When it comes to Flight School, Rainbow Dash is pretty careless. It's not that she isn't a good flier, but sometimes her recklessness can get in the way of what she is truly capable of, however, Rainbow Dash isn't the only one with fly
If I love her no matter what....then what does that make me?
Rainbow Dash isn't the kind of filly to take her time during anything. Flying especially is a task that Rainbow isn't slow at; however, Rainbow Dash is very reckless and everypony except her knows it. When she starts her first year of Flying School, she isn't prepared for what is to follow. Rainbow Dash finds that even with her love for flying, there will always be troubles constantly taunting her everywhere she goes....literally taunting her. When Rainbow Dash finds that all of her classmates attention has been brought upon her, she discovers that Flight School isn't what she thought it would be. Now she has to find a way to escape her biggest fear, or so it seems...
I am truly afraid. That is of course what Rainbow Dash was thinking at that particular moment as she walked side by side with her father. Her little hooves were taking her along the cloud walkway as slowly as they could possibly go. Of course on the outside, Rainbow Dash was standing perfectly tall and proud. Her chest was arched upward slightly and her eyes were staring forward with a cunning glimmer. She was what seemed to be a very ready filly, however, things aren't always as they seem.
On the inside that is, Rainbow Dash was terrified. Her knees were shaking. Her mind was spinning, and her stomach felt a bit off every since she left her home this morning to head in the new direction life was taking her.
Rainbow let her large pink eyes take in a quick gaze at her tall father beside her. She took in his strong arms and his large wings and his muscular stature. She knew that this would be the last time she would be able to get this close to him for a long time. This would be the departure of the one she had been so close to for all of her life. Her dad. Her father.
She turned back to the road in front of her. She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready for this at all. Yesterday, she thought she was. She could hardly go to sleep because of the excitement she was feeling, but now that the day had finally came, she wasn't sure if she wanted to go down this path or not. She didn't know if she would be able to leave her fathers warm side and go out on her own into this new world that she knew nothing about.
Even though she was probably not ready, she knew that there was no turning back, and now was the time for her to begin her new life.
"This is it."
Rainbow Dash looked over to her father who had now stopped in his tracks. Straight before them was their destination. Before them was now Rainbow Dash's new home. Before her very eyes was Flight School.
Rainbow Dash felt like cowering down below her fathers strong legs and large hooves. She wanted to hide behind his wings and go back home upon his back, but it was too late to go home now. Rainbow knew that this was now the place she would be staying. This was home.
"I....I'm not sure if...."
"Don't worry, Dash. You have waited all of your young life to get to this point, and now you finally have. Don't let it scare you now. You haven't given it a chance yet." Rainbow's father seemed to know what he was talking about. He leaned his head toward his little filly and gave her a warm nuzzle upon her cheek.
Rainbow quickly looked around to make sure that nopony had seen that small affection from her father. She didn't want to be labeled a softy on her first day of Flight School. She didn't need anypony thinking she was some sort of wimp. Rainbow Dash was the best flyer there was and she was definitely not going to be caught having a loving moment with her dad.
The little filly squirmed out of her fathers nuzzle and brushed herself off quickly before anypony noticed. There were of course fillies and colts flying and running around her. Parents were talking with teachers and seeing their kids off, but nopony seemed to be paying Rainbow Dash any mind at the moment, and that was of course a relief to the rainbow filly.
Rainbow Dash took a few steps closer to the gates that were separating her from her present self and the world that she would soon have to learn. She heard her father walk up behind her and she felt a comforting wing lay upon her back.
"It is said that we have a good line of fliers in our family history. Great fliers to be exact. If it is greatness that you want, I will not doubt it for a moment that you will receive it, but if it is something else that you want, then it is of course up to you." Rainbow's father looked off beyond the school into the clouds that were sitting above Cloudsdale. His eyes were watery as if he were going to cry.
"I do want greatness." Rainbow turned from her father and looked towards the schoolyard.
"Then you will have greatness."
Rainbow turned her eyes to her hooves below her. Of course she wanted to be great, but she wasn't sure if she could be. Not now. Her courage was running thin, and as soon as she would be on her own, she knew it would vanish completely.
"Is there something that is bothering you?"
Rainbow didn't want to answer that because if she did then she would have to tell him the truth. Something was bothering her, but she didn't want to admit to it but she surly didn't want to lie about it either.
She took a moment to think of a way to answer her father without telling him the truth, but also without lying to him as well.
"I'm just not sure if I will be able to live up to your expectations."
Rainbow's father seemed to be a bit stumped by her words. Those were very large words coming from such a young filly. At her age, you wouldn't think that she would even be worried about something like that, and of course, she wasn't. She knew that she would be able to live up to her fathers expectations, because he didn't care whether or not she was going to be a flyer or not, all he cared was that she was happy with herself. She knew that for a fact.
"Don't worry yourself about something like that. You are you no matter what, and I will love you all the same."
Those words stuck to Rainbow Dash even after she found herself all alone in the Flight School that she had thought to be so excited about.
Her father had left just moments ago and now the rainbow filly that had so much pride in herself was cowering down as she walked the large halls of Cloudsdale's most prestige Flight School. She was lugging behind her two medium sized suit cases and on top of that was a jersey her father had given her years ago that he had gotten from a Wonderbolts race years before she was born.
Her eyes looked all around her as she saw other fillies and colts doing the same thing. Carrying luggage and making themselves at home in their new rooms that they would be sharing with another pegasus that they had only just met.
Rainbow could see all around that most of the ponies were excited about finding out who their roommate was going to be. She could see friends talking and laughing. Fillies and colts unpacking and greeting each other for the first time. She could see that most of the ponies around her were having a good time. They were all excited and happy just like she had been yesterday. But why now did her excitement and happiness have to leave? Now that she was here, she had nothing to look forward to. She was just....scared.
"Hey!!"
Rainbow Dash turned around quickly. A tiny orange pegasus was waving her little arm in the air in Rainbow's direction. Rainbow Dash could feel herself smile a bit. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she would be making new friends quickly and she would fit right in.
She slowly stopped and raised her own hoof in the air in the fillies direction.
"He--"
The cyan filly was quickly cut off my another pegasus that was making her way towards the orange filly that Rainbow had thought was trying to talk to her. She quickly threw her hoof down and turned away from the two fillies in embarrassment. She turned her eyes to the floor before her and started back in the direction of her room.
Room 13.....Room 13.....
Rainbow Dash looked all around for her room number. There was room 10....room 11.....room 12.....Her head rose up at the door next to room 12. She saw the number 13 carved into the golden plate that was resting on the door frame. For the first time since she got here, Rainbow Dash felt relief. Now she could finally get unpacked and maybe, just maybe she would be able to make friends with her new roommate....
Her heart stopped at that thought. Roommate.....Roommate.....
She had almost forgotten that she would be sharing her room with some pony that she had never even met before. Rainbow wasn't really good at being friendly or social, so how in the world of Equestria would she be able to sleep in the same room as some unknown filly?!
She tried to calm herself as she turned back to the door. Her back was getting tired of carrying the suit cases behind her and she knew that she couldn't stand out here forever. She knew that she would have to soon walk in through that door and meet somepony that she would have to live with from now on. She would have to get over the fact that she was socially awkward and she would have to make herself comfortable around this filly. There was no turning back....no turning back....
Rainbow took in a deep breath and without another hesitation, opened the door of room 13 and walked inside. Rainbow looked around at the somewhat cramped room. There wasn't really a lot of space and it was definitely not as big as her old room at her real home.
There were two beds; one on one side of the room and one on the other. There was only a small space between them that was wide enough to walk through but that was really it. No two ponies could walk side by side through the space, that was how small the room truly was. Between the two beds on the back wall was one single desk. A small lamp was sitting upon it and a sheet of paper with the campus rules was tacked onto the wall behind it. There was no windows in the room. Rainbow had noticed on her way through the hallway that some rooms had windows, and some rooms didn't. She was trying to figure out how that was fair at all, but she couldn't do anything about it.
She looked at the two beds. The were both pretty much the same. There was one white pillow on each and a sheet and a blanket. They seemed comfortable enough to sleep on, but they weren't at all big, but of course, they were just fillies after all.
She turned to the two as she decided which one she would want to sleep on for the rest of her time here. She knew she better choose wisely before her roommate came. She was lucky that she would be getting first dibs. Even though they were both practically the same bed, Rainbow felt her attention was drawn to the bed on the left side of the room more. With that decision, she took her bags and threw them on top of her new bed.
I wonder where my roommate is....
She turned to her bags with that thought and began to unpack. It was going to be a long day tomorrow and the sooner she got to sleep....the better.
---
A small light peaked it's way through Rainbow's tightly closed eyelids. She turned over on her stomach and buried her face inside of the white fluffy pillow that she was still trying to get used to. She could feel a shiver down her legs as she turned over once again. The room around her had an unfamiliar smell to it and she wasn't sure if she liked it or not. All she knew was that she wasn't use to it.
She grunted as she slowly opened her sleepy eyes to the dark room around her. There was one streak of light coming from under the doorway. This was the only way that Rainbow was able to tell that it was morning time and she needed to get up, but what time was it exactly.
With her eyes halfway open, Rainbow got up out of her bed and made her way slowly to the door. She opened her eyes back up once she approached the closed door and she slowly opened it. Silence.
Rainbow's eyes shot open quickly as she noticed the unusual silence that was coming from outside of her room. She ran out quickly to see that every door was open in the hallway. She peaked into room 12 to see that it was empty and the beds were neatly made. She peaked into room 11 as well to see the same sight. Nopony was in this building, and that only meant that.....she was late!!
Rainbow found herself quickly running back to her room to get her school bag. She fumbled through all of her unpacked things on her side of the room and she quickly found her bags laying down. She grabbed them and turned around swiftly. Her intentions were to rush outside as quickly as she could, but something stopped her.
The second bed in her room was neatly made as well just like it was yesterday, except this time there were someponies belongings unpacked on that side of the room now. Somepony had moved in last night while she was asleep. They even went to class this morning without even bothering to wake her up!!
Her anger built up inside of her chest now. This roommate of hers was going to be nothing but trouble and she knew it. Whenever she meets her, she is going to give her a piece of her mind. Rainbow huffed at the thought of it and without another thought, rushed out her door and into the direction of the classroom hall.
She let her wings take her, it was quicker that way anyways.
Rainbow was zooming through the hallway now. She looked around at each of the classroom doors. She wasn't exactly sure which one was hers. She tried to think hard at the room that was on her orientation papers. Classroom.....5....no.....Classroom 6! Yes 6! That was the one!
Rainbow looked around frantically now for the number 6. She turned her head in all directions. Her eyes darted from door to door until she finally spotted Classroom 6 to her right. She quickly head towards the door and right as she flew towards it, the door quickly opened sending her straight through the doorway and quickly crashing into the wall on the opposite end.
Her head smashed into the wall and she tumble back wards onto her wings causing a pain to shoot through her whole body. Her wings were hurting, but she was more afraid of what was to come once she opened her eyes.
Fillies and colts were all staring at her with large eyes. The one that had opened the door appeared to be the teacher and she was just as shocked as Rainbow Dash's classmates.
"Rainbow....Dash?" The teacher looked down at a clipboard that was in her hooves. Rainbow sensed that she was probably on her way to go find her and see why she wasn't in the class.
The teacher slowly walked forwards and closed the door slowly behind her. She set the clipboard on her desk and made her way over to the tumbled filly.
The teacher had a small smile on her face. It was almost enough to make Rainbow feel more comfortable. It was the first real smile she had received upon her arrival here at Flight School.
"Yes--"
"More like Rainbow Crash!!!" A loud burst came shooting through the students and before Rainbow could even see who it was, everypony around her started to burst out into laughter.
Rainbow Dash's large pink eyes turned to her classmates. All of them were laughing at her. Their hooves were pointed at her and some were even holding their stomachs they were laughing so hard. Rainbow Dash quickly turned to the smiling face of the teacher that had now vanished as well. Rainbow could see that even the teacher was trying to hold back giggles. How could this be happening?!?
Rainbow Dash had never felt so humiliated in her whole entire life. She was suppose to be great. She was suppose to be the one running the show around here, so how is she the one toppled over like a fool for everypony around her to gawk and laugh at? That's not how it is suppose to be at all!!
"Maybe you should take a seat..." The teacher managed to let out to the filly who was looking around in complete despair.
Rainbow quickly turned to her and with a slow nod got up and found that there was an empty seat waiting for her near the back of the class. As she walked down to it in shame, the laughing seemed to have died down. Maybe it was just a small thing and nopony would remember it. Maybe there were laughing with her...not at her.
She felt her confidence build up again. She let her head rise up from the shamefulness she felt and she trotted to her seat with much more pride now that the laughing stopped. It was as if everypony forgot about it all ready.
Rainbow could hear that the teacher was now starting her lesson at the front of the class and everypony seemed to be listening to her now and not paying Rainbow Dash any mind. She made her way to her seat and sat down. She placed her saddle bags next to her on the ground and looked up at the teacher with interest.
Maybe Flight School wasn't going to be so bad after all. Maybe the first couple of days would be a bit rough, but it would get better from here on out. Sure, she had a few problems at first, but maybe now it would just be smooth sailing from here on out!
Rainbow placed her attention to the lesson that was being taught. School wasn't as bad as she was making it out to be....
"Pssst..."
Rainbow's ear flicked. It seemed like somepony behind her was trying to whisper with their friends or something. She wrinkled her nose a bit, but then focused back at the front of the classroom.
"Pssssssssst...."
Rainbow was now beginning to become irritated. Someponies were trying to learn after all.
"Pssssssssssssssssssst!"
Rainbow quickly jerked her head around to see who was making all the fuss behind her. Her eyes turned to a colt that was seated directly behind her. He was a light orange-brown and his mane was a dark chocolate color. Her pink eyes met with his green ones.
She narrowed her eyes as she was about to tell him to shut up, but he first slipped a small sheet of paper in her direction. He gave her a smile and hoofed it to her.
She grabbed it and slowly turned around. She wasn't sure, but it seemed as if he were blushing.
She stuck out her tongue as she opened the note.
I think you are really cool and pretty. You fly really fast and I think you are the best. Will you go out with me? Pretty please....RAINBOW CRASH!!!
Rainbow quickly looked up and crumbled the paper. She could hear behind her that the colt and a few others were cackling.
"I bet she believed it..."
"She's probably disappointed now..."
Rainbow could feel her face burning up. She took the note and began to rip it up. She let the pieces fall on the ground without even giving one care.
Why were they acting this way towards her. Why was this happening. Why were they calling her that name!?
Rainbow's eyes were burning with anger. She could still hear their giggles and whispers behind her. They weren't even trying to be quiet about it. It was as if they wanted her to hear them.
All she could hear was the constant echoing of that name. That new name that they had given her.
From that very point on, the rest of the day was horrible as Rainbow predicted it would be. Everywhere she went everypony would cackle or call out to her mockingly. Some of them were ponies that weren't even in any of her classes! Apparently word got around fast here and for Rainbow this was not good, not good at all.
She struggled through the remaining part of the day. Dragging slowly behind everypony to her classes, and trying to stay hidden as possible between those times. Lunch was probably the worst of it though. There was no where for her to go, and when she finally found a nice place that was secluded from everypony else, others began to pile in on that table after her just so they could torture her even more.
The first day was not going well at all, however, she couldn't help but feel that soon enough, her problems would start to fade away. Soon everypony would eventually get bored with her and find something else to pick on, but Rainbow just wanted that day to come here as fast as possible, but for the time being, she would have to get by as much as she possibly could without completely loosing it.
It was only the first day. Maybe it was always like this at Flight School. Maybe the first day was always hell for certain newbies that stood out. That must be it. Rainbow Dash lifted her head from her classroom desk slightly. It must have been her mane! It stood out so much here that nopony would be able to miss her! That must be why she is the one that everypony seems to want to attack. Rainbow slowly let her head drop down again. She had finally figured it out. She stood out with all of her awesome glory, and a few ponies just got jealous. It wouldn't be the first time somepony envied Rainbow. She began to grin with content now.
As soon as somepony realizes they can't be like Rainbow Dash, they will leave her alone, and then everypony would follow. All she has to do now is just prove how impossible it is to be an equal with her!
She let her eyes slowly close as she laid her head back on top of her desk. Maybe school wouldn't suck so bad after all.
---
It was the best thing that had happened to Rainbow Dash all day...classes were over for the day. When she heard those words, and they were all dismissed, Rainbow excitedly jumped up and jolted out of the room before any of her classmates. She knew it probably wasn't a good idea to do that considering she was already their main target, but still, she was just so happy!
Rainbow pranced through the hall as she made her way back to the dorm hallways. She had her head up high. Since she knew it was jealousy that was making everypony hate her, she might as well prove to them that no matter how awesome she was, they couldn't hate her forever. Soon, they would want to be her friend so they could be cool like her.
Rainbow snickered at her own thoughts. Nopony would be able to be cool like Rainbow. Nopony.
She slowly turned the corner. Her legs were still prancing and her heart was skipping. She was right about everything. Flight School was only bad for a little while, but now, she already felt like she was the one running the show around here.
With a smile she closed her eyes. She knew everything would turn out perfectly fine! She was destined for greatness after all!
She slowly opened her eyes back up. At first, she was a bit scared by what she saw, but then she remembered....it was her that was running this place. She was the boss now!
She stopped in her tracks by the colt who was standing straight in front of her path way.
"Um, excuse me. You're blocking my way!" Rainbow snarled with a tone of somepony in charge. She lifted her head high with her pride and looked down at the three ponies that were now standing before her.
The orange-brown colt grinned as his buddies next to him began to snicker together. None of them moved like Rainbow had ordered. She turned her ears down a bit, but she still tried to keep her head up high. She wasn't going to let them get the best of her, not anymore!
"Well, well, well....it looks like somepony doesn't know her place yet." The colt turned his head to a brown pony beside him.
Rainbow took a step back. For some reason all of her pride was starting to evaporate with every word they said to her. She wasn't able to tell herself anything right now. She wasn't able to reassure herself that she was the better one here. She couldn't think of anything except how terrified she was starting to feel again.
"I....just...want to get to my room." Rainbow was hesitant to say, but she was able to choke it out somehow.
"Ya here that? Rainbow Crash wants to get to her room!" The brown colts voice rung low as the trio began to slowly get closer to the filly.
"I don't think that's going to happen."
Rainbow was trying to walk backwards now as they approached her closer than her comfort zone. Her mind was turning and spinning in thousands of directions. What were they going to do to her?!
Her heart dropped as she felt a solid wall behind her. She looked around, but now she was cornered, and there was no way out. Two were standing by her sides and one was standing straight in front of her. Rainbow could feel herself slouching down the wall now. She had no more courage.
"Scaredy pony! Can't take it can you?" The colt got all in Rainbow's face. She could almost smell his disgusting breath lingering in her nostrils.
She searched her mind for something. She needed to do something. She had to do something!
Without thinking Rainbow spat in his face. It only took a few seconds for her to feel the consequences.
He lunged at her with his hoof. She felt the contact immediately on her nose and her head jerked back suddenly. She clenched her eyes shut as she felt it repeat. He was now continuously pounding her with his hooves while the others were kicking at her sides. She curled up on the ground and covered her face. There was nothing she could do, but lay here and take it. She couldn't even cry. She just laid there, did nothing, said nothing. The only emotion that Rainbow could feel right now....was pure anger.
Not even fear was inside of her body now. All she could feel was the anger inside of her, burning up in her chest as they continued to beat on her.
Rainbow could feel blood trickling from her face now. She wasn't even sure where it was coming from, but she tasted it as it ran across her lips.
This was it. This was all she could take. She couldn't continue to lay here anymore. She had had enough!
Rainbow opened her eyes quickly. She jumped up as she readied herself to attack back, but before she could even look them in the eye, the orange colt fell over and began to scream in pain.
The other two looked at Rainbow Dash in fear now. They quickly ran away from her and left their friend on the ground as he still cried out in agony.
Rainbow didn't do this. She didn't even know what happened to him. She had not touched him let alone put him in this kind of pain. This wasn't her doing!
She looked back down to the colt. His eyes met hers. Tears were running down his face as he cried out for help now.
She knew that she didn't do this to him even though they all thought she did, but....she couldn't help but feel good. He was crying, screaming, in pain, right before her very eyes. All she could do was tower above him with a deranged smile on her broken and bloody face.
The colt flinched as she grinned back at him. Her smile was getting wider and wider with every scream, every cry for somepony to rescue him. Rainbow never wanted to leave this spot at this moment in time. She had never felt so good all day. This was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
"Can't take it can you?"
Even though Rainbow knew she had nothing to do with his pain, she couldn't help but continue to let him believe that she did.
With one kick to the side, the colt squealed louder. Her smile only grew.
"Tell anypony that I was here, and I will make sure this won't be the last time you hurt." Rainbow smiled at the colt with evil eyes, and with one nod of the colts head, Rainbow dashed off for her room.
Her priorities had to be set straight. She was here at Flight School after all to learn. That was first. Getting caught with that screaming colt like that, was not in her best interest if she wanted to stay here another moment. Rainbow needed to make sure that nopony ever found out that she was involved, if they did, they would all assume that she started it and she was the one that put him in that kind of pain. They would never believe her side of the story. Even...she didn't really believe it.
As Rainbow finally turned on the dorm hallway, she slowed down her pace and tried to cover her face just in case somepony was around. She knew that she probably look horrible right now, and for somepony to see her like this would not be good.
Rainbow kept low as she slowly walked down the hallway.
Her mind wondered back again to that very moment when he had fell over. What had caused that anyways? If it wasn't her, then what else could have sent him into that kind of pain? There was nothing, or nopony around to have done that to him, so....how......?
Rainbow slowly came closer to her room. She turned to the door and opened it as quietly as possible and slipped in before anypony could notice. She didn't need anypony knowing which room was hers just in case they decided to give her a visit. She needed to keep a low profile right now, and having ponies knocking on her door would not really be good for her and her education.
Rainbow turned to her side of the room. It was so dark and lonely in here. She sat down and looked over to the other side that was making this room so empty.
Her roommate still hadn't showed up. Maybe Rainbow wasn't going to be getting one now. Maybe they heard who they were rooming with so they decided to sneak into their friends room instead. Rainbow sighed in disappointment. That was really her only chance at making a friend here, and now...her chance was gone.
The little pegasus turned away from the empty space and began to situate herself under the covers on her cold, solid bed. She hadn't noticed how depressing it was in here until this very moment.
Her smile from her earlier excitement had now faded away, and now that she was able to think clearly, there was really nothing to smile about in the first place.
She had just gotten mauled by a bunch of brutish colts and one of them fell over in sudden agony that was still left a mystery. Sure, she knew he did deserve it, but why was she smiling so much about it?
Memories from that previous event were running through her mind. She remembered how she towered above him while he screamed. His eyes were blood-shot and his face was completely terrified. He was afraid of Rainbow Dash. His squeals were piercing and crude, yet she towered above him and smiled. When she thought about it, she probably look completely and totally evil, especially to that colt. At that moment when it was all happening, that was a good thing. Rainbow wanted him to be terrified of her, but now....was it really....good at all?
No....
This incident was definitely bad for her future here at Flight School.
Rainbow Dash looked up to the dark ceiling. She could barely make it out because of how dark her room was, but she was able to see enough of it.
What would tomorrow be like for her? Would it be better? Would it be worse?
Either way, Rainbow Dash knew that this afternoons accident would affect what will be happening later. Whether that be a good thing or a bad thing, Rainbow had to let time tell as she slowly closed her eyes and tried to drift off to sleep. She couldn't let this worry her too much when she wasn't even sure about what was to come. Maybe this would end up good for her after all. Maybe....this really was the best thing that would ever happen to her......
Except the fact that......it wasn't.......
---
Rainbow quivered as a noise rung through her ears. She tossed over onto her other side and hid herself under her pillow. It helped slightly, but she could still hear the echoing sound that was running through her room. She slowly turned onto her back and lifted the pillow from her face.
She tried to open her tired eyes, but they were too heavy to lift. She brought her hooves to her face and began to rub on her pink eyes in an attempt to wake them up a little bit, enough to open them.
She set her hooves down and then began to groggily open them once more. This time, she was met with the familiar darkness of her familiar room.
She lay there for a few more moments as she tried to remember why she had waken in the first place. She could feel that her body was aching all over and she felt as if ever bone in her little body was broken or bruised.
Rainbow groaned a bit as she tried to move her muscles. She was unable to even move an inch without feeling the affects from yesterdays incident. Rainbow gave up with moving and let her body relax again. This time, her ear twitched, and she finally remembered why she was awake in the first place.
She turned her head slightly to the empty side of the room. The noise was still rattling. It sounded as if something was trying to quietly look through some sort of box or something.
Rainbow tried to strain her eyes in the darkness a bit more to see better. It was no use. The room had no windows after all, and there still wasn't any light from under the door. It must be either really late at night, or really early in the morning. Rainbow needed her sleep and she couldn't get that sleep if that noise wouldn't stop. Did she have rats in here or something?!
Rainbow tried to move onto her side. It took her a few moments, but she was able to as she tried to better her vision. She was now able to see the outline of the empty bed on the empty side of the room.
The noise continued.
Rainbow tried to move her head closer off the side of the bed when her own bed creaked under her weight and sent a loud screech throughout the room.
The noise stopped.
Rainbow found this to be a bit odd. Did her bed scare the rat?
She stayed still without making another noise of herself.
The noise began again.
Rainbow was starting to get a bit worried now. Whatever it was making that sound, it wasn't a rat. She knew it couldn't be a rat. It was too loud and noisy to be a rat, but it also was quiet at the same time as if it were trying to not wake Rainbow Dash. Whatever it was, it had to know what it was doing....and it wanted to be secret about it.
Rainbow Dash let her eyes sink as her heart began to pound. This was totally not cool. Somepony was in her room! It definitely had to be a pony! But what in the world of Equestria were they doing in here this late, or early?!
Rainbow felt herself stiffen as the noise continued to ring through her ears. What was she going to do?! Should she...say something?!
She cleared her throat softly as if to get the ponies attention, but it was too soft to be heard. Rainbow Dash gulped down hard now. It was either she say something, or this would continue all night long until morning time. She couldn't have that....she needed to sleep, but she couldn't sleep knowing somepony un-welcomed was here!
Her heart picked up speed as she tried to gain courage to speak.
"H--Hello??" Rainbow could hear her own voice shaking as she spoke out. She was quiet, yet she was apparently loud enough to be heard by the mysterious pony.
The noise now stopped completely. Rainbow was left in complete silence.
"Hello!?" Rainbow could feel herself becoming much braver now. Who ever was here, they didn't want to be caught, but they already were.
Rainbow could fell herself getting up from her bed. She stood in front of it as she walked closer to the empty side of the room. She could feel her heart pounding against her chest, but at the same time, she no longer felt afraid.
"Who's there?!" Rainbow's voice got louder as she got closer to the intruder.
She lifted her head a bit to see over the empty bed. She could see that there was a tiny space between the bed and the wall. It was big enough for somepony to fit behind, at least somepony small like her. There was definitely somepony behind there and Rainbow was determined now to find out.
"Come out. I already know you're there!" Rainbow stood over the bed of her non-existing roommate. She could feel herself becoming encouraged now. She knew she was higher and mightier than anypony at this place. Nothing could intrude into her room and get away with it! Nothing!
Rainbow could hear the noise slowly start back up again. This pony was completely stupid. They were already caught, so why continue this?!
"That's it! I have had enough!" Rainbow felt herself lunge forward onto the bed and look down between the space. She was expecting to see a little colt or filly, but all she saw was the empty space. Nopony was there. No box or anything for that matter that could have made that noise. Was she just hearing things? Was it just the air duct?!
Rainbow felt her heart slow down now. She couldn't believe she had been so foolish. She let a small smile fade across her face as she laughed at her own stupidity. Of course nopony was there. It was all just her imagination or something. She was being too paranoid.
The filly lowered herself from the bed with her wings and began to turn around so she could return to her own bed for the remainder of the night, but instead of her bed before her eyes, a little filly stood there in front of her.
Rainbow could nearly feel herself falling backwards in disbelief. Her heart was racing as she looked into the fillies eyes. She had never seen a filly so terrifying before.
She had deep dark aqua eyes that seemed to go on forever. Dark circles hung under them as her mane fell over most of her face, creating a black shadow over her. Rainbow couldn't really tell because of the darkness of the room, but she seemed to be yellow coated. Creamy almost. She had no cutie mark just like her, and of course, she was a pegasus herself.
This filly was terrifying, but at the same time, Rainbow couldn't help but think that she was also very attractive. She just had this look about her that kept Rainbow from looking away, but it was mostly the deep, sad look that was plastered upon her dark, shadowy face.
Rainbow noticed that she was much taller than her. The fillies legs were long and slender. She didn't even look like she was the same age, actually, she looked much...much older than Rainbow. Why was an older filly here in her room like this?!
"H-hello.....?" Rainbow tried to make out, but her voice cracked. She hadn't really realized how afraid she was until that moment.
The filly said nothing. She didn't move. She just stared back at Rainbow Dash with the saddest, most depressing look that Rainbow had ever witnessed in her life. The filly almost looked as if she had just seen some traumatic accident that had stunned her into this state.
"A-are....you okay....?" Rainbow was now starting to feel less afraid, and more pity than anything. Maybe this filly was just confused and scared, just like Rainbow was yesterday.
The cyan pegasus got up from where she lay and began to slowly move towards the yellow filly before her. She could see that the pegasus slowly backed up in fear.
"No...don't....it's okay....nothings going to happen....." Rainbow felt like she was talking to a foal. She wasn't sure why she was acting this way towards this filly that she had never once before seen in her life. She was treating this filly better than she had ever treated her own family. What was happening? Did she really feel this bad for her, or was something else happening?
"I......."
Rainbow could barely make out that the filly had even tried to speak, however, she could hear a small tiny voice escaping her pale lips.
"I.....I....live here....." The yellow filly backed away shyly and lowered her dark eyes from Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow couldn't believe what she just heard....was this really....her roommate.....?
"You....you do? Well....so do I." Rainbow felt herself smile a bit. She hadn't been this happy since she first arrived here. Was it just that she had just learned that she really did have a roommate after all, or was it the fact that it was this certain filly....?
Silence....
"Why didn't you come yesterday?" Rainbow tried to make small talk as she wanted to get a little closer to her new friend. She needed to be able to get along with this filly considering she would be living with her.
"I.....I did....."
"But, I didn't see you. I went to sleep and woke up and you were never there." Rainbow was starting to feel a bit confused by this filly. There was something odd about her, but she just couldn't place it.
"I was there....just not when you were awake...."
Rainbow stopped for a moment. This was getting a bit.....creepy.....
"W-what do you mean?" Rainbow tried to chuckle a bit, but she only let out a dry cough.
"Well....I was ....afraid to meet you so....I waited until you were asleep to come....and then I got up before you did in the morning and left for my classes...."
Rainbow stopped once again to think things through. So this pony wasn't really creepy, she was just....really shy! That was it! This whole situation wasn't creepy it was just.....awkward!
"Oh! Well you don't have to be afraid of me. I won't bite." Rainbow smiled at the filly who only looked away from her eyes.
Rainbow paused and then leaned out one hoof.
"I'm Rainbow Dash! But everypony already seems....to know that...." Rainbow lowered her hoof as her thoughts began to run through again. Maybe this pony was just messing with her and she really was one of those bullies. She was probably just here to pick on her and then tell her friends about everything Rainbow did.
"Oh...you must be popular....I'm...."
"What is that suppose to mean?!" Rainbow could feel herself becoming offensive now.
"I...just...thought....maybe....."
"You just thought what? Huh?! Well, you can go tell your friends that your plan is already over! I ain't fallin' for that!" Rainbow growled as she approached the filly who was now crouching lower onto the floor.
"I....wh-what...."
"You can quit the act!" Rainbow pushed her muzzle against the filly who was now on the floor with her hooves over her head.
Rainbow was't really sure what it was, but something seemed to have suddenly snapped her back to reality. She was now starting to notice, that this fillies actions were beginning to seem more and more sincere. This wasn't an act after all! This was really an awkwardly shy pony that was Rainbow's new roommate, and she was scaring her half to death!
Rainbow backed away quickly. What was she doing?! She really was starting to become paranoid!
"I....I'm so sorry! I just...had a bad first day and....well....I just thought...."
"I-it's okay.....I already know...."
Rainbow stopped and then lowered her eyes.
"Of course you do....everypony does."
"I....am so sorry.....about it.....about it all...."
"Yeah....me too..."
Rainbow's name was completely ruined. Everypony, even this shy filly knew about her other name. She was probably already a complete laughing stock.
"Well....I guess you know who I am so i really don't have to introduce myself anymore." Rainbow walked back over to her bed as she passed the yellow pegasus that was standing in the middle of the room. Her face still looked sad.
"Oh....well....Rainbow Dash....I am Fluttershy...." The filly looked over to the pegasus who was already covering herself back up inside of her bed sheets.
"What was that?" Rainbow lifted her head from under her covers.
"Fluttershy...."
"Oh....Fluttershy....." Rainbow looked over into the eyes of the filly. She noticed something different now. Her face was still sad and depressing, but....she was smiling.
"Fluttershy....." Rainbow repeated much softer this time.
The filly was still smiling, but her eyes were heavy and weary.
"Well....good night Fluttershy." Rainbow turned from the pegasus and covered her face.
"Good night.....Rainbow Dash....."
Rainbow held her blankets over her face as she heard the pegasus walk over to her own bed and get inside.
The rainbow filly felt her heart was still pounding inside of her chest. Something....felt wrong.....something wasn't right.....but at the same time.....Rainbow Dash found herself repeating that name over and over inside of her head until she finally fell back to sleep.
The feeling of waking up in the morning is never a good feeling, but it's even worse when you feel like you just fell from the highest cloud and slammed into the ground. Rainbow...felt this way exactly.
She tried to move, but she was definitely feeling the effects of yesterday kick in to the max. Her body was so stiff that she could barely lift her head a bit so she could look around her depressing room.
It was only instinct that she look over to the other bed in the room first. It was what she waited to do all night long. She even dreamed of the little filly that she had met just last night, but as her bright eyes shined over to the other side of the room, Rainbow found herself not pleased with what she was seeing.
Rainbow Dash let her head fall back down as she realized that the filly from last night....Fluttershy....was not in her bed. Was she still too shy to stick around long enough for Rainbow Dash to wake up, or.....was.....she not even real at all...
Rainbow still questioned whether or not she had really met that filly last night. It seemed so dreamlike, and now that she wasn't even there to prove that it was real, it made Rainbow feel even more like her mind really had just made it all up. It was all just a dream, well that's what it seemed like at the moment, but when it was all happening...it felt so real.
The pegasus tried to lift her body again, but to no avail. She just couldn't move. Her arms and legs were bruised completely, and she could feel dried blood stuck to her face making it hard for her mouth to move.
She rolled over on her side, and struggled to inch herself closer to the edge so she could try to let her legs hit the ground. Supposedly, she got too close to the edge for she tumbled out of bed only to feel more aches and pains sting through her entire body as she rubbed the back of her head with her free hoof.
Rainbow tried to crawl up from her fallen position. She finally managed to stand up straight long enough for her to scrape the blood off of her face and slowly limp towards the empty bed in the room.
She placed her hooves on the bed to balance herself, but she also did it so she could see if maybe there was still body heat on it from Fluttershy. Rainbow was determined to prove that she had really met that filly. She was determined to prove that she was existent.
She sat on the bed and dug her face into the mattress. She felt no heat that wasn't hers and it merely smelled like the room itself. No particular scent that would have come off of that cute filly. Rainbow lifted her face from the bed and sulked as her eyes made their way to the clock in the room.
It was no surprise to her that it was already ten minutes past her class time. She wasn't even worried about it at the moment. She slowly picked herself up, grabbed her saddle bag, and made her way slowly, but surely out of the door and onward to her class that she knew would be hell.
---
Rainbow's tardy got her a warning that morning. If she were to get another...which she was sure that she would, she would have to do detention time, which Rainbow wasn't really intimidated by at all. If anything, it would get her away from all these ponies that she had to look at all throughout the day as they whispered and stared back with smirks that she just wished she could slap right off of their smug faces.
Rainbow sat in her seat as the teacher went on and on about how to keep your wings even when in flight. It was things that Rainbow already knew. She taught herself most of this stuff, and she didn't really care for knowing it again.
Class was really quiet for some odd reason this morning. It was as loud and annoying as it was yesterday, and none of the fillies or colts around her were tormenting her, actually, she hadn't even seen any of them looking at her since she stepped hoof in the room.
Rainbow had noticed that the orange-brown colt was here today. She knew good and well he probably broke something yesterday. He was probably crying in the nurses office right about now. She could almost taste the satisfaction of seeing that happen as she imagined it.
She had finally realized what the problem was all along. Nopony was messing with her now that he was out of the picture. He was the problem all along. Without him here, nopony even seemed to acknowledge Rainbow's existence, which surprisingly, she was glad about. Usually she liked being the center of attention, but things change...especially now that she saw what being the center got her around here.
Nopony seemed to have even noticed all the bruises on her. Not even the teacher had stopped to send her to the nurse. Maybe they didn't notice, or maybe they just didn't care, but whichever it was, Rainbow didn't mind. She just wanted the day to go by fast. There was only one thing on her mind, and it sure as hell wasn't flying with proportion.
---
Rainbow had regretted wishing for the day to go by quickly, because now it just wanted to drag along, second after slow second. She was only just now in her second class of the day and it seemed like the clock was going by as slow as it possibly could just to agonize her further.
Rainbow banged her head softly against her desk as her second block teach, with his monotone voice, spoke about the history of Cloudsdale. She felt like she was going to die if he opened his single toned mouth one more time and said how much pegasi were important to the Equestria nation.
Rainbow didn't care not one bit about that. She didn't really care about any of this stuff actually. The more she heard the teachers talk, the more she realized that she wished she wasn't here.
Rainbow sulked as she looked around the room at all the ponies. She saw to her surprise and interest eyes jolting away from her vision as she made eye contact with a few. She wasn't sure if it was just her being paranoid, or if these ponies really were staring her down and then looking quickly away whenever she caught them in the act. What was their problem?
It was different from before. They weren't whispering and snickering anymore. Now they looked more....worried than anything.
The rainbow pegasus found herself looking around more often only to find the same reaction each time. Little eyes jolted towards the ground and bodies shifted uncomfortably in their seats as Rainbow monitored the class slowly.
It was almost as if everypony knew about what had happened yesterday. It was almost as if they were....afraid of her.
Rainbow couldn't help but smile a bit at that thought. What would be the chances of her going from being bullied and hated, to being feared and respected. It would be nice, but for now, Rainbow wasn't going to start getting her pride up high just yet. It was already hurt from yesterday, and she thought maybe it needed to recover a bit before she brought it back into action.
Rainbow slowly let her head turn back to the clock that was hanging on the wall. To her surprise and happiness, there was only ten more minutes left of this class and then she would be off to her third class of the day. After that, there would only be lunch to deal with and then her last class, and finally she was home free.
The pegasus couldn't help but feel a little too excited. She was just waiting to get back to her room so she could see if Fluttershy had returned. She hoped that she wasn't going to come in late again like last night....
Rainbow smiled as she lowered her head onto her desk. It was such a nice meeting...odd, but nice. She would have never suspected a pony like that to be rooming with her, and quite frankly, she was happy about it. If nopony else, at least Fluttershy was kind enough to be her friend. It's better to have only one than none at all.
Rainbow felt her stomach curl as she thought more about her friend that would be waiting for her when she got back to her room. It would be her first official friend other than her dad. Rainbow smiled as the bell rung. Everypony else scurried out the door, but Rainbow was left with a daydreaming smile upon her face. It took her a moment, but she soon floated out of the door and on to her next class.
She walked leisurely down the hallway. She could definitely feel the stares now, and she could positively say that they were completely different than that of yesterday. Wherever she walked now, things would get quiet. No words would be mumbled, no breaths would be taken. Nopony made a single sound, and nopony moved a single muscle. All eyes were on Rainbow, and as she walked on, ponies would slowly back away. It was really as if everypony feared her. This would perhaps come in handy, but for now, Rainbow was just enjoying it while it lasted.
She grinned smugly at the ponies as she walked by coolly. Slowly, everypony backed away as she approached them. They surely had a different attitude towards her from yesterday, and Rainbow Dash liked it.
Maybe her scars and bruises were intimidating. Maybe she looked tough and scary. Maybe everypony just finally realized how awesome she was and now they were all awestruck with amazement and fear all at the same time. Rainbow just wanted to assure everypony that she was alright with this, and they could continue their days, but to keep in mind that she was always watching.
She would definitely rather be scary, than be bullied and kicked around like a doormat. That just wasn't her style. She was the kind of pony that others should look up to, and that is the way it seemed like it was going to be from here on out. At least...at the moment it did...
---
From that point on, the day flew by like Rainbow Dash did during flight. Fast.
Rainbow had spend the whole day being stared at. At first, of course, she felt good about it. She felt proud of herself for finally showing them whose boss, but after a while, it just started to get old and she could hardly stand it anymore. How was she suppose to live through Flight School with ponies always staring at her?
It was all that it seemed to be with ponies being scared of you all the time. It didn't take Rainbow long at all to see that, but now all she was worried about was getting to her room so she could finally get alone with her only real friend that was at this school.
Rainbow pranced through the halls as she was directing herself towards her room. She didn't think it was too far off now, and there didn't seem to be that many ponies around anymore so she could finally relax without feeling like somepony was breathing down her neck every time she appeared.
She let her muscles tense down as she slowed her pace to a more soothing trot. It was a nice few seconds of peace, but of course....it didn't last long.
Rainbow found herself in the middle of something she really didn't want to be in the middle of as she turned the corner...
She stopped dead in her tracks and her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. Something inside of her was burning now. It was a painful feeling like she had heartburn except it ached more than that. She could feel her body shivering now as if she were cold, but she wasn't really able to feel anything right now except the constant lunging that her stomach was doing as it flipped all around inside of her.
Her heart raced, and then....it stopped.
She wasn't sure how she felt about what she saw, but she knew it wasn't a good feeling. For some reason she felt so sad and uneasy as she watched Fluttershy kissing some unknown pony. Rainbow wasn't sure if she had ever seen that pony before or not. She wasn't really sure if she cared, but right now, she only felt pain deep inside of her gut.
As if it wasn't bad enough...Rainbow saw as a single eye from Fluttershy opened up and looked directly at her in Rainbow's pink wavering pupils. Her heart sunk even deeper if it was possible, and without another thought, or gesture, Rainbow flew out of sight and slammed the door behind her when she finally made it to her room.
The pegasus jumped on her bed and covered her head with her blankets that were on her bed. She tried to block out the visual that she had just witnessed, but she couldn't. It was inevitable and she couldn't stand it...but why....why did it bother her so much? Was it the fact that she had just bumped into a really awkward position, or was it something else?
Rainbow didn't want to know at that point. For some reason she felt the need to lock the door, but then that wouldn't be right...what if Fluttershy wanted to come in and she couldn't.....but for some reason....Rainbow felt like it was...necessary...
She jumped out of her bed and ran over to the door and without thinking anymore, locked it as quickly as she could. She didn't want to see Fluttershy's face ever again....
She slowly made her way back to her bed and tried to get comfortable under her covers. Rainbow closed her eyes and before she knew it...she was out like a light...
---
Rainbow's eyes shot open with shock as she heard the rat that had made it's way into her room the other night....making noise, running it's hooves through something that sounded like a box...quietly, but not quiet enough....
How?
That was all Rainbow could think.....
How did that rat get through the locked door?
Rainbow breathed heavily as she listened silently to Fluttershy who was now whispering something to herself in the darkness...at first Rainbow couldn't make it out, but as Fluttershy repeated it over and over, Rainbow finally picked it up....
"Clutzershy, oh Clutzershy....you did it again...."
Rainbow curled her body together as Fluttershy continued.
"You did it again, and again, and again...and now you are going to do it once more...."
Rainbow stopped breathing for a moment so she could hear better.
"But something is stopping you from continuing....it never takes you this long....what is it that is holding you back from your tradition...?"
Tradition? What tradition? Rainbow was starting to feel uneasy all over again...
"I can't do it this time....I can't..."
"Why...though....why?"
Rainbow was starting to get really scared....this pony surely was insane...she was out of her little filly mind!!!
"The reason I can't do it....and believe me it is true...."
The rainbow pegasus started to squirm in her bed. She needed to get out of here...she just couldn't stay in here with this nutcase any longer!
"It's because.....there is something different about her.....something different indeed...."
Rainbow stopped moving again....she had a feeling that Fluttershy was talking about her....to herself....that is....
"Something that is stopping me from killing her...."
Silence.
"Something that feels funny in my heart...."
Silence.
"You mean love Clutzershy?"
Silence.
"I do think it's something like that...."
Rainbow's eyes shot open wide....killing?.....different?.......love? How much more could she take of this? This was getting way too strange for her. It was like a completely different world from the day time....why was it so strange here at night...why was Fluttershy acting this way....??
"I think I love you."
Rainbow stopped breathing altogether now. She slowly turned her head to the other side of the room. She closed her eyes in fear, but she soon slowly began to open them up....
She saw two bright teal eyes staring back at her in the darkness.....Fluttershy knew she was awake now...in fact....she was directly speaking to her now.....!
"W-What?" Rainbow tried to make out. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to talk back or not, but it was too late....
Silence.
Fluttershy walked out from behind the shadows, fully revealing herself now to Rainbow who was slowly sitting up in her bed as if she were ready to defend herself.
"I said...I think I love you."
Rainbow nodded slowly as she tried to process this. What had just happened again? She was so confused...it was almost like this was some sort of dreamland that she was in.
"I will never hurt you like I have done all the rest. I will never touch you in a way of malice. But for those who stand in your way, and hurt you, I can not promise that they will not feel pain."
Rainbow wasn't sure what to think. She thought this pony was some shy, awkward nerd that nopony ever noticed, and now she was talking murder, and hurting. What was going on here?!
Rainbow moved back in her bed slowly.
"Please...don't fear me...." Fluttershy stepped back as well as if to show she was truthful about what she said.
"I...." Rainbow didn't know what to say...she....just wanted to go back to sleep!
"Let me love you." Fluttershy smiled with her sad eyes. Rainbow didn't know what to do or say. This filly was out of her mind. She was only waiting for her to say she was just playing around, but that never came....
"Please...sleep. Rest....you need it, my dearest." Fluttershy gestured towards the bed.
Rainbow took this into consideration. Something was not right here and it was obvious at that, but at the same time, she felt as if she was put under some spell. Most normal ponies would be scared out of their wits right about now. They would be jolted out of the door leaving this twisted filly in the dust, but really...all Rainbow wanted to do was go back to sleep....and she wanted to hold Fluttershy in her arms too.
Rainbow turned back around and got into her bed. She snuggled her pillow and then turned to Fluttershy who was still looking back at her with depressing eye and a happy smile.
Rainbow lifted a hoof out towards her.
"Stay with me." Rainbow said quietly....she was definitely under some sort of spell, but at the same time, she felt so good about it. It felt natural, so....she did it.
Fluttershy came closer and slowly made her way into the bed along with Rainbow Dash.
"Something is different indeed...." She whispered softly as she slowly closed her eyes.
Rainbow wasn't sure if it was the right move, but she wrapped her arms around the yellow, deranged filly and closed her eyes as well.
She found herself asleep quickly, and her dreams were happy and warm.
Fluttershy's eyes stayed open all night long as she slowly repeated the same phrase over and over...
