Chapter 2:
“Um… guys?” Dash hesitantly knocked on the door. “If we’re heading to Canterlot... why am I in a train car with no windows?”
With a creak, the door popped open a crack and Twilight’s head poked in. “Sorry about this Dash. But um…” She looked about nervously before giving Dash a forced smile, “There are uh… rodents on the train! Yeah! Spiders and rats and such. So we’re taking care of them.”
“Well… rats and spiders don’t bother me Twilight. I could help.”
“Nah, that’s okay! We’ve got it!” Before Dash could say anything else, Twilight withdrew her head and shut the door, gently sliding the lock into place.
Groaning with frustration, Dash flopped on a vacant bench seat and stared at the ceiling.
“Yes!” I cried out as the ball landed securely between my outstretched hooves. All around me, pegasi were dashing off from the starting line to catch airballs thrown by our coach. Floating my way back, I triumphantly tossed the airball into the basket and made my way to the back of the line.
“Hey, Rainbow Crash,” I glanced up and saw Cloud Chaser, flanked by his cohorts, Dum-Bell and Hoops.
“Aw great,” I muttered, my irritation already on the rise.
“Where’s your marefri- Oh sorry, griffon-friend?”
I glared up at Cloud, “She’s sick, and I. Am. Not. A fillyfooler!”
Cloud and his gang laughed, “Really? I coulda sworn I saw you two in her room just the other day.”
I fumed. I wanted desperately to buck him in the face as hard as I could, but I knew I would get kicked off of the team. “Look, Colt Chaser,” I said, “I’m not the one who spends all of their time flanked by a couple of idiot colts. If anyone’s gay, it might be you.” I smiled triumphantly at the lack of response from him and turned back to the front of the line.
“Alright Rainbow Dash,” Coach said, “We’re going for three catches in quick succession. Short, medium, and long range. You don’t have to hold on to them, just catch, drop them and move on. Got it?”
I nodded and dropped into a take-off position.
“Ready.”
I flared my wings out, flapping them slowly to gain some push.
“Set.”
I tensed all of the muscles in my legs, ready to launch myself forward.
“Go!”
I pushed forward with all my might, flapping my wings as hard as I could as the ball took off from Coach’s hooves. I yelped in surprise however, as I felt an uncomfortable tugging on my tail, and shot backwards into the ground. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Cloud Chaser removing his hoof from my tail with a wicked grin on his face. Ahead, the short pass ball was just touching the ground, while the long and medium range balls were already beginning their descent. Even with my speed, there was no way I could catch them.
“You!” I yelled, getting up and shoving a hoof into Cloud Chaser’s face, “You ruined my run!”
Cloud helped up his hooves defensively, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just waiting my turn like everypony else.”
“I saw you! You were deliberately standing on my tail!”
“Hey, what’s all this?” Coach asked, coming between the two of us.
“That…” I bit my tongue, knowing that cursing in front of the Coach wasn’t a good way to make the team, “Colt,” I managed, “sabotaged my run by standing on my tail!”
Cloud feigned horror, “Did I do that? I’m really sorry Rainbow Dash, it was an accident.”
I glowered at him.
“There, he apologized. Let’s keep going then. Dash go pick up the dropped balls, Chaser, you’re up.”
Dash sighed and stared at the clock. She’d been on the train for two hours, and she knew Cloudsdale was still another half a day’s train ride away.
“I can’t take this!” She yelled, getting up and banging on the door again. “Twilight! Let me out!”
“Sorry Dash!” Twilight yelled through the door, “We’re still fighting with the rodents! Here, read one of the Daring Doo books!” A purple glow enveloped the door as Twilight opened it just far enough to slip the book in, before rapidly slamming it shut.
“Something’s up,” Dash muttered, glaring at the door, “and I don’t like it.”
“He’s completely humiliated me!” I yelled, resisting the urge to buck the wall.
“Dash, relax.”
“I can’t! Thanks to Cloud Chaser, I can’t go 10 feet without somepony calling me a fillyfooler, or Rainbow Crash.”
Gilda sighed and laid the comic book she was reading on her stomach. “Dash, you, are so, impulsive.”
I frowned, my frustration temporarily replaced by confusion, “What?”
“You’re impulsive. You fly off the handle at a moment’s notice. Did you ever stop to think about why he gives you so much flak?”
I paused, “Uh..”
“He’s jealous of you Dash.”
“What?”
“Dash, you’re an amazing flier. Probably the best this school has ever seen. You make everyone feel inadequate without
even trying.”
I shrugged helplessly, “So what do I do? Start sucking so they’ll like me more?”
Gilda chuckled and picked up her comic book, “No. Just stop putting so much stock into what some stupid colt says.”
---
“Are we doin’ the right thing guys? Ah really don’t like lyin’ to RD.”
Dash’s friends were sitting in the adjoining train car, Fluttershy and Pinkie's heads pressed up against the windows, enjoying the sights while Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity played cards.
Rarity shrugged, “I don’t see how else we can help the poor dear. Rainbow Dash is far too prideful to ever come to us for help.”
“Got any Celestia’s?” Twilight asked.
“Go fish.”
Twilight sighed and magically drew a card from the pile in the center of the table. “I really don’t see any other option Applejack. I don’t like being dishonest either, but I think, given the circumstances, Rainbow will forgive us.”
Applejack looked down, “Ah just can’t take this. Ahm the Element of Honesty! Ah can’t lie to mah friend. ‘Specially when she’s the Element of Loyalty.”
“Appleja-“
“No Twilight. This ain’t right. Ahm tellin’ her.” Setting down her cards, Applejack stood up and, after adjusting her Stetson, marched smartly towards the door.
“RD? Ah need ta tell you somethin’.”
Dash looked up from the Daring Doo book and frowned, “What’s up?”
“We uh, haven’t been entirely honest with ya.”
Dash snorted and closed the book, “That’s pretty obvious Applejack.”
AJ blushed and scratched the back of her neck. “Ahm sorry Dash. We jus-“ she was interrupted as the door behind her shot open with a ‘bang’.
What-?” Dash was cut off as Pinkie appeared in the doorway, grabbed AJ, and slammed the door behind her.
“What the hay is going on!?” Dash shouted, running to the door and repeatedly whacking her hoof against it. She paused for a moment, replaying the events in her mind.
‘Why was the car so dark? It’s only mid-afternoon. The sunlight should’ve been coming in the windows… unless..’
Suddenly, Dash resumed her banging with renewed vigor. “Tell me why we’re going to Cloudsdale! You can’t fool a Pegasus who uses the sun as navigation! I know where we’re going!”
---
Everypony glared at Applejack, who stood her ground. “Ah didn’t tell her! She figgered it out on her own!”
“So… do we let her out?”
Bang! The gunshot echoed around the cloudiseum as the stable doors shot open. Pumping my wings as fast as I could, I rocketed ahead of the other Pegasus ponies as the race began. I banked left as the first corner rushed up to me, skimming as close to the railing on the inside of the track as I dared. As I finished the curve, I flapped as hard and as fast as I could, seeing the anemometer at the end of the straightaway. In a blink of an eye, I was past it, and realized with a small amount of horror that the second corner was coming up way too fast.
“No no no no!” For a brief moment, I wished that I was an earth pony, and could pass through clouds harmlessly. But, I wasn’t. I closed my eyes and tensed my body for the bone-shattering impact that was about to come, but it never did. I slowly opened one eye to find myself inches away from the wall, completely still. I looked over my shoulder to see Cloud Chaser, my tail firmly gripped between his teeth. I stared in shock.
‘He… saved me?’
I opened my mouth to say something, but he released my tail and sped off, turning to complete his lap. The shock wearing off, I remembered where I was and sped off after him, my wings flapping furiously to make up the lost ground.
Ten minutes later, Cloud and I were both neck and neck as we rounded the last corner and sped towards the finish line.
“Stupid… crashy… Pegasus,” Cloud said, barely audible over the roar of the win.
“Speak for yourself,” I grunted, “colt chasing… plot hole…”
Suddenly, Cloud sped up, taking the lead just as we crossed the finish line. I tasted ash in my mouth as I realized I had come in second place. Heart in my throat, I slowly flapped my way to the exit, unable to watch the other pegasi celebrate Cloud’s victory.
“Dash?”
I turned around, behind me stood Gilda, looking uncertain. “Yeah?”
“You alright?”
I nodded, slipping on my mask of bravado. “’Course I am G. Gonna take more than one lousy loss to keep me down.”
Gilda smiled, “So you wouldn’t mind if I went out with everyone else and celebrated?”
That stung. I knew I couldn’t be upset at her for it, we were a team, and I had just gotten done telling her I was fine. “Yeah, go party to your heart’s content. I’m pretty tired, so I think I’m gonna go home and just shower and sleep.”
Gilda nodded, “sounds good. I’ll try not to wake you when I come in.”
Dash hit her forehead with her hoof. Not. Good. Memories.
“Rainbow?” came Twilight’s voice through the door, “we’re here.”
Dash stared at the door, dread coursing through her veins because she knew as soon as that door opened, every awful memory of her time around Cloud Chaser would be displayed to her at some point or another. With a creak, the door opened, and Twilight slowly stepped in.
“I don’t want to go,” Dash said, crossing her forelegs in front of her, “I put it all behind me when I left.”
“No, you didn’t,” Twilight said, “not if this is how you get whenever you think about it.”
“So?” Dash shot back, “It’s my business.”
Twilight sighed, “Yes, it is. But Dash, we only did this because we’re really concerned about you. We just think you should get some closure.”
Dash stared at Twilight. ‘I know she’s right. I just don’t want to deal with it. But… it’s been five years. Maybe it’s time I dealt with it. I dunno.’ Eventually, logic won out and Rainbow gave a slow nod.
“Alright fine, you win. I’ll go.”
Twilight immediately burst into a huge smile and opened the door.
“Just… Twi? Let me… let me do this on my own,” the door quickly swung shut, and Dash backpedaled. “I’m not going to skip out on it! I’m going to do it. I just don’t want an audience.”
Twilight sighed. “That’s fair. We managed to book a hotel near the ‘Tipsy Coinpurse’. So, I’ll leave you to it.”
Dash nodded and stepped through the door. On the other side, the rest of her friends were waiting. When they saw her, each of them gave a large smile.
“We’re all here for you if you need us Dash.”
Dash smiled and nodded, “thanks guys, for… for pushing me to do this, and letting me do it on my own.”
“Of course silly willy! What kind of friends would we be if we didn’t look out for you?”
“Not very good ones, I guess. Anyway, I’ll see you guys tonight.” With that, Dash took off and flew out of the train and into the open air. Despite the dread that was still seated in the pit of her stomach, a small part of Dash still relished being back in the gigantic cloud city. So much so that she decided to let herself enjoy it a little before getting to the horrible part. As she sped around the perimeter of the city, she noticed the Flight School campus, and saw that the airball team was still mid-practice. Landing on the patch of cloud in front of the stadium, she walked in through the main entrance, down a couple of hallways, until she stopped in front of the exit that led to the field.
“Augh! I can’t take this waiting!” I yelled, getting up and pacing back and forth. “Just post the stupid results already!”
“Chill out Dash,” Gilda said, idly inspecting a claw, “I’m sure you’re on your coltfriends team.”
“He’s not my coltfriend! I hate that jerk!”
Gilda gave me a grin, “Hate to break it to you, but there’s a fine line between love and hate.”
I spluttered, trying to come up with a decent retort, I was never given the chance however, as a pony with one of the judge’s badges on came out with a handful of papers.
“Ahem, alright! I’m going to start listing names and positions for the Varsity team! First, for starting quarterback, we have
Gizelda Greybeak!”
“Yes!” Gilda cried out, punching the air with a fist. I smiled at her and bumped my hoof against her fist.
“Way to go Gilda, that’s awesome!”
“Wide receiver, Cloud Chaser!”
I inwardly groaned, I knew he was practically destined for that spot, but I still had hoped I might have avoided playing with him. On and on the judge went, calling out names and position. After each pony called, the knot that had formed in my stomach grew tighter and tighter, and as he reached the last page of the list, I feared I hadn’t made the team at all.
“And lastly, for our last linebacker, Snowflake!”
I stared at the judge in shock, even despite Snowflake screaming “YEAH!” into my ear, I couldn’t believe it.
“For those of you whose names weren’t called, better luck next year.”
“Wait!” I said, running up to the judge, “Are you sure you didn’t forget somepony? Like… Rainbow Dash?”
The judge gave me a stern look before turning back to his clipboard, “Oh yes, Rainbow Dash. You’re on the JV team, wide receiver.”
I stared at the judge as he turned and walked away. Junior Varsity? Me?
Vaguely, I was aware of Gilda walking up next to me. “Dash..” She gingerly laid a talon on my shoulder. I shrugged it off, standing up and looking back at her.
“I’m gonna go for a bit.”
With that, I quickly walked out of the classroom and into the hall, where I broke into a full on sprint so Nopony would see me. Shooting out the front doors I took off, flying as far and as fast as I could, completely ignorant of the direction I went. Eventually I landed in a random street on the other side of Cloudsdale, one that was thankfully empty. I felt heartbroken. Varsity was my ticket to my dream. Most of the ponies in the Wonderbolts played for Varsity, they perform at all of their games. And now..
Dash shut her eyes, willing the memory away. Once she was certain, she opened her eyes and walked up to the exit to peer through the window. Outside on the field, younger pegasi were flying around, practicing for an upcoming game. Dash’s attention shifted as a shrill whistle blast pierced the air, and she focused on a large red Pegasus standing on the sideline.
“Bring it in!” She heard him yell. Dash felt a pang of longing and regret wash over her. She desperately missed being a part of the school’s airball team, despite all of her reasons for leaving. Tearing her eyes from the window, she turned and started walking back to the main entrance, her feelings of regret growing with each step.
“I never should have left,” she muttered.
‘I thought you had some very specific reasons for leaving,’ her logical side reminded her.
“Yeah, but I enjoyed the work, and it was my best chance at becoming a Wonderbolt.”
‘I remember something else entirely.’
“So I was a bit lazy. I knew almost everything that they taught in class, and I was easily one of the best fl-“
‘That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.’
Dash furiously shook her head, banishing the annoying voice from her thoughts as she walked through the door. Around her, the clouds had gone from fluffy white, to a dark pink and purple hue as Celestia’s sun set in the distance.
‘How could I not make the team? I was great, I outclassed every pegasi there. This isn’t fair. I worked my flank off to get on that team, and they just…’
I shook my head as tears threatened to spill down my cheeks. When that didn’t work, I opted to land, as nothing was worse than flying blind. I sniffled as I landed and looked around. The street I had landed on was mostly empty, but I still didn’t want to announce my tears to all of Cloudsdale. Fortunately, my salvation appeared as a small alley nestled between a convenience store and some other, random unnamed building. Quickly walking into it, I sat down on my haunches and let the tears flow.
I must have fallen asleep at some point, because when I opened my eyes it was dark, and the street lamps had come on. Standing up, I decided I should head home, before I really caused Gilda to worry. My joints popped as I stood, reminding me through a dull ache that cramped alleys are not the best place for a nap.
“Hey, what’s a pretty mare like you doing here?”
My head snapped up and I saw a dark blue Pegasus standing at the mouth of the alley.
“Uh, nothing,” I said lamely, scratching the back of my neck. I don’t know what it was about this stallion but it made the coat on the back of my neck stand on end.
“Well how ‘bout I walk you home? It’s awful dark out here for a young mare like you.”
I took an involuntary step back, my nervousness growing with each passing moment. “Uh, thanks mister, but that’s alright. I can find my way home just fine.”
“Aw, don’t be like that,” he took a few steps into the alley, “I won’t hurt ya.”
“Again, thanks but no thanks.” I stepped forward to move past him and into the night, but he held up a hoof and barred my way.
“I said, I wasn’t gonna hurt you,” his demeanor had changed entirely, from being creepily helpful, to dangerously angry. I backed away, intending to just fly straight up and away from him, but as I flared my wings I found the alley was too narrow for me to flap.
“You ain’t flyin’ away pretty mare,” the stallion said, his voice sounding angrier and crueler with each word. “I told you,” he said, taking another couple of steps forward, “I wasn’t gonna hurt you. But you didn’t believe me, so now I gotta.” Suddenly, he lunged forward, tackling me to the ground. Panicking, I did the only thing I could think of and swung with one of my forehooves at his face. I felt a small amount of joy as my hoof connected with the side of his head, snapping it to the side.
Stars exploded in my vision a moment later, as he roughly backhooved me in retaliation. “Buckin’ bitch,” he muttered, backhoofing me again. My eyes widened in panic as the stallion pinned my hooves to the ground, and I realized just what his intention was.
“No!” I yelled, struggling to free myself, tears streaming down my face as panic and dread coursed through me like ice. “No. Please. I-I’ll do anything! Just let me go!”
“Shut up!” He yelled, cocking one hoof back and punching me in the snout. I spluttered as blood filled my nose and dribbled into my mouth. I glared at him and renewed my struggles, putting every ounce of strength I had into breaking free. I cried out as the stallion gave me a wicked grin.
"Can't escape me now little mare."
"Help! Somepony! Please! Help me!" My panic increased as the stallion clamped a hoof over my mouth, cutting off any vocal protests. I realized with an awful feeling of dread, that I was doomed. I clenched my eyes shut, hoping that maybe I could just block it all out, and pretend it never happened.
“Hey. What the buck is this?” Vaguely, I was aware of another presence nearing us. A small burst of hope sparked in me, and I renewed my struggles, trying to free my mouth so I could scream for help.
“What the… You son of a bitch!” The blue stallion was roughly pulled off of me, and through the blur of tears I was able to see a dark form slam the stallion against the wall and punch him squarely in the mouth.
“Are yo- Rainbow Cra-err, Dash? Is that you?”
I blinked furiously and looked up to see a light green colt standing over me, concern etched into his features. I gave a pathetic whimper in response, which, even considering my current situation, stung my pride as the sound reached my ears.
“Shh, it’s okay,” he said, gingerly reaching a hoof out to comfort me. I shrank back, the fear and adrenaline that was coursing through my veins making me wary of everything. I fought back a sob as a fresh wave of emotion washed over me. Sensing my distress, Cloud carefully stepped forward and scooped me up in his hooves.
“I’m going to take you to the hospital alright?” I nodded, abandoning any pride I had left and clinging to him as sobs wracked my body.
Dash hovered in the air, staring at the spot where it had all taken place. Nothing had changed, yet, it seemed so different
looking from that night. In her memory, it had seemed as if the place teemed with evil. Now, it looked like a cramped alley next to a run-down pair of buildings. She felt proud however, that she could think about that awful event, and even visit where it had occurred, without so much as a pang of emotion. It meant she had gotten past it, and that the stallion who had done it held no power over her.
“Now, if only I could get over Cloud Chaser,” she muttered, turning and flying towards the hotel Twilight had booked.
---
Aaaaaand done!