So........guys. Have a nice little sad fic I wrote while you wait for AC: MO Ch. 3.
Rainbow Dash is a pony who never ever lets her tough exterior break. She is the one everypony could lean on, the one that was the pillar of support for the rest. Rainbow Dash never ever cries.
Except on one day. On one day in the whole year, she cried.
It was the day she dreaded the most in the Equestrian calendar, while everypony else looked forward to it. Every one of her friends had somepony to go to on that day. She….well, she had nothing. It had been that way for a long time, and not many ponies knew that. Not many ponies knew why Rainbow Dash was always out to grab everypony’s attention with her stunning displays of speed and agility. Most assumed it was because she was a braggart and a show-off who liked turning their heads, which to an extent was true. However, there was a real reason.
And so, it was for this reason that Rainbow Dash trudged through the streets of Ponyville on that day, as usual smiling brashly at everypony. Inside, her emotions were a frothing pit of chaos. She had been this way for the past 17 years, and had kept the sadness within in check with a bold attitude. On this day every year, however, Dash struggled the greatest.
It was Family Day.
Everypony had somepony to go to. Rainbow Dash….she had no one. The desire to go and simply run away from it all often arose on Family Day, but who would she run to?
Twilight Sparkle? She was in Canterlot staying with her parents, brother, and new sister in-law.
Applejack? She was over in Sweet Apple Acres enjoying a day off of work with arguably the largest family in Equestria. The thought of that made Rainbow Dash sick to the point of tears.
Pinkie Pie? No good either. She was visiting her family back on the rock farm, constantly sending letters to Rainbow Dash with updates of what she and her relatives were up to. This only made Dash angry, but she knew her anger was unreasonable. Pinkie didn't know what’d happened. None of her friends did.
Fluttershy? The shy mare was in her home town of Manehatten, where her family was gathering for a reunion. As kind as Fluttershy was, Rainbow Dash couldn’t run to her and rip her from her family for selfish reasons.
Rarity? Sweet Celestia, no. While the two were friends, Rainbow Dash felt that something like this couldn’t be left with a pony like Rarity; she was too much into the tabloids, and if Rarity found out what’d happened, Dash would never here the end of it. Besides, she too was with her family.
So, with all of her friends away from Ponyville or unable to come visit her in her cloud home, Rainbow Dash felt alone—but the feeling wasn’t new. It had been that way since that day many years ago….her 10th Family Day.
Rainbow Dash could hardly wait for the day at flight school to end. She had aced her latest test, and was once again the top of her class for the grading period. Many ponies said her dreams were literally in reach once she graduated; she’d become a professional flyer for sure. But that wasn’t why she was excited. Dash was hovering in glee for something of greater value: Family Day.
This year, her parents were going to take her to a real Wonderbolts show! It’s what she’d always dreamed of…to see her heroes zooming through the air and performing mind-blowing tricks. But, it wasn’t really that that got her excited. It was the thought of spending time with her beloved mother and father.
Rainbow Dash and her parents had always been very close. Since her early years, the rainbow filly had spent every possible spare hour flying with her father, Spirit Wings, a member of the Equestrian Guard, or performing aerial dances with her graceful mother, Aurora Luminara, the most beautiful mare Rainbow Dash ever knew. The three were in a world of their own whenever they were together, and nothing ever separated them. Nothing, and she meant nothing, could come between them.
Rainbow Dash hummed along to a common tune as she stuffed the last book into her saddlebags. She smiled as she headed out the door, ready for a day of thrills and amazement. She walked out of the school, and was about to head to the pick-up point when she saw her teacher, Ms. Tillow Feathers, having a hushed conversation with a stallion dressed in golden armor. He was an Equestrian Guard, just like her father.
Rainbow Dash flew over, a huge grin plastered on her face. “Hiya Ms. Tillow! Hey, Mr. Guard. Seen my dad lately? He’s supposed to pick me up later to take me and my mother to a Wonderbolts show, and after that we’re going to go eat dinner. I really like that one joint next to the Cloudiseum with those delicious hay fries, and—”
“Rainbow Dash.”
Dash immediately stopped chatting, confused by her normally bubbly teacher’s unusual grave tone. The look on her face too…..it was something Rainbow had never seen before. It wasn’t the usual looks she had gotten from Ms. Tillow; instead of being full of pride and awe, her eyes were teary and full of something else….sympathy.
The guard cleared his throat. “Shall I tell her?”
“No.” Ms. Tillow said shakily. “Perhaps it’s best that I do it.”
More scared now than confused, Rainbow Dash began to have horrible thoughts in her head. Had she done something wrong? Had she failed a test? Did her last flight maneuver not get recorded correctly? Questions ran through her mind, each prospect worse than the last. Ms. Tillow steered the young filly back to the classroom, where she gave Dash a slight push into the room. Ms. Tillow turned and closed the door behind them, and locked it.
Immediately after her teacher faced her, Rainbow Dash began to barrage her with questions.
“Ms. Tillow, what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong—“
“Rainbow—“
“—cause if I did I’m sorry—”
“Rainbow—”
“—or is it a test that I did bad on—”
“Rainbow Fulmenala Dash!”
The use of her full name(which she hated) brought the filly’s mouth to a close. Anytime somepony had used her full name, Rainbow Dash knew she was in trouble.
Rainbow Dash looked at the ground, tears coming from her eyes. “I-I’m sorry Ms. Tillow. I don’t know what I did. Please…”
A sigh of sympathy escaped her teacher’s mouth. Then, she spoke softly. “Rainbow Dash, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Upon hearing those words, Rainbow Dash immediately perked up and hovered towards the door. “Oh in that case, I’d better get going. My dad’s coming to pick me up, and I don’t want to be late.” She struggled with the door, and then remembered it was locked. She turned towards her teacher, who still had that strange look on her face. “Um, Ms. Tillow? Would you mind unlocking this door, please?”
The teacher continued to give Rainbow Dash a look of sympathy.
Rainbow was beginning to feel a little freaked out. “Uh, Ms. Tillow, I really need to get going. Daddy should be here any minute now, and he doesn’t like it when I’m late.”
Finally, Ms. Tillow sighed. “Rainbow Dash….your father isn’t coming.”
The filly stood, a little confused at her teacher’s words. “What do you mean? Is my Mommy coming to get me?”
“No…..neither of them are.”
Rainbow Dash laughed. “Oh, this is a joke you three are playing on me, isn’t it? I see.” She flew over to the closet, and knocked on the door. “Alright Mom, Dad, you can come out now!” No answer. Thinking that they were just trying to keep quiet, Rainbow opened the door.
It was empty. Nopony was in there.
Rainbow Dash began to feel a little panicked. “Ms. Tillow…..where are my parents?”
“I told you already. They’re not coming to get you.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything!” Rainbow Dash cried, tears now forming. “Why aren’t they coming? Did something happen?”
Silence. Then, she spoke. “Rainbow Dash…..your father was out on a mission for the princess, and your mother was allowed to accompany him. They were simply delivering a message, and were traveling along a road near Appleloosa.”
“Oh, so they're just on some business?” Rainbow Dash said, calming down. “Ok. I can wait here till—”
A stern look from her teacher halted her words. “I’m not finished yet. While on the road…they were attacked by some bandits, and…well…..they didn’t make it.”
Rainbow frowned. “Like, to Appleloosa?”
“Celestia!” Ms. Tillow cursed, crying. “No, Rainbow Dash….they’re dead.”
Silence. Then the filly gave a weak smile.
“Th-there’s no way they’d be d-dead.” Rainbow Dash said shakily. “They’re my parents….they're supposed to always be there for me…” Tears began to form. “To kiss me goodnight…..” Her lips started to quiver. “….To be with me when I’m sad….” Suddenly, she stopped speaking, only soft cries coming from her mouth.
Then, she spoke again. “Ms. Tillow…..Is this true?”
Ms. Tillow sighed, and told her as softly as she could. “I’m afraid so, Dashie…”
More tears, more sniffles. Then heavy breathing took it’s place. Dash looked up at her teacher, anger in her eyes.
“I DON’T BELIEVE YOU!” She cried, her emotions swirling about. “THEY’RE OUT THERE, I KNOW THEY ARE!” Dash lifted up, flew over to the window, and began to smash at it.
“Rainbow Dash!” Her teacher cried. “Please, stop! Your parents aren’t—”
Rainbow turned around once more and glared at her teacher, eyes full of denial and pain, before smashing through the window completely. The broken glass cut her little body, but Dash didn’t care. It was nothing compared to the sorrow of losing her parents….something she couldn’t accept. They were out there. She knew it. The cyan filly ignored the cries of her teacher and instead flew as fast as she could back to her home.
Now sitting alone under a tree at the outskirts of Ponyville, under her cloud home, Rainbow Dash sniffled as she remembered that day. There was no Wonderbolts show. There were no thrills. There was no wonderful family dinner. There wasn’t even a family to go home to that day. All she had was a cold, empty house full of bittersweet memories. Rainbow Dash sold the place as soon as she could, but the house was only the physical embodiment of her loss; the real place they stayed in was her heart.
Dash looked out over the horizon. It was somewhere around mid-afternoon; the sun was still high in the sky. Her friends wouldn’t be back for a while, and until them, she was alone. Once they returned, Rainbow Dash knew she’d be a little more complete, a little more at ease.
But to feel this pain over and over…..the thought of that brought tears to her eyes. Many day she felt like she didn’t want to deal with it. Especially on this day. Her friends didn’t know because she never let anything on the inside ever show. That was how Rainbow Dash was; the insecurity within her was never allowed to show because she didn’t want to be called weak.
Perhaps, however, it wasn’t that she was strong enough to not let it show. Maybe she was too weak to let it show.
Rainbow Dash looked across the sparkling blue pond next to her, and wistfully stared at a ghostly image on the other side. It was a family of three, a filly and two parents, sharing a picnic.
It was her, but it wasn’t. It was her memory haunting her as they usually did. The sorrow within her turned to a seething anger. Why won’t these damn memories leave her alone?!
“LEAVE ME ALONE!” Rainbow screamed, tears running down her face. However, all that happened was more ghosts came from her past and surrounded her….the day she learned to fly….the day she was sick and her father took leave from duty to take care of her…..the three of them, having a picnic. These images surrounded her, and taunted her. Rainbow Dash could only sit on the grass, staring wide-eyed and helpless as the pain that she kept hidden for 17 years gushed forth like a river through a broken dam. She grabbed the sides of her head and screamed, before lifting off and soaring into the sky sobbing.
High up in the clouds now, Rainbow Dash landed on a cloud above the pond. It was very high up, and she could feel the cool air chilling the tears that streamed down her face. Her breath mixed in with the moisture of the air. For the moment, she was free. The memories were down below, and Dash sighed in relief as she laid on the cloud. She looked out into the sun, tear falling from her violet irises. The sun was beautiful, and she could see the moon in the distance….the two celestial bodies that rose daily were stark reminders of what she’d lost; the sun’s bold rays symbolized the determination and bravery that was her father, and the moon’s soft light was the gentle caress of her mother’s wings as she sung her young child a lullaby. Rainbow Dash smiled, for she could almost feel her wingtips brushing through her mane.
“Mommy….” Dash whimpered. “I love you….I miss you….” Then, a cold blast of wind opened her eyes, and the harsh reality came back once more. She was alone up on a cloud, and the wingtips were probably just a small breeze. Tears once more flooded her sockets, and Dash broke down on the cloud, sobbing. It was too much. Why couldn’t it just end? Why couldn’t she just die, like they had, so they could be together?
Rainbow Dash raised her head and looked once more at the sun. It was changing the sky to a crimson red, the same as the shade on her mane. Celestia’s magic was making it sink further, and further, and further…..sinking….sinking…sinking!
Suddenly, an idea came to Rainbow Dash’s mind as the sun’s last rays sunk beneath the horizon, and the moon came up to rule the sky. There was a way for them to be together again. It was simple as 1, 2, 3, and yet for 17 years she’d never thought of it. For 17 years she had been the bearer of unnecessary pain, when she could’ve just ended on her own accord.
All Rainbow Dash had to do was die.
She glanced over the edge of the cloud and saw that she was right over the pond below. It was as simple as a jump, and to let herself fall, and within minutes she’d be free. Her spirit would then soar through the skies forever with her parents. Sighing, Rainbow Dash breathed in one last breath of air. She leaned over the edge, and felt gravity take hold of her.
She fell.
As the air rushed by her, Rainbow Dash smiled a true smile for the first time in a long time. She could see her parents, holding out their hooves in welcome. Their eyes showed great joy at seeing their child again.
My goodness, you’ve grown quite a bit, Dashie! Said Mother. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to carry you to your room anymore!
Her father laughed, a deep resonating sound. Not that you’d need to. You’ve become quite the flyer, haven’t you, Rainbow?
She smiled. It was true.
Cold enveloped her. Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, breaking away from that fantasy. She wasn’t sure when she’d hit the water, but now that she had, reality sunk in. She was about to die. Rainbow Dash opened her mouth, and air bubbles flew out, letting water pour into her lungs.
Though there was great pain, the sight of the bubbles rising to the surface brought relief and calm to her mind. It was almost as if the torturous memories of the past were finally leaving her. Soon….soon, she’d be free.
Rainbow Dash smiled, as she she saw her parents hooves reach for her, to take their daughter into a loving embrace. Dash felt calm, as her mind began to fade away, slowly, slowly....
Finally, they were together.