//------------------------------// // The Rainbow Dash Show, Starring Rainbow Dash // Story: Do These Waffles Taste Funny to You? // by tin77 //------------------------------// When Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, she discovered that the coziness of the cottage was long gone, Fluttershy and her animals nowhere to be seen. Instead, she found herself outside of not just the building, but physicality altogether. She was floating as a ghost, unable to decipher any understanding of what was in front of her. Past experiences faded into one another, each one regressing further into the past. Rainbow Dash’s life moved backward, the specifics becoming looser and their clarity wavering. A life with Applejack swirled into times spent with the Wonderbolts, both giving way for adventures, hijinks, and most importantly, time spent with friends, friends who were plentiful and always a few seconds away. Soon she found herself at the beginning, not the beginning of life, but rather the days that would define everything after, the moments that shaped existence when no one was paying attention. These played out all at once, the specifics strong even in their age. Rainbow Dash glanced to the side and saw Discord in a sofa, popcorn in hand, 3D glasses on. “Watch closely,” he said, pointing at the collection of recurring events, “this part always makes me laugh.” On cue, a tired Applejack landed on a catapult, launching a younger Rainbow Dash far into the sky. Before the older Rainbow Dash could get angry at Discord for mocking her, she held her words, and soon realized that she too found this funny. Then she remembered that Discord had plucked her out of reality without her permission, zero questions asked. The moment she opened her mouth to complain about this minor detail, a second cushion appeared beneath her, trapping the pony in its soft fabric. “Enjoying the show?” Discord turned, extending his snack box in her direction. “Care for some popcorn?” “What… what in the hay is going on right now?” “Is this not what you wanted? Fantastic performance by the way, oh, this part just makes me sob every time!” In front of them, six friends hugged one another, all having realized that they shared a common origin destined to bring them together. Despite Discord’s obvious sarcasm, Rainbow Dash found herself wanting to cry, the memory undiminishable in its specialness. She pulled the tears back in, removing herself from the scene present. “Take me back Discord. This isn’t funny. At all.” “Funny? You have me all wrong! This is quite serious. What better way to relearn oneself than through precious, precious memories?” On screen, six ponies were now floating in the air, the elements of harmony ready to defeat a draconequus on a throne. “Why don’t we skip this part,” said Discord, the scene fast-forwarding with the flick of a paw. “This isn’t going to help. It just makes me miss it more and you know that.” “Then whatsoever are you looking for?” “I don’t know. I’m probably making a big deal over nothing, like I always do.” “And this is something that you really believe?” No response. “This is the rest of your life we’re talking about. If you’re going to call that nothing then I think there is much cause for concern.” The rest of your life. Discord’s attempts to help were backfiring in more ways than one. Rainbow Dash once again did her best to conceal her cracking ego, the whimpers passing in waves. “I just… Look at us Discord! There’s so much… future! Now that’s… It’s all behind us.” “And you wish to experience that again?” “I thought I was going to feel the same way my entire life. But now when I look at myself, I know that I’m different… and I feel like a big phony. I wouldn’t even want to change anything. I only want to experience it over and over. Over and over.” The chairs vanished. With one look around the room, Rainbow Dash realized she was alone. “Discord!” she yelled, shaking, “I told you, this isn’t funny!” The whimpers were already revealing themselves beneath her voice, each one working to empty her spirits a little more. From all around, Discord’s voice rang out, no mouth present to carry it. “I have to say, you might be missing something rather important.” As he spoke, Dash found herself staring straight ahead, colors overwhelming her. It was there that she found herself running with Applejack, autumn leaves spinning around them.  The scene called her forward. She leaned in, the memory reshaping and rearranging the closer she got. “Make sure you appreciate it while you can,” said Discord, “It doesn’t last forever.” His voice was already distant and forgotten. Rainbow Dash stepped into the race and hit the ground running, never looking back.