Standard Disclaimer: I do not own MLP, nor am I in any way affiliated with the author of the story this fic is based upon.
Chapter Three
Equestria: Day Twenty: Twilight Sparkle paced back and forth from one end of the library to the other. There had been no sign of Rainbow Dash since their confession of the truth two days earlier. She hadn't come back to the library, nor been seen anywhere in Ponyville or the surrounding area. The Weather Patrol confirmed that Dash hadn't shown up for work. Applejack checked the whole of the farm without locating her in any trees, and Fluttershy had even flown up to Dash's home, but got no answer nor saw any sign of Dash through any of the windows.
“Spike!” Twilight shouted, but then thought better. “No, never mind Spike... The Princess would just tell me to be patient right now.”
“She'd be right Twi.” The dragon said. “I'm sure Rainbow just needs time. She'll come back when she's ready.”
“But what if she's never ready!?” Twilight exclaimed. “I don't want to lose a friend over this!”
“You won't!” Spike answered, exasperated. He knew this behavior all too well. Twilight was on the verge of going neurotic over the situation. “Look, have some faith. Rainbow Dash knows you were only following orders. She's your friend, and no matter how mad she might get that's not going to change...”
“Maybe...”
“For sure. Now relax, sit down, maybe read a good book.”
“Right.” Twilight sighed.
Meanwhile, Applejack and Fluttershy were standing on the edge of the Everfree Forest, debating whether to brave it's dangers. “Y'all don't really think she'd go in there alone?”
Peering nervously from behind the hair that obscured her face, Fluttershy answered “Well... maybe... We know how she wasn't thinking straight when she left.”
“Ah reckon you're right there. Somepony's gotta check it out anyway.”
“Thanks for helping me out. Um, I don't suppose you'd like to go first...?”
“Aw fer cryin' out... Alright, let's go.”
Watching and listening from nearby, Rainbow couldn't believe they were actually going into the dangerous forest to search for her. Well, she couldn't have that. Flying out from concealment, she flew up and landed behind her friends. “Hang on, I'm right here. Don't go in there.”
“Dash!” Applejack exclaimed. “Where ya been? We all been worried sick!”
“Yeah yeah, it's no big deal. I've just been thinking is all.”
“You're not still m...mad at us are you?” Fluttershy squeaked out.
“I guess not.” Dash replied. “It's not like the Princess gave you any choice, right?”
“No, she didn't. You know that none of us liked it at all right? Even before we knew you were going to remember?”
When Rainbow said nothing more, Applejack asked “Speakin' o that... You remember yet?”
Dash shook her head. “No. Except in dreams, but I forget those as soon as I wake up... Do you know what it's like for me now?” She asked, a hint of anger returning to her voice. “I can't wait to go to sleep, because I know I'll have the happy dreams. But at the same time I'm afraid to go to sleep because I know how scary it'll get right before I wake up.”
Applejack and Fluttershy exchanged a shocked look. Rainbow Dash admitting to being afraid of something? “It'll get better.” Fluttershy whispered.
“I hope so.” Dash answered.
“Will ya go see Twi? She's almost wearing a hole in her floor from the pacin'”
“I will... Not yet though... I can't yet, I mean, she... she's...”
“She's the one who actually cast the spell.”
“Yeah. Makes it harder to get over, y'know?”
“Ah guess it would.” Applejack nodded in understanding. “But she's still your friend.”
Deciding not to answer, Dash spread her wings to fly away. Before she could get anywhere, Fluttershy reached over and grabbed a hoof. “Don't stay away from us. We're here for you.”
Dash nodded and flew off into the bright-blue sky. “Well,, c'mon.” Applejack said. “Let's go at least let Twilight know she's okay...”
XXXXXXX
Earth: Day Eighty-Six: Brian Dashel wandered aimlessly through his house. There were so many good memories here. But they were memories of a life that he no longer had. Dashie was gone, and he was dealing with that, but now he had a new wrinkle to deal with in Miri's discovery of the photo album.
When she had left, his first fear was that he would soon be getting a visit from men with strait jackets and tranquilizers. But of course that was unlikely even if Miri did go telling people about the album: After all, it wasn't common practice to haul in anyone reported as insane, you had to be a proven danger for that to happen and Brian had worked in town long enough for people to know that wasn't him.
He still felt that things couldn't continue as they had. No doubt Miri, in her conviction that he needed help, had spoken with someone. And in a small town talk spread fast. That would make going back into town, whether going to work or even just for shopping, awkward at best. He couldn't do it. With a weary sigh, Brian gathered his clothing, his laptop, and the photo album. Nothing else mattered. No, check that: Brian returned to the kitchen and penned a short letter in case Miri returned. Sticking it to the front of the fridge, he returned to the car and sat behind the wheel. The only remaining question was where he was going...
XXXXXXX
Equestria: Day Twenty-One: In the very early morning, just past midnight, Rainbow Dash tossed and turned atop her soft bed of clouds. Her sleep was turning fitful, and as she dreamed she began to talk in her sleep...
She was falling, falling, a dark void with a bright light below. She felt her mind slipping away, but didn't know what was happening, or why.
She awoke from a deep sleep, dizzy and confused. All around her were drab brown walls, until she looked up and saw a strange creature looming over her, framed against the bright blue sky beyond. “Heh heh... Hi there! What are you doing out here?” She's cold. It's freezing out, and the creature notices her discomfort. It reaches down into the box, trying to grab her, and she's filled with terror, her heart beating rapidly. She struggles, legs squirming, tiny wings flapping, but it's all to no end. “It's okay. I won't hurt you. Let's get you someplace warm...” She can't understand the words, but the tone of voice is kind, and she feels the warmth of it's body. She snuggles in closer.
Other scenes flitter rapidly through her mind. Exploring a new home. Splashing about in a sink full of warm water as the creature tries to bathe her. Learning to say a few words, chief among them, 'Daddy.” Halloween, the creature, Daddy, leading her around the house with a plastic bag in her mouth, finding candy. “Twickertweat!” As she finds each piece and carefully puts it in the bag...
Christmas. Funny tree in the living room, a bright blue ball inside a wrapped box, spending the rest of the day bouncing it around with her muzzle. Cartoons. Spongebob, and a Spongebob nightlight in her room. Learning to read and write, hooves no good for that but the pen in her mouth worked well enough. Trips to the abandoned park.
Learning to fly. Oh, so many discouraging false starts. So many falls,, cuts, scrapes, bruises both physical and to her pride. But always Daddy there by her side, encouraging her to not give up. “You can do it Dashie. I know you can.” So she tries again and again, and cheers for joy when she makes it fifty feet across the parkland. A short hop, but a good start. She does it again and again, better each time.
A thought occurs to her one day as she flies. “How fast can I go?” She decides to find out. Pouring on everything she has, she's shocked as a sudden BOOM echoes around her, accompanied by a burst of rainbow colored light. She returns to the ground, exhilarated, only for Daddy to grab her up and rush home. “Did I do something wrong?” She asks.
“No Dashie, but it's a good idea not to do that. People will notice. But hey, look at this!” He points to her flank.
Looking, she sees a mark on her hip, like a cloud with a rainbow colored bolt. “W... What is that?” She listens attentively as Daddy explains what a 'cutie mark' is.
More brief images as further memories pass through her mind.
“Good night Daddy... I love you.”
“I love you too, Dashie.”
Moving day. A new home, far out in the country. Plenty of room to fly. No one else around to see. “Hey Dad, maybe I should get a job.” The horrible realization of being different. Not that she hadn't known, of course, but to have it driven home... Daddy apologetic, odd jobs around the house. Spending money, even if she had to tell Dad what she wanted for him to get it for her.
Daddy gone to work. Bored. Flipping channels. “My Little Pony, My Little Pony...” What the...? That looks like me...” “How long have you known about this!? HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN!!?” Anger. Can't stay, go out the window. Three days of pain, sorrow, confusion. How could he have known and not told her? And how could this be? Was she really just a cartoon character? Was she not real, a figment of someone's imagination? But she felt real.
High in a tree in the rain. What to do? Daddy's voice nearby. “I'm so sorry. I'm just so sorry Dashie.” Daddy under the tree. A crack as a stick snaps when she lands on it.
“Daddy? Do you still love me?”
“Of course I do. I'll always love you.”
More memories, another rapid blur of passing time. Watching the Indy 500 from atop a cloud. A shoebox full of memories. Fifteen happy years with Daddy, now her twentieth birthday. Plans for an airshow together. The doorbell rings. It all crashes down. Celestia. Princess Celestia and the other ponies from the cartoon. After finding out about the show, she had watched a number of episodes and even looked it up online. A bit freaky for her, of course, but she was curious. And she had decided that it had to be coincidence. She couldn't be the arrogant mare on the show, no matter how much they looked alike. But now the others were here, to “take her home.”
For the first time in years, Rainbow Dash was terrified. She didn't want to go. She WAS home already, home was here with Daddy. Even if these ponies were her friends, Daddy was her family, and she didn't remember them at all. But Celestia was adamant, and Daddy was putting on a brave face, trying to convince her that this was for the best. She knew exactly what he was doing. But there was no choice, was there?
Begging with Celestia to let Daddy remember, to let him keep the photo album. To let her keep her shoebox of keepsakes. A long, tight, tearful hug goodbye. Everyone else in tears too, even the Princess' eyes welling with tears.
Light flares around Twilight's horn. The fear builds. Dashie remembers how she felt so long ago when Daddy first reached into the box to pick her up. She had been scared then. She remembers, as a filly, waking up when Daddy thought she was asleep and walking in to find him watching 'Nightmare on Elm Street.' That that scared her half to death before he noticed her and turned it off. Nothing else compared to this fear though. As the glowing horn drew nearer, she wanted nothing more than to scream and run, flying away as fast as she could. The horn touched her forehead, the glow spread throughout her body, her home faded from view...
Rainbow Dash bolted up out of her bed. “DADDY!” She screamed. She panted, trying to calm herself down. “Daddy...” She repeated more quietly. Daddy. She knew. She remembered. She was pissed.