Chapter One
And a Hundred for All the Years
“Rise and shine, ya lazy bum!”
The twangy caterwaul was followed by a thump and a chorus of rustling, and before Rainbow Dash could tell up from down, she was being bombarded by apples. By the time she was able to lift her head, the attacks had ceased, and she was left with a sore head and mane filled with twigs and leaves. Groaning and wiping the apple guts off her face, Rainbow glared up at where she knew her assailant—in her mind, she was picturing a hat and freckles—would be.
Sure enough, Applejack stood nearby, chuckling heartily. “Seriously, Dash? Under a tree? Thought that maybe I’d be safe from ya for a few weeks, but nope. Ya just come back and sleep under ‘em. Sheesh, what is it with this place? Some kinda pegasus-nappin-magnet hidden under the ground or somethin? ”
Rainbow Dash groaned, rubbing her eyes with her hooves. Applejack. Just what she needed right now. While fate was at it, maybe it could just strike her down with lightning or pull her wings out of their sockets. That’d be easier to take.
A shadow fell over Rainbow. Applejack had moved closer, and was now peering down at her with a look Dash had seen all too many times before. Concern. Slamming her chin on her forelegs, Rainbow let out a huff. Maybe that would get the “I don’t want anything to do with you right now” message across.
“Long night?”
Guess not. Rainbow mumbled a few curses into her forelegs before lifting her head up just enough that her words wouldn’t be muffled. “You have no idea.”
Applejack nodded. Rainbow hated it when she nodded without saying a single word. For a pony like Applejack, a silent nod could mean anything. It could mean she was angry, or happy, or scheming, or just thinking about what drink she’d have with lunch. It was impossible for Dash to be sure.
“How’s she been?”
Rainbow groaned. Great. More of this empathy crap. When everything had gone down, Rainbow had hoped that Applejack would be above trying to play psychologist with her, but it appeared that even Sweet Apple Acres wasn’t a safe zone from upturned brows and pats on the back. “Better,” she mumbled, her own voice barely recognizable.
“You with her last night?” Applejack took a seat beside Rainbow Dash. Rainbow stole a glance, and was surprised to find that Applejack was not giving her the old “concerned gaze” routine, and was instead looking off into the orchard. An apple rested on one of her forehooves. She dusted it off and took a bite. Rainbow took a deep breath. Finally, a conversation that might just be normal for once—at least Applejack hadn’t pulled out a pair of glasses, couch, and fake moustache like a certain bouncy baker.
“Of course, just like every night.” Rainbow shrugged. A part of her wanted to just say, ‘I don’t want to to talk about it,’ but at the same time, at least Applejack wasn’t hiding the subject behind a wave of pseudo-psychology crap or cupcakes. The least she could do was reward Applejack for being upfront about it. “Went straight there after helping the team with setting up the small thunderstorm they wanted out near the windmill. You know how hard it is to order around a weather team from the ground? Not easy.” She crossed her forelegs and snorted. “Anyway, after that catastrophe was settled, I headed over to Rares’ place and spent the night.”
Applejack smirked and pushed back her hat, shooting Dash a knowing glance. “And how much of that time did ya spend sleeping?”
“‘Bout a half-hour, so too much.” Rainbow couldn’t have fought off her smile if she’d tried.
“Heh heh.” Applejack only managed a couple of chuckles before a sigh rumbled up from her throat. She fiddled with a nearby branch with her foreleg as she started to speak again. “So, what are ya doing here? Rarity kick you out of the house last night or something?”
“No.” Rainbow grunted and sat up. “Had to get up early to make sure Brolly cleared the clouds right on that road between here and Fluttershy’s place. He did, believe it or not.” She stretched her forelegs toward the sun, a loud yawn escaping her lips and echoing through the orchard. “Dead tired, though. Surprised I didn’t just pass out in the middle of the road.”
Applejack smiled and shook her head. “Woulda prefered that.”
“Oh, so you want to see me get run over by a cart?”
“Not sure you’d like my answer to that,” Applejack chuckled—or rather, tried to chuckle.
“What’s eating ya, AJ?” Rainbow said.
Applejack let out a deep breath. “I was just wonderin’... she have any pains last night?”
Rainbow chewed on the inside of her cheek. Why did everything have to keep drifting there? “Not that I know of,” she said. The air was as heavy as a sack of bricks. She tried to chuckle as she added, “And she would let me know.” It came out as a quaver.
Applejack coughed and messed with the brim of her hat, twisting it and pushing it back. “Just wonderin’. Have an uncle up in Tall Tale who’s...” She coughed again. Rainbow couldn’t see her face, but judging from Applejack’s reaction, it wasn’t exactly cheerful. “Anyway, storms ‘cause him really bad pains, and I was wondering if maybe—”
“Nah.” Dash waved a hoof. “She was fine last night.” It wasn’t a lie—not in the slightest.
“Good.” Applejack took off her hat and shook the leaves and twigs off of it. As she placed it back on her head. “How much ya been sleeping, anyway?”
“Enough,” Rainbow said, glancing up into the canopy. She tried to count the number of leaves, but got bored at twelve, and went back to fiddling with her own hooves
“Uh huh.” Applejack frowned. Dash had to admit she was good at it. “Look, Rainbow, if ya ever need one of us—”
“I’ve got this handled, AJ,” Rainbow muttered.
“Rainbow, ya look like crap,” Applejack said, voice barely a whisper. “You’re tryin’ to balance too much. We can help ya out. Twilight’s back in town; I’m sure she’d be more than willing to spend some time with Rarity. That way you coul—”
“She does,” Rainbow answered, rubbing her temples with her hooves. “She’s been coming by every week. Or at least that’s what Rares tells me. I dunno, I’m never there."
“Still, you cou—”
“Just knock it off, Applejack.” Rainbow jumped to her hooves. “Sheesh, it’s not like Rare’s some friggin’ vegetable. She can take care of herself.”
“Then why in the hay are ya acting like she can’t?”
Rainbow swore she could feel flames licking her ears. She took a step forward and slammed a hoof on the ground. “Put yourself in my shoes for a second, AJ! I...” Her stomach suddenly felt like a lead weight, and her face went completely numb. She moved her mouth, but only silence drew forth. Rainbow didn’t know how long it took her to find the words. “Forget it.”
What happened next appeared to Dash in slow motion. Applejack took a step forward. Her foreleg began to lift off the ground like an airship—slowly but surely. Soon, it was perpendicular to Rainbow’s back. Rainbow tried to scurry away only to find her legs committing mutiny. And before she could shout, Applejack’s foreleg was draped over her shoulder.
Why? was all Rainbow could think.
“Rainbow Dash,” Applejack started. “I know this is hard for ya, sugarcube...”
Rainbow cradled her head in her hooves. Why?! AJ, you’re better than this! She looked skyward and groaned. "It's harder for her. I'm... I'm fine."
“I know, Dash, but... if ya ever need somepony to talk to, I’m more than willin’ to liste—”
Her words were cut off by a thump and a squeak. Applejack and Rainbow turned to their right just in time to see Fluttershy come bounding through the trees.
“There you are!” she cried out—or at least, the closest Fluttershy could come to crying out. It was more of a squeak, really. She skidded to a stop in front of them, catching a root and nearly faceplanting. Once her forelegs had stopped flailing about and had been placed firmly on the ground, and her breathing was under control, she looked up at Rainbow. Her eyes were wider than usual. They had a sheen of fright Rainbow was all too familiar with. She gulped as Fluttershy’s squeaks began to form words.
“Rainbow, I... came as fast as I could. Something... I was just at the boutique—I wanted to see if Rarity would like to go to the spa with me, even though I know she’s not feeling well, but I felt that it could make her feel better, b-but then again knowing her she probably doesn’t want to be seen in public... and I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been so intrusive, but—” Fluttershy was cut off by a hoof covering her mouth.
“Breathe, girl. Take it easy,” Rainbow said. “What’s up?”
Without blinking, Fluttershy nodded. Rainbow had no idea why that worked, but it always had. As soon as she lowered her hoof, Fluttershy began to speak again—this time remembering to breathe.
“I went by the boutique, and I heard something. It sounded like crashing. And I think I heard Rarity crying—I’d recognize it anywhere.”
Rainbow bit her lip. She had hoped that today would turn out to be a normal day, but... well, nowadays, it was a ‘normal’ day; just not the ‘normal’ day that Rainbow Dash liked.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Calm, Dash. Cool. Another deep breath, and she was marching forward, making her way past Applejack and Fluttershy. It wasn’t until she was out of the orchard and off Sweet Apple Acres that she allowed herself to breathe. To worry. Her legs felt like lead and her head throbbed.
Just another day.
* * *
Rainbow Dash hated walking. She hated it more when she had no say in the matter. The damn doctor had gotten her hopes up when he had told her that the surgery on her wing had been successful. Then he just had to reel her back in right as her hopes started to get airborne.
Two months. Two months without flying. Might as well be a lifetime.
No, Dash, a voice in the back of her head seethed. Don’t you dare feel sorry for yourself. ‘Least you’re still in one piece. At that, Rainbow shut her thoughts up and zoned out until the dirt under her hooves gave way to hard earth. Ponies bustled through Ponyville, many of them smiling at Rainbow Dash or giving a jovial “hello.” Rainbow Dash didn’t respond; she didn’t have time to greet everypony who thought they knew her. She didn’t even recognize most of them.
One familiar face did catch her eye, however. The gray pegasus zig-zagged high above, unceasing smile stretching from ear to ear. A quick glance at the sun told Rainbow Dash that it was, at the least, two o’clock by now. No way she hasn’t been over that way by now.
“Hey, Derpy!” Rainbow called out. She swore she heard the rattling of gears as Derpy’s head whipped in her direction. For a moment, Derpy looked around the sky, smile briefly replaced by a frown. “Down here!” Rainbow called again. Derpy’s eyes bobbled to-and-fro before one focused on Rainbow and lit up. She landed with a stumble and a silly grin.
“Heya, Dash, what’s up?” she asked.
“Not me,” Rainbow replied with a forced smile. Derpy loved inside jokes, and for the last month, this had been her go-to one. She laughed as hard this time as she had the last couple dozen times. Eventually, the laughter died down. Rainbow’s teeth were gritted to the point of cracking.
“Can’t get used to lookin’ for you on the ground, Rainbow. How long you still stuck there?”
“Only a month to go.”
“Great!” Derpy grinned, and Rainbow had to smile back. Though she could only take Derpy in small doses, that smile was infectious. “I’ve missed having lunch with you. Only one on the team who eats with me is Blossomforth. She’s good company, but...”
“You can still have lunch with me, Derpy. I’m still workin’ with the team, even if I’m not... well, ‘working’.” She rubbed the back of her head. Words had never been her thing.
“I know, but the last time I asked, you were having lunch with Rarity, and I don’t wanna get in the way or anything.”
“Well... just ask me beforehoof next time, okay? I’m sure I can find a good day.”
“Okay!” Derpy beamed.
“You’re doing the weather in the southeastern part of town, right?” Dash asked. “I think that’s what I scheduled for you.”
“Yep, sure is.”
Rainbow scratched the back of her head. “Fluttershy just told me she heard noises over at Rare’s place, and I was wondering if you’d heard anything.”
Derpy frowned. “Yeah, I was working over at the apartments when I heard, like, loud noises and stuff. Heard the door slam too.”
“You know it was Rare’s place?”
“Yeah,” Derpy continued. “I saw the windows shaking, and ponies were all lookin’ at it too, and I even heard crying. Saw Fluttershy running off, too. Didn’t think much. Just thought it was Rarity having another one of those...”
“Moments,” Rainbow finished with a sigh. She trusted Fluttershy, but at the same time Fluttershy had a habit for hearing things that weren’t there. A second pair of eyes, no matter how wobbly, made it undeniable. “Thanks, Derpy.” She made a beeline for a nearby bridge.
“Anytime, Dash!”
The closer Rainbow Dash got to the boutique, the sicker she felt. Rarity had been just fine last night. She’d been just fine this morning before she’d left, too. Maybe a bit drowsy, but who wasn’t at four in the morning? She knew Rarity’s mood could shift, but... there had always been signs. Sporadic huffs and pouts leading to an inevitable explosion. This was different. This wasn’t one of her typical breakdowns.
An outside force was at work here. Dash could feel it in her gut.
The boutique—Rainbow’s second home—lingered in the distance like the exit to a cave in a dream. It was where she had to go, but... if she stayed here, Rarity would be fine, right? It had been a month! Surely Rarity could pull herself through these episodes by herself by now.
Rainbow felt her blood heat up. I swear, if she’s sobbing over spilling the cream for her tea again, I’m gonna... She shook the thought away. The fact that she could think such things made her want to punch herself in the face.
Trapped deep within her thoughts, Rainbow almost walked straight into the side of the boutique. Luckily (though she’d say otherwise), her land speed was far slower than her air speed, and she was able to stop herself before she became closely acquainted with the shop windows.
Her ears perked. No sound. Strange. Usually Rarity sobbed for hours on end when she cracked—and when she didn’t wail, the shattering of china and vases and wine glasses formed an incessant soundtrack. However, today it was quiet. Dead quiet.
Without even knocking, Rainbow walked up the steps and opened the door. “Rare?” she called out. “You alright?” The main room of the boutique was a mess. mannequins lay on their sides—or on one another—covered in scraps of fabric and broken strands of gems. Shards of glass surrounded one of the many sewing machines, a half-finished gown still laying underneath the pressure foot. Upon further inspection, Rainbow found a golden line of thread zigzagging up the mint green silk. The needle was still jutting through the the fabric. Rainbow couldn’t believe it. She’d known Rarity to be destructive in her fits, but never to the point of ruining her own designs.
“Rarity?” Rainbow called out again, and again there was no answer. She walked over to the kitchen door and looked around. Clean. Not even the tea kettle was out. Rainbow’s brow furrowed. Even in her darkest hours, Rarity would get the kettle out for her afternoon tea—even if it did lead to her throwing it against a wall.
“Rare?” No response. Rainbow groaned. Perfect. She went back into the main room and went from dressing room to dressing room, slowly pushing forward the first few doors and kicking open the last few. No Rarity, though. Just a bunch of dust and smudged mirrors. When was the last time they’d been used? Had Rarity even had any clients since the incident?
Of course not, you knucklehead. Even in her own mind, she couldn’t avoid being berated.
Rainbow trudged out of the last dressing room, and leaned on the cutting table. Where was that mare? She couldn’t just disappear into thin air... or could she? Rainbow’s hoof clopped against her head so loudly that she almost didn’t hear the sound. She stopped and looked up the stairs, ears jutting up like antennae.
There it was again! Heavy shuffling. Like hooves sliding along floorboards. Of course. Upstairs... Rainbow Dash gave herself a single hard knock on the skull before standing up and making her way up the steps. As she neared the top, the noises became clearer. Mostly creaking floorboards mixed with the occasional sniffle. Rainbow’s stomach did loops. Yep, definitely Rarity. Definitely upset. Great...
Rainbow made the familiar trek down the hall to Rarity’s bedroom. As expected, the noises were coming from behind the sequin-covered door. She paused with her hoof on the door and just listened. She didn’t know why, she just... did. Now that she was closer, Rainbow could hear muffled sobs underneath the other noises.
“Rares...” There was no answer, but the sniffles ceased. Rainbow took that to be an invitation, and opened the door.
Rarity sat in the middle of the bedroom, wrapped in a dark blanket. Rainbow rolled her eyes. Here we go, she mumbled inwardly, hoping that the thought wasn’t reflected on her face. Not that it mattered, since Rarity’s eyes were set on the ground. Rainbow crept forward, and soon found herself right next to her marefriend. She took a seat. Rarity didn’t even glance in her direction. Rainbow sighed and unfurled her good wing and draped it over Rarity’s back. The unicorn shuddered once, but quickly leaned into it.
“You okay?” Rainbow said after a long period of silence.
“Hmm?” Rarity murmured, voice muffled by Rainbow’s shoulder.
“Fluttershy said she heard you making a racket. Derpy too.” Taking a moment to glance around the room, Rainbow noticed that even Rarity’s bedroom hadn’t been safe. Books and paper lay scattered about the floor, and the bedsheets were in shambles. Though... I may have been behind that, Rainbow thought, a smirk gracing her lips for the briefest of moments. It disappeared with a sigh. “Looks like they weren’t lying.”
“No, they were not.” Rarity smiled, but her voice and eyes betrayed her.
“What happened?”
Rarity whimpered, pulling the sheet-hood back from her face just a bit and looking directly into Rainbow’s eyes. “I’m really not in the mood to say.” She was going for the puppy-dog-eyes routine. Though Rainbow had to admit it toggled some switches, it still wasn’t enough.
“Too bad,” she said. “What happened? Last time we talked these things out, you felt better. Let’s try it again.”
Lowering her head, Rarity let out a sigh. “I suppose it can’t hurt—not any more.” She pulled the sheet off her head completely, some strands of mane seeming to want to go with it. A light of her horn, and a brush and mirror levitated her way. In seconds, her mane was back into its pristine, curled shape. She cleared her throat, and began again.
“Spike came over today.”
Rainbow cringed. Oh, please tell me this isn’t going where I think it’s going. She forced a smile. “Really now? That’s... uh, this is the first time he’s come over since he moved back, right?”
“Yes it is,” Rarity said. “Still a sweet one, that Spike. He even brought an absolutely marvelous collection of gems he had collected in...” She frowned. “What is the name of that area?”
“Got me.” Rainbow shrugged.
“Very well. Either way, they were just stunning. I’d never seen gems like them before, and I’ve seen them all.” She sighed and wriggled, burying herself further into Rainbow’s still outstretched wing. “All was well until I got my leg tangled up in some of that rope I used for the school house’s Hearth’s Warming play last year. Before you ask, it was for belts for robes that just happened to be made of this lovely white silk—perfect for jabots. Yes, jabots are back in this year. Silken shirts too. It’s rather puzzling, frankly. I swear that Fashion Weekly... I’m getting off topic now, aren’t I?”
“Just a tad,” Rainbow chuckled.
“Moving back to... well, what you consider pressing matters—silk trends are far bigger than you think, Rainbow—it locked up and I fell. Not a bad fall, mind you, but it was enough. I could barely even pick myself up. Fortunately Spike was around, and my has he gotten tall. You’ve seen him, haven’t you, Rainbow?”
“Only once, but yeah... not such a little dragon anymore, huh?”
“Not even remotely.” Rarity giggled and wiped her eyes. “So, Spike comes over and helps me up. I thanked him, and expected that to be that. But this thing is a harsh mistress, and I just... it wasn’t so much it hurt. More ‘uncomfortable.” I was probably whimpering more than I should have, and this limping... oh quit your yawning, Rainbow Dash! Am I not entertaining you?”
“Just tired, Rares.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Sheesh, not everything is a shot at you.”
Rarity let out a small gasp and glared. Intimidation was not an easy thing to do to Rainbow Dash, but messing with a pissed off Rarity was on the short list of things Rainbow Dash never, ever even wished to do.
Rarity’s eyes drifted to the floor, and she sighed. “Spike noticed my discomfort, of course,” she continued. “He kept asking me if I needed help; I kept saying ‘no.” Eventually, he must have gotten tired, because in a second I was scooped up and carried up here. Probably just thought laying down would do me some good, the sweetheart.”
Rainbow couldn’t hide her frown anymore. Crap. This is going where I think it’s going. “So he came up here?” she asked. Rarity nodded. “Let me guess: that didn’t go very well.”
“Not in any sense of the word,” Rarity sighed. “The sheets were still a mess, you forgot your goggles this morning on the dresser, and our picture was still right there on the night table—even a blind pony could have seen it in a dark room!”
“How bad did he freak?”
“Most of those ‘crashes’ were him running out.” Rarity gave a halfhearted giggle. “Poor thing doesn’t know his size. Those papers, the mannequins: all his work. The crying was me, however. I... well—”
“I understand, Rare. If I were in your shoes, I’d... well, I’d probably get really angry. You handled it better than I ever could.”
Rarity sniffled and nodded. “He hates me now.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“Yes he does. I heard him yell that he does. Six times.” Tears were making their way down Rarity’s already damp cheeks. Rainbow wiped a few away with her wing before wrapping her forelegs around Rarity’s neck and giving her a light kiss on the nose. Never had she thought she’d ever do such cheesy, uncool things, but around Rarity... she just couldn’t help herself.
“It’ll be okay,” Rainbow whispered, gently rubbing circles Rarity’s back.
“How many times have I heard you say that and it not be true?”
“How many times have I said it and it is?” Rainbow’s hoof moved down Rarity’s back, to her waist, and curved around to her right thigh. Rarity shivered, but her forelegs only wrapped around Dash tighter.
“Trust me, Rare...” Rainbow’s hoof continued to trace Rarity’s thigh, stopping when the feel of fur suddenly ended. “...everything’s gonna be fine.”