//------------------------------// // Chapter three- Bend the nightmare // Story: Castle in the clouds // by ovineConventionalist //------------------------------// Fluttershy got no sleep that night. Every time she closed her eyes she could see the look on Rainbow Dash’s face: confusion and hopelessness. Finally, dawn came. The accusing crow of the cockerel broke the uncomfortable morning silence. Squinting in the weak sunlight, Fluttershy heaved herself up from bed. She could only imagine that guilt was weighing her down, seeing as Pegasi have hollow bones. She dragged herself to the mirror and saw a mare with whom she was only too familiar: sleep deprived, anxious, tears dripping uncontrollably from bloodshot baby-blue eyes. Once upon a time Fluttershy had spent morning after morning waking up to that face. It’s really difficult being warm and compassionate when everypony around you has that hard, mean edge. Don’t think about that now. But she couldn’t help it. She had been nice to Rainbow when everyone else was mean. She was nice while others mocked her raspy voice, or else taunted her by throwing the word ‘Fillyfooler’ at her as if it were some kind of insult. Oh no. Fluttershy facehoofed so hard she became momentarily disorientated. She had mocked Rainbow’s voice. She had yelled at Dash, and it was probably the first time she had confessed attraction to another mare. She had to go and apologise. She didn’t care if it was only six in the morning, she needed to see Dash now. **** Shut up. The cockerel’s crow roused Dash from her deep slumber. She lifted her head from her cloud pillow and sloppily wiped the drool from her face. She had been having the strangest dream. Wrinkling her nose she tried to remember: Rainbow stood in Sweet Apple Acres. She stood watching a pony a few yards away from her who sat, sobbing, in the shade of a particularly tall apple tree. It was herself, and yet she didn’t see how that could be possible seeing as she was standing right there. Long shadows seemed to be moving toward the figure. Through the trees moved some of her friends: Twilight, Pinkie, AJ, Spike, Rarity, and even a couple of ponies from the weather team began to close in on her, sneering, all much taller than they were in reality. “Wait!” Fluttershy flew toward the group. Rainbow watched as ‘Shy landed in front of the figure, shielding her with her wings. “Oh, what are you going to do STUTTERSHY?” Cloud Chaser taunted. Pinkie fell into a fit of hysterics. “Yeah, Stuttershy!” Rainbow gaped. That voice belonged to her. The figure wasn’t so small any more, she had grown into the same intimidating form of the others. The group of ponies started to close in on Fluttershy. “But… But I thought…” Fluttershy pleaded. The real Rainbow turned her face in horror. “Horrible, isn’t it?” A high pitched voice came from behind her. “Hiya Dashie!” “Wha…?” Suddenly she was in Sugar Cube corner… it had made so much more sense at the time. “Im so, so sorry I’m late!” Pinkie forced her down into a chair in the middle of the empty shop. Dash just sat there bemused as Pinkie wrapped a towel around her, and somehow began cutting her hair. And then she woke up. Weird. She pondered the dream’s meaning for a while. Anything to avoid thinking about last night, right? Although the events of the evening prior didn’t seem to be concerning her at all. She felt pretty ok actually. In fact it was her lack of concern that was really concerning her. Its ten past six and I still haven’t gone back to sleep. Oh ok, so something must be wrong then. Satisfied with that, she got out of bed and stretched. It was due to be sunny that day, so all she needed to do was clear the sky. Maybe I’ll just do that now, get it out of the way seeing as I’m up. Then maybe I’ll go and see Pinks, tell her about my dream. (The second bit anyway). Yeah, she’ll probably find it funny. Smiling at the thought, Dash stepped out of her front door ready to start the day. “Oh um, I was just…” Fluttershy stood just outside. “Oh, hey.” Dash’s heart sank, and her face fell. This was going to be painful. **** Fluttershy apologised over and over. Dash got angry, then upset. She didn’t know why Fluttershy had come with more reasons why she wouldn’t go out with her. As soon as Fluttershy left, Dash collapsed in a heap. She was emotionally and physically exhausted. ‘Shy had informed her that she would be at Sugarcube Corner if Dash needed her, so her day’s plans were obviously ruined. Reluctantly, Dash stepped outside again. She apathetically went through the motions of her work. Usually she loved cloud busting. Up in the air, she could show off exactly where everypony could see her. Looking around, Dash could see there were no more clouds to banish. Her work was done. And that was when everything came crashing down. It was obvious that nopony would ever, could ever love her. She would go her whole life seeking attention and end up alone. Unexpected tears began to sting Rainbow’s eyes, she bolted back home before they could come streaming down her face.