//------------------------------// // Rainbow Dash's Inner Turmoil // Story: The Spot // by The Blu Equine //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash's Realization "Yo Dash!" Startled, Rainbow Dash turns her head to see who could be calling her name out at a time like this. She then sees her old griffon friend, Gilda, flying at her. "Buzz off Gilda, I don't want to see your face around here." said the pegasus pony angrily. It had been two years since the incident at Sugarcube Corner and Dash hadn't forgiven Gilda for the way she acted towards Pinkie Pie. "I just wanted to come apologize for the way I acted at my party. I should've been grateful for Pinkie's willingness to accept me as one of her friends." Gilda stammered out. Rainbow Dash was speechless at this. She had known this griffon her entire life, and never heard her utter anything CLOSE to an apology. This all came as a shock to the pony who had thought of Gilda as the very definition of toughness, and sometimes the very definition of rottenness. The fact that Gilda had just apologized knocked dash back into the cloud she had been resting on. "I...I just don't know what to say." Dash quickly stammered "Just forgive me and lets go for a flying session. Like old times' sake." Gilda asked. "Ok lets go." Dash said. But as Rainbow Dash attempted to take off, the cloud beneath her disappeared and she found her wings would not flap despite all her efforts. "GILDA! HELP!" Dash screamed. But Gilda just hovered there flapping her wings like she didn't hear anything. All the while Rainbow Dash hurtled towards the ground screaming at the top of her lungs and flailing her limbs in a desperate attempt to do anything to save her life. Dash looked towards the ground and saw it getting closer and closer, right before impact she squeezed her eyes closed. Dash bolted upright and looked around and noticed she was still in her bed in her home in Cloudsdale. "Why can't I shake that dream. It wasn't my fault Gilda died. It just wasn't!" Dash screamed at herself. It had been 3 months since the tragic accident just outside of Cloudsdale and Rainbow Dash just couldn't get the memory out of her head. "If I had just been a little bit faster, Gilda wouldn't have died and everything would be fine." Dash sputtered through a few tears. Dash walked into the kitchen and poured herself a drink, a shot of her favorite whiskey, Applejack Daniels. "That helped a little" the pegasus thought to herself. "Just gotta go clear my head somewhere" and with that she was off in the night sky towards her favorite spot to be alone. "Wow I cannot believe I've never noticed just how cool those lights look before." Dash spoke to herself as she flew over Ponyville. It was only a matter of minutes, but it felt longer. The more she thought about it the worse she felt about that day. Upon arriving at the spot, Dash remembered why she loved this spot more than any other. It wasn't the fact that it was only her and Gilda that knew about it, but the way that the moonlight glistening just so off the lake and the near surrounding of trees made this spot look even better than it truly was. Dash flew around trying to find the most comfortable cloud near the clearing and when she did, she flew it close enough to the water where she could recline on it while her hind legs sank just barely into the water, which was surprisingly warm. Not long after Rainbow had settled into a perfect position and was getting ready to drift off to sleep she heard a noise over by the trees. "Who's there?" questioned a startled Rainbow Dash. No reply came, so Dash decided to investigate personally. She took off like a bullet straight at the source of the noise before seeing a familiar outline. "It couldn't possibly be, I know I saw her die that day. But it can't be anybody else! Gilda, I'm so GLAD to see you!" exclaimed an excited Rainbow Dash. "Ah hate to burst yer bubble Rainbow but Ah ain't yer friend Gilda." said a surprised Applejack. "Hah of course you're not, that'd be silly. Besides we all saw what they did with the body at her funeral." replied Rainbow. They had of course given Gilda a griffon's burial, which involved tying the body to a cloud and burning the cloud over a lake until there wasn't a trace of it left. "Whats got ye so bothered Rainbow?" queried Applejack. "I had another dream about Gilda. It was the same one I've been having for the past few weeks." answered a near crying Rainbow Dash. "Thar was nothin ye coulda done ta save 'er Rainbow. Ye tried yer best and nopony blames ye fer what happened." said Applejack, trying to calm her ever worsening friend. "Just fergit about it, remember da good times ye had with Gilda. Its what she woulda wanted." "Thanks AJ, that's exactly what I needed to hear. You always have the right words for whatever situation occurs. I'm only wondering one thing, How did you know about this place?" asked a quizzical Rainbow Dash. "Are ya kidding? This place's been a spot that's given the apple family many a night a thinkin'. That and it's the best spot to do some heavy drinkin' when somepony's feelin' down." replied a smiling Applejack. "Yeah, the drinkings been pretty much the only thing to distract me from my dream. That and this place." said Rainbow Dash. "Want somethin' ta drink? Ah've got some good hard stuff in my sack if ye want a drink." proposed Applejack. "That'd be great, lemme help you pour them for us." replied Rainbow. As she uncorked the first jug the heavy smell of alcohol attacked her nostrils. "Hooey, you know how to make some strong alcohol, hopefully it tastes as good as it smells." quipped a smiling Rainbow Dash. After a few drinks Rainbow and Applejack didn't really comment about the taste of the alcohol much anymore. Then again much of their speaking didn't make sense after those few drinks. Before long both of the ponies had passed out and were only awoken when the sun was beginning to rise. "Thanks for the company Applejack, I'll have to make sure to visit Sweet Apple Acres next time I have another bad night like tonight." said a groggy Rainbow Dash. "Aw shoot, anytime Rainbow. Drinkin' with somebody who can actually hold their booze is actually fun. Not like drinkin' with Twi at all." Answered a cheery Applejack. Both the ponies laughed at the joke as they parted ways. Not knowing this wouldn't be the last time there was a surprise at the spot.