Rainbow Dash lives an exciting life and is swiftly becoming the most daring, awesome pegasus in all of Equestria. She would gladly give it all up, though, just to confess her love to Applejack.
Her eyes were too tired to even be bloodshot. Rainbow Dash squinted along the lengths of her sighs, lying on her side in the middle of her bed. She had long lost all energy to toss and turn. Limp muscles and even limper lungs kept her plastered to the mattress cover as the seconds... minutes... and hours ticked away.
Her jaw muscles clenched. Ruby pupils traced the ceiling. The shadows all looked the same, though they weighed heavier now.
That room was a vault for dead things. Rainbow Dash knew it.
She continued lying in place.
Eventually, daylight peeked through the window, and that drew the deepest sigh of all. She finally swung herself up into a sitting position. Dull eyes fell on an even duller alarm clock.
She waited several agonizing, endless seconds. At last, the alarm went off—and her numb fetlock struck the off-switch milliseconds later.
On stiff legs, Rainbow Dash stood up and trotted towards her shower.
With a grunt, she pushed a cloud into position over the west end of Ponyville.
Rainbow Dash hovered in place, blinking.
She had flown these skies countless times before, kicking and clearing polynumerous clouds that all looked the same. Part of her wondered if everything was the same, and by some strange whim of fate she was kicking and reforming the exact same water molecules every time.
In the distance, Thunderlane shouted something. Rainbow saluted back from afar. Her eyes drifted west—towards Sweet Apple Acres. There was no chance in identifying any pony on the ranch at that distance, so she didn't bother trying.
Clenching her teeth, Rainbow spun and kicked the thunder cloud, causing it to rain on the park grounds below.
Rainbow drew a chariot with the Banner Company logo across Ponyvillean skies. She banked to the left, skirting her way towards the north end of town. Her eyes locked on a warehouse in the distance.
As she passed the round structure of Ponyville Town Hall, Rainbow's vision hung to the left. She spotted the central marketplace down below. Vendor after vendor stood, brightly painted in the afternoon light. Just as soon as her eyes made out the shiny outline of a large wooden apple, the Town Hall building blocked her view.
Rainbow took a deep breath. Flapping her wings harder, she carried the wagon to her destination.
With a wave of her hoof, Rainbow Dash flipped through the sheets on her clipboard. Her ruby eyes traveled down the list of pegasus names—along with the data taken from their recent flight measurements.
Her muzzle scrunched as she contemplated the information. She heard laughter to her left. The mare pivoted to look.
Stu Leaves, Sharp Quill, and a hoof-full of other pegasi stood along the northern fringes of the Everfree Forest. While other teams practiced their tornadic motions, Rainbow's group relaxed while sharing anecdote after anecdote. Stu was evidently the center of attention. Ponies laughed as he murmured and gestured wildly. At one point, his eyes made contact with Rainbow's. With a grin, he motioned her to come join the conversation.
With a gulp, Rainbow calmly shook her head, then pointed at her clipboard.
Stu almost said something—but was distracted by something Sharp Quill was sharing. The stallion rejoined the discussion, chuckling with warm cheeks.
Rainbow Dash pivoted from everyone else. With a deep groan, she trotted off, putting as much distance between her and them as she could, until she was someplace quiet that afforded concentration.
Night had fallen.
Rainbow Dash stepped out of the shower, flapping her dexterous wings to dry herself off. Eventually, she trotted back into her bedroom.
She froze.
The mare stood dead-still, eyes locked on the shadowy interior of her domain.
A long breath rolled through her. Angrily, she clenched her teeth together, then reached for a pillow and blanket.
Rainbow fwomped onto her side, reclining across a couch in the middle of her foyer. The seats were small—claustrophobic, even—but that was hardly a problem for her. With a shuddering breath, Rainbow wrapped the blanket around her petite self.
Once she was absolutely certain that her back was to her bedroom door, she nuzzled her head into the pillow, closed her eyes...
...and actually managed to drift off for once.
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Guys, I think Dashie needs a hug.
...If things were bad when she was around Stu before, things are really gonna take a nosedive now...
Once you lose the only joy in your life, you really start to notice the routine in your life, and that can be maddening.
6836173 I actually think she'll probably just be super depressed in his presence at this point, since she kinda you know gave up on pursuing applejack, she has no real reason to be angry at him anymore. We on the other hand should go get our pitchforks sharpened and torches lit.
I was sharing what great pets platypuses make.
6835031 You're right. We don't like Stu because we're rooting for Dash.
I personally am not Stu's biggest fan but the Cider Space arc proved he could be a cool dude. Yeah it's a little frustrating to see him every now and then because we know he's currently winning Applejack's love. But is Stu a bad dude or a villain? He's really not.
Honestly, gotta feel a little sad for Stu as well. Obviously not for the same reasons as Rainbow, but the fact that he honestly doesn't really know that he annoys Rainbow and even Applejack at times, and that neither Rainbow or AJ actually tells him about it. Poor dude probably had the same problem up in the clouds before he came down to Ponyville; Back when he was Stupid Leaves.
Still waiting for you to just pop up out of nowhere, Lancie.
Can someone explain why she didn't want to sleep in the bedroom?
Or is that something we have yet to learn?
6836284 It's a "vault for dead things." I think being in her room reminds her of all the nights spent pining over Applejack, and wants to get over her. That or you could take "dead things" more literally what with her condition worsening and......yeah.
Stop doing this to us JE, we're addicted and can't stop reading
6836299
You know, in all this routine, I didn't see a single word that referred to her medicine. She's gonna kill herself, or end up bedridden at this rate!
Hey Lancie, I'm sure you're busy on some kind of epic journey of self-discovery and introspection, but could you take just a second to poof that letter onto AJ's nightstand?
6836284 I took it as the dark empty bedroom serving as a metaphor and a reminder of how alone Dash is at the moment.
Between this, Utaan, and Things, Skirts always seems to write at least one depressing scene per day. That's some impressive stamina.
6836379 I think she packed enough to last her the camping trip, but hasn't been to get a new dose yet.
6836406 knowing him, it'll pop in as replacement of Applejack 's vows
Wow, this was so sad that until I read "trotted towards her shower." I though I was reading Utaan's chapter.
Mad World also plays in my head as background music sometimes, Rainbow.
Maybe Rainbow should get to know Stu...nah, he still needs to leaf.
~ADG
Well, it looks like Dash is using the tried-and-true method of drowning herself in work. Not that I can blame her, mind. Is it bad that I want her to collapse from exhaustion in front of her friends so they finally get a clue? Preferably with much noodle limb action.
6836699
I would like that. I would like that a lot.
6836166
I volunteer as tribute!
So back to the usual, then.
What's irritating is these pity parties Dash throws for herself are totally unnecessary! You have friends Rainbow! Go see Fluttershy! Go see Twilight! Rarity, Pinkie, Zecora and Noir! Go into cider space and talk to Epcot! Just because you don't wana see AJ and Stu together doesn't mean you can't hang with your other friends FFS.
Unfortunately that's not how depression works.
I guess her behavior after AJ's confession was a manic/denial sort of deal, but I really hoped she wouldn't sink back down so far. I guess Scoot's forewarning about this being one Rainbow's darkest points wasn't for nothing.