*Author's note*: I simply couldn't fit the entire ending in one chapter (Part 2 will be released in a day or two). As you have probably noticed, this chapter is really long. I don't regret putting all my effort into finishing it! I know you guys want a good ending, and there's plenty of things I wanted to clarify before the end. Some of the mysterious happenings in my previous chapters confused all you guys. Just you wait 'till the next chapter - everything will be explained! I'm really excited about reaching the pinnacle of my story; I've been trying for months to get myself to finish these chapters. (I'm sure you've noticed that my chapters are getting longer too!)
"Come on! What'r 'yall waitin' for?" Sneered Applejack.
"There is no reason to be so rude, Applejack!" Said Rarity, "Humph! Everything takes time! Not everyone was raised in a tomboyish fashion like you were!"
Applejack heaved a sigh, then slowly shook her head as she climbed the first few steps of the the dark, twisted staircase
"Let's not start this again!" She called behind her back.
When Applejack had gone well out of earshot, Pinkie Pie rushed in front of me, just as I was going to lift my leg onto the first step.
"Do you know why Applejack is so cheerless today!?" She said in a hoarse whisper (not much of a whisper, since I could tell very well that the rest of the ponies had heard her too)
"Well, I really don't-"
"Because she's all like grrrr and I'm all like hahaha!! And I really don't know what's wrong with her today! She's usually so happy yet I haven't been able to cheer her up! It makes me so sad!!!"
She then threw her face onto my shoulder and began sobbing away (does anypony in Equestria understand the meaning of "personal space"...?)
I nudged her face off my shoulder, and said: "We really shouldn't be worrying about things like that just yet... Meeting my daughter is the most important thing to me right now! We should get going..."
I had only managed to increase the volume of her ear-piercing sobs. She lay there on the stone floor, grasping my back legs, cuddling herself, and letting streams of tears flow out of her eyes.
"Twilight!" I yelled. "Do something about the girls and Pinkie Pie; I'm going to catch up to Applejack on the stairs, okay?"
I'm not entirely sure if Twilight overheard me throughout all the ruckus ; I'm sure she'll take care of it. The only thought hovering in my mind was me meeting Dashie.
I let the chaos melt away behind me as I rushed up into the darkness of the staircase. My hooves created a rather familiar *Click* as they skipped across the cold stairs. I rummaged through my weary mind to try and find a memory related to this peculiar sound
(I hadn't noticed, but my speed had increased quite a bit; whenever I looked down, I saw the stairs flicking by as if I was watching an escalator of immense speed rushing beneath my feet)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I remember! Now I remember!
Back on Earth, Dashie and I used to go for brisk walks out in the open countryside; One evening, she begged me to follow a new route through the woods, which she had discovered the day before. I gladly agreed, adventurous as I am.
My sides ached form laughing as I watched her happily prancing through the tall grass on the front lawn (never could find the time to mow it). She's always full of energy, always ready to take on anything! I watched the autumn leaves crunch under my feet - now that's something you can't forget!
I took a deep breath of the refreshing air, which autumn had always offered to me with great pleasure. Dashie asked me why the leaves fall off the trees; I told her that little darling ponies, much like herself, caused the colorful leaves to drop away their "homes". She looked up at me, young eyes full of wonder, and asked me where the other like her were. I answered that I didn't know.
We had decided to walk a bit longer, since days like these aren't occasional. After half an hour oh Dashie trying to trip me by diving under my feet (what a prankster!), we came across a sullen stone staircase, seemingly leading up into nothingness. Of course, being adventurous and all, Dashie leaped for the staircase and promptly began leaping from step to step, higher and higher into the darkness of the woods.
"Come on, daddy!" She giggled.
"Oh no you don't!" I laughed. "C'mere!"
I chased her for a few minutes, yet it seemed to get darker even faster! The staircase grew more tattered.
I was no match for her superior agility, so she just slowed down a bit to let me catch up to her.
"Gotcha!" I yelled as I picked her up and spun her around. "C'mon, let's go home."
From that day on, she always asked me what was at the top of that old, stone staircase. I always answered that I didn't know.
The sound of Dashie's hooves skipping across the stone staircase filled my mind. I began to wonder if she would really be there, at the top of this staircase...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hadn't noticed the slight appearance of Applejack's slim silhouette in the dim light which was being let through the tiny cracks an crevices of the aging staircase walls . She seemed to be buried in her own thoughts, occasionally mumbling something to herself; Obviously too occupied to notice me.
"Hey..." I whispered, "Is something bothering you?"
Applejack jumped a bit, started to see me.
"Oh, I'm sorry if I scared you..." I mumbled.
"Nah' it's okay sugarcube..." She sighed, "It's just that Rainbow's so... different...A-Ah' Don' feel like Ah' know her anymore..."
She solemnly shut her eyes and lowered her head to the floor.
After giving head a few shakes, she stood up and said:
"Well, no use whinin'! Let's get a move on'!" (this is what I like in Applejack)
I was momentarily overrun with mixed emotions: For one thing, I was more or less happy that Dashie was normal; On the other hand, I felt a bit sorry for her friends, since they don't know her anymore. She may still have the appearance of Rainbow Dash, but on the inside, she's different (I hope). There are a few similarities, but she's still not the same to them. I always had been afraid they would've done something to her to change her back to "normal".
Distant voices echoed throughout the tower; causing my ears to tweak up. Sounded like Twilight had finally gotten everypony onto the stairs (Pinkie Pie's screams drowned the rest of the nonsensical jabbering).
How do the mane six put up with Pinkie Pie? I mean, she's not somepony you'd want to be around all day long. I fancied her crazy behavior back when I was still a young, but actually being around her is quite different (sorry to all the Pinkie Pie fans out there, but this is more or less a true).
"I see you've already made it all the way up here! I'm impressed!"
Luna had been blankly standing right in front of us the entire time! (I know she's the princess of the night, yet I never expected her to be able to be unnoticeable in the darkness.
"How much 'till the top?" Asked Applejack.
"Humph" grumbled Luna, "I expected a bit more from Ponyville's number one athlete!"
"Wha-? No! I just wan'ed to know how much 'till we reach the top!" she growled (never was too fond of Luna)
"Oh, settle down!" Luna laughed.
She vigorously shook her head trying to bring herself back to normal. Her tiara would have hit the solid stone staircase if I hadn't caught it in time.
"Whoa! Thanks!" She laughed, "Those are some mighty good reflexes you got there!"
"Don't thank me; I've been catching falling fillies for the most part of my life" I giggled.
Twilight and the rest of the gang caught up to us while we were chatting away.
"What...What are you guys doing here...I thought you already...reached the top!" She panted.
"Well, we haven't yet..." Grumbled Applejack, "We've had a bit of a...interference" She then frowned and looked at Luna (Luna shrugged, quite unusual for a princess - I couldn't help smiling)
Fluttershy had slipped behind the rest of the group, trying to stay unnoticeable (just being Fluttershy, I guess
"Fluttershy!" I laughed, "Why couldn't you just fly tot he top? You have fully functional wings!"
"O-o-o-oh, well it's awfully high and-and I don't really like heights..." She whispered.
"Figured..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
With Luna in the lead, we continued our exhausting climb up the twisted stairs.
"Oh, oh!!! I remember that brick over there! It's all funny-shaped!" Screamed Pinkie Pie.
"How could you have possibly remembered a brick!?" groaned Rarity.
"Silly! I remember things, *snap*, just like that!" she giggled. Then began maniacally hopping up and down.
"Pinkie Pie!" yelled Spike, "Stop doing that! You're going to knock me over again!"
"Aw, don't worry Spikey-wikey!" Chimed pinkie Pie, "I'm super careful all the time, around the clock!"
"Sure you are..." Mumbled Rarity, "That's why you nearly destroyed my shop last time you went visiting..."
Twilight's annoyance grew. Not a big fan of arguing: always shaking her head, and every few minutes giving me a stern look, as if asking me to tell everypony to settle down (I smiled back at her, like I didn't understand what she wanted; the last thing I wanted to happen was me having to take charge of everypony)
Speaking of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they were still tirelessly tugging along behind the rest of the group, chatting about the many possibilities of being able surprise "Rainbow Dash".
"Girls, I don't think surprising her is anywhere near a good idea..." I said sternly.
Scootaloo (a well known "Rainbow Dash" fanatic), sadly said: "Not even a tiny surprise...?"
"Not even a tiny one!" I laughed
We grew wearier with every step we took. I had never expected the tower to be this big!
"When are we going to reach the top already!?" Groaned Rarity.
Luna stopped for a brief moment, and thoughtfully stroked her chin.
"We're nearly there, I believe!" She exclaimed.
"It doesn't...feel like we're anywhere...near the top! Panted Spike (I couldn't ever understand how he managed to keep up with us, his stubby legs were never much of a sight to behold).
"Hey!" yelled Twilight, "We've reached the first door!"
(Twilight and Luna were blocking the view from everypony else)
"Indeed we have!" Said Luna
"Weeeeee!!! Let's go!!!" Screamed Pinkie Pie (way to be enthusiastic...)
Guarding the entrance to Dashie's "chamber" (or whatever room was beyond that door) was an enormous, over-sized oak door, decorated with many beautiful patterns plated with iron. The entire door was much like a work of art itself.
"Whoa, what's with the unnecessary security?" I groaned.
"You mean this old thing?" said Luna, "It's here just to give this dark passageway a mysterious look, if you know what I mean...To make it more interesting"
"Mysterious indeed..." I mumbled, "So how do we get it open?"
"Correction!" She shouted, "How do I get it open."
Luna tapped the center of the wooden "barricade" with her horn, commencing a rather loud and annoying groan.
"Ha! I love doing that!" She said proudly; "Everypony step back!" She shouted, "These things sure can pack a punch; don't ask me how I know that..."
The Cutie mark crusaders slipped out of their hiding place behind Fluttershy, and rushed past the rest of the group to hide behind me. The doors sent ear-piercing echos throughout the entire Stairwell.
"This thing sure seems lah'der than last tah'm!" Shouted Applejack while pinning her ears to her head.
"Sounds the same to me!!!" Yelled Pinkie Pie.
"Everything's the same for you!" Bellowed Rarity.
The doors swung open with ease, making me wonder why they groaned like a starving giant's stomach. Curiosity led me to ask Luna about them.
"Don't ask me about those doors; I really don't know anything about them." She replied, "If you really want to know, just throw give my big sister a visit, she'll most likely let you know."
"Thanks, but I'd rather not..." I muttered.
Before us stood a long hallway aligned with beautiful stained glass windows on either side. The sunlight which passed through them created many interesting patterns on the Granite floor. It would have resembled the Canterlot throne room had it been a little larger.
"Welcome to the overpass, or whatever my sister calls it!" Shouted Luna. Her voice echoed back to us, giving another faint impression of the largeness of this apparent hallway-like passageway.
She proudly climbed the small stairs leading up to the "overpass" between the castle and the tower.
"I don't remember this room on my model..." I muttered.
Pinkie Pie tugged my tail, then whispered into my ear: "Model!? What model? Tell me about it!!! I want to make a model too!!"
I softly elbowed her away, then replied: "It's not important. I'll tell you later."
"O-o-o-okay-y-y-y" She squeaked.
Back in on Earth, I had put together a lot of time and effort to complete an accurate model of the Canterlot castle. I kept in the top shelf of my wardrobe given to me by my parents; I remembered every tiny aspect of it, yet I had no memory of this, this overpass thing. It was modeled from picture on the internet, so I'm not entirely sure it was, well, accurate.
I cautiously entered the long hallway-like structure, half expecting it to fall under my weight.
"C'mon, what are y'all scared about? Let's go!" Applejack said rather loudly.
"I-I don't know... I-I think it isn't safe!" Whispered Fluttershy (she doesn't really ever not whisper).
"AJ's right!" I cried, "If we don't hurry, we might not get there in time!"
"In time for what?" Rarity mused.
"Um, well, Dashie might not be awake...?" I replied, "So let's hurry up!"
I pushed past Twilight Sparkle, who had Spike on her back, and galloped onwards through the pale light coming through the stained glass windows.
"No reason to hurry!" Yelled Luna. She flew over my head and dropped down in front of me, blocking my way. (our faces would have touched, had she been any closer); "We have plenty of time; besides, my sister isn't anywhere near here, so don't you worry" She whispered (then winked).
Don't tell me Luna knows my secret!? Maybe she's a good guesser? I just tried not to think about it.
I let my head fall to the floor, and said quietly "All right, just don't do that, you scared the living heck out of me!"
Luna smirked, "There's plenty more where that came from!"
"I'd rather not know..." I mumbled.
Luna and I chatted away while the rest of the astonished ponies (and Spike) caught up to us.
"Prepare yourselves!" Shouted Luna. "We've got another flight of stairs to conquer!"
"WHAT!?" cried Rarity. "I simply can't take anymore stairs..."
"Don't worry, Rarity!" Laughed Applejack. "Don'cha remember that the staircase leadin' up ta' Rainbow's room isn't any bigger than your own staircase?"
"Oh, right..." Rarity sighed.
Luna opened the other door leading to the staircase (almost identical to the last one, but trimmed with gold-like metal). Once again, an annoying groan shot through the entire hall, shaking every bone in my body, down to the last one. The entire group (including me) covered their ears; only Luna blankly stood there like nothing had happened. I guess listening to yourself using the "royal Canterlot voice" all day long, around the clock, gets you used to loud, obnoxious noises.
The door swung open, just like the last one, and Luna proceeded to head up the stairs to the incoming light from the room in the tower. Was Dashie really in that room? Was I really about to meet Dashie!? My began racing faster than a rabbit's; My face drenched itself in sweat. I began shaking, barely able to move!
I must...I must!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applejack stayed behind with me and Pinkie Pie.
"Can-ya tell me what a model is now!?" Whispered Pinkie Pie.
...
"Pinkie, leave the poor 'feller alone!" Said Applejack, "He don't need no questions now; I mean look at him!"
Applejack wasn't joking - I was quite a sorry sight. For a big guy like me, I was acting no better than a filly! My actions had a reason, though. My mind simply couldn't accept the fact that Dashie was just a few steps up some stairs. What if they'd done something to her!? (I was in doubt that they had done anything to her - according to the description of Applejack).
"Donno watcha waitin' for, Mister Dash!" Giggled Pinkie Pie as she hopped up the stairs, out of sight.
Applejack shook her head, then turned towards me.
"Come on, Mr. Dash. Less' go." She said calmly.
Applejack has a unique ability to calm someone down just by talking to them in a soothing voice; I always thought she had been the most pleasant pony I had met in the past week or so.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step by step, breath by breath - I approached the staircase leading into Dashie's room. With every step, the unpleasant "choir" of voices protruding from the room got louder. I shut my eyes, then proceeded to climb the last few steps leading to Dashie's room; my face was rather scrunched up from me trying to squeeze my eyelids together. I felt a warm gush of air meet my face, and my mane freely mocked the early summer breeze. A sudden silence fell across the room, as if somebody had pressed an "Equestrian mute button". I mustered up enough courage and strength to peek out of my left eye - I honestly wanted to know why everybody had shut their mouth as I entered the room.
I found out why. Standing slap right in front of me was Princess Celestia herself; Eyes nearly level with mine. I felt a cold shudder shoot through my spinal cord - I knew this wasn't good, and I figured Luna would be in trouble all because of me! The Princess had an unpleasant frown on her face, almost as if she had expected me to arrive. I couldn't make out the rest of the contents of the room - Celestia's face was in the way. The only thing I could see were her disappointed, purplish eyes (I tried to seek out a reflection of Dashie in them, but to no avail).
She turned away from me, and headed towards a large bed in the middle of the room. As she stepped away from me (the rest of the ponies held their tongues), my eyes quickly scavenged for any signs of Dashie; there were none. I couldn't see her anywhere. The only thing that caught my eye was a brown, box-like thing sitting in the middle of the king sized bed.
No words spoken, I pushed past Princess Celestia, towards the brown box on the bed. It was empty. A few scribbles on the side of the box caught my eye, they read "Give to good home". I couldn't hold back my tears - this was the exact same box I had found Dashie in, and the exact same box I had given to her... It was empty. The rest of the group had such a comical look of bewilderment in their eyes, especially the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Pinkie Pie. Some of them had their mouths wide open (they obviously had no idea what was going on).
I turned to Princess Celestia, who was having a quiet talk with Luna, box in my mouth (I had grown used to carrying things in my mouth), and said (with much effort): "Where is she?"
Celestia's eyes met mine, and she stood up a little higher (most likely trying to look taller than me). She approached me, then said in an unusually calm voice: "She's home."
"What home!?" I snarled.
Some of the group cast each other worried looks; the Cutie Mark Crusaders hid behind Fluttershy (who was already shaking like a leaf on a winter morning).
"She's where she belongs - her home." She said in same calm voice.
"How do you know she belongs there!?" I said a bit louder (I was losing it - my entire journey had led to nothing, and Celestia simply wouldn't tell me where she had moved Dashie to!)
"Psst!" Pinkie Pie squeaked into my ear (I had no idea how she had gotten so close to me; I was really losing it - sweating and breathing like a bull on steroids), "I think she meant that she moved Dashie to her own home!"
Pinkie was most likely talking about that giant cloud-looking thing, where "Rainbow Dash" used to live. Why would Dashie move there, and why would she forget to bring something as precious as the box I was currently clutching in my teeth!?
Not a word was said for a solid two minutes. I looked at Luna, Twilight sparkle, then Princess Celestia (who was still frowning), then at the balcony.
"Screw this!" I yelled.
I sprinted towards the balcony. I didn't know what thoughts were racing through my head at that moment, but I knew what I was about to do was insane. I pushed past Princess Celestia, leaped over the bed, and trampled Spike (no one seemed to notice except for Twilight). I had startled everypony with my unexpected actions, and not one of them dared move a muscle.
The Balcony grew larger as I mindlessly charged to the grasp of the outdoors.
"Wait! Let Fluttershy come with you!" Yelled Applejack.
"A-Applejack, Um, it's aw-awfully high from the top of th-this tower..." Fluttershy squeaked.
"Dun't matter!" Yelled Applejack, "He's gonna jump off the darned tower, and you just try and don't stop him!"
Applejack grabbed Fluttershy (who was mumbling nonsense, obviously scared like hell), tossed her on her back like a used sack of potatoes, then charged in after me.
The warm summer sunshine engulfed my entire body, I felt full of energy, ready for anything!
I stopped short at the edge of the balcony, astounded by the beauty of the Equestrian countryside. The distant mountains cast vast shadows down upon Ponyville. The evening sun danced happily in the reflections of the numerous lakes and rivers. The rivers reminded me of blood vessels - each carrying life to every corner of Equestria.
My thoughts were stopped short by Applejack, who had gained enormous speed and couldn't find the time to stop short (She obviously hadn't expected me to stop on the balcony!) Moments later, I noticed a screeching blurry yellow thing tossed over my head.
Applejack had thrown Fluttershy over the railings of the balcony! (the look on my face had caused Scootaloo to burst into laughter - not something I would have done if one of my friends had been thrown down a few thousand feet; I wondered why none of the Princesses had given half a rat's ass about Fluttershy!) - They most likely expected her to use her wings...
"BUCK!!!" Shouted Applejack
Fluttershy grew smaller and smaller, and her screams grew more distant. She didn't show any obvious signs of using her wings!
"My time to shine!!!" I yelled maniacally as I slipped over the edge of the balcony.
*Another Author's note*: You've hopefully noticed the enormous amount of dialogue I've stuffed into this particular chapter. I decided it'd make the characters more lively if I had more conversations going on. If you have any questions about the plot, because you just can't wait for the next chapter, or just want something to be explained, or just want a shout out in the last chapter, just message me and I'll reply to you as soon as I can!