Chapter 2: Past Loyalty
Rainbow Dash was starting to regret that she had taken up Apple Jack on her offer. At least back in PonyVille she could fly around and do something to stretch her wings. There on the train however she felt like a hawk stuffed into a tight cage. Apple Jack had told her at the train station that the trip to the Northwest Frontier would take around a thirty-six hours but Rainbow Dash believed that she would be asleep most of the time. It never occurred to her however that boredom alone could stop a pony from sleeping.
"How much longer until we get the Frontier AJ? My wings are are starting to go numb over here!" Rainbow Dash said with an annoyed tone in her voice. Apple Jack let out a small chuckle before answering her. "Maybe bout' nother six hours or so. We're actually ahead of schedule going at this speed ah reckon."
Ahead of schedule? Rainbow Dash couldn't believe her ears but the proof was right there in front of her, Apple Jack had lied to her. "Come on Apple Jack, I know we're not supposed to represent our Elements all of the time but seriously. We're ahead of schedule going at this speed? I know that's a lie."
"Ain't no lie Rainbow, its been years since ah last went to see m'ah family at the frontier. Last time ah went was when ah was just a filly and that train ride had taken four days. Compare that to thirty-six hours and be grateful that at least this train has air-conditioning." Apple Jack put further emphasis by pointing her hoof to the late morning sun baking the scrub land around the train.
Letting what she had just heard sink in Rainbow Dash came to a conclusion. " Yeah no, I still think you're lying. You haven't been talking to Discord lately have you?"
Apple Jack flared her nostrils and shook her head. "Well aren't you cranky today? Ah know how you get when you haven't had yer naps."
"Yeah yeah whatever" Rainbow Dash waved her hoof dismissing the idea and tilted her head to look out the window. "I could fly faster than this train with a broken wing through a hurricane."
"That ah don't doubt sugar cube. How bout' you try and get some shut eye? I'll wake you when we're getting close to the station." Apple Jack was doing her best to try and get Rainbow to relax, the poor Pegasus was going through a lot in her life right now. Apple Jack knew in the back of her mind though that introducing Rainbow to her family in this state would probably not end well for either party.
"You don't think I've tried that already? The way this train rocks makes it like totally impossible to sleep for more than two minutes! Also I don't know if you've noticed but these seats aren't even close to being as comfy as clouds." Rainbow Dash knocked her hoof against the seat cushion which made a dull Pang noise.
Apple Jack could relate to the seat cushions, several times during this trip she had to get up and walk around to remove the soreness that presented itself on her flank. "Granted sugar but just close yer eyes and think about a memory. Just drift away into sleep. Ah know that you might as well be the sleep champion of PonyVille." She finished with a small chuckle.
"Ugh fine...I'll try it your way I guess." Rainbow Dash laid down on her seat stretching all her legs outs as much as she could. She adjusted herself a little more before finally closing her eyes. She let her mind wander searching for any memory that would take her away from the train. She didn't have to look long as a certain memory presented it self to her with little effort. She let out a yawn before drifting away into sleep.
***
"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, but my decision is final. The Wonder Bolts program has been shut down because...because...."
"Because what Twilight? Tell me what reason you could possibly have for shutting down the most elite group of fliers in all of Equestria! Tell me so I can call you a liar to your face!"
"Look Rainbow, now that I've become a Princess I've had to make lots of difficult decisions that have affected thousands of ponies throughout Equestria. You're not the only one that's being affected by this."
"Oh really, well excuse me Princess but I don't see you suffering from any of the choices you've had to make."
"Wait a minute, that's because you haven't made any bucking damn choices that affect you directly! No where in the budget cuts do I see anything that affects books and libraries. In fact it seems that some new laws that you've passed increase the budget for that stuff! I thought that a Princess's intentions were to help her subjects and try to make their lives easier. Some Princess you turned out to be, in fact I bet..."
"Enough Rainbow Dash! I know that you're upset but remember who are addressing. I am Princess Twilight Sparkle now and you will act accordingly in my presence. Do you understand?"
"Oh yeah? Well..."
"I don't recall being finished. You will wait until I am done addressing you to speak! Now you listen here Rainbow, how dare you accuse me of putting myself before my subjects? After all the time we spent together I would never have come to expect that from one of my friends. I thought you were suppose to be the Element of Loyalty and stay true to your friends no matter what? There I am done speaking for the moment, now you may speak."
"Pffft, you want me to treat you like a Princess? Maybe when you get down off your damn high horse I'll consider treating you like one. Also yeah, I am the Element of Loyalty and don't you forget that! I can see when others aren't being loyal so there."
"I invite you to the castle to talk this out like civilized ponies and this is how you act? Considering all we've been through..."
"That's another thing that's been bugging me too. How come you're the only one that became a Princess after all we've been through huh? The rest of us put our bucking lives on the damn line to save Equestria and what do we get? A few thank you's and nothing more."
"I see now what this is all about. You're jealous of me aren't you Rainbow Dash?"
"What are talking about?"
"It all makes sense now Rainbow Dash. Your jealous that I became a Princess while you stayed the same. Element of Loyalty my flank. I thought one of my friends would be happy for me but obviously I was..."
"Buck you."
"What did you say to me? Think very carefully before you open your mouth again."
"I said buck you Princess!"
"Right then obviously there's simply no reasoning with you right now. I guess we'll just have to try again another time, perhaps tomorrow. Guards! Please escort my friend here off the castle grounds."
"Save your breath Twilight, I'll leave by myself. Oh and don't bother coming looking for me tomorrow, or the day after that, or the week after that, or even the year that!"
"Rainbow Dash? What are you saying?"
"I'm saying exactly what you think I'm saying Princess Twilight Sparkle. You are no longer my..."
"Hey Rainbow Dash! Come on sugar cube its time to wake up!"