//------------------------------// // 99. Emotional Baggage Car // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// The train headed from Canterlot to Ponyville brought with it four very frazzled ponies, and while none of whom were excited for the trip; especially not Rainbow Dash, who huddled in the baggage car, using bundled up bushels of hay as a fortress against the outside world. When Pinkie Pie had told Rarity where they needed to go, that Twilight almost definitely was hiding out with Fluttershy—because the Spirit of the Everfree was also a dragon—Rarity was pissed. “How many more goddamn dragons have I met, that have just been hiding under my nose this entire time!?” Rarity’s scream of frustration and heartache echoed in Rainbow’s ears, even as she hid in the cargo car of the train, trying to be alone. Cuz she didn’t wanna cry in front of anyone else. She sat in a ball, in the corner, surrounded by boxes and crates and bags and a bunch of other crap, and as much as she didn’t want to, as hard as she tried not to, she couldn’t stop the tears from coming. She sniffled and bit her lip, cuz if she was gonna cry, she was gonna do it as quietly as possible so nopony would hear it. She wanted to scream. She wanted to just cry and scream and dig her nails into her head, because this whole thing was just so messed up. She couldn’t stop thinking of the first time she met Twilight, that first night she wandered into the library and how she felt when she left, having made the coolest new friend. Twilight was never anything but kind to her, but she was a dragon. Rainbow couldn’t wrap her head around it; dragons weren’t nice to ponies, they freaking ate them! But Twilight was never anything but nice, and Spike was never anything but cool. Rainbow loved both of them so much, and it sucked to wonder if all that had been for nothing, cuz Twilight was dangerous. She wondered if it was even possible to just ignore all her training as a Slayer, to just pretend like everything was still the way she wanted it to be, but she knew it was impossible. She couldn’t trust Twilight now, not after this. So she cried. Head cradled in her hands, snot running down her nose and drool falling out of her mouth cuz she just couldn’t hold anything back. “Rainbow Dash?” And with the delightful sound of Applejack’s voice, Rainbow remembered that things could always find a way to get worse. “Hey, Applejack,” Rainbow looked up at Applejack and smiled weakly, “I was just tryna, like, get some space. Y’know what I mean? Clear my head a little bit.” She tried playing it cool, like her face wasn’t covered in snot, tears and spit. “I hear ya,” Applejack smiled softly. “Mind if I sit next to ya? I could honestly use some space too, if you wouldn’t mind the company.” Rainbow blinked away some tears and felt herself choke up. Rainbow looked and felt like wet garbage, yet Applejack didn’t mind—didn’t even seem to notice, or at least pretended not to. Rainbow nodded, and Applejack sat down beside her, and when Applejack put her arm around Rainbow’s shoulder, that’s when she started crying again. She sniffed and choke and SNRRKed, trying not to look like such a loser in front of Applejack, but all Applejack did was pull Rainbow in closer and rub her arm. Rainbow had half a mind to ask Applejack what gave her the right to try and act so cool, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything, cuz she just couldn’t stop crying. Applejack leaned her head against Rainbow’s, and Rainbow took the opportunity to bury herself in Applejack’s chest, Applejack putting both arms around her and holding her tight while Rainbow cried, Applejack never saying anything about Rainbow being a loser, or a wimp, or any of that stuff. She just held her. “I don’t know what to do,” Rainbow said between sobs. “I hate dragons—no, I’m freaking terrified of them, Applejack!” Rainbow grabbed onto Applejack’s shirt, and Applejack kissed Rainbow gently on the head, reminding her that Applejack was there, and that she was safe. “I don’t wanna lose one of my best friends,” Rainbow said. “Everything sucks and I don’t know what to do!” Applejack didn’t say anything, but she hummed. She had a nice melody, and listening to her made Rainbow feel warm. She held Rainbow tight in her big, buff arms, rocking her gently, and it made Rainbow feel safe. “Why are you being so nice to me?” Rainbow asked, and even she didn’t know why she did. “Isn’t it obvious?” Applejack chuckled, tilting Rainbow’s chin up with her thumb and looking into Rainbow’s eyes with the brightest smile. “It’s cuz I love ya, sugarcube.” Rainbow’s face twisted up as she tried to hold back more tears, but they came despite her efforts, and as her lip quivered she just nodded as much as she could, hoping that Applejack knew somehow that it meant Rainbow loved her too. Judging from the tender kiss Applejack placed on Rainbow’s lips, she had a pretty good feeling that Applejack got the hint.