//------------------------------// // Rainbow Rain (2020 Revision) // Story: It's Got To Be My Destiny // by 1Bluefur //------------------------------// The two ponies began their journey through Ponyville in silence. Twilight was quick to cast a barrier spell to keep the rain from slowly soaking them. She had a fondness for the relatively simple but effective enchantment. She began to space out, taking in Ponyville’s very rustic aesthetic. The ponies who milled around her seemed to be quite happy. She found herself recalling her older brother, Shining Armor, who had taught her the spell she was using. She was still tuned in just enough though, to answer the occasional question from Fluttershy about Owlowliscious. A question of her own suddenly popped into the unicorn’s head; she turned to the pegasus walking next to her. “So… How did you get to be a part of the Apple family?” Twilight asked. Her gaze wandered a bit along Fluttershy’s body. “She is a lot stronger looking up close,” she silently observed. She was just starting to take in the pony’s cutie-mark when Fluttershy finally responded. “Oh, uh, well…” she flattened her ears a little. “It’s kind of a long story I guess,” Twilight raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to think about her tone. “Well, we definitely have a bit of time before we get there,” she said. “I mean we’re just now starting to get into town proper.” The yellow mare simply shook her head. “Oh, no, no, I’m sorry. I guess I should say that even though I definitely like you, you’re uhm, still pretty new to me. The story is kind of embarrassing so let’s just say I met them when I was a foal and leave it at that.” Twilight felt a twinge of confusion and annoyance. “Horseraddish, I upset her didn’t I?” she thought “Ponies are sensitive about the strangest things sometimes,” as the duo kept moving the silence between stretched taunt and unbearable. Twilight debated with herself if it was worthwhile trying to get Fluttershy back out of her shell. As she was thinking her amethyst eyes settled on Fluttershy’s upright wings, and widened with an idea. “Oh! Uh, hey, I’m sorry about what I asked earlier. But I was hoping you could answer a much less personal question for me,” Twilight plastered on a smile once again, and hoped her friendly tone wasn’t too artificial. Fluttershy didn’t respond verbally, though Twilight could have sworn she saw her eyes flicker to her and back. The unicorn decided to keep talking “When I left Canterlot the weather pony said that it was supposed to be a clear day,” she continued. “But it’s raining; do you have any ideas what that’s about?” At first the other mare did not answer. Twilight was rapidly dreading that perhaps she was so upset she was refusing to speak. Thankfully those fears were quickly proven false. “I don’t know much about the weather because I work on the farm, and I don’t really like coming into town… But I do know that Rainbow Dash is in charge of the weather team and she can be…” the pony struggled with her words for a moment “She can get distracted. She’s used to work in the weather factory in Cloudsdale so every now and then she underestimates the weather here.” Even Twilight could pick up the discomfort in Fluttershy’s tone. For a moment she was caught between continuing the conversation and lapsing into silence. Once more her curiosity won out. “Well, no offense, but Rainbow Dash sounds a bit lazy if you a-“ Sploosh! Twilight froze in horror, Fluttershy squeaked in surprise and distress. A torrent of rainwater had burst through her barrier and soaked her in freezing liquid. “Oh snap! Sorry about that!” a crackly voice called from above. Twilight stood there quivering for a moment before she was able to look up. A cyan Pegasus was fluttering down to where she stood. “Woof! I really soaked you! You alright uh…” her eyes darted to an almost completely dry Fluttershy. All Twilight could really see was indigo, due to her very drenched bangs obscuring her vision. But whatever Fluttershy was doing, it caused the new pony to become defensive. “Hay! Come on, it seriously was an accident this time, Pinkie Promise!” Twilight snorted, and proceeded to shake off the excess water, not really caring about splashing Fluttershy. “You!” she said, pointing an accusatory hoof at the other pony. “You must be Rainbow Dash!” The mare had an extremely distinctive rainbow hued mane. Her magenta eyes, now widened with surprise, contrasted well with her blue coat. “Uh yeah, I am, can you relax a little? What’s your problem anyways? I literally just apologized, and I'm pretty sure we never met sooo...” “My problem is that I am now soaking wet because you can’t do your job!” all the frustration and anxiety that Twilight had been holding back during the day came bubbling to the surface. She felt the heat of anger course through her body from her tail to her horn. “Hay! Look I’m sorry alright?! You try controlling all the rouge weather from the flocking Everfree forest and see how easy that is!” she snapped back, she took to the air in agitation. Flapping her wings with more force than necessary to stay airborne. “So what are you gonna do huh? Turn me to stone because you got a little wet?!” Twilight’s anger abruptly turned to confusion and then panic as she felt it, the warm familiar feeling of magic running through her horn. She winked out its glow and took a step back. “I… I’m sorry. That wasn’t supposed to happen, I mean, I just…” her words flopped clumsily around like a beached fish. “Twilight Sparkle,” at the sound of her name purple unicorn turned to the other pegasus pony. Fluttershy’s expression was extremely serious, something Twilight wouldn't have thought was possible for the meek pony. “That was extremely uncalled for! How dare you treat Rainbow Dash like that! You don’t even know her! I cannot believe your behavior right now! I thought you were a kind, understanding pony….” Twilight’s mouth was agape as Fluttershy trailed off and just glared at her. After a minute, she abruptly looked away, her expression instantly softening. “I uh, just hope you can reconsider your actions… If you want.” “Thanks for the backup ‘shy,” Rainbow said with a grin. Twilight remained silent as Fluttershy sighed and looked up at her. “I’ve known you my whole life Rainbow Dash, so I'll always try to be there for you... But… Please be more careful next time,” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, nopony trusts me anymore,” her body language had calmed a bit, but she remained in the air. Her eyes fell upon Twilight and her expression hardened once more. “You’re definitely new here so I’m not gonna hold it against you,” she said. Suddenly, she was right in front of Twilight, her muzzle almost touching the now nervous unicorn's. “But mark my words Sparkle, I can tell you haven’t had to deal with much hardship in your life okay? We can’t all be ultra talented unicorns from Canterlot alright? So back off! Or maybe next time I’ll accidentally be working on a cumulonimbus over your head,” With that the mare turned tail and sped away with a surprising amount of energy. Twilight felt a huge flurry of negative emotions. “Okay, I was seriously going to apologize but you can’t honestly tell me that was called for!?” she turned to Fluttershy who was simply looking at the ground, looking vaguely miserable. “Let’s just keep going okay?” she mumbled. She started to continue on, but Twilight hesitated, staring at the retreating mare. Then her eyes wandered back up to the area Rainbow was last hovering in. There was no sign of the pegasus pony, Twilight would have been impressed had she not been angry. “I hope I never have to deal with that arrogant pony ever again!” she huffed to herself. The whole situation left a bad taste in her mouth, and as she began to follow Fluttershy, she had a sinking feeling she was definitely going to see that pony again.