//------------------------------// // Eight // Story: Grounded // by MissytheAngle //------------------------------// Grounded Eight They drifted to sleep as soon as the train started and began the long travel to Appleloosa. The only sounds that drifted in the air were the moving of the train... and Rainbow Dash’s loud snoring. Rainbow was in blind bliss in her sleep, snoring loudly, yet her son was unfazed by the snoring, somehow. He was curled in his seat like a fluffy, light blue ball. Rainbow Dash, unaware of how long it would take to get there, decided any sleep was good sleep. They were the lone ponies in the car of the train, the room all to themselves. Or so they thought. It was then that a bright pink head gradually dove into the scene, a pony upside down. A wide grin had crept on her face when her face reached the same level as her victim. Covering her giggling mouth with her hooves, she waited for a few moments, watching Rainbow snoring. It did not last forever, though. Said mare couldn't handle the silence any longer. Her smile couldn’t get any bigger. “Hey, Rainbow!” she shouted right into her friend's sleeping face. Or better yet, previously sleeping, for Rainbow Dash's eyes blinked open so suddenly. She let out a small cry as the sound's reverberation in her ears threw her from her calm unconscious. The surprise even sent her onto the floor. After a small crash, only her cyan hindhooves were back on the vinyl seat. Either the sound of Pinkie Pie's shout or Rainbow Dash's yelp awoke Cobalt. His rose eyes peeked out, and after rubbing them, he noticed the absence of his mother. After noting the blue hooves, he peered out from over the edge of the seat and saw his fallen mother, who was shaking her head and blinking in a small daze. “You okay, mom?” She slipped from her daze quickly and huffed at a hair that splayed over her vision. “It's all good. No worries, kid,” she said to him breezily, floating back into her chair. When those blue eyes continued to stare at her, Rainbow Dash's anger knit her eyebrows into a glare. “What was that for Pinkie? And wh-what are you doing here?” she asked, still recovering a bit. “Because I saw you heading to the train station, and I was worried you were leaving again. I mean, you're coming back, right?” Pinkie questioned in her usual perky tone, though her eyes did not match her expression otherwise. “Of course I am!” Rainbow Dash defended herself, arms crossed before her. “I just need to head somewhere real quick.” “Ooh, can I come with?” Pinkie suggested, the idea making her face light up. Rainbow Dash gave her a blank look. “You're already onboard, so I don't think you have a choice.” She sulked back into her seat. Cobalt lay back into his curled up position, resting his head atop his hooves. His head then tilted onto Rainbow's side. She smiled down at him. “Great!” Pinkie said, sitting beside her. The early time of day clearly did not perturb her enthusiasm. She paused, but since the quiet apparently was too imperturbable for her, Pinkie Pie glanced back at her, ready to start a conversation. “So, why are you going out so suddenly? It's so... sudden.” “Just got some things to clear up. It's nothing big or anything. I've got it all under control,” she lied with ease. She shut her eyes, yawning, only to open them when Pinkie spoke up again. “That's why I'm heading there on my own; it's nothing I can't handle.” “And what’s with the train? You can fly, silly,” Pinkie teased, as if the obvious needed to be said. “It takes a while to get there. And with a kid on my back, that’d be just a pain,” Rainbow Dash said, reclining back against the chair. She kicked her hooves up against the seat in front of her. She would have loved an extra time to sleep, but with Pinkie here now, that wasn’t going to happen. As much as she liked the exuberant pony and all, Rainbow also liked one thing that Pinkie Pie probably has never heard of:  naps. Pinkie Pie nodded, accepting this. But she wouldn’t shut up forever. If she had something on her mind, she would let loose. “Where's this train going, anyway?” “Headin' to Appleoosa.” Rainbow Dash was not the one that answered her. They both turned to the source of the voice, who was sitting casually in a seat facing away from them. Only her wide Stetson hat was visible over the red vinyl seating; that is, until she stepped into the walkway. She didn't look happy to be there, either. “What's next? Is Twilight going to pop out with her magic?” Rainbow Dash commented. Both she and Pinkie jumped out of their seats, and Dash took a step toward Applejack. “How did you know I was here? A-and how long were you sitting there?” “Since the train left. And how d'ya think Pinkie knew you were here? She got here before ah could take another step, but we caught ya headin' to the train station. We just wanted to know what you was doin'.” “So you snuck on the train?” Rainbow Dash taunted. “Nice one.” Applejack's glower snapped. Her cheeks burned crimson, but she pretended not to notice. “Ah—that's not the point! My point is that ah don't know why in Equestria yer on this train. You ain't runnin' away again, are ya?” she accused. Rainbow's face fell. “Why are you guys thinking I'd do that? I had reasons to do that before; what reason do you think I have to leave before Twilight's wedding?” she snapped. The only reason I'm here in the first place, she added. “Why does everypony just jump to conclusions like that?” Applejack didn’t respond to that; only looked away. “Sorry, Dashie. We're just afraid something happened that made you want to go away again,” Pinkie said, actually looking sad. “At least, I did.” Dash hated that a sad Pinkie, even just a bit doleful, looked like a sad puppy. It was impossible to not feel bad for her. Grimacing, she said, “It's not that, though. You don't need to worry about that, I swear.” “So why are ya headin' to Appaloosa? Seems out of nowhere, if ya ask me,” said Applejack. “I'm going to visit somepony—there, you happy?” she added with a hint of impatience. “Who?” Applejack asked, surprised, obviously curious as to who, in a town she knew far more often of, knew Rainbow Dash. “You know a stallion named Cortland?” Rainbow bit her lip. Pinkie glanced at her, then Cobalt. Cobalt rose an eyebrow at her, wondering why she stared at him. Applejack looked confused. “'Course. He's my cousin. We were pretty close as foals when he visited. We ain't exactly the best of pals, but still. Why-?” The Pegasus's answer was only to stare intently at her, hoping she could fit in the pieces of the puzzle. Applejack, while not the most clever pony in Equestria, was smart enough to put two and two together. She turned away just for several seconds to comprehend it, but when she did, her eyes grew wide enough to almost cover her entire face. There was just a flicker of anger flashing across her face, but it left as quickly as it arrived. Her mouth moved to the side, and her eyes fell down to the floor. When she looked up again, she, in Rainbow's perspective, had a blank countenance, impossible to tell what she was thinking or how she felt. Rainbow was about to ask, only Applejack slowly turned away to the window and said, “It’ll take a while to get there. Just sayin’, by the time we can get to Ponyville, it’ll be late out.” That was all she said. And in such a low voice, at that. When she sat down, Rainbow Dash begged Pinkie Pie, with her eyes, to figure out what to do. Her reaction was so vague, so strange, that she had no idea what to do back. The pink pony just shrugged, not that Dash could blame her. They just watched their friend sit down in a seat on the other side of theirs. She just stared out the window, unable to find the right words to say. Her eyes remained on the scenery that passed the train for the last half hour of their travels. Rainbow just stared at Applejack; she wanted to do something, but couldn't think of what exactly. She struggled to even move for a moment before decided to sit with Pinkie Pie and Cobalt again, giving the farming mare time for herself to perhaps think. Rainbow Dash was actually glad Pinkie Pie was here. With Applejack in some sort of stupor, she wouldn't have had anyone to talk with, and it would have just been overall awkward. They chatted for the whole train ride, trying to ignore the eerily silent Applejack in the seat behind them—to no avail. When the train conductor announced their arrival, she couldn't feel any more impatient to leave the train. In fact, Rainbow Dash would have been the first off, if she hadn't had to grab Cobalt. She was glad to leave the train, hating how her stomach flipped when she thought of as to why she was here in the first place. She tried to brush it off, but somehow, it kept coming back. She just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. They departed the train and into Appleoosa, which was filled to the brim with hard working ponies. It was in late spring, so much work was to be done. When Cobalt glanced around on Dash’s back, he just smiled at his mother. She smiled back, though a bit forcefully. “D'ya know where he lives?” Applejack asked, earning immediate gazes from the other two. This was the first time she had spoken since on the train. Rainbow Dash took no hesitance to answer. “Dunno. I just remember his name. Cortland.” “Cortland, huh?” Applejack's lips puckered, as if this was the first time Rainbow Dash said his name to her. “We were close friends as kids whenever we went to reunions. Ah wonder how he's doin' now,” she wondered aloud. “And how he'll be doing after this,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “Huh?” “So do you know where he lives?” She completely ignored Pinkie's question and asked Applejack. Applejack had to think for a minute, her hoof tapping her chin. Then she nodded. “Ah'm pretty sure ah know where he and his sister live.” She started walking into Appaloosa, more towards the east, Rainbow and Pinkie following behind her. “He and his sister live together—there was one brother, but he moved elsewhere, so they're pretty close,” Applejack informed them on the way. “You okay, Dashie?” Pinkie Pie asked, joining beside Rainbow Dash in their walk. The fact that Rainbow Dash was walking--no, sulking--wasn’t a good sign. “Sure.” She barely tried to conceal that lie. That sinking feeling was back, and stronger than ever. They were in the town of his father. She tried to pick her head up, as well as her pace. Pinkie Pie gave her a dubious gaze, but did not voice her doubt. They traveled behind Applejack. *** Applejack pointed to a house a bit off town. They stepped onto the wooden porch, but stopped at the shut door. “Hello? Anypony home?” Pinkie Pie called out first, knocking on the door. When no one responded, Pinkie frowned. She turned to Applejack and shrugged. “They're probably just not home right now.” “Ah'd think at least one of 'em'd be home. Maybe—” “Somepony want us?” a mare yelled out in a sing song voice, but not from inside the house, but to the left of them. They got off the porch and peered to the left to see a mare with two side ponytails trotting gaily toward them from the side of the house. When she finally stood in front of them, large green eyes lit up at their visitors. “Oh, heya! You don't look ta be from 'round here—except you, AJ!” she added upon seeing Applejack from behind Rainbow Dash. She trotted over to her with an air of heartiness and shook Applejack's hoof. “Good to see ya, cous'. What brings ya to our personal piece of hell?” she asked with a silly giggle. Applejack didn't seem as surprised by that statement as Pinkie Pie or Rainbow Dash. “Howdy, Peachy Sweet. Actually, my friend here wants to talk to Cortland.” “Cort?” the red maned mare named Peachy Sweet retorted. “Which one of yous, out of curiosity?” “That'd be me,” Rainbow said with a coy smile. “I'm Rainbow Dash. The others just snuck on the train.” She chuckled. “You wouldn't be able to find him without Applejack, though, would you?” Pinkie pointed out, oblivious to Dash's irritated glare. When she did see her friend's expression, she just said, “What's the frown for, Dashie?” Peachy giggled, but a moment later, rose a brow and waved a hoof in the air. “Sure, though why you wanna do that is beyond me. He's inside being borin', as usual. Hang on, ah'll get 'em—CORT, get you behind outside 'fore ah pull it out here!” It took a minute, but soon, a stallion appeared from inside the house. He slowly approached the group, and Rainbow Dash dreaded the fact that she recognized him. Her heart sank as she realized this was the stallion, and that this was all true. After six years, she somehow remembered his face. Gazing at Cobalt and then him, she noticed that they had the same mane and tail, both in its shaggy style and sandy color. His green coat and blue eyes were different, of course, something Cobalt didn’t gain once born. And for some reason, she saw that they both had the same pointed nose and bigger ears than normal for ponies their age; why in Equestria she noticed that, she had no idea... but she could see her son in that face. She didn't know what to think of that. The stallion, Cortland, looked disinterested at the three mares and single colt. His gruff expression was pulled down in a grimace as he said, “What'cha ponies need?” “Oh, Applejack's visitin' with her pals, is all,” explained Peachy Sweet. She glanced at the other ponies. “And, uh, one of her friends wants to talk to ya... of all ponies, for some reason.” “Uh, hey,” she introduced herself with an awkward smile. “Hi,” he said curtly. He squinted at her for a moment, observing her. Giving up, he made a noise before saying, “Do I know you from somewhere?” Rainbow shrugged. “Kinda. Uh, I dunno how to explain this.” It was so much easier with my friends. She felt something lodged in her throat, forcing her to cough. When she cleared her throat, she said, “Umm, Cortland, my name's Rainbow Dash, and we kinda met at your family reunion.” Cortland observed her until his blue eyes flashed. “Oh, yeah. Ah remember you. The Apple Family Reunion, what, five years ago? Been a while.” You could say that again. “Yeah. Six or something, but who's counting?” Cobalt snuck into view in her mane, but Cortland paid little attention to him. “You hooked up with a gal and didn't tell me?” Peachy questioned, leaning into her brother's face, which switched to an irritated one—one that can only be made between siblings. “You don't have to know everything in my life, sis,” Cortland said. “My, my, you son of a gun,” Peachy squealed, slapping Cortland's shoulders. Her shocking strength sent him into a sort of tumble before he caught himself. “Ah didn't know you had it in ya, Corts!” She then leaned into the three mares and spoke in a whispering tone, as if Cortland could not hear, “Ah swear, ah assumed he always was on the other side of the street.” “Well, ya know what happens when you assume, Peach,” Cortland sneered. Then he shot her a look. “And what the heck does that mean?” “Oh, it's a sayin'... I heard it somewhere, I think.” “It's a stupid sayin'.” He rolled his eyes, with the smallest twitch to his lips falling instantly when the conversation fell back to the matter at hoof. “'Sides, we just met and stuff. No big deal.” “Not exactly,” Dash said slowly, to emphasize her words. Cortland glanced at her, his eyebrows quirking. Applejack adjusted awkwardly to the side, glancing at Pinkie Pie. Both stared at Cobalt, who stood atop Rainbow's mane, his big rose eyes blinking as the scene unfolded. This was about these three, and even Peachy just watched the three stare at each other. His eyes demanded her to continue, and they wondered if Rainbow even wanted to say it. They came here to see what she was doing, and they feared she'd chicken out. It wasn't something Rainbow Dash would normally do, but something about her nervous expression told them she wasn't ready for this. Finally, someone spoke. “I, well... ugh. Cortland. This is my son—and he's yours, too.” She squinted nervously, worried about his response and reaction. Silence. She was used to this anymore, especially when she told somepony she knew about Cobalt. She had to wait for the information to sink in and let them find an appropriate reaction that suited them. Cobalt stared at Cortland, whose own gaze shifted back at either him or the Pegasus. His pupils dilated, but that was all for now. “If ah knew to pack some extra stuff along that trip, I would have,” Peachy commented with a shake of her head, cutting into the cold silence. Cortland sent her a vicious glare, which she pretended not to notice as she headed back into the house. She glanced over her shoulder at Pinkie Pie and Applejack. “Wanna head inside for somethin' to eat while these two sort things out?” Rainbow Dash glanced over at Pinkie and Applejack, both of who smiled at her before they headed inside to let the family get to know each other—if that is what they can call it.