//------------------------------// // The Egg // Story: The Other End Of the Rainbow // by ShowShine //------------------------------// “Aw, look at Clutzershy. She looks like she’s going to cry.” Dumb-Bell teased, towering over Fluttershy. The filly whimpered, burying her face in her hair. Dumb-Bell nudged Hoops, letting out a chortle. “What should we do?” He asked. Hoops curiously looked at Fluttershy, who trembled under his gaze. “I think we should give her a flight lesson.” Hoops suggested with a twisted grin. Fluttershy’s squeezed her eyes shut, curling up into a ball. “Hey, idiots!” A raspy voice called from above. They looked up, seeing Rainbow Dash hovering over them. She drifted in front of Fluttershy, her hooves sinking into the soft clouds. She bowed her head and began to scowl at the colts. “Leave her alone!” Rainbow Dash demanded. She huffed angrily, flapping her wings threateningly. The bullies broke into fits of laughter. “Look, guys, it’s Rainbow Crash!” Score chuckled, jutting out his hoof towards Rainbow. He leaned down to Rainbow’s height, pressing their noses together. “Trying to protect your little girlfriend, Crash?” He taunted. Rainbow Dash scowled, stomping her hoof assertively. She glared at the colts, scrunching her face in disgust. Score nudged Dumb-Bell, snickering. “Aw, she must think she’s a boy! That’s why she’s always so defensive over Clutzershy.” Score observed. Rainbow Dash’s gaze faltered for a moment. A boy? She wasn’t a boy; that was ridiculous! “Shut up!” Rainbow Dash shouted. The bullies laughed harder. “Did we strike a nerve, Rainboy Dash?” Hoops teased. He turned to his posse. “She even sounds like a boy!” Rainbow scowled, her ears pinning back. Why did they keep calling her a boy? Rainbow Dash shook her head. She couldn’t focus on that now; she needed to get Fluttershy out of here. Rainbow rolled her eyes, turning towards Fluttershy. She pulled the yellow filly up and protectively wrapped her wing around her torso. “Come on; we don’t need to hang out with these losers.” Rainbow said, shooting a glare at the colts. Rainbow led Fluttershy away from the group, scowling at them until they were out of sight. She scoffed, rolling her eyes. Those three were such meatheads. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?” Rainbow asked, inspecting Fluttershy closely. Fluttershy smiled meekly, brushing her hair out of her eyes. “Oh, I’m fine. If you hadn’t come along, I don’t know what I’d do.” Fluttershy thanked. Rainbow Dash cockily puffed out her chest. “Well, I am pretty awesome.” She boasted. “Gee Rainbow, I could never be as brave as you. Their words never make you feel bad.” She gushed. Rainbow couldn’t help but frown. Fluttershy was right; she was brave. In fact, she was sure she was the bravest filly in Equestria. Despite Rainbow being oh-so fearless, she couldn’t help but feel…odd. Those numbskulls usually never got under her skin, but something got to her. They called her a boy. “Rainbow Dash, are you okay? You’re awfully quiet.” Fluttershy commented, snapping Rainbow out of her thoughts. She flashed a cocky smile.  “Yeah, just thinking about how awesome I am.” She boasted. Fluttershy giggled at her display. The fillies continued their conversation as they walked. As happy as Rainbow Dash was, she couldn’t help but feel off. - “Mom, I’m home!” Rainbow Dash called out, closing the door with her rear leg. The house was refreshing compared to the near-summer humidness. She wiped the sweat off her brow. “I’m in the kitchen!” Windy Whistles called. Rainbow walked into the kitchen, seeing her mom standing at the counter. Rainbow Dash approached her mom, lovingly nuzzling her leg. “Hi, my little speed demon. How was your day?” Windy Whistles asked, ruffling Rainbow Dash’s hair. She beamed under her mother's touch. “Today, I beat up a bunch of bullies.” Rainbow Dash boasted, dramatically kicking the air as a demonstration. Windy Whistles happily clapped her hooves. “Good for you. Sticking it to the man!” She encouraged. “I made one of your favorites. Popcorn and blueberries.” Windy encouraged in a sing-song voice. She handed Rainbow Dash a bowl. Rainbow Dash licked her lips, her stomach rumbling. Man, she hadn’t eaten since breakfast! She had spent all of lunch looking for Fluttershy. The filly sat down at the dining room table, beginning to shovel food into her maw. “Make sure to eat it all. I want you to grow up into a big, strong mare!” Windy Whistles advised with a playful hoof shake. Rainbow Dash scrunched up her face. Why didn’t she like how that sounded? Rainbow picked around her food, feeling her appetite fade away. She didn’t want to eat this if she was going to grow up into a mare. That sounded gross. She didn’t want to be one of those girly girl mares with dumb long girly hair. Rainbow pushed her bowl away, getting up from her seat. “I’m going to my room.” She announced. Windy Whistles glanced at her daughter. “Have fun, honey!” Rainbow Dash flew out of the kitchen, soaring up the stairs. She couldn’t stop thinking about her altercation from earlier. Their harsh words never got to her, but this was different. They called her a boy. Rainbow didn’t know why, but that word was bouncing around in her head. It almost felt…right in a way. Was she a boy? Now that she thought about it, she’s never felt like a girl. Rainbow didn’t like dumb frilly dresses or putting bows in her hair like all the other fillies her age.  And her parents did always tell her she was rowdy like all the colts her age. She entered her room, closing the door behind her. Rainbow Dash looked around her room. She didn’t have any girl toys. No dollhouses or girly stuffed animals. All the fillies Rainbow’s age loved stuff like that, but she found it obnoxious. She flopped on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Well, Gilda didn’t like girly girl things either. Besides, every filly her age must’ve felt this way. If Rainbow felt this way, then everyone must’ve felt like this. Rainbow Dash squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. She needed to stop being dumb. She couldn’t be a colt; it was impossible! She scooted across her bed, burying her face into her pillow. Oh well, a filly could dream.