Rainbow dash had a new life now. She travelled all across Equestria and signed posters and saddlebags and did fundraising for hospitals and gave interviews to some of the biggest magazines and performed five days out of every week. Her pictures showed up everywhere, on billboards for everything from cabbages to carriages, in articles by the score. Paparazzi followed her in droves, trying to catch her doing anything improper, anything scandalous. She was the Wonderbolt’s Golden Girl, the mare who could do no wrong, who could perform death-defying acts of aerobatics or heroics, depending on the need.
And in all those articles and pictures, she sounded happy, she wore her trademark daredevil’s grin that melted the knees of many a mare or stallion. She looked like she was enjoying the high life, like she was on top of the world. She was living her dream, after all. But Fluttershy knew her better than many, and she could see different. Rainbow Dash’s eyes were never quite up to par with the rest of her face, never quite smiling. Fluttershy saw the weary slump in Rainbow’s posture after driving back a pack of Timberwolves in Trottingham, however slight it had been. A good three quarters of her job involved reading body language, and she and Rainbow went back to Flight school. And Fluttershy knew exactly why Rainbow wasn’t happy, she knew the reason. It looked back at her in the mirror every morning when she brushed out her hair.
All those months ago, back when they were together, back when everything was right with the world, when Fluttershy felt safe and warm and loved, and back even before that, Fluttershy knew that it would have to end. Rainbow Dash had abandoned a life on the clouds to join her in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash had given her the honors during Hurricane Duty after working so hard herself, and Rainbow Dash had planned on declining the position of her dreams when the letter came in. Because Rainbow Dash loved the sky, and she loved Fluttershy, and the two could never really be reconciled.
Dash had been prepared to do anything for Fluttershy, for weak-willed, weak-winged, trembling Fluttershy. But Fluttershy knew what Dash didn’t, what Dash couldn’t know. Because Rainbow Dash loved the sky, and she loved Fluttershy, but in the end she loved the sky more. Because Rainbow Dash was a pegasus through and through, and she needed the freedom that the skies would give her. She needed the adrenaline-fueled dives and spins, she needed the wind roaring against her ears, she needed the crowds of adoring fans. She needed to be a Wonderbolt, to be a part of the greatness she had dreamed of as a filly.
So Fluttershy had told the worst, most important lie of her entire life, had told Rainbow Dash that she didn’t need her anymore, didn’t want her anymore, didn’t love her anymore. And now she read the papers and looked at the billboards and occasionally asked to see the letters Rainbow sent Pinkie, when she was feeling brave enough. Because Rainbow Dash had a new life, and Fluttershy no longer had any place in it, with nopony but herself to blame.
2397482 It's good to hear that your finger and Sahna are both doing better, and for what it's worth, I don't think She looks that creepy at all. Mind you, most of the cats I have contact with have motor control dysfunctions and therefore are all shaky and drunken, but she looks really sweet from here, even if she's a bit of an Opalescence from the sound of it.
Je t'aime aussi, cherie!
Does this connect to that one story you wrote earlier? Where Fluttershy had made the deal with the changling queen, to break Dash's heart? Or do you just really like using that story idea? Either way, it was nice to see it expanded upon. To see what Dash chose to do in the end. Though I feel so bad for them. Both want the best for the other, and both had to make sacrifices. It is an aspect of the Flutterdash pairing that I find intriguing.
Also....I finally caught up on all your stories. Yaaaay me!
2399408 it is an expansion of the story that involves Chrysalis, since that's the one I'm working on bringing out to full length at some point. I just didn't want to go through the effort of actually tying it into the other one, but they are very much one an the same. It's been so long since I've had interconnected stories that I guess I forgot to tag this one as such. I'll fix it tomorrow...
2399384 ...and once again I forget about Spike. Welp.
I mean, what? Obviously Rarity was in no fit state to remember a walking pin-cushion, or if she did she'd pass it off as a hallucination this really isn't helping at all.
Either Spike has moved on to the other fish in the ocean (anyone but Twilight) or Rarity is worse off than I previously thought. Forgetful author is forgetful, I guess.
2399348
If it makes you feel better, I'm pretty much in the same situation. Life is just too chaotic - the non Discord variety- and I just don't have the time to fully explore story ideas. And it can be frustrating when you have ideas that could make for a great multi chaptered story, but don't have the time to do more than poke at them.
But if it means anything...the stuff you do pump out is delightful. And I'm glad you do them. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds them picking up their day. And things won't always be so busy. Keep on trucking, and I'm sure a well deserved break is coming your way.
2399451 I'm glad I'm doing them as well, considering they keep me away from actual insanity many days. After this week in particular things will be dying down, but from tonight till saturday I'll be doing various music things daily until at least 1am. (yay me!)
Anyhow, I'm glad I can make you crack a grin or two with these, it means I'm doing my job right.
Lost to the Sky:
Yeah, it's a good point though, with shipping these two. Still, I teared up a bit at 'she loved the sky more'. Clashes up against my Disney-childhood ideal of love conquers all, and hits me right in the adult ideal of 'relationships explode more than cheap firecrackers'.
2400800 the worst part of this one for me (in a way) was how Rainbow didn't actually have any say in the whole thing. Because she was ready to make anything work before Fluttershy sacrificed both their happiness for Dash's dream. It's totally something Fluttershy would do, and it's totally not fair to anyone involved, but since Fluttershy puts everyone else above her own happiness, it was kinda bound to happen...
And I get what you mean about the Disney thing. I haven't believed in the Disney love since freshman year of college...