Mending a Broken Rainbow- Chapter 5
The distinct smell of a warm spring morning filled the property of Sweet Apple Acres, carried by a soft breeze through the many apple trees. The bright blue sky above, once a luring land of adventure to Ponyville's own Rainbow Dash, now carried no interest to the cyan Pegasus know as Dashie as she continued her mornings work, filling barrel after barrel with sweet delicious apples. Instead of daring tricks, and her competitive spirit, Dashie's mind was occupied only with thoughts of her new life with Applejack. Her life without Rainbolt; without needless complications. Without the Wonderbolts.
It was perfect.
Applejack didn't need to know about Rainbolt, right? That would just cause problems. No, Dashie was sure that she would keep her counter part a secret for as long as possible. Still... the Pegasus couldn't help but find her thoughts steering towards the previous night, just after Applejack fell asleep. A loud explosion filled the air, shocking Dashie from her sleep; apparently Applejack was a very heavy sleeper. Sneaking past her companion and too the window, a night sky full of rainbow light awaited her. Rainbolt made it.
"But that doesn't matter any more," Dashie finished filling another barrel before flying to the next tree and smashing against it with her hooves, causing a downpour of apples. "nothing matters any more but Applejack."
"What doesn't matter any more?" The sudden interruption caught Dashie off guard, sending her spiraling into the ground. Quickly recovering from the fall and spinning, a pair of bright emerald eyes awaited the Pegasus.
"Applejack!"
Without a moments thought Dashie trotted over to her filly-friend, oblivious to the strange look in her eyes.
"I've missed you!" the Pegasus closed the ground between them, nuzzling AJ's cheek. "I'm almost done the morning chores, and then we can spend the day together!"
"Where we're you last night?"
Applejack's words were not the warm, receptive ones Dashie had hoped for. They were cold, and flat. That's when she noticed AJ's expression. There was nothing happy about it, and where Dashie longed for a comforting smile she received only a piercing gaze.
"I was with you, of course," Dashie slowly backed away from the farm pony. "is something wrong?"
"Don't lie to me, Dash!" Applejack took two steps forward for each of Dashie's back, pinning the Pegasus against the tree behind her. "where we're you? Why were you in Canterlot?"
"I was here!" Dashie struggled against her friends assault of words. "AJ, you're scaring me!"
"I'll give you one more chance, but only one. Why does the newspaper say that you joined the Wonderbolts? Why are they calling you Rainbolt, and why am I calling you 'Dashie'?"
"I-I"
A flash of purple light erupted from behind Applejack, and to Dashie's salvation Twilight appeared, pushing Applejack from the pinned Pegasus. However, Dashie remained as close to the tree, and as far from Applejack as possible. Turning, Twilight locked eyes with her, a twisted look of sorrow and confusion lining the unicorn's face.
"Applejack!" the orange pony turned to the intruder, giving her a dirty glare. "You can't just run off, and jump to conclusions like that! Please, just calm down and let Rainbow explains herself?"
Applejack stared at the ground angrily, considering her options.
"Please?"
Finally, with a deep breath in, Applejack said, "She lied to me; stabbed me in the back!"
Twilight turned to face Dashie again. "Is that true, Rainbow?"
"N-no-" the Pegasus cowered uncharacteristically, granting her two confused stares.
"No?" Applejack said, "whadd'ya mean, no! It says so in the Equestria Daily!"
"I didn't make the team," Dashie sighed," Rainbolt did. Please, if we could step inside I could explain everything."
Applejack turned, and began walking away towards their home. "For your sake, and ours, Ah really hope ya can Sugarcube."
The sound of each step rang in Dashie's ears like a drum; each step carrying Applejack that much farther away. She had to act fast, and she knew it. The sweet breeze had stopped, and the only taste in the Pegasus's mouth was that of the tears rolling down her cheeks. Weakly, she pushed herself from the ground, and looked over to the purple unicorn beside her.
"Twilight..."
"Rainbow Dash," Twilight Sparkle looked back as if she was a stranger, a foreigner from a distant land. "You are acting strange, Dash. I know you, and this... Isn't it."
"I-I'm sorry," the cyan Pegasus's eyes fell to her hooves, surprised by their nervous shaking.
"For what, you have not been proven guilty, yet." Twilight smiled warmly. "I am just worried about you, as is Applejack."
The two began walking alongside one another, taking comfort in the crunch of fallen leaves beneath their hooves. It wasn't far a walk to the house, but to Dashie it felt lonely without Applejack by her side.
"She's worried about me?"
"Of course, silly! You mean everything to her, and she would do anything for you." Twilight spoke in the same tone she did to young fillies, slow and pronounced. "But when somepony you love starts keeping secrets, it can become hard not to be afraid, she's worried that the two of you are drifting apart."
"I would never-"
"I know," Twilight said. "you just have to prove that to Applejack.
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The Apple family kitchen, although smaller then many of the more expensive Ponyville homes, had more equipment scattered about it's counters and drawers then any other kitchen Dashie had been in. It's walls we're lined with family photographs, including many of Applejack and Rainbow Dash together. It even had it's own, distinct smell, that could be found no where else; the smell of home-baked Sweet Apple Acres apple pie.
"Two of you?" Applejack's eyes shot open at Dashie's eyes, trying to take in what she had been told. Twilit mirrored a similar expression. "what are you talkin' about, Sugarcube?"
Twilight, Applejack and Dashie sat around the dinner table, AJ and Twilight opposite Dashie as if they were interrogating her. They were.
"I'm as lost as you are, I swear," Dashie said. "I just remember being torn between my two decisions, my two loyalties, fighting myself. I felt so much pressure to decide, and I broke down in the club house. When I looked up from my tears, though, I saw..."
"Yourself," Applejack stated, furrowing her brow. "Ah see. Could this have anything to do with Celestia?"
At that, Twilight eagerly broke into the conversation. "The princess? What could this possibly have to do with Princess Celestia? I have never even heard of such a thing, and I am her star pupil."
Biting her lip, Applejack glanced to Dashie apologetically. He cyan pegasus hesitantly nodded back, and Applejack spoke again. "Twilight, Rainbow Dash wasn't like the other Pegisai. She was... Different."
"Yeah, I know," Twilight spoke. "she was annElement of Harmony. So are you and I, what's your point?"
"No, I mean she wasn't..." Applejack paused, deciding her next words carefully. "she wasn't made the same way."
Wide eyed, Twilit shifted her gaze to Dashie, looking her up and down. "What is Applejack talking about!?"
However, the Pegasus didn't know what to say. Her muscles tightened, her head throbbing. This was a secret she was not sure she wanted to tell. Sweat beaded in her rainbow mane, and a sudden urge to run away- and suddenly, with the warm touch of an orange hoof upon her own, the feeling was gone. Looking up, Dashie was surprised to see Applejack reaching across the table to comfort her. Had AJ forgiven her?
"I'm..." Dashie swallowed hard, squeezing Applejack's hooves in her own. "a creation of Princess Celestia. An Accident. A prime example of magic gone wrong. I am a mistake that was never supposed to be.
Once again, tears began to make their way across Rainbow's cheeks, the pegasus's eyes focussed To the table.
Applejack's grip tightened. "You are not a monster! You are just- different. You are perfect the way you are, and Ah love you."
Twilight backed away from the table, and approached the door. "Look, I need to return to the castle and confront the Princess. This is all too sudden; too surreal. I'll talk to Celestia, and try to figure out what is going on here."
"That soundalike an outstandin' plan, Twilight," Applejack paused, and looked back to her filly-friend. "Ah s'ppose Dashie and I will stay here, and try to work this out. After all, if Dashie is the side of Rainbow Dash that loves me, perhaps this won't be so bad after all."
The purple unicorn pushed the front door open, and nodded to the guards outside, who quickly scurried to prepare her transport. "I think it is about time I take my leave, then. Applejack, I will contact you as soon as I figure this out."
"Thank a bunch, Twi'."
With a light click, the door closed, and the room was silent. Applejack's eyes remained on the door, deciding her next course of action. A quiet call from the far side of the table encouraged the farm pony to turn to the the cyan Pegasus. Dashie's wings shot out from her sides, her ears pointed and her eyes wide with excitement.
"Did you really mean that, Applejack!"
"Did Ah mean what?"
"That you'd give us a try?"
A smile formed across the farm ponies lips as she spoke. "Of course, Sugarcube. Ah can give it a try, it's the least you deserve. So, what would you like t' do today? Go for a race through the forest? Have an apple-bucking competition? See who can eat the most sweets from Sugarcube Corner?"
Immediately Dashie's excitement died down, the cyan wonder avoiding eye contact shyly. "I was actually hoping we could go for a walk, and watch the sun set together. Maybe snuggle for a bit."
Applejack starred in awe. Rainbow Dash, turning down an opportunity for competition? It seemed wrong. And yet, it was different, right somehow. Dashie was shy, quiet, loving and graceful. All the sides of Rainbow that deeply cared for Applejack. Maybe things would be fine after all.
"Sure," Applejack spoke at last. "why not."
With an enthusiastic leap across the table, Dashie collided with Applejack and sent them both to the floor, wrapping her forelegs around the farm pony.
"I'm so glad I stayed."
In the distance the faint sound of fireworks filled the air, signaling then kick-off of the Wonderbolts show.
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An eruption of cheers filled Rainbolt's ears! Even from the vicinity of her new room within the Wonderbolt stadium, the cheering was relentless and filled every corner of her mind. Her first show had been more of a success then she could have imagined; fire works, explosions, and amazing aerial stunts preformed by her new 'family'! It was a dream come true. Right?
The room way... Homey. Cyan walls and ceiling, with a cloud-designed hard wood floor. Large mirrors lined one wall, and along the opposite rested a bed larger, and comfier then any Rainbolt had seen before. Adorned on the ceiling was an array of lights, varying in every color of a rainbow. However, they remained off, the room blanketed in a comforting shadow of darkness.
Rainbolt lay exhausted upon her bed, the Pegasus's chest raising and falling rapidly, her heart threatening to burst any moment. Never in her life had she felt so completely alive, so full and accomplished. So why, why was a single tear dancing it's way across her face, and onto the pillow below.
'Bang!'
The door to the performer's room exploded open, slamming against the wall, the cheering growing even louder as it flowed in from the stadium.
"Holy Pegasus!" the Wonderbolts captain, Spitfire, emerged through the doorway, slamming it closed behind her. "that was amazing! I've never seen a crowd so riled up! I mean, mixing a triple barrel role with a double blitz... Wow!" Genius, Rainbolt, genius! You are a natural, and let me tell you, you're gunna go far, kid!"
Dancing across the room, the bright yellow and red Pegasus immigrated several more of the moves Rainbolt preformed during the show before tumbling onto the bed beside the newest member of the team. However, after resting several moments with no response, she sat up, looking over to the dark form across from her.
"Rainbolt?"
Spitfire could only watch as the cyan wonder rolled onto her belly, hiding her face in a giant orange pillow. Something was wrong, Spitfire just knew it. Suddenly Rainbolt began sniffing loudly, and attempting to stifle out gasps for breath between her cries.
"Look, Hun," Spitfire scooted across the bed, placing a thick blanket across Rainbolt's shoulders and patting her back. "I know you're first live show can be scary, but you did amazing! Honest!"
"It's not that..." Rainbolt spoke between spurts of heavy breaths.
"Then what is it?"
"She wasn't there."
"You mean..." Spitfire sighed. "Applejack."
Rainbolt looked up from her pillow, locking eyes with her captain. "I flew, and preformed better today then I ever have before. I should be proud; ecstatic even!"
"Then why aren't you?"
"Because, Applejack, she..." Rainbolt's tears began anew, streaming down in droves. "she always said that she'd be at my first show! That she'd be my biggest fan! The whole time I was performing tonight, my eyes were locked on the audience, looking for that signature Stetson of hers... But it wasn't there."
"She changed," Spitfire's hoof landed upon Rainbolt's shoulder, forcing her to keep eye contact. "That's not your fault. Look, even if Applejack isn't there for you, your family always will be."
"I don't have a family."
The room was silent, broken only by the sounds of sorrow and dwindling cheers, now but a whisper in the distance. Once again, Rainbolt retreated to her pillow, taking comfort only in it's familiar color.
"I Lost my family," Spitfire's words startled Rainbolt, causing her to peek from behind her shell. The Yellow Pegasus's eyes were damp with hints of tears. "when I was just a filly. I know what it's like."
"I'm... Sorry."
"Don't be, now the Wonderbolts are my family. If you'll let us, we'll be your family too."
Slowly and steadily, the Wonderbolts captain slipped off the bed, trotting out across the room to where a picture frame holding Applejack's picture sat.
"I..." Rainbolt sighed heavily. "need to think for a while. Alone."
Making her way to the door, Spitfire spoke one last time, "I'll see you tomorrow, champion," before making her way into the stadium, and closing the door silently behind her.
The room was silent, and dark; a reflection of Rainbolt's heart.
"I don't feel like a champion."