//------------------------------// // An Unforgettable Package // Story: Rainbow's Parents: The Truth // by Songbrony //------------------------------// I woke up to my alarm beeping in my ear. I picked it up and threw it against the wall where it shattered. "Ugh! That's the third one this month." I said groggily. I lifted myself out of bed and slowly walked downstairs. It's been a week since I read the note that mom wrote us. We were done with our finals, yet I still had to get up early so I could make it to work on time. I poured myself a glass of juice and grabbed an apple from the counter. Fluttershy was out early to get Angel some more food. I swear that bunny is spoiled beyond return. He gets whatever he wants, whether it be a cherry, a sundae, or even a back rub. But Fluttershy loves him, so I'm not going to stop her from doing it. I finished the apple and tossed the core into the trash. I walked out the door, which I had become accustomed to instead of flying out the windows, and headed for the headquarters. I had made a list of things that needed to change and had given them to my assistant the day before. So my today all I had to do was show up, see how things were going, and then I could go out and fly. They know to come get me if anything happens. When I walked into work, I could tell it would be awhile before I actually got out to fly. It was chaos with ponies trying to figure out how to do this or that. "Looks like it's another day behind a desk." I said to myself. I sheepishly walked over to my assistant who was having difficulty organizing the schedule. "Why is everypony having trouble with the list?" I asked her when I walked next to her. "Well, your list had a few holes in it." she said. "Like what?" I asked, thinking that there was nothing wrong with my list. She scoffed as she pulled the list off of her table. "The first thing you had on the list was make it rain on certain days. The next, make it sunny on certain days. The third thing, which baffles me, everypony needs to wear Wonderbolts attire." she said, shoving the paper at me. "Oh. I see. Well ditch the Wonderbolts attire thing. I forgot about that anyways." I said. "It's not just that. We need details. We need to know what days to make it rain. If we don't have some sort of schedule, then we could end up flooding the place or frying it up. We need direction, Ms. Dash." she said. Well, I wasn't good with schedules, but I was able to make a time frame for the rain. Twice a week for two hours with at least 72 hours separating each rainfall. If the sun was exceptionally hot one day, then it would be the duty of the team to put enough cloud cover to lower the temperature without making the place look too gloomy. It took about an hour to get the chaos in the building to calm down. I told them about the changes to the list and I could tell that they were happy to know that there was some order here. I was able to get out and fly after three hours being cooped up in the office. It was exhausting and I needed to catch up on a few more Z's. I found a tree and decided to take a nap there. It was short lived though as I was awoken by a familiar voice. "Howdy there, partner! Whatcha' doin' in that tree? It looks kinda unsteady." Applejack said. Not two seconds after she said that, the tree branch I had laid on snapped. I fell straight on my back with a loud crash. I could've flown away and avoided the fall, but I was still a little groggy. "Told ya'." she said with a smirk. "You alright?" "Yeah, I'm fine." I said. My wing was bruised from landing on it wrong, but other than that, I was fine. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Well, Ah was workin' on my farm when a grey Pegasus dropped off this package." she said, motioning to the box on her back. "It wasn't for me, however. It was meant for somepony named Fluttershy." "Hey, I know Fluttershy. She lives with me." I blurted out without thinking. "Really? Then would ya' mind taking this to her? If ya'll live in Cloudsdale, there is no way I'm gettin' there." she said as she laid the package in front of me. "And don' worry your little rainbow colored hair, Dash. I didn't go through it or nothin'. I just read the name on the box." she said. "Okay. I'll make sure she get's this." I said picking up the package. "So, you going to the dance tonight?" I asked. "Dance? Oh, you mean like square dancin'? I didn't know you fellas had those here in Ponyville." she said surprised. "No, I mean like an actual dance. You know, with music, a DJ, and food?" I said. I had never heard of square dancing. What was that? Dancing in a square doing the pony poky? "Ah don' think Ah've ever been to a dance like that." she said. "Wait, is it one of them fancy, dress up really nice dances? I don't wear dresses." she said with emphasis. "Hey, me either! I'm only wearing one because somepony asked me to go. If it weren't for that reason I'd just be wearing a decent shirt." I said. I thought I was the only one who hated dresses. "But you don't have to. Just wear a nice shirt or something like that." "Aight. But don' think you'll be seeing me in nothin' too fancy. Where's the dance bein' held at?" she asked. "Town hall. Don't you go to our school? I don't see you around there." I asked trying to recall if I had ever seen her outside her farm. "Nah. Ah work on the farm all day and Ah couldn't ask for a better life." she said with a smile. "Alright. Well the dance starts at 6 o'clock so don't be late." I said. "I hear ya'. Make sure that package get's to Fluttershy.' she said pointing to the box. "Don't worry, she'll get it. We need to hang out more that finals are done." I told her as I flew off. Fluttershy had to be home by now, so I didn't bother going to the market. Something was bugging me though. Fluttershy hardly ever received mail, and when she did it was only her magazines. I kept flying home though. It wasn't my place to open up her mail. I passed a few of the weather team members who were clearing a few clouds. I gave them a high hoof and continued to Cloudsdale. I flew up to the window where I heard Fluttershy whispering. "Angel I can't tell her. If I do what do you think she'll think of me?" she said quietly. I hid behind the wall so I could hear them but not be seen. "She'll hate me, might even kick me out. I can't risk it until I know for sure." Know what for sure? I thought. And is she talking about me? What is there that she couldn't tell me? "Angel, no. I won't. Not even at the dance. I'm only going because she is. If she wasn't I'd just stay home and maybe listen to the new music she gave me." I heard her say. I had given her a new screamo CD a few weeks ago. She loved it and would listen to when she wasn't helping looking through her animal magazines. So this was definitely about me, but what about me? I needed to find out, but didn't know how to ask her. I flew in the window. "Hey, Fluttershy." I said in a cheery voice. "Derpy had a package for you, but accidentally delivered to somepony else's house." I placed the package on her bed. "Oh, my. It's a big box. Who's house did she send it to?" she asked as she calmly opened the box. "Some farmer named Applejack." I replied as I peered over her shoulder. "Who's Applejack? A new pony in town?" she asked as she removed some wrappers. "Yeah, she's the one who helped get me to Captain." I said, trying to get a peek at what she had gotten. "Well, that's extremely kind of her." Fluttershy said before letting out a shriek. "What's wrong?!" I asked as she flew back and into the wall. "Fluttershy, what the hay is wrong?" I asked again. She was crumpled in the corner with shock in her eyes. "Fluttershy, tell me. What was in the box?" I asked as I tried took her into my arms, trying to comfort her. "It's not possible. How did he..." Fluttershy said as she shook. "Fluttershy. Look at me." I told her. She looked at me trembling. When she looked into my eyes she started to calm down a little. "What was in the box?" I asked. She shut her eyes and whimpered as she hid her face in my chest. I rocked her a little bit and hushed her. "It's okay." I said comfortingly as she cried into my chest. "How did he get ahold of those?" she asked herself. "Get ahold of what?" I asked. She looked up at me with wet eyes but wouldn't speak. "I'll be right back, okay?" I told her as I got up. I moved over to the box and looked inside it. There were pictures from her journal of all the bruises and injuries she had gotten. There were some excerpts from her writings mixed in. What really caught my eye was a page that had words written on it in blood. "I'll find you." I read quietly to myself. I backed away slowly. The words repeated in my head. I looked back to Fluttershy who was still crumpled in the corner shaking. I could tell she was remembering what her parents did. I walked back to her and cradled her in my arms. She was so vulnerable, so small, so... I sent the thought out of my head. Of course she was vulnerable. Somepony sent a package of some of her personal journal entries and pictures of her injuries. Of course she would feel small after seeing that, being Fluttershy and all. I kept holding her and as she clutched onto me. "How did she get ahold of those?" she cried out. From my knowledge, I was the only one who knew I had the journal. "I don't know. Didn't you say you lost it?" I asked. She nodded her head. I knew where it was. It was in my drawer. "Do you recognize the writing?" I asked hoping to see if my suspicions were correct. Fluttershy whimpered as she whispered who it was. "My dad."