Part 6
The years came and went, as years tend to do. Star Shine helped Rainbow find a job on the weather team in a little place called Ponyville. It wasn’t easy at first. In fact, at first, Dash thought it flat out sucked. Rainbow got a job with the weather patrol. The hours were bad and the way wasn't that great either. There was nothing to do in Ponyville, other than practice her flying stunts. That part was okay though, because it gave her a chance to hone her skills for when she tried out for the Wonderbolts!
It wasn’t all bad though. Rainbow met up with her old friend Fluttershy, and later, some other “cool ponies” along the way. She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt twice as "cool" with them around.
Things got better as time went on. Her hours on the weather patrol got better, and eventually she was promoted to captain because of her “totally radical flying skills.” Rainbow got a nice house, made more friends, and had adventures, both wondrous and mundane. Eventually she caught a break, and a few years after she had moved to Ponyville, she achieved her dream and became a Wonderbolt.
Rainbow Dash was sitting in the dining hall in the Cloudsdale Cloud Stadium after a training session one day. She was sitting around a table in uniform with the other Wonderbolts, when there was a knock on the door. One of her teammates, a light blue pegasus stallion with dark blue hair, named Soarin, answered it. At the door was the gray pegasus that Rainbow recognized.
“Hi Ditzy, what’s up?” said Rainbow with her mouth full of salad.
With a somber look, Ditzy walked over to Rainbow and placed a letter on the table. The cyan pegasus looked at the letter and saw that it was from her mother.
“Uh, is something wrong Ditzy?” Asked Dash.
Ditzy only responded by wrapping her forelegs around Dash’s neck in a tight hug. The other ten Wonderbolts in the room watched this spectacle and were a little put off by the mailmare’s curious display of emotion.
Rainbow returned the hug and felt a cold, nagging feeling in her stomach. The wall eyed mailmare silently looked at Dash and then walked away, leaving the room as quietly as she came in. The attention of all the Wonderbolts turned to the recipient of the letter. Soarin walked over to Dash, “What was all that about?”
The cyan pegasus swallowed hard, “I don’t know, but something tells me I don’t want to know.”
Rainbow slowly opened the letter and read.
Rainbow,
Right now I am writing you from the hospital here in Cloudsdale. I passed out in the living room a couple of days ago, the neighbor came by and found me. Luckily, her and I were supposed to go shopping that afternoon. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have been found and I might not be writing this letter now.
The doctors did some tests and they found out I have lung cancer. I never smoked a day in my life, can you believe it? I wanted to write to let you know where I was on the off chance you came to Cloudsdale and didn’t find me there.
I need to stop writing because I’m starting to feel tired.
I love you so much dear, I look forward to hearing how cool your next performance will be.
Mom
Tears streamed down Dash’s face. Acid churned and tore at her gut. The bemused looks from her teammates because of the incident with the wall-eyed pony had turned to looks of worry. Soarin placed a forehoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “What’s the matter Dash?”
“I need to go. I need to leave right now.” Rainbow quickly said.
“Rainbow, what is it?” Soarin asked in a gentle tone he reserved for Dash.
The cyan pegasus sniffed and tried to say something, but words wouldn't go past the lump in her throat. So, she showed the letter to Soarin, who quickly skimmed over it. The Wonderbolt’s green eyes watered. “Go see your mom. Our next performance isn’t for another three days and I know you have the Rainboom routine down pa, so just go. If Spitfire says anything, I’ll cover for you.”
Rainbow quickly hugged the stallion, then quickly walked out of the room and flew toward Cloudsdale Hospital.
* * * * *
Rainbow saw her mother lying back peacefully on the fluffy cloud hospital bed. A bright green mare pegasus ushered her into the room and closed the door behind her.
Dash slowly walked up to her mother, who opened her eyes when she heard the door close. The elder, dark blue mare slowly rolled over and smiled weakly at Rainbow, “Hey Dear.”
“Hi Mom,” Rainbow said softly, “Are you doing okay?”
Star Shine grinned, “Oh I’m a little tired, but your stubborn old mom is hanging in there.”
Dash swallowed, “I came as soon as I got your letter.” The young pegasus wanted to say more, but no words that conveyed the many emotions she had running through her.
“You didn’t have to come dear, I know you’re busy with training.”
“I’m never too busy to come see you ma. Besides, I know how crappy these places can be, I didn’t want you to be in here alone.”
Star Shine chuckled, “Oh, don’t worry about me, I have some books to keep me company whenever I get bored.” She motioned over to a small pile of touchy feely stories that made Rainbow want to hurl.
“Yeah, but I’m more awesome than all those boring old stories!” Rainbow said with her signature gusto.
Star nodded, “Yes you are dear. How are things with the Wonderbolts?”
“They are awesome, as always! I keep wowing the crowds with my super amazing Sonic Rainboom. During the next show, I’m going to be performing a trick where I do a Double Sonic Rainboom, followed by a Prismatic Shower. It’s never been done before, but everyone who’s watched me says I’m gonna pull it off.”
“That’s wonderful dear, I had no doubt. How are you and that Soarin’ stallion doing?”
“Mom, we do not have anything going on.” Rainbow’s smile faded.
“Is that why the last time I went to your show you talked about him for two straight hours?”
“Uhh..I was just, impressed with the tricks he pulled that day.”
Star’s sharp eyes didn’t leave her daughter’s face, “So impressed that you had to kiss him in the locker room?”
Rainbow’s face fell into a sheepish smile, “Oh...you saw that?”
“Spitfire and I did. She led me back into the locker room after your performance so I could see you. The door was cracked. Inside, we saw you and Soarin’ against those lockers. We decided you two needed some private time.” Rainbow’s mother grinned at her.
The cyan pegasus sighed, “That big idiot told me he closed the door.”
“Honey, sad to say, but as they get older, they don’t get too much smarter.”
Rainbow smirked and hoofed the floor, “Damn, well I hoped he might get just a little smarter.” Her tone was playful.
“Don’t worry,” Star Shine said with a chuckle, “stallions like that are always trainable.”
The two shared a chuckle and continued talking over the next two hours. After which, Rainbow’s mother placed a hoof on her daughter’s foreleg.
“Rainbow, I’m feeling a little sleepy. Would you mind if I took a nap?”
“No way ma, I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Rainbow watched her mother roll over on her side. She was shocked to see how many gray hairs were in her mother’s orange mane. For a mare of only forty-four, she was graying a little faster than most. Then again, Rainbow remembered the trails her mother suffered. Having to hold down a full-time job and raise a rebellious daughter was hard work.
Regret made her heart twinge. She hadn’t made it any easier on her mother. Rainbow took a seat beside the hospital bed and sank into the soft cloudy padding. The pegasus looked back and realized how hard it had been to raise her. Dash chuckled and didn’t even know if she would ever have been able to raise a filly like herself.
She heard her mother roll over. Rainbow tuned and saw her mother’s smiling face as she slept, Star Shine’s stomach rose and fell rhythmically.
Dash’s heart exploded with warmth. She smiled. No matter what trials she put her mother through, no matter the pain, her mother still loved her. Her eyes looked far away and Rainbow’s mind played back the times of her youth. Suddenly a verse came to her.
She looked back at her mother with watery eyes and smiled. Rainbow gently recited the poem her mother told her time and time again, except she added her own spin to it.
I did things that made you sad
I did things that made you mad
I did things that puzzled you
and things you wished weren’t true
I made your hair turn all gray
with the things I did everyday
despite it all, you’re not yet wrinkly
even though you thought you would be
But no matter what I did
or the stupid things I said
you never, ever stopped loving me
that’s the greatest thing that’ll ever be
“I love you mom, I always will,” Rainbow smiled and felt pressure squeeze at her chest. She looked toward the door of the room, and began to reminisce on her childhood once more.
Star Shine smiled. Despite it all, her daughter grew up to be a wonderful mare.