//------------------------------// // The More The Merrier // Story: Echoes of Harmony // by BronaFides //------------------------------// “'1' by a nose!” Pinkie exclaimed excitedly as two pegasi blurred by her. They ascended up into the sky, through some hoops, around some flags, then back by. “'A' by 3/16ths of a nose!” “What in Celestia is goin' on now?” Applejack asked, coming up behind them Twilight Sparkle tallied the newest results, floating a quill into an inkwell being dutifully offered up by her number one assistant, Spike. “Well, they're getting along much better, anyway.” “'1' by 2 3/8 noses!” Pinkie continued. “They've decided on a friendly competition to see who the 'Real' Rainbow Dash is,” Twilight Sparkle said, adding to the tally. “I've been on the receiving end of a friendly competition with her before,” Applejack observed, rolling her eyes. “Has it come to a scuffle yet?” “'A' by 3 and 19/32 noses!” Pinkie exclaimed. She waved a foam finger labeled “Go Rainbow Dash A!” “Not this time, but they did make it best out of 101 races,” Twilight responded wryly, tallying again. “'1' by 5 noses!” Pinkie had lowered the previous foam finger and on the other hoof had raised one reading “Dash 1 is #1!” “What the hay is with the 1-A thing?” Applejack asked. “Well, we needed some way to distinguish the two, and of course, neither would agree to be '2' or 'B'” Twilight explained. “Naturally,” Applejack observed nodding. “Indeed,” Rarity interjected, having arrived unnoticed. “I can't imagine the thought of having to contend with another of myself. After all, twice the Rarity would be half the rarity, as it were.” “Two Rarities? Can you imagine?” Spike said dreamily. “You would have a fit, wouldn't you?” Applejack directed to Rarity, grinning. “And you wouldn't?” “Nah, wouldn't bother me none. I'd get heaps more done around the farm each day with two of me.” “I see, and tell me Applejack, who would win the next rodeo that came into town?” The white unicorn glared knowingly at Applejack, anticipating the response. “Well I would... oh.” Applejack removed her hat and scratched sheepishly at her mane. “I see what yer gettin' at.” “'A' by ½ a nose!” Pinkie called out. The two Dashes collapsed to the ground, panting and sweaty. “So,” Dash A said between breaths, “I'm sure I've blown her away at this point, right?” “The only thing you've blown is your chances to prove your the one and only Rainbow Dash,” Dash 1 retorted. “ I mean, I could do this all day, but there's no point in even running the 101st race since I'm beating her so badly.” “Give me a minute,” Twilight Sparkle said, studying her notes, the abacus beads near her glowing faintly purple as they shuffled back and forth. “Well, you're not going to like it... but the score stands at 50-50.” “What?!” they both exclaimed. “No way!” “And before you ask,” Twlight added, “I added up the margins by which you won each race.” She looked them in the eyes one at a time before finishing with, “overall, it's a perfect tie.” “I was sure I had her,” Dash 1 said, her brows furrowing as she lowered her head. “Look, we've got the last race,” Dash A countered. “We'll get this sorted out. Hey, your moves on that last race were pretty awesome! You had those corners pretty tight.” “Yeah, I did, but I couldn't keep pace on your speed on the long straightaway. Endurance like that will get us in with the Wonderbolts for sure,” Dash 1 said. “They do seem to be getting along much better,” Rarity observed dryly, rolling her eyes. “Yes, I think Rainbow Dash may be the only pony I know with enough ego to be able to really handle this,” Twilight Sparkle said, also rolling her eyes. “I guess this way when she competes, she always wins,” Applejack offered, smiling. They all laughed briefly. The reconvened to one of Rainbow Dash's favorite proving grounds, Ghastly Gorge, for the tie-breaking race. The Dashes began stretching in preparation, flexing their wings and extending them into every possible position. Both looked just as determined as always when they shook hooves. “Ready?” Twilight prompted. “I was born ready,” Dash 1 said. “Let's do this,” Dash A said at the same time. “On your mark... get set... go!” Both launched cleanly into the air and began their dive. At first, they flew straight as an arrow, but then they began drifting around each other. Both equally impressed by the maneuver, they began to spiral around each other tighter and tighter. When the time came to dodge, they alternated back and forth around obstacles. Then, they leapfrogged on the quarry eels, tossing each other from the back of one to the next. They moved into a loop-the-loop move where one of them went forward and the other backwards. They fell into line beside each other, smiling. Then, both opened their eyes wide as they recalled this was the race, and they began charging ahead and full speed again. Twilight craned her neck from the finish line. “ I can see them!” “Who's winning?” Applejack asked, squinting, as the sun was setting on the horizon behind the racing pegasi. “I.. I can't tell, can you?” Twilight looked at each of them, who shook their heads in turn. Pinkie Pie got her most determined look and jumped up on a nearby rock. “It looks like it's '1' by a nose. No, 'A'... no, they're neck in neck... it looks like it's...” she trailed off, looking confused. They were clearly in site now, and they were practically a silhouette of each other. Every move, every weave, was perfectly mirrored as they crossed the finish line fast enough to produce a palpable wind. Everypony cheered, but almost completely without enthusiasm as they tried to work through their confusion. “So, who won?” Twilight Sparkle finally asked them both. “That was my most radical run through Ghastly Gorge ever!” A Dash said as she took the “A” off her flank. “Seriously, those moves make a great routine,” 1 Dash said, tossing her paper number aside. “We should work on that some more.” “But–” Twilight tried to interject. “It needs some fancier moves, maybe a little synchronized cloud work?” One of them said. They were moving around so fast mimicking their flight moves that Twilight Sparkle could no longer tell which was which. “Oh yeah, we could just expand on phase two!” The other continued. “Only, I'm not sure how we pull of the Sonic Rainboom, we can't do it at once anyway–” “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, exasperated, as she teleported between the two. “What is going on here? Don't you even care who won?” “Well, not really,” one answered. “You... you don't,” Rarity stammered incredulously. “Are ya sure ya feel all right?” Applejack asked. “Maybe ya got out of the hospital too early.” “Nah, it's just...” the other Rainbow Dash began. “Rainbow Dash doesn't leave anypony that needs her hangin', and that includes Rainbow Dash!” The two bumped hooves. “But... uhm... how will we tell you two apart?” Fluttershy asked. “Oh!” said Rarity, “I could make you each different custom hats , slightly different from each other!” She smiled hopefully, but was met by dubious looks from both Dashes. “Different toned noisemakers?” Pinkie suggested, blowing a sharp note in a noisemaker that she mysteriously had with her. “We need something that will stay with her,” Applejack countered them. “I may have something,” Twilight Sparkle said. She'd been considering the problem herself during the banter. “How about number 25?” “Uh, Twilight?” Spike said, “I'm not sure Rainbow Dash would look all that great in a mustache.” “No, Spike,” Twilight said. “It's simply for hair growth, it doesn't have to be a mustache. Maybe just a little change to her mane...” “It's got to be little, though,” Rainbow Dash said nodding, “part of the new routine is the whole twin thing we've got going on, and that won't work otherwise.” “Got it,” Twilight said, beginning to focus her magic, her horn glowing slightly. The spell went off, and two single hairs, light cyan, wiry and twisted, rose from the mane of the Rainbow Dash in front of her. Twilight felt a little shiver down her own mane and shifted in slight dizziness. “Ya'll right, sugarcube?” Applejack said, steadying her with one hoof. “I think so,” Twilight rubbed her forehead with a hoof. What was that, it's not that difficult of a spell, she thought to herself, then aloud, trying to convince herself, “I haven't cast that one in a while, must just be out of practice.” Pinkie Pie was tweaking at the two stray hairs over and over, and asked, “Do we still call you both Rainbow Dash? Because you'll both be like 'what?' Oh, and you'll get each other's party invitations and that will just be awkward!” “I've been thinking on that.” The blue pegasus blocked the intruding pink hoof, then tried to smooth the two hairs down herself, though they just sprang back up. “I think I'll go by Iris Dash.” “Oh, that's lovely!” Fluttershy beamed. “Very classy,” Rarity added, nodding calm approval. “Kind of you to give up yer name,” Applejack commented. “But she didn't really,” Twilight countered. “It means the same thing!” “Yeah, I saw it in a reference guide you left in the hospital, 'All Things Rainbow.'” Iris Dash explained. “Oh, I wondered where that one went. It must have gotten mixed in with the Daring Do books when I was researching...” Twilight mentally added a reminder to check the item to locate that book off her 'to do' list when she got back to the library. “Spike, take a letter.” Spike retrieved the parchment and quill that he seemed to always have on him. “Dear Princesss Celestia, Today I learned an important lesson about the element of Loyalty. There's a quality to it that extends beyond just a loyalty to your friends or your community. There's also an aspect of it that goes deeper, that gives it meaning without which loyalty can never be given. You must first have a loyalty to yourself. Because if you let yourself down, you'll never have the confidence to believe that your loyalty to others can make a difference. When my friend Rainbow Dash suddenly became doubled in a Sonic Rainboom phenomenon, she struggled with that at first, but as the element of loyalty, she was able to overcome her doubt, and embrace herself in a way that ensured their continuing confidence and loyalty to the vision of their shared aspirations.” She stopped dictating for a moment to look to her friends. Rainbow and Iris were giving an animated explanation of their routine changes while the others listened excitedly. Pinkie Pie had gotten out celebration cupcakes. She had brought two sets depending on which of them won, so she set them both out. Rarity had gotten out a sketch pad and was clearly recalculating the dress design for two Dashes instead of one. Applejack tried grabbing both by the tail as they went to dart off to demonstrate, but the cumulative lift power of two Dashes lifted her off the ground instead, so they carefully lowered her back down. “Your faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle. PS – we'll need one more ticket than usual for the Grand Galloping Gala.” Spike carefully rolled, sealed, and sent the letter. * * * Celestia stood on her balcony watching the last of the sunlight fade away below the horizon. The stars began to appear carefully in the sky, bit by bit, creating a layer of ever changing pictures one by one as they filled in, and the moon carefully drifted up into sight. She smiled down at the glowing form of her sister in the adjacent tower as she flexed her magic to bring the night. Luna had been tentative upon her return, reluctant and out of practice. I hadn't taken long for her to return to, and surpass, her former level of skill. Celestia smiled at her, as Luna finished and turned to face Celestia's tower. Still seeking my approval. Dear sister, you always had at least that. Swallowing her sorrow as she did every night, she turned to go inside. She was only mildly surprised when Luna landed on the balcony and followed her in. “Good evening, dear sister,” Luna said, in the tone that most people reserved for 'good morning.' “Good evening, Luna,” she said. “Your stars are lovely tonight.” The tea kettle above the fire glowed as Celestia spirited over to the cups, pouring for Luna first in the cup she always had ready for her visit, then herself. Two cups remained empty on either side. “The running of the leaves approaches, and the cold nights that follow leave many turning their eyes skywards,” Luna explained. “I wish to gain their respect and adoration.” Direct as always, Celestia suppressed a sigh. “Ruling has more nuances than that, dear sister.” She took a sip of the hot tea. It seemed stronger than usual tonight. Luna sipped slowly, then replied, “I defer to your experience, Tia.” She almost kept the petulance out of her voice, but that restraint dissolved as a scroll appeared above the table in a flash of green flame. “Ah, look, a missive from your faithful student.” Luna carefully contemplated the surface of the tea in her cup rather than make eye contact with Celestia, who could not suppress a sigh this time as she unrolled the scroll and began reading. “Ah, a lesson in loyalty,” Celestia noted as she began. “Luna, I think you'd find some of this interesting.” Loyalty to yourself, she mused, pausing. That's one way to put it. Would that I'd let her hold that element. She shook her head, as if to rattle the fleeting regret out, and took a sip of tea from the cup floating nearby before she continued reading. When my friend Rainbow Dash suddenly became doubled– Luna was startled out of her pensive reverie studying the constellation of tea leaves that had come out of the filter and settled to the bottom of her cup when she heard Celestia's cup clatter the table. Both it and the scroll has stopped levitating, and Celestia wobbled slightly as the color in her mane seemed to have faded slightly. “What is it, sister?” Luna implored, setting her cup down carefully, all bitterness fleeing her voice and mind as she moved to her sisters side to steady her. Celestia moved her head slightly toward the scroll, which glowed a dark hue as Luna lifted it and began reading. Her eyes widened. “So, it has begun, sister.” “Yes,” Celestia breathed in a strained whisper. “We are coming to the end of it at last.”