Appledashery

by Just Essay


Risk, Trust, Stripes

“Guess there’s no sense in fakin’ it,” Rainbow Dash looked up from where she sat on the stool in the corner of the hut. “You’re a pretty snazzy zebra, Zecora, and it’s kind of a weight off my shoulders to tell you about all this… to tell anypony about all this. I mean, Fluttershy knows all about it, but… she and I are a lot closer than the rest of my friends might think.”

Rainbow gulped.

She continued, “What really brought me here, though, was a notion… perhaps a stupid notion. You’re really good at potion making. Almost freaky good. Twilight’s always talking about how you continue to amaze her. And if that super smart bookworm of an apprentice to Celestia is wow’d by you, then I am to. So… I… well…”

The pegasus fidgeted, rubbing her shoulder with the opposite leg.

At last, she spit it out. “This medicine that I’ve been on… the pills that I’ve taken to stave off the deadness in my legs’n’all? According to Nurse Red Heart, the effect is wearing off. Not only that, I’ve… uh… n-not been too good in spacing out my dosage.” Rainbow Dash grimaced. “I kiiiinda sorta took twice as many as I should have in half the time--back during the Iron Pony Competition several months ago. And just now, while I went on--er--a ‘business’ trip, I took a bunch. Because--like--my legs kept giving out on me, but I needed to use them very badly. I needed strength. Like… I don’t want to go into a lot of crazy details, but my life depended upon it. As well as the lives of other ponies. When I told Nurse Red Heart, she freaked out on me. She implied that I was--like--becoming addicted to the stuff. But that’s totally not it!”

She bit her lip and rubbed her shoulder harder.

“At least… at least I think that’s not it.” Rainbow looked up. “I just want my legs to work fine, Zecora. And I can’t… I refuse to give up my wings. A life without flight?” She gulped, then finished in a dull tone. “I might as well be dead.”

The hut filled with silence.

“How interesting, your plight with this Atrophy.” Zecora angled her face with a curious squint. “You really haven’t shared it with anypony?”

Rainbow shook her head. “Just Fluttershy, my doctors… erm… and n-now you…”

“Hmmm…” Zecora smiled slightly. “I am touched that you would share a secret so dear. But your problem remains unsolved, I fear.”

Rainbow’s ears instantly drooped. “Oh.” She gulped. “For real?”

“For your ailment, a permanent solution is paramount. There being a cure among my herbs, I doubt.”

Rainbow hung her head--only to have it tilted up by Zecora’s hoof.

“But do not give into dismay. I feel for the pain you’ve shared this day. Though I may not have a brew that will wipe your sickness gone, I’m certain that I can make the fate more prolonged.”

“You… you are…?” Rainbow murmured.

Zecora leaned back, nodding. “It will be a test for both of us, you see. Come…” She trotted calmly towards a table and slipped on her saddlebag. “Trot along, my feathered pony.”

“Where are we going?”

“A most auspicious potion, I shall make. But a rare ingredient, it will take. There’s also slight risk…”

“Risk?”

Zecora nodded. “And we must take care. But I do suppose you are a courageous mare.”

“Pffft! You kidding?” Rainbow Dash smirked wide. “‘Courageous’ is my middle name!” She blinked, then bit her lip. “Erm… along with ‘danger’ and ‘professionalism.’”

“Hmmmm…” Zecora smiled. “I think I will settle for Rainbow.” She opened the door to her hut and marched out. “Well, into town we go.”

“Wait… Ponyville?” Rainbow made a face. “We’re going into Ponyville for the ingredient?”

“Why yes, that we must.” Zecora paused to glance back at her. “Do you have my trust?”

“Is this the ‘risk’ part you were talking about?”

Zecora’s eyes merely squinted.

Rainbow sighed, then fluttered down to pat the zebra’s shoulder. “Hey… lead the way, marefriennnnd.”

Together, the two headed slowly towards the village beyond Everfree.