//------------------------------// // Chapter 56 // Story: The Winning Failure // by marley //------------------------------// Chapter 56 It was dark when Rainbow Dash struggled into Ponyville. She was exhausted and landed by the library rather than try to fly up to her cloud home. She dumped the bags on the ground and dragged them with her teeth to Twilight's door. Dash banged on the door with her rear hoof and waited. Soon she heard steps from within. Spike opened the door and was met by Rainbow Dash's rump and flashy tail. “Rainbow Dash? Wha..” stammered the dragon. Rainbow Dash started backing up and Spike was forced back into the library. The pegasus was nothing if not determined and dragged the two heavy sacks through the door before finally collapsing in a heap beside them. Roused by the noise, Twilight Sparkle left her bed where she had been reading and came down stairs. “Rainbow! Are you alright?” she exclaimed when she saw Rainbow Dash lying on her floor. “Yeah,” said Spike, “What is all this?” “Fan … mail,” gasped Dash. She remained panting on the floor. “Wow,” said Spike, “and you've only been a Wonderbolt for a week!” “The guard said it was typical,” said Dash, “I'm going to have to pick up my mail more often.” “Are you just getting back?” asked Twilight. Dash sat up. “Yeah, I had to stop a couple of times to rest. I have a few other things too. I got my pay, which is great by the way, and a bunch of stuff from an architect. I'm going to get with Rarity tomorrow and see if she can help me out. I also went by the Wonderbolt Museum. I'm in it now, not much there yet but I'm in it. Is that awesome or what. Whew! I'm beat.” Both Spike and Twilight agreed that it was indeed awesome and offered their congratulations. Twilight offered Rainbow Dash some food and drink which was gratefully accepted. As Rainbow Dash ate, the three of them decided to investigate the mail sacks. “There's packages in here,” said Spike, “not just letters.” “Spike, would you separate the packages into a pile while I check out some of these letters?” asked Dash. “You're not going to do this all right now, are you?” asked Twilight. “No,” said Dash, “I'm just curious, that's all. I was hoping you'd let me leave this here tonight. I'll pick it up first thing tomorrow.” “Sure,” said Twilight, “you must be tired. That's a lot to carry all the way from Cloudsdale. Did you find out how much your house is going to cost?” “Yeah,” said Dash as she shuffled through some of the mail, “looks like about eight to ten thousand bits.” Twilight Sparkle was shocked. “How can you afford that? Do you have any bits saved up?” “I had saved a little over five hundred bits,” said Rainbow Dash, “and I got my first weeks pay today. I'll get another weeks pay before I have to put anything down. I should be able to put at least two thousand down. Oh, and the architect agreed to deduct another eight hundred in exchange for advertizing.” “That's almost a third of the total,” said Twilight, “they must be paying you well.” Rainbow Dash dug into her bag and came up with a sack of bits. She plunked it down on the table. “I could probably come up with a little more but I don't want to run myself short,” said Dash. “I think I'll just move my stuff into Applejack's barn and camp out until the house is ready.” “Camp out?” said Spike. “Sleep on a cloud, as long as the weather stays warm,” replied Dash. “Rainbow,” chided Twilight, “you don't have to do that. You can stay here, if you want.” “I know,” said Rainbow Dash, “and I'd be glad to take you up on that if it rains but I'd be more comfortable on a cloud. I'll be staying at my old home until the last day anyway.” “Okay,” said Twilight, “whatever you think is best. You know, some of these letters look like they're from companies.” “Probably just a bunch of stupid advertizements,” said Rainbow Dash. “Oh look, it's a letter from Golden Arrow. I danced with him at the party last week.” “Ooooh, you've got a special somepony,” teased Spike. “It's a little early for that,” replied Rainbow Dash. “He's a nice guy though. Handsome too.” She opened the letter and began reading silently as Twilight and Spike waited expectantly. The letter was short but Rainbow Dash pretended to keep reading to make them wait longer. “Well?” said Spike, “what did he say?” “Just that he enjoyed our dance and is looking forward to seeing me again,” said Dash. “He lives in Trottingham and we perform there later this year. I'll write him back. I wonder if I should send him a ticket?” “Just one?” asked Spike. “Of course just one,” said Dash sharply. “Do you think I want him to bring a date?” Twilight laughed. “You didn't tell us you met somepony special at the dance.” “I danced with a herd of ponies at the dance,” said Rainbow Dash, “and some of them were special. There were a lot of handsome young pegasi stallions there. Let's set this letter aside.” She placed the letter on the table and reached for another. Dash opened it and smiled. “Fan mail from a foal and a request for an autographed picture.” “Open one of the boxes next,” said Spike. “Okay,” said Dash. She picked up a random box and opened it. Inside was a note and a smaller box. She read the note and started to laugh. “I don't believe this!” She started laughing harder and couldn't speak. She pushed the note to Twilight. Twilight read the note aloud. “Dear Rainbow Dash, you are the most beautiful and amazing mare I've ever seen. I love you more than life itself. Please marry me. Open the box and you'll see that I'm serious. I await your answer with bated breath. Your ardent admirer, Sky Poet.” Spike opened the smaller box. In it was a diamond hoof ring. “Whoa,” he said “will you look at that!” Rainbow Dash pulled herself off the floor to look at her gift. She was still giggling. “I guess he is serious. It's beautiful. Do you think it's real?” “Who is this Sky Poet?” asked Twilight. “I have no idea,” said Rainbow Dash, “never heard of him. Whoever he is, he must be a grade 'A' goofball.” She started to laugh again. “I don't think it's funny, Rainbow,” said Twilight. “At least try to be nice when you return his ring.” “Yeah, I will,” said Rainbow, “but I'd better not hear from him again. I don't have time to deal with a kook who thinks I'd marry a pony I've never even met.” “Here's another box,” said Spike. He didn't want to listen to Twilight try to lecture Rainbow Dash. He wanted to see what else the pegasus had received. Dash opened the box. This gift was more mundane. It was a bottle of shampoo and a letter inviting Rainbow Dash to try it and, if she liked it, to discuss an advertizing campaign. The company promised 'substantial remuneration' for her endorsement. Rainbow Dash opened the bottle and sniffed it. “Mmmm, smells nice,” said Dash, “lavender scented.” She passed the bottle to Twilight. Twilight smelled the shampoo. “That is nice.” “If it works as good as it smells, we might have a keeper,” said Dash. “One more letter and we'll leave the rest for the morning.” Rainbow Dash reached into the pile with her eyes closed and pulled out a letter. “And the winner is...Airy Mane of Baltimare.” She opened the letter. “Another fan letter from a foal. It's a real nice one too. Look, here's a news clipping from when I won Best Young Flier. She wants me to sign it and send it back. She says she's admired me ever since she saw my Sonic Rainboom and knew it was just a matter of time until I made the Wonderbolts. I'll send her something extra nice. At least some of this mail is going to be fun.” Spike was looking through the boxes when one caught his eye. “Hey! Rainbow Dash, this one is from Ponyville.” “That's weird, why would they mail it instead of just giving it to me?” said Dash. “I'll open it but it is absolutely the last one. I'm really tired.” Dash opened the box and fell back in surprise as the top popped open with a bang and a shower of confetti and streamers shot out of the top. A large, pink balloon wedged is way through the small opening and floated upwards carrying a sign that said 'Congratulations on making the team'. The confetti and streamers floated down covering the two ponies and one dragon. “Gee,” said Rainbow Dash dryly, “I wonder who that's from.” “How did she get all that stuff in a little box,” said Spike. Twilight cautiously peeked inside the box. At the bottom of the box was written, 'To the best flier ever, love Pinkie Pie'. “Go ahead and look Rainbow, it's safe.” Rainbow Dash read the note and smiled. “I guess we can forgive her for that prank.” “You don't have to clean it up,” grumbled Spike. “I'll go get the broom.” “Leave it for the morning Spike,” said Twilight, “you need your rest too.” “Me too,” said Rainbow Dash with a yawn, “Goodnight Twilight, Spike. I'll see you in the morning. And Spike? Don't eat that guys ring, okay?” Spike laughed. “Okay.” Twilight and Spike said goodnight to Rainbow Dash and the tired pegasus flew away into the night. Somehow her cloud home seemed to be higher than when she had left it. She went in and immediately went to bed. Sleep took her quickly.