//------------------------------// // Marble Madness. // Story: Over The Rainbow // by Kwisatz-Haderach //------------------------------// On the bench, Rainbow Dash laid flat on her back with her legs apart, passing the time by staring vacantly at her marehood, her hind hooves hanging in the air. Her eyes fixed upon the number one thing that separated a filly from a colt, Dash contemplated on how such a seemingly minor difference in anatomy could cause her so much trouble and so much confusion for both today and her whole life, if not the lives of every mare in Equestria. It was a bizarre thing to do, really, but considering her current predicament and the fact that the only other option to pass the time was read three-month-old Equestrian Outdoors Quarterly issues from the magazine rack, what else could a mare do, save for philosophizing on their private parts? "I just don't get it..." Rainbow Dash thought to herself. "...how can such a seemingly minor difference in anatomy cause me so much trouble and so much confusion for both today and my whole life, if not the lives of every mare in Equestria? Why is it that having a vagina means that you have to be treated differently than others? Why is it that having one means that you are supposed to do so much work around the home, office and workplace so that the stallions don't have to while protecting their towns from the monsters that surround them? I mean, that's how it used to be, as Twilight's history books often said; mares were in charge of leadership, maintenance and keeping things together while stallions were in charge of keeping the town from being destroyed or going bankrupt, usually by killing attacking monsters and selling the loot they'd find in their dens. But even if that was the way it used to be, does it still have to be this way? Is there some kind of law saying that girls should be meek and boys should be strong? Celestial Law certainly doesn't say anything about that, so is it just a matter of attitude? And if so, why haven't any of the princesses denounced it or had a say in it?" Dash let out a heavy sigh. "And what of my marehood? I mean, I obviously know what its supposed to do: make love, make kids, et cetera et cetera... But does having one mean that I have to settle down and start a family? I know that Celestia always said that we should cherish and use the gifts we've been given, but do vaginas count as gifts? It's not really a gift or a reward, it's just...there... And if I was created to be a mare, then why was I created to think and act like a colt...or at least what society expects one to be like? Like how I've always shunned really lacy, sappy frou-frou crap like cosmetics and hooficures, instead embracing all things cool, awesome and radical like the stuff colts are often supposedly supposed to be into. And if I was created to be like that, why did I have to go through so much cruelty and hardship for my love of other mares? I've always been into mares instead of stallions. Unless of course said stallion was a Wonderbolt...Everypony's gay...or straight for them... Especially Soarin', mrowr... Or better yet, Soarin' and Spitfire at the same time... Ooh! Or every single Wonderbolt at the same time, that would be so awesome! Just me laying back, taking in all that-- NO! Calm yourself, Rainbow Dash, you're a strong Mare, you don't let something like stupid emotions push you around like that..." "But what if I was supposed to go through all this emotional strife? Like it was some kind of test of bravery or strength? From my experience, tests are supposed to be a part of training or just training in another form or something like that... Wait, I've confused myself, lemme start again: If tests were, and they are, a part of training, which I always go through in one form or another, does that mean that there's some huge adventure coming up that's supposed to test both my loyalty and my feelings? And if so, who planned it? What if I was just all in some weirdo's story for other weirdos to read and that was my whole life?" The mare put a hoof to her head in response to a sudden jolt of pain in her head. "Ow...All this thinking is making my brain hurt! I gotta just rela--" "Rainbow Dash? Rainbow Dash, what on Earth are you doing?" Startled by Nurse Redheart's entrance into the doctor's office, Rainbow Dash let out a loud yelp in shock, leaping into the air like an electrocuted squirrel and landing hard on her chest, chin and forelegs, her rear end pointed straight in the air. "Oww..." She moaned, in mild pain. "Rainbow Dash, may I please ask why you were just staring at your hindquarters when I walked into the office?" Said Nurse Redheart in a soft, deadpan tone of voice. "Umm...I was...bored." Said Dash, her cyan face gone crimson with flush. "You certainly were." The nurse replied. "Heck, I don't really blame you at all. Those magazines are so old that some of them are starting to yellow." Redheart started rummaging and feeling around in her medical saddlebag with a free hoof, the sound of plastic, metal and cloth rubbing and clattering against each other with each twitch of an arm. "So I hear that you're going through quite the estrus, huh?" "Umm...yeah, I guess I am..." Dash sheepishly replied. "I also have to go to a really important event in only an hour and a half, so will this be quick?" "Oh, it most certainly will be!" Chimed Redheart, suddenly cheery instead of sarcastic. If Dash didn't know better, she could've sworn that she was in heat as well. Which was obvious since it was mating season after all, even though Ponies go into heat sooner or later than others. She remembered last year when Cheerilee was lively and perky on this very day and then started acting like she committed a murder or something - becoming shifty-eyed and being seen walking out of Big Macintosh's shed at odd hours looking remarkably exhausted. Heat affects all kinds of different Ponies very differently. Lowering her plot downwards and raising her upper torso, Rainbow Dash looked over Nurse Redheart's shoulder to find her taking out a white paper bag, unfurling it and bringing out a small, shiny round thing of some sort. Taking the object and putting it into this odd little machine resembling a steampunk microwave oven, Redheart turned a few dials and pressed a couple buttons before throwing the weighty-looking electrical switch right next it. The device glowed a faint teal aura from inside it and emitted a low, monotone hum. After the sharp ting of its timer, the humming stopped, prompting the nurse to open up the small hatch on the machine and removed the small item from inside, placing it into a small wad of white gauze with a gloved hoof. With the cloth-wrapped object carefully clamped by its wrapping with her teeth, Nurse Redheart carried it over to her technicolor-haired patient, who gave it a bewildered look. "What is this thing?" Inquired Rainbow Dash. Carefully unfurling its gauze cocoon, Nurse Redheart showed her its contents: It was a smooth, shiny, colorless marble the size of a golf ball made of high-impact glass. Its surface was sterile and polished like some otherworldly pearl, marred only by the small black series of digits that formed its serial number. "This is an Intra-Uterine-Device, Rainbow Dash." Said the nurse. "Better known as an 'IUD' for short. All we have to do is insert it into your womb and all your estrus problems will be as good as gone...temporarily, of course. You see, your body will think that the object is a small embryo and as a result, put your estrus on hold as long as it's in there." Rainbow felt every cell on her face turn a bright carmine after hearing those words. She knew that such a device had to be inserted somewhere, but when it was done by a mare she found quite attractive rather than a sarcastic unicorn stallion that had to chase her down for stealing a book, she couldn't help but break into a cold, nervous sweat, hoping that her heart didn't explode like a bad melon from such an invasive ordeal. "Umm...C-can't I just, um...put in myself or have you put me under an...anes-sthesia?" Dash stammered. "And waste well-needed painkillers for mothers in labor or risk you getting an infection? Sorry, Dash, but it's gotta be done by a licensed gynecologist if you want to have this problem dealt with, alright?" Redheart replied, holding the marble with a gloved hoof. Rainbow Dash sighed heavily with resignation, flipping her lavish, multicolored cape to the side to prevent it from getting in the way. "Well...alright, then. Let's get this over with..." "Atta girl, Dash. Now just take a deep breath and hold still..." ....... ....... ....... Hyperventilating, Rainbow Dash was flushed sanguine and with outstretched wings, sweating profusely. Although she was at long last out of heat for the time being, she felt very, very embarrassed that her estrus managed to make her that sensitive. "Eheheheh...Sorry about that, nurse..." Dash said, laughing nervously. "But...at least the whole thing's over with, right?" "Yes, it's over with, Rainbow Dash." Said an unamused Nurse Redheart. "But don't get so hard on yourself, this is most certainly not the first time this has happened with a patient receiving an IUD. Happens the most with mares your age, actually..." "So...Is there any way I can get cleaned up before I go?" Asked the cyan Pegasus. "Certainly." Replied the nurse, raising her voice over the sound of water hitting the stainless steel sink as she washed her hooves. "There's a complementary shower and laundry room for patients straight down the hallway and to the right of the vending machine and the emergency exit. Also, please remember not to engage in any high-speed maneuvers or violent movements and to return here to have the IUD removed within ten days, please." "Will do, Ms. Redheart!" Dash chimed, bearing an adorable smile on her face. "Gotta dash!" The Pegasus then happily trotted down the hall, feeling like she's had the weight of a boulder lifted off of her very shoulders after a lifetime of carrying it. Feeling refreshed and renewed after a relaxing shower and a freshly cleaned and pressed dress, Rainbow Dash almost felt like she was born again, ready to spread her wings and fly gently down the hill towards town. And she did just that. ....................................... Gliding down towards town square, Rainbow Dash slowed to a stop and folded her wings in, looking around for the other Elements of Harmony frantically - There was no way she was going to be late for this. True, she could've flown her way over to Canterlot in no time, but the G-force would probably force her IUD loose and end up going into heat all over again, so taking the train was the only option available. Cantering around town hall, Dash quickly glanced back and forth down streets and alleyways around her, disappointed to find only street vendors dismantling their stands, the occasional tourist and one poor, tearful stallion that clearly got stood up by his date - crouched down and weeping to himself trying to keep his nose from running. Rainbow silently prayed that she wouldn't end up like that poor guy with Spitfire someday... Momentarily distracted by such a dolorous sight, Dash ended up colliding with a very non-dolorous, unflinching solid object. Shaking the stars out of her head as she got back up, Rainbow Dash let the pupils in her eyes stop spinning around only to nearly leap out of her skin once her vision cleared, which revealed that the solid object she ran right into was smiling, bright-eyed, and a very intense shade of pink. "Dashie, where were ya?! We were looking all high and low and up and down and topsy-turvy for you!" Exclaimed Pinkie Pie, leaping repeatedly into the air with joy like an excited Guinea Pig. Rainbow regained her composure as soon as she realized just what happened. Pinkie had not come alone, either - the other five Elements of Harmony were standing before her, all six faces alight with anticipation and all six bodies clad in the same dresses they wore from the Gala. They were Rarity's finest work, so why let fine fashion like that go to waste? "Phew! You startled me there, Pinkie Pie..." Said Dash, wiping her forehead and brushing herself off. "We're so glad we found you just in time, Rainbow." Said Fluttershy, giving the other Pegasus of the gang a dreamy gaze. "We were so worried we might not be able to find you in time...That would be so horrible!" "Why would I miss out on my own party?" Dash said, delivering a confident chuckle and flexing her toned biceps. "After all, by tomorrow night, I'll finally be a true, blue Wonderbolt!" She added, standing straight up and striking a dramatic pose. "Well, we oughta git goin' before the train leaves, folks!" Said Applejack. "It leaves in 'bout thirty or so minutes, so let's move it!" "Will do!" Twilight said. "But first, I say that we all propose a toast..." As if it were rehearsed, the six mares positioned themselves into an inwards-facing circle - Earth Pony facing Earth Pony, Pegasus to Pegasus and Unicorn towards Unicorn. "Everypony ready?" Said Twilight. "On the count of three: One...Two...Three..." The Mane Six then leaped straight up in unison and, in mid-air and at the very apex of their height, each thrust a hoof outwards towards the center of the circle for the kind of six-pony hoofbump that only the Elements of Harmony could ever pull off. "FOR THE WONDERBOLTS AND OUR RESIDENT HERO, RAINBOW DASH!!!" Plummeting back down to Earth, all six ponies fell flat on their rumps hard before laying back and giggling with pure joy like mad schoolgirls. They tried and failed before, but tonight they were all sure that this night at the Canterlot will truly be the best night ever. Especially for a Miss Rainbow Alberghetti Dash, Notary Public. No heat, no Changelings, no Discord and certainly nothing to keep between her and her idol, Spitfire.