The next morning, Rainbow Dash was effortlessly lifting the toppiece of a slab of wooden framework. Several ropes were tugging on the opposite end as she raised the buildingside in place. Holding it in place with two hooves, she pivoted and shouted down below.
“Okay! It's set! Your turn!”
Beneath Rainbow Dash, three dozen Ridgeside villagers were gathered for the massive building construction. Using an advanced pulley system, they hoisted several wooden beams into place, bracing them against the length of siding. As they held the pylons into position, Rainbow Dash blurred down, grabbed a satchel of tools, and soared back up. In swift order, she fastened the beams to the framework in several adjoining places. Soon, there was a thin but impressive framework for a brand new structure in the center of the Emeraldine village. At least a hundred ponies were watching, and the villagers clapped their hooves against the ground in joy and triumph.
Once Rainbow Dash was finished with the basic attachments, she touched down to the ground and wiped the sweat from her brow. In the meantime, several ponies erected ladders and began work on applying the walls and roof panels to the growing structure.
“Way to go, Rainbow Dash!” Grassy Fields exclaimed as he scurried his way up. “We're gonna build this thing in record time!”
“We may actually beat the rain front!” another exclaimed. “Thanks a bunch!”
“Hey...” Rainbow exhaled, sitting on her haunches as she detached the stachel from her body. “Don't mention it. What's this place gonna be anyways? A factory for awesomeness?”
“What does this look like?” Cherrymane made a face. “Darkstine?”
“I think the elders said something about a gathering place of sorts,” Brisk Run added.
“A public dance hall,” Mayor Evergreen said, suddenly there. She trotted up with a pair of advisors and smiled at the gathering. “Our community's been wanting one for a long time. I figured now was the best time to commission its construction finally.”
“No kidding?” Rainbow Dash ran a hoof through her mane, smirking. “You ponies seem so carefree. It boggles my mind that you never danced around before.”
“We'd just do it anywhere in the streets,” Brisk Run said.
Cherrymane giggled. “Now we'll have no excuse to be so crazy!”
“I'd beg to differ.” Evergreen smiled. “Now you'll just have a place to channel the craziness.”
“I wouldn't mind seeing you get down with your bad self, Ms. Evergreen.”
“I wouldn't want to ruin the hooves I write with,” she replied.
Several nearby ponies chuckled.
“Wow, it's like everypony in the village is out here today,” Rainbow Dash uttered with a nervous smile.
“Just about,” Evergreen remarked. “I've never seen the neighborhood this excited since the last time we had Queen Whitemane visit.”
“Oh?” Rainbow Dash blinked. “So, what, is she stopping by soon?”
“No, dummy!” Cherrymane stuck her tongue out. “It's cuz you are here!”
“Me?”
“We were thanking, Rainbow Dash,” Evergreen spoke, “Of naming this meeting place 'Dash Hall' once the final construction is complete. Would that be okay by you?”
Rainbow Dash's cheeks turned a rosier shade as her ears drooped. “Jee. You're pulling my tail.”
“Hardly.”
“That's... uhm... That's pretty swell.” She scratched the back of her neck, smiling sheepishly. “I always figured I would have something named after me. But a dance hall...?”
“Would you rather not?” Brisk Run said.
“Oh! I'm totally cool with it and all!” She winked. “Just be sure you play plenty of Journeigh songs.”
Cherrymane giggled.
“I don't get it,” Brisk Run remarked.
“Don't worry. One day, it will find you.”
“You should stay long enough to see opening night!” Cherrymane remarked. “You'd be the life of the party! I know it!”
“Heh. As much as I'd love to be part of something so cool...” Rainbow Dash dug nervously at the ground. “I... well...” She bit her lip and glanced at the Mayor. “Did you tell them?”
Evergreen smiled softly the younger ponies' way. “Miss Dash will be early tomorrow evening.”
“What?” Brisk Run gasped.
“Awwww...” Cherrymane's face fell in a sad slump. “Must you really? So soon?”
“I've got places to go. And apparently Verdestone is next on my list,” Rainbow said, winking the Mayor's way.
“But it feels like you just got here!” Brisk Run exclaimed, his ears drooping in a melancholic fashion. “Why are you in such a hurry to fly away?”
“Well...” She stood up straight and fiddled with her pendant. “It's not that I'm in a hurry, exactly...”
“You're so awesome and so carefree about everything. It's like you have all the time in the world.”
Rainbow Dash stared blankly back at the group. “Heh...” Her lips curved, but only slightly. “Let's just say that the world's not gonna explore itself.”