//------------------------------// // The Truth of it All // Story: I Want To Take You Flyin' // by MintyJoy //------------------------------// Chapter 16 The Truth of it All Rainbow pumped her wings against the hot afternoon air. It was a burning summer day, so it only seemed fitting the pegasi were scheduling a storm today. She grabbed another cloud and maneuvered it to the left. They had been working all day covering the sky in a thick blanket of dense clouds. While the rest of the town was being shaded by the incoming storm, Rainbow was hot and tired of being out in the sun all day, slaving away. She scratched her muzzle, wiping the sweat away from the bandage that stuck to it. It was hard enough to breathe in the hot weather, but the broken muzzle made it all the more difficult. Taking another break from work, Dash let herself fall into another daydream, as she had commonly done so for the past three weeks. This time the dreadful memory took her to the waiting room of the Ponyville hospital. Dash had limped into the building, scratches and bruises engulfing her body. A great deal of blood came from her face, swallowing her muzzle and dripping off her chin. She walked in just after the other girls had rushed in. They were all standing in a huddled group, nervously sharing concerns about the recent news. When they saw her, the rushed over to her like a group of frightened foals, fussing over her every detail. “Rainbow!” Twilight caught sight of her first. “What happened?” “Oh my…” whimpered Fluttershy as she saw Rainbow’s condition. “Why darling, you’re bleeding!” Rarity rushed forward with a tissue, and pressed it against Dash’s muzzle. “You look AWFUL!” Pinkie cried out. Although the presence of her friends was comforting, the questions they asked caused her stomach to churn. She stood there in her tears as Twilight called for a doctor, and was given a chance to remain silent as a nurse came out to address her muzzle. She could hardly feel it, or anything else bruised or bleeding about her body, as all that was on her mind was a pain much more distracting. “Why are you crying?” Pinkie finally asked once Dash had been bandaged. Dash just shook her head, unable to speak. Her voice left her far before she had arrived, and had still not returned. “Is it about Applejack?” Twilight tilted her head. Upon hearing her name, Rainbow began to sob once more, unable to stop the incoming mess of hiccups and tears. This surprised all of her friends, causing them all tear up at the sight of the broken mare. Whatever was wrong, they knew it was serious. “Oh, there-there darling,” a tissue wrapped in a turquoise glow came rushing to Rarity’s aid. “Everything is going to be alright, don’t worry.” As the girls wrapped her in a group hug, Dash knew Rarity was wrong. The five of them stayed in the waiting room for several hours. At one point Rarity and Pinkie left and brought back midnight hayburgers and cupcakes, and a few hours later Twilight went off and came back with books. Many of them made short trips home, explaining to their families that they would be gone for the night. No pony slept, though the night wore on. Perhaps it was because they couldn’t sleep, or didn’t want to, or didn’t care. Either or any, they continued to wait. Soon the sunrise crept across the white linoleum floor, its light bouncing around the room and jabbing into their tired eyes, causing them to squint and shift uneasily. The hospital was quiet, with the occasional sound of the squeaky wheels of a cart carrying medical supplies, or the quiet sound of a cough from the hallway. Finally, the doctor stepped into the room, causing the tired girls to quickly stand up. “She’s doing fine,” the doctor assured before they could ask. “You may all go see her now.” They hurried down the hall in a single-file line to room 13, a smaller room with a silent door. Twilight opened it, and peeked in nervously. Then a smile broadened on her face, and she stepped inside. Next came Rarity, who immediately began fussing over the patient, showing relief on her face. Pinkie bounced in after that, confetti popping out of her mane, eagerly smiling and ready to give a hug. Fluttershy tip toed in behind her, allowing herself to breathe once she saw everything was okay. Last in line, Dash limped into the doorway, her gaze down. She stepped a hoof into the room, only to hear the cold voice of the patient in the bed. “Not you.” Rainbow froze. She just stood there, hoof stretched forward, caught mid-step. “What?” one of the other girls asked, Dash couldn’t tell which one. Cautiously, she let her gaze rise, catching glimpses of the confused looks on the other faces in the room. She stopped at the eyes, green and cold, glaring from the bed. Trying not to cry, she grabbed her voice back from oblivion and spoke. “Applejack, I—” “Git out of here.” Applejack’s words ran hers over like a steamroller. “But—” Dash tried again, this time the words dying in her throat. “I-I’m sorry—” “Git out.” Tears began to form in Applejack’s eyes, but her stern voice didn’t waver. “Applejack please!” Rainbow let the tears return, but she stepped further into the room. “Just let me explain—!” Applejack lurched forward in the bed, her strung up hind legs and the grasps of their friends keeping her from falling out. “GIT OUT OF HERE YOU GOOD-FER-NOTHIN’ PIG!” she screamed. Rainbow leaped forward at her, swinging and sobbing. The girls protested and cried for order, but soon the doctors came galloping in and dragging Rainbow out kicking and screaming, tears rolling down her cheeks. She was deposited on the floor of the waiting room, where she fell apart and sobbed heavily into the rug, her rainbow mane matting in the puddle of tears and tying in knots. The shrill scream repeated over and over in her head, as she hiccupped and gagged on tears, blubbering about something sorry. Another hour passed. Dash sat upright in a chair, her cheeks dry but her eyes still red. She kept her chin lifted slightly, staring powerfully at the wall. Her breathing was calm, and in all she looked composed yet indignant. A door down the hall opened, paused, and then closed. This was soon followed by the clicking of hooves on the linoleum. Around the corner came Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy. Twilight’s eyes were red, but she walked with her head held high, only glancing in Rainbow’s direction. Rarity completely ignored her as she passed by with her eyes closed. Pinkie’s head was down, her eyes nervously glancing at Dash, but too afraid to stop. Fluttershy’s cheeks were still wet, and as she approached she began to weep and threw herself into Rainbow’s arms. Rainbow held her, knowing that Fluttershy hated it when ponies got hurt, and when feelings got hurt too. Fluttershy blubbered about ‘mean things about you’ and ‘told me to ignore you’ and ‘when she screamed’ until finally concluding with ‘it was awful’. When she was done, she quickly apologized and stood. “It’s okay, Flutters,” Dash assured her friend, “I’m okay.” Fluttershy said good bye with a weak smile and left the hospital after her friends. Dash felt bad for lying, but what good had honesty done to her recently? The next week Dash spent in the hospital, sleeping in the waiting room. Fluttershy would come visit her often, and the other girls passed her as they came in to see Applejack. She’d offered to help bring dinner to Applejack, or bring her a book, or even refill a glass of water. Each time her offer was denied; the doctors explained that it caused the patient to stress, and they wouldn’t have that. At the end of the week, Applejack was released from the hospital. But she didn’t walk out of the doors. Applejack’s break had been so severe that even with the aid of healing magic, the bones wouldn’t be stable enough to walk on until another two weeks. Even after that, there would still be physical therapy and more time until she was allowed to work in the orchard and resume apple bucking. So she could leave the hospital and recover at home, Applejack had been given wheels. They attached to a brace on her hip joints, which extended long, supportive metal wiring around the casts. The wheels themselves were placed just behind her hind legs, suspending the casts and her tail. All the weight went into her hips where she pressed on the brace to move. She teetered forward like a wheelbarrow, and it was hard on her back, but she could move. When she got tired of dragging her behind everywhere, there was a hoofrest that could be unfolded and had wheels underneath. Pinkie remarked that now she could turn into a cart, and as long as she had her friends around she could go where ever she wanted. Rainbow knew this was a lie. Applejack couldn’t go where she loved most. The sky. Throughout the two weeks that Applejack became part cart, Rainbow lingered on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, pacing nervously throwing salty tears onto the soil. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t regain composure. Applejack wouldn’t speak to her, or even look her way. Applejack didn’t just reject her, she hated her now. Never before had Dash cared so deeply about somepony. Her heart throbbed in her chest as she thought how such an innocent, gentle gesture had turned out to be so wrong. She had tried to be sweet, and she ended up hurting the pony she loved the most. Her friends had been less than supportive, confused and unable to communicate with their distraught friend. They couldn’t understand her crazy outbursts or translate her ever-flowing tears. They just stood in their doorways, pity on their faces, and sorrow in their eyes. Finally, Applejack was released from the casts on her legs. Even though the casts were off, there was still white bandaging tape on her hind legs for support as she walked around town for the first time in weeks. Pinkie Pie had offered to throw a ‘No More Casts’ party, but Applejack had asked for the party to be postponed until she could finally work on the farm. Applejack’s demeanor towards Dash changed once the casts were removed. Although she still refused to speak to her, Rainbow often caught her staring at her for long periods of time. It made Rainbow feel quite uncomfortable, but she had let be because frankly, she did the same thing when Applejack wasn’t looking. Rainbow stepped back into reality. It had been about three days since Applejack had her casts taken off. That meant about three and a half weeks since the accident. She stared at the sky. It was nearly covered in grey clouds now. Letting her eyes fall, she saw an orange mare with two bandaged legs and a stetson. Three and half weeks, and the last thing they had said to each other were words of anger and regret. For three long weeks, she had writhed in agony with a broken heart, unable to apologize and be forgiven. Today, that was going to change. Giving the rest of her responsibilities to the remainder of the weather team, she floated down to the streets of Ponyville. Even though her heart was in her throat, Dash couldn’t wait another second. Just a couple of paces away from where she landed was the mare, coming home from her third day of therapy. She was carrying some groceries that she graciously picked up on the way home, and was heading there now. Taking in a shaky breath, Rainbow called to her. “Hey Applejack.” Applejack froze, as if debating whether or not to respond. She slowly put the grocery bag that was in her mouth onto the ground, but didn’t turn to face Rainbow. “Howdy.” Her voice was steady and emotionless. Rainbow’s heart nearly stopped at the reply. Taking in another breath and a step forward, she continued their fragile conversation. “H-How are you?” She tried weakly. “Fahne,” Applejack turned slightly, so a fraction of her face could be seen by Rainbow. “You?” “Uhm…” Dash swallowed. “good.” She lied. “Good.” The two stood in silence for a moment, Dash dreading what she was about to say next. Knowing Applejack wasn’t going to just stand there forever, Dash went in for the apology. “Look, AJ, about what happened—” “Ah don’t want to hear it.” Applejack’s tone went cold and she turned away. Rainbow knew she was losing her again, and panicked. “B-but, please, I just—” “Ah don’t want to hear it Rainbow!” Applejack swiveled around to face her for the first time. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her teeth were clenched. She looked hurt, and upset. The whole of it was like a dagger in Dash’s chest. “I know I hurt you!” Rainbow choked, yelling at the pain. Applejack took a step back, surprised. It was strange, seeing Rainbow looking like this. There were tears in her eyes, eyes that hadn’t slept in weeks, and her voice was raspy and sore, and her mane was more of a wreck than usual. But most of all, she looked like she was hurting. A lot. “I know I hurt you,” Dash repeated, “and I’m so, so sorry!” “But why?” Applejack nearly pleaded the question. “Why did you do that?” “Because… because I…” Rainbow felt her chest heave, and her restraint shatter. After so long, she finally had to say it. Applejack needed to know. “Because I love you!” Applejack’s eyes widened as she watched Rainbow collapse on the ground, her composure lost. The pegasus sobbed into the ground as the sky finally sealed, a grey shadow casting over everything. “You… what?” Applejack “I love you, Applejack!” Rainbow lifted her head from the dirt, her eyes red but honest. “I have for a long time. I was too afraid to say so, in fact for years I didn’t believe it myself. But it’s true. Every time I look into your green eyes, I know it is. I know I hurt you, and I am so sorry. I just want you to forgive me. Please.” By this point the rain began to fall. It started gently but soon began to strengthen. Applejack stood there, cheeks wet, eyes wide, staring at the figure before her. Rainbow stood, looking Applejack straight in the face. “Please.” She said again. The rain began to pour. It soaked Rainbow’s mane and weighed down Applejack’s hat. They stood there, face to face, thunder and lightning surrounding them. Applejack’s wide eyes streamed with tears, and she backed away. “Ah… Ah…” Her voice wavered as the storm nearly drowned it in the noise of rushing water. Rainbow’s heart sank. It didn’t work. Telling her the truth only made it worse. Applejack choked, then turned away. “Ah gotta go!” she cried, running away into the storm. The storm worsened, the streaking rain causing her retreating figure to disappear into the blurry surroundings. Like walking through a veil, she was gone. Rainbow stood there, the rain masking the flow of tears on her cheeks, her mane sagging down in her face, her ears drooping and defeated. She had done it, she had told the truth, and she had lost the one pony she had loved the most. Standing in the rain, blind and broken, she whispered beneath the thunder the only words she could say, “I’m sorry.” Applejack stared at her hooves, listening to the patter of rain outside. She had been quiet for a while, sitting still and breathing slowly. Tired of the silence, Rainbow spoke. “Tell me,” she said gently, “Why’d you run away?” “Well,” Applejack shifted and looked up, “it was a lot to take in. The idea of you likin’ me… all this time… it was hard to swallow.” “Yeah,” Dash sighed. She never was good at subtly. “Ah guess it was just hard to believe that our friendship was a lie.” Dash sat up, her brow furrowed. “It wasn’t a lie, AJ.” She said firmly. “Just because I liked you did not mean that was my only reason I was your friend. In fact, our friendship came before this. It was what started this. I didn’t realize I cared for you until I knew who you were.” Applejack caught her gaze. “I don’t love you for your looks, AJ,” Rainbow explained, “I love you for who you are. Your personality, your determination, even your stubbornness. Everything else doesn’t matter.” Applejack sat up straighter, warmth in her cheeks. She smiled sweetly, the kind of smile that reached her eyes. It had been a while since Dash had seen that smile. “Thank you, sugar cube.” They shared the moment together, allowing the falling rain to play in the background. Dash was the first to finally speak. “So, shall I finish the story?” Applejack tilted her head. “There’s more?” “Well we kind of left off with me standing in the rain all alone…” “Oh, right. Sure, you can tell the rest. What happened after Ah left?” “I saw a bag of groceries on the ground.”