Fire
13
"Oh, you're awake." The voice rang and echoed through the forest, seemingly coming from behind Rainbow. Her ears perked up as she lifted her head. Standing up to look around, she recognized the voice very well. How could she not recognize her idol's voice?
"Spitfire?" Just then, the yellow veteran flier swooped down from one of the trees, landing tersely in front of Rainbow, scattering all of the leaves around them. Her uniform was missing, though her elegance was not lost. Her normally windblown mane was matted down to what she figured was its normal appearance. Fluttering her wings, she touched down and folded them back in place with a cocky, amiable grin. The mockingjays in the distance started up.
"W-What are you doing here?" Rainbow asked, surprised.
Spitfire raised an eyebrow. "I could ask you the same thing. Why are you here? This place isn't the best place for sleeping, eh?" she said, pointing at Rainbow. The question caught her off guard. She hesitated to answer; she didn't think had a good reason why she was here in the first place herself. A tear formed in her eye as she looked back to formulate an answer. She opened her mouth and did nothing but sigh.
"Are you lost?" Spitfire tilted her head, revealing a side of compassion otherwise never seen from the famous flier.
Rainbow sniffed and nodded her head meekly. "I guess... you could say that."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it," she whispered through choked gasps. "How'd you find me here?"
Spitfire frowned and narrowed her eyes. "Hard to miss a rainbow-colored blob laying in a forest from a couple hundred feet up, and was wondering why you were here," she explained. "I came back the next morning and found you here again. How did you get lost anyway?"
Rainbow remained silent and looked to the ground, the memories relapsing in her mind.
"Well... You wanna get back home? I think I remember how to get there." Rainbow cleared her throat and spoke up.
"No."
~
"Are you sure?"
"Damn it, Pinkie, yes!" Twilight snapped at her, growing more and more impatient with the pink party pony. "I have her note with me!" Being studious and self-controlled, Twilight didn't swear much, and her friends seeing this rare occurrence knew things weren't their usual fun and games. They recoiled even at this mild outbreak.
"Gee, sorry," Pinkie apologized. "I just can't believe our Dashie is gone!" she said in her usual bubbling Pinkie Pie-esque manner. She hung her head lower, looking up expectantly at Twilight.
Fluttershy spoke up. "Oh, but what if we can't find her Twilight?" her voice was brought to a whisper as she withdrew her head. "I'm so worried..." she squeaked.
"Fluttershy, it's okay," Rarity assured. "Twilight and I will find her, and things will go back to the way they were before, darling." Twilight couldn't think of a better feeling than 'the way they were before'. Applejack suddlenly objected.
"Now, sugarcube," she said, addressing Twilight and Rarity. "Why is it only you two going? Ah reckon we're your friends too, y'know? Shouldn't we come help you?"
No, because Fluttershy's a pain in the flank to go anywhere with... Twilight thought. Although she loved her animal-loving friend, she would rather not take Fluttershy along with her on a chase where time is critical; not after they were sent by Celestia to get rid of that dragon.
"No, because you have to take care of the farm, and... Fluttershy has to take care of her woodland creatures?" Twilight conjured up, mustering a weak smile on her face. She shifted uncomfortably as it sank in.
"Oh, well can I come?" Pinkie bubbled, springing up into the air. "I wanna help find Dashie!" Twilight groaned. She didn't want to bring the pink pony; there were too many things that could go wrong with her hyperactivity. She wanted to tell her the truth, but she couldn't bring herself to. Even in a time like this, there was no way she would hurt her friends.
"Sorry Pinkie... We're going to need to travel light. We might have a long trip ahead of us." She abruptly sat back down, disappointed. Rarity glanced at Twilight.
"We should get going then."
~
"No." Spitfire looked at Rainbow in a daze. She was flat out confused at this pony now. She seemed so happy a couple days ago at their performance in Cloudsdale. But now, she looked exhausted, beat up, and even depressed. Something wasn't right for the brave mare she had known from the young flier competition.
Why was she here, in the Glades Forest a couple miles off from Canterlot? Why was she so exhausted looking? Above all else, why didn't she want to go home? Spitfire considered running away from parents, but Rainbow seemed old enough to live alone. Wasn't she captain of the Pegasi weather team?
"Well, would you mind telling me why you're here, kid?" Rainbow shook her head meekly. Spitfire frowned. "You aren't gonna get any help then," she lectured, playing it off with a lighthearted smirk. Rainbow looked up at Spitfire, considering what she said. Her charismatic smile took Rainbow aback. Clearing her throat and picking up her courage, she began.
"You remember the other day where you brought me backstage?" Spitfire nodded in acknowledgement. "Remember that mare with me? To put it in short, I'm in love with her, and she isn't," Rainbow concluded with a sigh.
"Huh. Why do you say that?"
"I heard her say it."
"That's rough, kid," she said. "It isn't easy - I've been through that. In the end, it all worked out, though not really the way I wanted it."
"Huh?"
"Me and Soarin'. Same thing's happened to us a while back, before the Wonderbolts even formed." Rainbow looked at her incredulously. Spitfire took a moment to survey the area around them, noticing the makeshift housing that was torn down. Dead leaves were still scattered everywhere, some made their way into Rainbow's mane. No friend of hers' should have to live like this.
"You need a place to stay?" Rainbow nodded.
"You can always come back to our little hotel if you want, I can pull some strings for you."
"You would?" she asked, her ears perking up for the first time since yesterday. "Wow!" she squealed, a grin breaking out on her face.
"Hey, no problem kid. Why don't we get going, then?"