enough, good friends of her own, you know, average girl with an average life. But you see, she never spoke about her dad. It was a given that topic was off limits. So this girl, the one that was her friend, got curious. One day the average girl came to school bruised and bleeding, but she said it was just because she tripped. Her friend didn't buy that for a second; she was smart, connected the dots, and went to confront her friend's father about beating her up."
"Oh my." Fluttershy shuddered, she'd heard about such things before. "What... what happened?"
"Well, he knocked her into a coma and she woke up three months later with magical powers that she used to fight monsters. But that's not the point. The point is, there was a boundary there, she violated it, and her friend got moved out of a horrible situation." Pinkie gave Fluttershy a friendly pat on the head. "So you see, it's not always a bad thing to poke your nose where it doesn't belong! All things in balance, that's what Auntie Pinkie is telling you."
"Well, yes, but that was abuse. This is just Rainbow being embarrassed." The pegasus sighed. "I mean, I was okay with Mare Do Well but this is kinda extreme."
"Said the pot to the kettle."
"Excuse me?"
"Which one of us stuck a turtle in her face?"
Fluttershy started. "Um, well, technically that was a tortoise, but--"
"Don't worry, darling," Rarity interjected, walking up to her friends. "What's at stake here is Rainbow's self image. I'd assume that since Applejack knows about her so-called secret she feels she's lost everything about herself that matters. This is to remind her that no matter what happens, we'll still see the real her."
"Oh... I... guess that makes sense..." The pegasus whimpered. "I just don't... want her to be angry with us..."
The unicorn sighed, giving her friend a comforting hug. "I know, I know... I'm a bit scared she'll overreact too. But even if she does, it's unlikely that she'll stop being our friend."
"That's right!" Pinkie bounced up and down. "She forgave us for the Mare Do Well thing so she'll be okay with this too! Now get back up there and keep a firm lookout, I want to time everything perfectly!"
Fluttershy sighed, keeping her eyes to the ground. "...Alright." She flew back to her perch on the clouds, keeping her gaze away from the massive machine Pinkie Pie had wheeled out. It... things would work out. Yes. She had to keep thinking that.
***
Rainbow Dash took a long, deep breath and steeled herself. This was it. This was the moment.
Every eye was upon her, every member of her bloodline staring at the stage as they awaited this no doubt long prepared speech. In the back, she could see Applejack waiting patiently for her to begin...
She coughed.
"Um."
Her eyes flickered around the room.
"....Okay. I would... like to... I would like to thank you all for coming and joining me in celebrating the ninety seventh year of the life of the current Duchess of Cloudsdale. Ninety seven years of, I'm sure, difficult legislative decisions," choosing which quill to sign with most likely, "and noble leadership. I myself have..."
She paused.
"...long looked up to her example, as one of the most... most... quick-witted ponies I have ever met." That makes sense, right? "And I know that she had been more then devoted to the nation of Equestria as a whole. In fact, I might go so far as to say her nobility should be an example to all of us who hold such high office." What would Rarity say here... "So, it is a dazzling honor to host this party, for, Dazzler Prism."
She hadn't even meant to use that pun...
"Ahem. Would you all join me in wishing a long, happy life to her?" Dash took a glass. "Not that she hasn't already had one, but... To Dazzler Prism Silverhoof, Duchess of Cloudsdale, may Celestia's light grant you long life. Oh, and Luna's moon guard you."
It was all she could do not to contort her face as she sipped her drink. She hated wine. It was an unholy combination of sweet juice and hard cider, in her opinion, two things great on their own but that should never be mixed. Her duty fulfilled, Dashiel Silverhoof politely but quickly abandoned the stage, walking to the side of the gathering.
No cheers, no real applause... not that she deserved any. Not that she wanted any from this crowd, not for that.. nonsense.
Applejack sidled up to her. "My word, that seemed rather strained. Are you faring well?"
"Please. Don't talk like that...."
The farmer rolled her eyes. "Fine. If that's what ya wanted ya should have said."
The pegasus sighed. "You know the worst part? Even though they all live these high class lives, even though this isn't what I am at all... I still love them. Can't help it. It'd be nice if I could say they were horrible, but... they're just..." She waved a hoof vaguely.
"...Stuffy?"
"Something like that."
"Hey, wanna blow this joint?"
Dash started. "What? I can't abandon these ponies, I'm their host! I mean, yeah, this is a little.... fancy..." She watched her aunt go by in a dress she was certain she'd seen hanging in Rarity's store this morning. "....But I can't leave them. It's my duty. Heck, it's pretty much my only duty."
"Ya royals are purty big on duty, aincha?"
"Nobles," Rainbow Dash corrected absentmindedly. "We're supposed to be the great bridge between commoners and royalty. I know," she added, holding up a hoof, "if we're a bridge then why don't I just tell everypony?"
"Cause ya hate dresses?"
"Because that actually gives them legal reason to ask me for favors. I want to help because of my own skills, not because I was born into... this." Dash gestured widely. "So... yeah."
"....tha offer ta blow tha joint is still open."
"....I'll think about it."
Those of you who can guess what Pinkie's talking about without clicking this link earn an internet.
So anyway, DRAMA! TENSION! INTRIGUE! And addressing a problem so many of you brought up.
Its too short . Oh well, good chapter anyway and keep up the good work
Hooray! I have obtained an internet!
Yes, you used it! Hooray! Now back to writing my own terrible story!
Great chapter!
After the reveal in the last chapter, this one seems a bit... short. Still, looking forward to all the mischief the Elements will create.
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Very nice chapter.
Oh, I for some reason I love fics, where Applejack uses her "sophisticated speech" skills. The reaction she gets every time is hilarious. I'd really love to see that in Season 3.
Pinkie Pie: always awful.
Pinkie Pie: always awful.
Pinkie Pie: always awful.
I predict that Rainbow Dash is the Chosen One of some kind of rainbow-oriented cult that thinks they know how she's supposed to fulfill the prophecy.
gifsforum.com/images/image/this%20is%20revelant%20to%20my%20interests/grand/not_sure_if_relevant_to_my_interests.jpg
Adding to read later...then it shall be decided.
I am guessing she is trying to learn how to dance. Dunno. Have to read it later to find out. I like to read finished stories.
1058322
Gotta agree with this, to a point.
This line sums up everything that's wrong with this entire situation. "She forgave us for humiliating her in a horrifically botched attempt at teaching her a lesson in humility, so lets push the envelope even further by doing something even worse. She'll be so deliriously happy that we decided to meddle where we were completely unneeded and unwanted that she might even be giggling while she strangles us."
The moral of this story is being executed almost as badly as The Mysterious Mare Do Well, except that it has even less justifiable reason to exist in the first place. I like the story, I really do, but the concept behind it makes me question the actual value of Friendship in regards to MLP. This kind of behavior is quite literally only acceptable when abuse is involved, and anything short of that simply is not a good enough reason to go skipping over someone's personal boundaries. If one of my friends did something like this to me, I would be extremely cross with them, to the point where our friendship would be quite tense for some time afterward. After all, what gives my friend the right to decide for me that my personal boundaries are silly or unnecessary?
tl:dr
For how long has it been the prerogative of Pinkie Pie to decide how Rainbow Dash should live her life?
Yay I have earned an internet... whatever that means
Oh please, Pinkie, no... No...
Once again, another good chapter. Poor Dash, though. I can see why she's tried so hard to protect this secret. All the other pegasi in town would probably harangue and hassle her constantly, in hopes of befriending nobility and stuff. At least since she's number 15 in line for the Duchy, there's next-to-no chance of her ever actually getting it. Unless the 14 closer heirs were to all die. But there's no way that could happen, unless they were all gathered together in one spot and-
...
Oh boy. Let's hope Pinkie's plan doesn't backfire too catastrophically.
Great story, progressing smoothly
Only thing that cought my eye is the way you spell applejack's dialouge; the southern accent is importent, of course, but be careful not to make it sound "gangsta", what with the "tha" and stuff =). you don't have to change as many words as possible, just enough to make it recognizable. Otherwise, good work, looking forward to see more!
1058117
Huzzah! I have received an internets! The internets have been doubled!
However, this chapter seemed... pretty blank honestly, compared to the last chapter. Much like Dashie's speech, this chapter seems a little forced. It's a good building block, but it's... well just a little bland.
Been saying it for a few chapters, will say it again, this is going to go badly and if this were me, they wouldn't be my friends anymore.
1058117
I didn't click the link; I hovered over it. I didn't click it, so it counts!
...Right?
1058909
Which one? Raised by Gryphons was mentioned in one chapter ofThe Elements of Discord, and then never referenced again. The Celestia's Daughter story would be Alicorn, which is a fan sequel of a one-shot not located on this site.
I think that all the naysayers in here are forgetting something. Dash is the element of loyalty. She'd practically be forced to forgive them. However, I do agree that she would probably not want to talk with any of them... especially Pinkie, for awhile.
Good thing Twilight's not involved!
1058322 well with the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, i have to disagree, as those events can actually happen in real life, if executed right, and thus shows a "realistic" scenario. What they are doing in this fic? completely behind you on this. i just know that they are going to crash the party and basically ruin their relationship with Rainbow Dash.
1061048
Definitely with you there. MMDW was definitely one of my least preferred episodes. The whole scheme was just...stupid. I guess it made for good plot that they didn't just talk to her and then she stops, and the episode's actual production was delightful as always, but the story of it was uncomfortable, to say the least. It would've been better if her friends, instead of just dressing up as a masked pony and publicly humilating her, just did all they did WITHOUT the MDW costume, and then straight off the bat they could've shown Dash how to accept praise with humility.
Plus, some scenes completely undermined the message of the episode, like the scene where they all commend MDW, which wouldn't have been so bad if they weren't praising their own actions.
What I would've liked the most is the other 5 all start to think that THEY are the "best" mare-do-well, so at the award ceremony, 5 mare-do-wells show up. This would've shown that ego can affect anybody, which, in my opinion, would be a better moral than the one that they tried to convey. And besides, "bragging only affects those with an ego to defend".
/rant
Anyway, on-topic: excellent story so far. Well done author <-- have a moustache. I think that's some form of currency around here.
1058815
Mother of god...
Please please please don't let this one die, you created a story that's not only interesting but fun to read.
Take you time if you feel burnt out but please don't forget about this little gem.
Well, this has certainly been gripping thus far. Definitely looking forward to more.
So 3 weeks later and nothing?!
*sets loose the Zombies of Fanfiction*
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
update pls?
And. Here. We. Go.
Not for nothing, and Twilicorn aside, let's take a look at RD's good friend Twilight Sparkle:
Her brother is Captain of the Royal Guard, and apparently the highest ranking military officer in Equestria who isn't immortal.
Her Sister-in-Law is Queen of the Crystal Empire, so Twilly is at least a Dutchess by default.
She is the very best friend of Luna, Princess of the Night. Seriously, Luna doesn't seem to have any other friends in all Equestria.
Her mentor, teacher, and secondary mother-figure is Celestia. The Pharaoh. God-Empress. She raises the sun.
She is the de facto noble lady (Countess? Baroness?) of Ponyville. After Winter Wrap-Up, she gets all her orders obeyed. Best example: It's About Time: she stands on a bridge, takes off a pair of silly glasses, and tell everypony that it's disaster-proofing day because I had a really weird dream. They get to work.
All this before apotheosis.
RD's worried about too much special attention? famous Grandma don't count for much when your best friend is next in line for the Sun god job.
*OS has crashed. Currently picking up shreds of brain matter from the floor*
Makes me wonder how AJ feels about the Oranges.
That's... kind of terrible on several different levels.