//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Going Away // Story: Mares on a Moonlit Night // by Sheendough //------------------------------// Chapter 10: Going Away “Alright, team. You’ve all done a great job today!” —said Cloudkicker as she addressed the very tired weather team. “Now, before you go, I must inform you that the Boss has ordered any members who keep slacking off be banned from the Celebration if any trouble arises. This will be a very stressful week before the Summer Sun Celebration, so I hope I don’t need to lay off somepony for a day or two. With that said, you may now go.” Everyone left at once and Rainbow Dash found herself overflying Ponyville for another check up before the rain started. She glided gracefully down and directed her flight for Fluttershy’s cottage. She stepped down and knocked on the door. A very timid “coming!” answered her call. Fluttershy opened up her door with a surprise look on her eyes. “R-Rainbow! Gosh, I didn’t expect you until another couple of minutes!” —“Oh. Well, is it an inappropriate time?” —“Oh, no! Not at all. Come in.” Rainbow stepped in like she had used to do in her past visits and looked around. —“So… Where is he?” —“Back in the yard. He gets really happy when he visits his old friends. Should I get him?” —“Yes please. The last two times he looked mad for picking him up late.” —“Alright, you just wait here.” Fluttershy walked to the back of her house and into her backyard where most of her animals played around with each other. Rainbow just sat in the living room a little nervous on the inside. In a couple of seconds Fluttershy returned carrying a green shell in her hooves. “We’re here, Tank. Wake up” —she said with the gentlest motherly voice she could muster. From the insides of the shell a small head peeked out and a huge grin formed on its lips as Tank the tortoise looked at his owner. —“Hey, little guy” —said Rainbow Dash. Tank was often left with Fluttershy while Rainbow was working with the weather team and it wasn’t uncommon for Rainbow to pick him up late at night after a quick chat with Applejack or hearing a tantrum from Rarity. Tank wobbled his legs as he wanted to be in his owner’s hooves. Rainbow dash tightened the tortoise’s propeller and held the green reptile in her hooves. “Did ya miss me?” —“Not really. He likes to play around with his propeller all the time. He looks so cute.” —“Well, thank you so much for taking care of him. It’s really hard to look after him with so much work going on with the Summer Sun Celebration lately. I think I’m so stressed I might go crazy. I’ve been doing so many clumsy things that I think Cloudkicker is going to get an aneurism from me. Anyway, I—” —Rainbow stopped just as she noticed her friend. “Um… Fluttershy?” —she asked trying to get the yellow pegasus to react. “Fluttershy!” Fluttershy jerked back into reality as she blushed intensely. —“Wha—? What?” —she stammered. —“Sheez, Fluttershy. What happened back there? You looked dumbfounded and stared into nothingness.” —“I- I did?” —“Yes. If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you’re in love.” At the mention of the word “love” Rainbow noted her friend cowered behind her mane with the reddest face she had ever seen on her. “Wow. I was just joking, but it seems I was right.” Fluttershy just stood there with her feet glued to the floor and her mane still on her face. A whimper was all she could muster. “So, is it someone I know?” —“Um…” —“C’mon! Who’s the lucky colt?” —“I uh…” —Fluttershy just stood there not knowing what to say. Silence swept through the room for some good two minutes. —“Hey, it’s okay. If you don’t wanna tell me I’m fine.” Fluttershy was still quiet as a rock. “So… Does somepony else know?” —“Just Rarity” —said finally Fluttershy. —“Just her?” —“As far as I know. You know how gossipy she is. She managed to notice me in one of our weekly spa visits.” —“Yeah, well, your secret’s safe with me. When you finally feel like telling me who it is don’t be afraid.” —“Thanks Rainbow.” —“Anyway, how is the search?” —“Well, ever since you asked me I hadn’t had the time for it, but now we think we’re getting a lead.” —“Really?” —“Although the animals and I cannot begin to search properly until we’re certain about our information.” —“What, did you get it from a colt in a trench coat or some foreigner pony in a cart parking lot?” —“Oh, no. It’s not like that” —said Fluttershy with a slight chuckle. “I have sent a critter or two to get her tracks, but we have hardly found something. A bird managed to find a piece I believe is from her collar, but I can’t be certain it’s from her. And even if I did, I need more than a piece of leather to find her. That’s why I’m still waiting for something else, so at least I get a picture of where she went.” —“Alright Fluttershy. I’ll leave you to it. I believe in you.” —“Thanks Rainbow” —replied the yellow pegasus shyly. Rainbow Dash said goodbye to her friend and parted towards her house. As she soared the gray sky as the sun began to set, she saw the small shape of Sweet Apple Acres dark against the setting sun’s rays that peeked through the clouds and realized that one window was already lit: a small window on the second floor. Rainbow fluttered in the direction to the farm, but realized Tank was still following her. “I need to fix a few things with somepony. Are you sure you can do fine without me all by yourself back home?” Tank nodded in agreement and hovered towards Rainbow’s cloud home. The cyan mare then flew towards her best friend’s house wondering why in Equestria’s name was her window lit, and more importantly, what was she doing in her room when normally she was out in the orchard? This odd behavior really struck Rainbow’s curiosity as she flew gracefully over the clouds. Rainbow approached Applejack’s room and fluttered to the lit window. She softly tapped her hoof on the glass. This wasn’t the first time she went to Applejack’s bedroom and tapped on her window, but past experiences had taught her that Applejack could get mad at her from loudly banging on the window and almost cracking it. “What in tarnation?” —asked a familiar voice from behind the curtain. The window opened and Applejack’s orange face came in contact with a pair of violet eyes. “Rainbow? What’re ya doin’ here?” —“Oh. I was just flying back home when I saw your window lit, so I wondered why were you in your room so early instead of working in the farm.” —“Well, you sure showed up in quite a moment.” —“Is something wrong?” —“Not really, but ah got a lot to do.” —“Can I help?” —“In what?” —“Well, um...” —Dash stayed silent. —“Sugarcube, ah got a lot ta do, so ah don’t think there’ll be time to chat fer a while.” —“Why? What’s going on?” —“Ah’m packin’.” —“Why?” —“’cause ah’m leavin’.” —“Where to?” —“Cape Howl.” —“For what?” —“Ah got business ta make!” —yelled AJ. After a moment of silence, Rainbow replied. —“Well, how much time are you staying there?” —“Ah return on Sunday.” Rainbow just stood on the window thoughtful. —“Well. Good luck, AJ.” —“Thank ya, sugarcube.” With that, Rainbow Dash flew off back to her house as the scheduled drizzle began. She normally stayed with her best friend to chat a little but she could see she was too stressed and angry. While she could understand Applejack’s frustration, she couldn’t help but worry about her. What could have happened for her to be in such a mood? Dash shook her head as she tried to soar in time before the storm worsened and flew off to her house where a green shell awaited anxiously her arrival. ___ *Clump!* The sound was loud enough to snap her out of her concentration. Curious, she looked to the door in the other side of the hall, which was shut. She walked to it and knocked. “Applebloom?” —“Go away!” —“What’s wrong, sugarcube?” —asked Applejack as she entered the room. —“Nothin’.” —replied her sister. —“C’mon, sugarcube. Tell me.” —“*sigh* Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were makin’ fun of me an’ mah friends again.” —“Don’t pay them no mind, honey.” —“They said that we did too many things an’ nothin’ ever came out of ‘em. AJ, what if we stay blank flanks for the rest of our life?” —“Yer not gonna stay a blank flank, ya jus’ gotta be patient.” Applejack hugged her sister, staying with her until her anger subsided.