THE EQUESTRIAN VENTURE
Chapter six: Rainbows and friendship
Written by TheCrimsonDM
We walked for a while before arriving at a field of grass. We were headed towards a hill with a large willow tree standing at its peak. When we got there Fluttershy looked up and said. “Um…Rainbow Dash, are you busy?”
Rita looked up and saw a blue pegasus laying on a branch, she had a rainbow mane. Rita had seen this pony just this morning flying over the town. Rainbow Dash hopped out of the tree and landed next to Fluttershy. The Rainbow maned pony’s eyes grew wide as she took in the sight of Rita and said. “Wow, what are you?”
Rita answered that question for what felt like the thousandth time since she woke up. “My name is Rita, and I am a human.”
Rainbow Dash grinned at her and said. “Awesome, I’m Rainbow Dash, and I’m a pegasus.”
Fluttershy gave a little smile to Rainbow Dash and asked. “Um…what were you doing just now?”
Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head with a foreleg and said. “I was taking a nap, had a rough day working on the weather.”
Rita became instantly invested into this conversation as she asked. “What do you mean, working on the weather?”
Rainbow Dash sat down and leaned her back against the tree, she then said. “Us pegasi usually work on the weather. We make it rain, and cloudy, and snowy, and everything really. There isn’t any part of the weather that we don’t control.”
Rita was astounded to hear that the ponies had complete control over there weather. Weather manipulation was outlawed in her home lands after they discovered the devastating after effects on the region. Rita looked up at the beautiful blue sky and took a harder look at the clouds. There were a few pegasi off in the distance moving the clouds around by pushing them.
Rita returned her attention towards Rainbow Dash and asked. “And there hasn’t been any bad side effects from this?”
Rainbow Dash laughed and said. “Nope, it’s been like this for over a thousand years in Equestria.”
Rita then had a horrifying vision. She asked. “How many other countries are there, other than Equestria?”
Rainbow Dash looked up and said. “Other countries?...I guess the griffons have their home lands…but uh…there isn’t much outside of Equestria. It’s all kinda like a barren wasteland out there.”
That was exactly what Rita had feared. By manipulating the weather for so long in this region, the rest of the world was left to suffer, barren wastelands, never melting ice lands. There could be so many different races that have suffered because of the ponies, starvation was probably a very common problem in any place other than Equestria. And Rainbow Dash’s ignorance of other countries could indicate that the government here has been manipulating there people’s belief structures. Rita may have just found a glimpse of the darkness she knew was going to be here.
Rainbow Dash then looked at Fluttershy and asked. “So what have you two been doing all morning.”
Fluttershy said. “Oh we have been talking to everypony. You’re the last one to meet Rita.”
Rita then said. “Yeah but hopefully our meeting won’t go as sourly as Applejack’s did.”
Rainbow Dash looked intrigued and asked. “What happened with her.”
Fluttershy began to put a hoof up as Rita answered bluntly. “She doesn’t like me talking about her brother’s penis.”
Rainbow Dash began cracking out into a fit of laughter, even snorting a few times. Fluttershy’s face went red again. For a few seconds Rita thought everything would be okay until Fluttershy yelled in a loud squeaky voice. “YOU ARE SO EMBARRASSING!”
Taken aback by Fluttershy’s sudden outburst Rita jumped back and fell hard on her butt. Rita sat there for a moment, with her butt now sore, trying to get a grip on what just happened. She looked at Rainbow Dash who was covering her mouth with both hooves and eyes wide. Fluttershy’s face was red but her eyes was very serious looking. Fluttershy snorted and stared Rita in the eyes, she then said in a very low and even tone. “You will stop saying rude things.”
Rita wasn’t sure what was going on but she tried to remedy the situation by apologizing. “I’m sorry, I just don’t know how to shut up sometimes. Please don’t be mad, I’m gonna try and not do it again…but I can’t really control it.”
Fluttershy blinked in surprise for a few seconds. She then stared at Rita even harder; her stern expression looked strained as she said. “You will stop saying rude things. Do you understand?”
Rita didn’t know what was going one but she tried to explain again. “Look Fluttershy, I didn’t grow up like most people. I just don’t seem to be able to talk civilized all the time. I know I messed up, and I’ve been really rude to you…but I’m sorry. I really am trying my best okay.”
Fluttershy sat down and muttered to herself with a confused tone. “You’re just like discord.”
Rita had no idea what she had meant by that, or even why she had been trying to stare at her so hard. Rita didn’t care though she felt like she was about to lose her only friend. Closing her eyes Rita sucked up her courage and gave Fluttershy a hug saying. “I’m so sorry, I never meant to hurt you.”
Rainbow Dash then said. “Wow, you must have said some really rude things to make Fluttershy do this.”
Fluttershy said in her soft voice. “Shush Rainbow. Rita it’s okay, I’m sorry I exploded like that. I hope I didn’t scare you.”
Rita felt some tears in her eyes and wiped them off on Fluttershy’s fur as she said. “Maybe a little.”
Fluttershy wrapped a leg around Rita and said. “I’m sorry. And um...it’s going to be okay.”
Rita pulled away and couldn’t help but notice Fluttershy trying to wipe the spot Rita had wiped her tears on. Rita then wiped the rest of the tears off of her face, along with some fur that got stuck to her face. Rita then said. “Sorry about crying on you. I know it’s kinda gross.”
Fluttershy blushed a little as she said. “Oh…it’s-um it’s fine.” She then gave a sheepish grin to Rita.
Rita turned away from the two of them and looked across the open field. There was a lot of beauty in the world, even if it was all condensed into one country. Rita let out a sigh and said. “This is a beautiful world you have here.”
Fluttershy walked up and sat next to her. Rainbow Dash joined her on the opposite side. Together the three of them enjoyed the scenery for a few minutes before Rainbow Dash turned around and said. “About time you all got here.”
Rita turned and saw Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and spike all standing behind them. They had a few picnic baskets and Rarity quickly got to laying out the picnic blanket. Pinkie Pie then said. “Of course were here, we couldn’t miss out on a picnic at our favorite spot.” She then looked at Fluttershy and said. “This was a great idea Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy looked away shyly and said in a near whisper. “Oh no, it wasn’t anything.”
Pinkie Pie gave an energetic bounce five feet into the air, causing Rita to flinch. Pinkie Pie landed and said. “Planning a picnic just for Rita was the best idea. Now if only this was a party.”
Rita looked over at Fluttershy and asked. “What do you mean a picnic for me?”
Fluttershy looked away shyly, and after a moment Twilight Sparkle answered. “We’ve all noticed that you have been having a hard time adjusting to life here in Equestria. So Fluttershy said she wanted to try and make you feel more comfortable.”
Rita was surprised to see everyone here, and even the ponies she didn’t like very much were here for her. Rita felt a warm feeling in her heart, something that had been missing for so long now. She closed her eyes and said. “Thank you.”
Rita felt a wing wrap around her shoulders, and looking up she saw Fluttershy looking kindly at her. Rita could feel tears coming on again, she wiped them away with a sleeve before they ran down her face. Rita didn't know just how nice everyone was going to be to her. Maybe things weren't as bad as she first thought they were.
Rita enjoyed the nice little picnic with everypony. She got to eat lots of cupcakes, and even ate a few daisy sandwiches at Twilight’s insistence. They all talked a lot and got to know one another pretty well. Although Rita’s blatant way of speaking caused a few awkward moments, they all ended up becoming friends. Somehow Rita had gotten friends.
It occurred to Rita just how strange it was that she had such a hard time making friends with members of her species. And yet these magical talking ponies were so easy to befriend and talk too. Rita really hopped that this wasn’t because of her own social problems.
Looking at all these ponies and there happy, peaceful life styles. She simply knew that they truly were the best things to happen to her. Hopefully no other human’s would ever discover this world, the thought of war breaking out here was too terrible an idea for her to conceive, and yet it was so easy for her to imagine it.
She wondered if this world had protectors, those who could stem off great threats whenever they arisen. Hopefully this world was protected by something, maybe something like her old group of friends. And if so, hopefully this group would avoid the tragedy that befell Rita and her old group.