//------------------------------// // Rarity // Story: Unexpected // by PonyBlue //------------------------------// Chapter 4 Rarity. The second she woke up, she already felt like crap. “Buck it!” Rainbow Dash murmured bitterly. She would have been more forceful and her words louder had she not been in the midst of worshipping the porcelain goddess of Twilight’s bathroom. This was not to say that Rainbow Dash was a stranger to the porcelain goddess. In fact and much to her dismay, this experience brought back memories of a similar incident with free cupcakes…specifically Apple Jack’s Baked Bads, as Pinkie Pie called them. A single mouthful of one potato chip flavoured, earthworm filled cupcake was enough to kill any love Rainbow Dash might have had for the confectionary delight. Even the word ‘cupcake’ was now enough to send her running. But this… this was just plain misery and unbelievably nasty. It felt like she had spent countless hours with her head hovering over the lip of Twilight’s toilet bowl, yet her insides refused to settle and continued to tremble like a leaf in a storm. A famous mare once said. ‘Tomorrow is another day and a new day brought a fresh start and a solution to yesterday’s problems.’ But Dash knew better. Life didn’t work that way. Yesterday’s tomorrow had become today over the course of a night. Problems didn’t vanish in Luna’s night, instead they often grew. Today began as a hot day, even by summer standards. The air hummed with the buzz of insects in the grass and had enough humidity to make it stifling even indoor. Some shady clouds in the sky would have been nice, even a bit of rain but there was none. Unfortunately for Cloud Kicker, her assistant, she had called in sick again. Cloud Kicker would have to manage Ponyville’s weather system for another day. Ponyville’s Weather Service would have to make due, somehow.” Yesterday… had been difficult to say the least. Her entire world had shifted on its poles. A.J had been so adamant and she had a point but so did Twilight. She was torn between her friends. Rainbow Dash sighed heavily. Her eyes trailed down the length of her body, watching the expense of azure blue skin stretch out from her chest to her still taunt abdomen. Something flickered in those deep pools of her violet eyes… an unfamiliar emotion that if it could be named was fear…fearful indecision. Abruptly Rainbow Dash tilted head-first once more over the porcelain toilet bowl. Any thoughts small or profound vanished in a heavy wave of heaving queasiness. It was a full minute later before the retching sound stopped. Rainbow wiped the side of her mouth with her fetlock as she recoiled from the experience. “W-What I w-wouldn’t give f-for a bottle of motion sickness tablets right now.” Dash shivered slightly as her sparse breakfast disappeared down the toilet with a swirling flush. Twilight Sparkle and Spike were gone, something to do arson and community service, something strange like that. It left the whole library empty, lonely and... depressing. Rainbow Dash nudged the faucet with the edge of her fore hoof to get the water running. It took two tries before she had water to wash out her mouth from that awful aftertaste that lingered there. She glared in irritation at the brass tap head. Only a Unicorn like Twilight Sparkle would have a tap this difficult to use. Rainbow Dash lifted her head and caught sigh of her reflection in the mirror. The cerulean Pegasus that stood there was a mare with a haggard tired look around her eyes. This was a mare that had spent a night tossing and turning, all but unable to sleep. As she stared, a faint sound reached her ears. She couldn’t put her hoof on what it was exactly. It took her a moment before she recognized it to be a familiar voice, but one she had not expected to hear. Dash barely had time to put one hoof in front of another when she heard the sound of Twilight Sparkle’s front door creaking open. The sound of the doorbell chimed in the air as a dazzling alabaster Unicorn sauntered through the doorstep of the Book and Branches library. “Hello, any pony home? Twilight, are you in?” Rarity called out as she entered. The door was unlocked but that in itself was not unusual nonetheless the fashionista stopped in surprise. What froze her in mid step was the state of the library… and perhaps the criminally unfashionable rust brown blackout curtains that Twilight had adorn her windows with. Even coarse burp sacks would have been an improvement. The normally warm candlelight glow of the library’s main floor was nowhere to be found. In its place was a stilted dull greyness mixed with the scent of old dusty paper. The curtains were shut, only a single ray of Celestia’s morning light penetrated the gloom. Even the usually tidy library that Rarity had come to expect was in disarray. Books of all shapes and sizes lay haphazardly scattered upon the floor. Many were faced up and opened. A terribly careless thing to do to a book, Rarity felt. Such treatment would ruin a book’s spine, pages would fall out soon after. Sometimes it seemed that Twilight Sparkle never learned how to clean up after herself, being far too reliant on poor Spikey-Wikey. “Uh... Rarity?!” Dash asked, a little bit nervous as she stuck her head out of the bathroom. Her eyes strained against the low grayed light. Even now she wasn't sure how to face her friends without feeling shame. “Rarity?” The alabaster Unicorn yet out a small yelp of surprise as she lifted her head at the mention of her name. “Rainbow Dash?!” She called, her words hung in the darken room.. “What in the name of Equestria are you doing back there!?” "Nothing,” Rainbow Dash smiled forcefully in return. “That is hardly nothing, darling. You gave me quite the fright!” “So why did you come over for?” “I just came by to see if Twilight had any books on historical fashion. I believe ruffles will be making a come back this summer. I want to be ahead of the game. I’m guessing she isn’t in and the library is actually closed.” Rarity’s last comment was not to be expected because Dash seemed surprised and it made the rainbow maned pony glanced over to the front door then back to the library counter beside her. Dash turned to the counter and returned, clutching something in her mouth. Dangling in front of her was a small sign in Twilight’s neat and even handwriting, it read: ‘The Book and Branches Library is closed today. Be sure to come back tomorrow!’ “I guess I forgot to put that up.” Rainbow muttered. “But help yourself, it is a public library.” Rainbow Dash turned to a book shelf. “What do you think? Historic fashion… should it come under F for Fashion or H for historic?” A quick glance of the books on the shelf nearest to her revealed a puzzle assemblage of book titles. Canterlot cook books were set side by side with books on Zebra potions. There seemed neither rhyme nor rhythm to the shelving system that Twilight used. “I was meaning to ask you about the weather. It is a bit hot, even for a summer’s day. Some clouds in the sky would be nice even some rain,” Rarity commented. “The humidity is also simply dreadful and don’t let me start on the buzzing insects. Those little monstrosities are everywhere.” Rainbow Dash let out a small groan. If Rarity was complaining, she could imagine the number of complains that must be piling on her table at the Weather Office. “Nothing much I can do.” She said and continued to concentrate on the shelved books in front of her, pacing from book shelve to book shelve looking for a hint of Rarity’s book. “The shipment of clouds from Cloudsdale’s weather factory is late. Ponyville’s weather patrol has to make due, somehow.” Rarity was about to say something in reply when she sniffed the air hanging over the blue Pegasus. It was a scent that changed her mood to a worried one. Rarity frowned. Rainbow Dash’s mane was quite unruly, more so than usual. She looked so pale and there was something in the Pegasus posture that Rarity had not seen before. The athletic Pegasus mare looked tired. No, that was not it, Rarity corrected herself. She looked fragile. "Rainbow Dash is everything okay?" Rarity finally spoke but concern never left her eyes. Rainbow Dash stopped and hesitantly turned her face towards Rarity’s voice. “I'm your best friend,” Rarity stressed. “You can tell me.” Dash scuffed a hoof at the floor. “I, um... was…and... I…” Nothing came to mind. She sat down on her hunches, her legs quivered slightly. There was nothing to say except the truth. Rainbow Dash found it impossible to speak. Call it a mare’s instinct but what Rarity said next surprised everypony, most of all herself "You are with foal, aren’t you?” ‘Pony-feathers!’ Rainbow Dash flinched, her eyes wide and ever so slowly she nodded her head. “How did you guess?” The question escaped her lips. “I’m not already showing, am I?” Rainbow Dash panicked even as she brought her own hooves to cover her lower abdomen. The look of alarm on Rarity was sudden. Belatedly she realised she just gave Rarity her answer, removing any possibility of hiding her pregnancy. “I-I... It’s no big deal,” Rainbow Dash gave a non-committal shrug of her wings and turned away to the bookshelves. She had not even finish turning when she suddenly found herself in Rarity’s soft embrace. “What the hay!?” she cried and struggled to break free, but Rarity somehow found the strength to hold firm to the more athletic mare. “Oh, darling, it is a big deal.” Rarity soothing voice added as she whispered in Dash’s ear, trying her best to comfort the cerulean mare. “It’s going to be alright, do you hear me? You’re going to be alright.” This time there were no tears but Rainbow Dash found her body shaking with quiet little spasms. Rarity squeezed a little tighter in reply. Slowly, then like a dam breaking, Dash felt the fight leave her. Hesitantly she hugged back, wrapping her forelegs around her friend. She rested her head on Rarity withers and buried her face beneath the Unicorn’s long silky blue mane. “I found out yesterday.” She whispered, unable to stop herself.. I couldn’t go home.” “So I assume you had a sleepover with Twilight." Rarity managed a small smile on her face. “Have you told the rest of the girls?” She asked softly. “Apple Jack knows. I couldn’t stay with her because…because Macintosh.” Her expression dropped at his name. Rarity grew silent as she listened to what Dash said. “Did he hurt you?" Rarity asked, almost emotionlessly. 'Yes, he emotionally did.' Dash shook her head. “It was an accident.” "Did he say something that hurt you?" 'Yes.' “He said that... the foal isn’t his.” Dash ended her words with a stuttering whisper. She ran a hoof gently over the back of Dash’s short rainbow toned mane. If it were possible the look in her friend’s eyes was one that would’ve melted the coldest of hearts, even that of Nightmare Moon. “I am sorry. I truly am.” Rarity laid her hoof over her friends head. “Macintosh is a fool of a stallion to say that. He does not deserve you.” Rarity continued to hold Dash in her hooves. “You should get some sleep," Rarity spoke, breaking the silence and held Rainbow Dash at hoof distance "You look exhausted." "I'm not tired." She broke away from Rarity. "Oh, really?" Rarity replied amusedly, even managing a small smile. "The bags under your eyes disagree." "I can't sleep." She mumbled. The look in her eyes was far away and distant. Even though Rainbow Dash didn't say it, Rarity knew what was going on in her mind, "Tell me," her voice was quiet, almost eerie, “Do you want this foal?” Dash didn't reply. Locks of her rainbow colour mane fell over her face as she dropped her head down low, hiding away from Rarity’s gaze. Rarity asked again, this time with a different tack. “If Macintosh had proposed, would you have married him?" Rainbow Dash groaned and rolled her eyes. "Oh, please… don't ask me this…" "Why? Rarity pushed. “It isn’t a hard question to answer. Do you love him? Do you see your future with him? Would you start your own herd? Be honest." Rainbow Dash was unable to produce any answer immediately. What Rarity said made her speechless, tongue-tied. She frowned at her own feeling. Her heart was like a wind tossed storm cloud, so full of uncertainties. Yeah, what if the situation she was in right now wasn’t about a foal and pregnant stuff, but about Macintosh proposing to her. Marriage? Yes, somewhere at the back of her mind she had hoped to fall in love and get married one day. Maybe have a foal or two eventually. Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure how that would work out. But it all come right some day or night. Just not now, not before the Wonderbolts. Would she have wanted to be tied down to an apple farmer in Ponyville, a dependable Earth Pony apple farmer, whose horizon stretch only as far as the fences of Sweet Apple Acres? Would she have given up her dream of being a Wonderbolt? For what? She asked herself. To raise a wing pegasi foals so they could grow up manage the weather over farms of The Apples, The Carrot, The Lemons and The Pies? Rainbow Dash could see such a life playing out for decades to come. She would spend her evenings regaling her half dozen foals and their school friends with tales of Cloudsdale, that far away big city which she had been born in. She would amaze them, just like she did now with Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, with vivid descriptions of the majestic propylon, the processional gateway that led up to the colossal Acropolis of Cloudsdale and best of all the Stadia Maximus. It was the largest and most prestigious hippodrome of the pegasi world. It was a place of tall storied colonnade of mystical pegasi heroes and the home of the Wonderbolts. There the Wonderbolt raced, their thundering wing beats amazed the crowds that gather to pay homage to the greatest fliers of Equestion. She could see herself telling and retelling stories of Wonderbolts until she was an old grey mare, but never be a Wonderbolt herself. She knew what she would have said and it was ‘No.’ She saw neither foal nor Macintosh in her perfect picture of the immediate future. Rainbow Dash never looked at him that way, despite frequently spotting him as she over flew Sweet Apple Acres every day. She would admit. He had an easy nature around him and a friendly southern country charm that put everypony at ease. He made you feel as if you had always been neighbours. Add that to his sun-kissed mane, brick red coat and lettuce green eyes, she wouldn’t deny a certain natural physical attraction. She had kissed him after all and a bit more, her hoof drifted to her abdomen, even if she was as drunk as skunk at the time. But what they had between them was just platonic relationship. She was sure of that… a platonic relationship that got very warm one summer’s night. She just could not see a future married to an apple farmer. So how come making the decision wasn’t any easier to make? “I… She flinched “It’s my flesh and blood. I don’t have a choice.” She replied ever so slowly. "Is that so? I don't believe you!” Rarity retorted sharply. “You sound like Apple Jack.” Her mouth gaped open it was as if she had been slapped across the face by Rarity. “Dear, I can tell,” Rarity continued. “You are running.” Rainbow Dash huffed, taking offence. “I'm not running!” She emphasized the last word. She stood nose to nose with the white Unicorn “Then what of the Wonderbolts? What of your ambition or was it all just hot air?” "Rarity…" Rainbow Dash shot a warning look. The alabaster Unicorn ignored the other mare and turned away. “I didn’t take you for a quitter, Rainbow Dash. Or maybe you are. Maybe you weren’t even serious about the Wonderbolts.” Rarity mocked. She had enough, like the sudden snap of a Sonic Rainboom, Rainbow Dash spun her body fully and faced Rarity. “Joining the Wonderbolts has been my dreamed since I was a filly “Her voice rose, almost yelling. Her wings were stretched out in anger. "How could you say that to me?!" She shouted “Then why are you quitting!?” Rarity shouted in reply. “Because I don’t have a place with the Wonderbolts!,” Rainbow Dash shrieked, stomping her fore hooves hard on the library’s wooden floor. “Is that's what you wanted to hear?” Her shout echoed across the library’s darkened interior. She looked at Rarity sharply with angry, hurt eyes. Had the answer to Rarity's question earlier always been so close? The words were more bitter then she had expected. Slowly, she turned her gaze elsewhere, anywhere so she wouldn’t need to look Rarity in the eye. “I won the Young Flier’s competition. I saved you and three Wonderbolts while doing the first recorded Sonic Rainboom!” Her throat caught and she let out a whimper. “Look at me. I’m still stuck in Weather Management. I’ll be pushing around clouds in Ponyville, in the middle of nowhere for the rest of my life.” Dash slowly sank heavily onto her haunches and a tired sigh escaped her lips. “Is that what you want to hear?" They were bickering like two fillies over some childish argument, calling each other names and ready to nip at the other’s legs "Why are you doing this to me, Rarity?" She looked wearily to the Unicorn. Rarity returned her stare, mute. It seemed like the whole space between them had turned into a grave zone once again. Rarity answered slowly, making Dash fixed her violet eyes on her own azure orbs. "Because I am you friend Rainbow Dash, because I love you. I am forcing you to be honest with yourself. Your decision on your pregnancy should be done for the right reason. Not as an excuse to give up and run away. Not because of Apple Jack or Twilight Sparkle personal opinions. The worst thing in life is the regret of what might have been.” “The Best Young Flyer competition…” Dash trailed. “It was supposed to be my big break. With the Sonic Rainboom I expected… something. Something more than a general ad in a CloudsDale newspaper, which almost nopony in Ponyville subscribes too. I could have missed it.” The last came out as a whisper. “The Sonic Rainboom deserves an automatic ticket to the Wonderbolts, at the very least a personal invite from Captain Spitfire to the tryout,” It had nagged at her for weeks. “The wonderbolts…is all a blur to me…” The admission was like an electric shock to her veins. It was painful. Rarity squeezed Dash lightly with her fore hooves. "Do you really want to give up your dream?" Rainbow Dash smiled weakly. She shot back a playful look. "That's not a bad idea, don't you think? Rainbow Crash finally washes out for good. Something every pony in Flight Camp knew from the start. Maybe she would make a better mom than a Wonderbolt,” she joked, even managing a false half hearted chuckle. “She wasn’t all too good being a Weathermare either." “That is not you, Rainbow Dash. You never run.” “Rarity, when I first found out that I was pregnant with Macintosh's foal, I was really, really scared. I really was. I still am. I couldn’t sleep. I was never so frightened in my life. But you know something strange,” Rainbow Dash said softly in a tiny voice. “As I lay in bed, I suddenly felt secure. I didn’t have to worry about the future anymore because I didn’t have one. I finally made one screw up too many. No more future. No more Wonderbolts. No more need to climb back into the Weather Service central office at Cloudsdale. I’ve been a wash up for years now and just maybe, it was alright to stop fighting for once. And when I asked myself whether it was okay or not to spend the rest of my life in Ponyville, the thought somehow didn’t make me as sick as I imagined.” Her voice turned low. “I don’t need…”, she breathed, it almost a squeak. “I don’t want to hear it from Spitfire or Soarin’,” She hiccupped and sniffed on the verge of tears. “I’ve not heard from Spitfire since the Grand Galloping Gala.” That bit of news had nagged at her for weeks. “I am the fastest Pegasus alive in all of Equestria, even the records say so. I had Twilight check! But maybe… maybe…” The words came out slowly. Only here in the confines of Twilight’s library with Rarity as her only witness, did she dare admit her darkest fear. It scared her so much she could barely admit it to herself. “Maybe, I don’t have the right stuff to be a Wonderbolt.” “Rainbow Dash, darling, if there ever was a pony born to be Wonderbolt it would be you. You are a very fast pony and if I may borrow your colloquium, an awesome mare.” Dash shook her head. “I’ve never flown with other ponies as much as I flew against ponies. It isn’t just a preference or style. It is in my blood, like the rainbow of my mane or my cutie mark. It’s always a race. I even raced the wind and when that was no longer enough, I fought to fly faster still. That’s how I split the light spectrum. Faster than fast.” Rainbow Dash looked away. “I’m a solo flyer, a racer. Maybe that was what the Wonderbolts could see.” She hiccupped as she chocked back a cry. “Maybe that is why winning the Best Young Flyer competition didn’t mean a thing. While the Wonderbolts…” She couldn’t do it anymore. Tears springing anew from her eyes, and she began to sob. At the first sight of tears streaking down Rainbow Dash’s face, Rarity reached forward and tackled Rainbow Dash in a bear-hug comparable to that of a certain pink party pony. ‘While the Wonderbolts,’ Rarity completed silently for the mare she held in her hooves, ‘was a team.’ A team couldn’t work with a pony that was as individualistic as Rainbow Dash. She tried her best to comfort her friend. Dash held on to Rarity, her shoulders heaving and choked sobs escaped her lips. It was then, she realised what Rarity had been saying about running. She was running and maybe that was why she was holding on to the foal. It would be a convenient excuse for her to crash out without her heroes saying to her face that she didn’t have what it took to make the cut. She could avoid another failure, in a long list of failures. Fierce Rainbow Dash was hiding behind a foal, her old friend Gilda would have called her pathetic and the female griffon would be right too. Rarity stayed still as Rainbow Dash cried her heart out on her chest. After a few minutes, Rarity’s grip slackened to a gentle embrace. She was relieved that Rainbow Dash had quieted down just a little. She wiped the tears away, leaving streaks on Rainbow Dash’s blue cheeks. There was some truth in the stereotypes, Pegasi were quick but intense in their emotions. “Some warm aromatic tea would help.” She whispered into her ear. Rarity thought she heard a slight gasp escape the Pegasus, but it was muffled by her quiet sobbing. She didn’t know it, but Rainbow Dash absolutely hated tea.