//------------------------------// // I Should Have Looked Where I Was Going... // Story: A Rainbow in the Night // by Paw_Claw_Print //------------------------------// As I looked at the night sky I couldn't help but wonder why I was alone... All alone in this big world. I shook my head; I can't wonder that right now. I need to focus on the task at hand. I spread my bat-like wings and took flight, flying past normal speed to my new home. I landed in front of the small and quiet town. There were some ponies out and about but not many. They paid no attention to me as they went on with what they were doing. I looked at them with my yellow eyes, hoping they wouldn't see me. One did. Oh no... The mare started to walk over to me and I panicked. I've never talked to anypony before. What do I do? What do I say? Do I introduce myself or do I just say hi or nothing at all? The mare was closer now and almost to me. She was gray with green eyes. She had a long brown mane and tail. She had wings with dark gray feathers which covered up her cutie mark. She was also wearing a hoodie that was black and green. I stood there shocked as she approached me. "Hello. I saw you over here and was wondering if you are lost?" The mare asked sweetly. I froze. I didn't know what to say. I wasn't lost I was moving here. Tell her that! Come on, dude! Say something! I shook my head and pulled a fake smile. I cleared my throat, "N-no. I'm m-m-moving here..." "Oh! Well, welcome to Ponyville. It's somewhat of a welcome I guess. Oh right! My name's Heartache. Nice to meet you, uh..." Heartache said, smiling. I looked down at her; she was small compared to me, "I'm Night Shade." Heartache giggled, "Well, nice to meet you, Night Shade. Please come with me. I can show you around." I shook my head; I didn't need anypony to help me, I'm perfectly fine without anypony. I looked at Heartache, her eyes were bright and happy. I then looked at her wings; they were different from other pegasus pony wings... They had dark gray feathers where usually they would be the same color as the body of the pony. My wings didn't have feathers just skin. You see, I'm a bat pony. My parents are both pegasus ponies but somehow I became a bat pony upon birth... They rejected me for who I was and put me in an adoption home when I was just a colt. Nopony ever looked at me or even tried to become friends with me. I've been an outcast ever since. I have no idea how to make friends or even talk to anypony! "N-no... I'm f-fine," I stammered, my ears falling and getting hot. Heartache's eyes dulled a little. "Oh... Well, okay. I'll be going then. I'll see you around!" Heartache smiled, her eyes lighting up again. I waved her a good-bye and trotted into Ponyville. It was really dark outside even with the light Luna's moon was giving off. It would be hard to see to regular ponies but my bat eyes give me the ability to see at night. The day isn't bad but the sun gets on my nerves sometimes. I looked up at the sky to see clouds drifting over to the right. I sighed and spread my wings. I flew up to a cloud and landed on it, losing my balance for a split second. I sat down and looked over Ponyville, listening to the sounds of the night. A pony with a large bag trotted past the cloud I was on. Another one that was carrying a basket full of food had a filly with him. I stared at the ground for what seemed like hours. The ponies payed no attention to me and I was thrilled to just have some alone time up on a cloud. I stretched and flew down to the ground. Nopony was out anymore so I looked down while walking, not even caring about what was in front of me. I kept on walking until I crashed into something. I hope it was just a pole or something... I"m wrong. "H-hey! Watch where you're going, dude!" A mare's voice yelled. I cursed myself and stood up. I stared at a light blue pegasus pony. Her mane and tail were the colors of the rainbow and she had magenta eyes. Speaking of eyes, her's were right on me and she looked pretty ticked. I pulled a fake smile and laughed a bit. "S-sorry. I w-w-wasn't looking," I stammered. The light blue pegasus glared at me. She snorted, "Yeah, whatever. I'm Rainbow Dash." I nodded, "Okay. I'm Night Shade." Rainbow Dash yawned. I stood there like a complete idiot and stared at her. I had no idea what to do! Do I just stand here or do I leave? Do I ask her a question? I wonder why she's out so late? Yeah! Ask her that! Come on dude! "S-so... Uh, if you don't m-mind me asking... Why a-a-are you out this l-late?" I could barley speak! Rainbow Dash looked at me funny but then opened her mouth and sighed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to run into you. I was just looking for somepony. Have you seen a gray mare? She was wearing a green and black hoodie," Rainbow Dash explained. I nodded my head. Wasn't she that mare uh... Heartache! Yeah. "Yeah. She said she was going... uh actually I don't know where but she headed that way," I pointed my hoof over to the direction that Heartache went. Rainbow Dash seemed to look scared as she followed my hoof. "Uh... I know we just kinda met and all but could you come with me to find her?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking right into my eyes. I looked at her in shock. I've never been ask to help with anything and it came as a shock. "Uh... S-s-s-s-sure," I peeped out. Rainbow Dash nodded at took flight. I followed her. We flew for several minutes, trying to spot Heartache. We found nothing until... "Heartache! What are you doing?!" I heard Rainbow Dash scream. I zoomed over to find Rainbow Dash and Heartache standing on top of a large cliff. Heartache looked as if she had been crying. Rainbow Dash looked as if she was talking to Heartache or trying to reason with her. I stood looking at both of them. They didn't look like they knew I was here. Heartache yelled something I couldn't understand but it looked like it made Rainbow Dash gasp in horror. I watched as Rainbow Dash tried to stop whatever she was doing but it looked like she failed to do so. I gasped in shock and horror as Heartache jumped from the large cliff, not spreading her wings. Rainbow Dash didn't move. "Heartache! Heartache! Please! Heartache!" I yelled, spreading my wings to fly and catch her. Her eyes opened and her wings flew open. I gasped. Heartache's eyes were blood-shot and her wings were plucked and damaged. She tried to fly but her wings couldn't keep her up and I flew faster than I ever had before, trying to save the mare. My wings hurt really bad but I kept on going I didn't know why but I did. I dived under Heartache, catching her in my hooves. My breathing was fast and uneven but I smiled because I knew that she was safe. I couldn't let anypony die again... I just couldn't... "Night Sh-Shade?" Heartache looked at me with teary eyes. I looked back at her with worry. "What in Equestria were you thinking?!" Rainbow Dash screamed. Heartache winced. "Hey! Be nicer! But... Really, why did you do that?" I asked with a soft voice. Heartache burst into tears, hugging me tight. She sniffed, "I'm so sorry! I was just done with my life! Nopony ever cared about me and all my friends hate me and my closest one died... I just couldn't live like this anymore... I wanted to die..." I picked head up with my hoof, "Hey. It's okay. I care about you. So does Rainbow Dash... Why do you think she came all this way to try to stop you?" Rainbow Dash looked at me with worried eyes but I calmed her down with a little smile. I stared back down at Heartache. "Hey... Thank you," I said to the gray mare. Heartache looked up at me. "Wh-what did I do?" She asked sadly I felt a tear rush down my cheek, "You've shown me what friendship is... So, thank you." I hugged her tighter. Rainbow Dash giggled but then coughed, wanted to hide the giggle. I kissed Heartache's forehead and stood up. I helped her up and we all trotted back into Ponyville. Now... where exactly am I going to sleep?