//------------------------------// // Rainbow's Isolation // Story: Needing You // by nutcase4real //------------------------------// It was that time of day again for Rainbow Dash. The time where she spent a little time alone, and thought about the important things in her life. That mainly consisted of thinking about stunts to perform so she could get into the Wonderbolts, or when apple cider season was going to begin this year, but most importantly her friends. She would reflect back upon all the awesome times they had together and about new things she could do to let them know she cared without getting too mushy about it. She always made sure to pay attention to what her friends liked and disliked so she could achieve the maximum amount of gratitude from her friends without drawing to much attention to how much thought she put into it. She cared for her friends, but she did have an image to uphold. Rainbow Dash would sit in a secluded area and just think about her friends. The things they had done together were so outrageous, that any normal group of ponies probably wouldn't have returned from them. Rainbow Dash herself was bold. She was fearless. She was kidding herself. She knew that every time she and her friends had faced some threat or another that she was afraid. She wasn't fearful of getting hurt, but instead of seeing her friends get hurt or worse. Rainbow Dash shuttered at the thought of it. She didn't like the feeling of fear. It always sent a cold chill down her spine that electrified all the nerves in her body. It made her fur stand on end, and feel prickly for several moments afterwards. It even left a bad taste in her mouth. All of this happened every time she and her friends had to face a bad guy. She couldn't bare seeing them get hurt. Seeing them get hurt was way worse than her getting hurt. If one of her friends were to have gotten harmed in some way in any of the battles they had been in together, Rainbow Dash knew she wouldn't have been able to hold herself together. She needed her friends whether they knew it or not. She really wanted to see them, but with winter approaching she just had to much work to do with the weather. Sure she would occasionally see one of them in town as she delivered a cloud to block the sun or on her lunch break, but she wouldn't be getting off work until well after Princess Celestia had lowered the sun, and she would have to get up early the next morning and do it all over again. She had very little time for her friends this time of year, and it always pained her. She wanted, no needed, to spend more time with her friends. She had always told herself that she didn't need anypony, until she found out just how awesome friendship could be. She needed them, and she needed to see them. "Hey Dash! We have to finish zone four today right?", Cloudkicker asked to which Rainbow Dash simply nodded, "Then why don't you help us so can actually finish it before sunrise tomorrow?" he finished while half glaring half smiling at Dash. Rainbow Dash stood up and took off from the could she was on. She knew Cloudkicker was right. She needed to focus on the job at hoof, and right now that meant moving a large stratonimbus cloud over Ponyville town hall. She flew off after the rest of the weather team and helped move the behemoth of a cloud into position. Rainbow Dash learned a while back that clouds may look light and fluffy but the larger ones were tough to move. It wasn't that they were heavy, but they would start to fall apart while en route to where ever they needed to go. Sometimes that was okay, but during this time of year it was paramount that the clouds stay together for maximum sun blocking potential. Rainbow Dash and the team had finished corralling the clouds into position just in time to watch the sunset in the western sky. The sky above them turned all sorts of reds and pinks. She silently wished that her friends were with her enjoying this view. She let out a sigh and continued working on packing the clouds in tighter until well after sunset. Finally with the moon high in the sky, and the cool night air threatening to freeze the sweat on her body, the forepony called it for the night. She flew to the Ponyville Weather Office and punched out for the day. She had worked 18 hours today Dash noticed. "Hey Thunderlane is it okay if I take a long lunch tomorrow?" Dash demanded more than asked. The gray pegasus in question stopped and turned around to face her, "You know that we need every hoof we have to make this early winter happen." she stated flatly. "Yeah, but I do need some personal time ya know!" Dash exclaimed as she stomped her hooves to show her determination for the extended lunch. Thunderlane sighed, "Okay look, you have two hours. Okay?" Dash instantly perked up upon hearing this, "Y... yeah that's awesome!" Rainbow Dash took of through the night air and almost immediately began planning out her two hour lunch break. 'First I'll go see Twilight's and see how she's doing. I'll stop by Sugarcube Corner and say hi to Pinkie Pie. After that I'll stop by and say hello to Rarity. I'll drop by Applejack's for an apple or two and to say hi, and maybe a quick race, too. Then it's off to Fluttershy's to say hello.' Rainbow Dash stopped flying up and began hovering. She looked out over the small sleeping village and smiled. Rainbow Dash would never admit this openly, but when she wasn't with her friends she felt alone and a tad bit insecure. It was as if they were the only reason she had to remain as awesome as she was. She needed them so she could be herself. She needed to be lectured by Twilight. She needed Rarity to comment on how stunning her mane was. She needed Pinkie Pie to play pranks with her. She needed Applejack to challenge her to everything known to ponykind. She needed Fluttershy to be apologetic for absolutely nothing at all. 'I need them.' Dash thought to herself as the chilly wind caught her wings and she continued ascending to her cloud home. She landed in front of her home and walked inside. She glanced at the pictures on the wall and chuckled to herself. 'No use in looking at the past. I only need to keep looking forward,' Dash thought as her eyes landed on the first photo she and her friends had taken together, 'but I guess sometimes its okay to be sappy and remember the good times.' she continued as she pulled the picture down from the wall and headed to her bedroom. She laid down on the cloud mattress and placed her head on a pillow. She continued to stare at the photograph for awhile longer, until she felt tears begin to well up in her eyes. She hugged the photograph tightly and whispered, "I need you guys, but don't worry, tomorrow we can be together, if only for a few measly minutes." Dash forced her tears to subside, and she placed the photograph on the nightstand next to her bed. She gave it one final glance before saying, "Good night guys. I'll see you tomorrow." as she yawned. Her eyes closed and consciousness slipped away, as a dream entered her mind. In her dream she was sitting down and having a picnic with all of her friends. She had no where to be, and had all the time in the world to just spend time with her friends. In her bed Dash hummed a contented sigh as a smile formed on her muzzle. She needed her friends. She needed them because they were what made her Rainbow Dash. Not her speed, not her determination, not even her personality made her who she was. She was herself because of them. Without them, everything she ever did, or would ever do, would have little to no meaning. Without her friends she couldn't accomplish her goals. But she had her friends and tomorrow she would get to see them. She would get to kick this sense of being alone in the flank. Tomorrow she wouldn't be alone. Tomorrow she would be happy. Tomorrow she would be sappy without anypony realizing it, but it would still happen. As she tossed and turned in her sleep to find a comfortable position she murmured, "Tomorrow's... gonna be... awesome." Moral of the story: Never misuse the ones who like you, never say you're to busy to the ones who need you, never cheat the ones who trust you, and never forget the ones who remember you.