//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Fluttershy's Cloud Lessons // by Skylight77 //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash glanced with heavy eyes at her watch while flying towards her destination. Four minutes till six, early in the morning. Her stomach felt like it would fall out of her body as the minutes ticked by. Rainbow Dash had to get this dilemma over with eventually, and now was the day. She thought back to why this was happening in the first place. ______________________________________________________________________________ "Rainbow Dash! Can you stop working for one second so we can talk about this?!" "There's nothing to talk about and I can't stop! Ponyville needs this water right now!" The sound of both Rainbow Dash and Twilight's argument boomed in the skies. Rainbow Dash was moving clouds from one destination to the next quickly and without rest while Twilight kept tailing. "Rainbow Dash, I know you're upset, but-" “I already told you it was my fault!” “Rainbow Dash!” "Look Twilight, if you wanna talk about it, be at your castle tomorrow at six, before my shift starts in the morning!” Twilight had to move out of the way when Rainbow Dash shot straight towards her, hitting a cloud that was behind her to give it a small activation. “And you can tell Pinkie Pie, that I Pinkie Promise to be there AND tell you everything, AT six! Be there, or you’ll get nothing from me.” “But Rainbow Dash-” *BAM!* Twilight yelped and dashed out of there when that cloud demonstrated its aftershock. Rainbow Dash kept her stern expression, not even flinching. She busted the cloud while keeping her eyes on Twilight flying off. Tomorrow was gonna be a big day. ______________________________________________________________________________ Rainbow Dash glanced at her watch again. Two minutes. The castle was in sight. Taking a deep breath, she lowered her altitude to descend at the castle’s library entrance. It had been about a week since that tragic event occurred. Dozens, possibly even hundreds of animals had lost their lives due to what happened at Fluttershy’s cottage. Twilight wouldn’t stop pestering Rainbow Dash to talk about it. She wanted to know what occurred there and why it happened. Like she didn’t already know… Rainbow Dash softly landed in front of the castle doors. One minute. She removed the watch from her hoof and placed it inside the satchel she was carrying. She took a moment to squeeze her eyes shut, knocking out any sleep deprive that was in them, and then cleared her throat. It was time. Rainbow Dash pulled both handles on the doors, flinging them open with a loud slam. On the other side, in the center of the room, were her other friends. Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and of course, Twilight Sparkle, each standing in circular formation around the altar at the center of the room. They each held discerning and sorrowful expressions. The sound of hoof steps echoed around the library. The sound of the doors closing boomed the silence in the room, letting the large chandelier high on the ceiling swing and clatter. If there was ever a time for Twilight to use that throne seat behind them, it would be now. But Twilight still prefered not to use her princess hood in such a way. Rainbow Dash stopped her movements after reaching the altar. Spike was no where to be seen, possibly due to the tension from these five ponies, Pinkie biting her lip and rubbing her neck while the others tried to stay calm. Rainbow Dash kept her stern expression, waiting for them to start anything. But it didn’t matter what they would say. Nothing would change what happened. “Rainbow Dash,” Twilight was the one to start things up. “Will you talk to us now?” she asked. Rainbow Dash could only sigh out. She felt like a broken record having to respond to this. “It was all my fault. There is nothing to talk about.” “Rainbow Dash, please,” Rarity responded softly. “We don’t mean you any harm.” “We know that you’re hurtin’ pretty gosh darn badly, but we just wanna help,” Applejack continued with similar sympathy. Rainbow Dash shook her head. “You can’t help with something that’s already happened!” “Rainbow Dash, stop that! You are being disrespectful to your friends!” Rarity argued. “Hey! I’m not the one who wanted to talk! You guys are the ones that-” “STOP IT!” The argument ceased after Twilight’s outburst, making Pinkie jump and move further away from her. Rarity and Applejack stayed together where they were, but stopped their dispute with Rainbow Dash, who didn’t care for that outburst, but stayed silent anyway. “We’re not here to argue. We’re just here to talk things out.” Rainbow Dash turned her head away, repeating her previous statement. “There’s nothing to talk about. You all already know what happened.” Twilight’s face twitched at the remark. “Why do you keep saying that?” Rainbow Dash flipped open her satchel and brought her muzzle to get a newspaper out. She tossed it at the center of the altar for everypony to see. The newspaper held the details of the tragic event. “Everything in this newspaper pretty much tells you everything.” Rainbow Dash pointed towards the pictures that were provided with the paper. “A storm destroyed Fluttershy’s cottage, hundreds of animals lost their lives-” She pointed to the part where they blamed her for this event. She would’ve continued, but she was interrupted. “But Rainbow Dash, we know that you couldn’t have possibly caused this.” Rainbow Dash shot her head towards Twilight. “You can’t deny that I was there! Just look at these pictures!” Rainbow Dash pointed at all of the photos showing her anger points towards Fluttershy, even the one where she was alone and shooting lightning above what they assumed was the smoking cottage. “What do you think we were doing, huh?” The rest of the four ponies only took slight glances at the photos. They already saw them before, but denied what it told other ponies. “Well, from what I can see,” Rarity started. “You two were working on the weather together.” “But at some point, it looks like ya got real mad at Fluttershy,” Applejack continued. “They said ya got so mad, you wrecked her cottage in frustration, not even carin’ ‘bout what ya did.” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at the remark. This was something that she didn’t know about. “And you believed what they said?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Of course we don’t,” Twilight replied. “And that’s why we wanted to talk to you.” She had to pause for a few seconds, allowing the sounds of everypony’s uncomfortable movement shifts to be heard. “We know that you wouldn’t be this mean to Fluttershy for no reason. So we want to know, what were you two doing that day? What really happened, and why did you look as mad as you did?” Rainbow Dash looked away with a frown, ears dropped. The thought of that day sunk her stomach to a bottomless pit. If there was any other reason why she didn’t want to talk about it, it was that she wanted to forget it. And maybe if they heard it, they would want to forget it too. “Okay…” Rainbow replied with a sigh. She already Pinkie Promised that she would answer all their questions, so this was the best time than any to get it out of the way. “It all started the day before this.” She pointed towards the newspaper to express her time. “Fluttershy came to my house, asking me to teach her how to control the weather, so that she could make her animals happy. Of course, I agreed to teach her, and we would start-” “Hold on a second!” Pinkie raised her hoof in the air, interrupting Rainbow Dash. “Fluttershy doesn’t know how to control weather clouds? Isn’t it as simple as just hitting it with your hoof?” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at her. “Pinkie Pie, are you that stupid?” Rainbow Dash insulted. “Now Rainbow Dash, that was uncalled fer,” Applejack defended. “Also, didn’t you two go to Flight School together?” Rarity asked. “Since she was there too, she must’ve learned something.” Rainbow Dash’s expression didn’t change. “That was Flight School, not Weather 101,” Rainbow Dash corrected. “But they must've taught some weather manipulation lessons,” Twilight replied. "Isn't it an important lesson for flying?" “Fluttershy didn’t care about learning how to fly or control the weather. She wanted to learn about the ground and all of the animals that were down there.” “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy may be shy and secure, but she’s not stupid. She must have-” “TWILIGHT! STOP ASSUMING THINGS!” Rainbow Dash flared her wings with her outburst, causing all of the ponies to jump off the altar. She had enough of this subject. “TELL ME ONE TIME THAT YOU’VE SEEN FLUTTERSHY MANIPULATE THE WEATHER!” The four other ponies cringed at the question at hoof. They tried to think of a moment, but Rainbow Dash was right. They never saw Fluttershy do anything with the weather before, thinking that she just didn’t want to. “Why do you think Fluttershy has always been so shy in the first place, huh?!” Rainbow Dash started pacing in and out of the altar as she rambled. “She’s a pegasus that is interested in something different from every other pegasus in Cloudsdale! Everypony thinks she should know the things that everypony else can pick up easily! But she can’t! Bullies pick on her so easily for that! How do you think she feels when she performs in front of others and she can’t live up to their expectations?!” The other ponies looked at each other in confusion. It wasn’t because of Rainbow Dash’s questions, but rather how she was acting. She always wanted to see Fluttershy perform better and break out of her shell, but now it sounded as if she was against it. Rainbow Dash stopped her pacing, pointing at Twilight before continuing. “And I didn’t even know it was possible to not know how to stand on clouds! But after seeing you struggle to, if anypony else knew, they could’ve made fun of that too, making jokes that she lived after being born at all!” “Okay Rainbow Dash!” Twilight yelled out so that the subject would stop. “I think you’ve made your point. We’re sorry for expecting that, but we’re getting off topic.” Twilight took a deep breath and let it out to relieve the tension in the air. “So Fluttershy wanted to learn how to control the weather, and you agreed to help her?” “But wait! I still don’t understand! Isn’t it really easy to, mmph!” Pinkie’s mouth was zipped shut by a glaring Twilight using her magic to stop her from making things worse. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Anyway… I agreed to teach Fluttershy on how to control the weather. We began the next day. I provided the time, she provided the location.” “And the location was Fluttershy’s cottage?” Twilight asked, to which Rainbow Dash nodded to. “But Rainbow, isn’t that a little risky? Weren’t you worried about-” Twilight stopped herself when Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at her. Rainbow Dash didn’t want to have to answer that question. Of course there were risks. She knew that. But that was why she prepared the way she did. “I setup a lightning rod on her cottage before we did anything.” She looked away frowning. “It would protect her cottage and the garden while we did the lessons.” Rainbow Dash stopped discussing her reasons there. The real main reason she didn’t mention why they decided on the cottage was because of Tank. The reasons weren’t very logical, but it was all the reasons they thought they needed at the time. “But it didn’t work?” Rarity asked. Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrow. The questions they were asking weren’t making sense anymore. “The lightning rod did work like it should,” Rainbow Dash answered anyway. “So what happened?” “Guys, stop acting like you don’t already know!” The other ponies flinched at Rainbow’s sudden annoyance. “The clouds that I brought were unstable! It’s because of my stupidity that they became dangerous and destroyed her cottage.” “But that’s not possible,” Twilight defended. Rainbow Dash just focused her eyes on Twilight, waiting for her to continue. “You’re right about one thing. We do know about the unstable clouds, but that doesn’t mean that you are at fault here. You didn’t know about them.” Rainbow Dash snorted, thinking about that reply. It sounded completely off topic. “Twilight, what do you know about how weather clouds work?” Rainbow asked. The other ponies remained quiet while they conversed, including Pinkie who had managed to unzip her mouth. “I don’t know as much as you do, but I do know that pegasi have no control over a cloud when it is unstable. But you didn’t make them unstable, it was some of the other pegasi who did. We couldn’t figure out who specifically, but we know that you had no influence on this.” Rainbow Dash spit at the last comment Twilight made. “Twilight, an unstable cloud is still tame on its own. An aftershock doesn’t happen until a few moments after it’s been activated.” “Rainbow Dash-” “It doesn’t matter if it was an accident! An accident doesn't bring those animals back!” Rainbow Dash pointed towards the pictures of Fluttershy trying to activate a cloud. “I was the one who brought them to Fluttershy in the first place!” The other four ponies started wincing at the rise of Rainbow’s voice. “I got mad at her because she couldn’t understand the basic controls of weather! But guess what?” She glared her eyes towards Pinkie. “Weather manipulation is not as simple as you would think, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE WORKING WITH UNSTABLE ONES!” She slammed a hoof against the ground in her rage, causing enough force to make the chandelier shake. When the yelling stopped, silence filled the room. Only Rainbow Dash’s steady pants could be heard. Pinkie Pie and Rarity were looking away in fear after the display of rage Rainbow Dash showed. However Twilight and Applejack kept their composure. “Don’t you get it? It’s because of me that those animals died!” “Rainbow Dash! Y’all need to stop blamin’ yourself fer somethin’ ya didn’t mean to do,” Applejack stepped in to defend. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t!” “Well first, I don’t think you did it,” Twilight answered for her. “You mentioned earlier that you had a lightning rod setup. How did it not protect the cottage?” Rainbow Dash grunted at the logic. They were still trying to pin the blame off of her. “A lightning rod can’t redirect lightning if it’s still in the cloud,” Rainbow answered bluntly, but the other two were not convinced. “Rainbow, yer not makin’ a lick uh sense anymore.” Applejack took charge and stepped across the alter. “Ya were sayin’ that a cloud destroyed the cottage because uh aftershocks, but now yer sayin’ a cloud moved to the cottage and destroyed it by itself?” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes and flared her wings at the comment. “Are you saying that I did this on purpose now?!” “No! But that’s what yer makin’ it soun’ like! And I know you’d naver do somethin’ like that!” Rainbow Dash snorted and looked away. “You’re right, I wouldn’t, but it doesn’t change the fact that I did.” She looked back at Applejack and continued. “I tried to stop the aftershocks, but I only made it worse, worse to the point a cloud was thrown straight for her cottage." Rainbow Dash pointed to the picture with her stomping on a cloud above smoke. "I tried to stop the fire, but I couldn't save it. And it was all because of those aftershocks." She stomped her hoof down. "It was because of me those animals died!" Applejack listened to Rainbow Dash's rant, but her serious expression did not change. "I don't buy it," she said. Rainbow glared daggers at her, growling and swishing her tail. "What don't you understand?! I told you everything that happened!" "Ya keep tryin’ ta blame yerself! Yer hidin' somethin' and Ah wanna know what!" That last reply… Does Applejack not realize what ground she’s treading? This was enough. "Mmmrph! If you don't wanna believe that, then I have nothing left to say!" Rainbow Dash turned around, readying her wings. "I'm outta here!" She proceeded to fly, but something grabbed her by the tail. "Ooh hno you donph't!" Applejack said through her clenched teeth while her hooves slid. "Let go of me, Applejack!" Rainbow Dash shouted, grunting and beating her wings faster in an attempt to get away. Applejack slid off the altar on the other side before coming to a stop. "Rhinbhw Dhsh! you Phromiphed to tell uth!" "I SAID, LET GO!" "I'hm noth lething go unthil-" *SMACK!!!* ... ...Everything slowed down. The color of the world was lost. Twilight, Pinkie, and Rarity all gasped at what just happened. The events repeated in slow motion to them. Rainbow Dash pulled back one of her hind legs, and thrusted it as hard as she could directly against Applejack's face. Every crunching sound effect of her hoof colliding with Applejack echoed across the room. The sound of Applejack's cry of pain was distorted, and the fur of her forehead jiggled like jelly. Applejack's grip on Rainbow's tail was removed due to that blow, along with a few hairs. Rainbow Dash’s angered expression did not change or falter during that blow. In fact, it intensified in the same slow manner as everything else. Even her growling could be heard in its distorted manner as if all of her rage was released from that one kick. Applejack’s body was thrusted backwards, her legs being pulled off the ground. She was slowly floating across the air due to the massive blow. Rainbow Dash turned her body towards the other ponies watching Applejack’s helpless figure while she remained hovering in place. A distorted thud echoed around the room when Applejack landed back on the altar, bouncing before stopping on the opposite end of it, the side where the others were. Chips of her teeth and saliva flew out of her mouth, and Rainbow Dash showed no remorse. The color and sounds started returning to normal after Applejack stopped moving. Rarity was stunned with disgust and fear while Twilight and Pinkie were shocked stiff, barely breathing. “A-applejack!” Rarity cried, rushing towards her. She lifted Applejack’s head up while the others entered the altar as well to join Rarity. Applejack could only make silent grunts, her eyelids barely visible due to the swelling mark that was left on her face. “Rainbow Dash, h-how could you?!” Rarity asked with all the others looking at Rainbow Dash with a mixture of anger and sympathy. “Hmph.” Rainbow Dash showed no sympathy or regret for what she did. She just hovered where she was, keeping that scowl on her face with her hooves crossed. She told Applejack to let go and she wouldn’t listen. She had it coming, and now she paid the price. Applejack was a tough mare. She could handle what was brought to her. And then, there was another large and extended gasp. It came from Pinkie Pie. Her mane suddenly deflated a large amount of its puffiness. She was looking at Applejack, pupils shrunk and mouth agape. She moved a violently shivering hoof towards the pony next to her. “T-t-twilight… l-look,” Pinkie stuttered. Twilight looked to Applejack as Pinkie pointed. And then, she gasped as well, letting her mouth hang while her ears dropped. “T-that mark… no...” Twilight looked back at Rainbow Dash with pulsating eyes that could spring tears at any moment. “Rainbow Dash… you didn’t…” Rainbow Dash’s attention was caught. She looked at the mark that she left on Applejack’s face. Everypony else seemed to be oddly interested in it, despite how tragic it was for them to see. Applejack’s face was swelling with the large black spot that marked a hoof. What else did they expect to see? That was when Rarity looked as well and answered. “That’s the same mark that the receptionist had in the weather factory… Rainbow Dash…?” All eyes were turned to Rainbow Dash. The only thing that changed was that Rainbow Dash now knew what they were talking about. Maybe now they’ll get it through their thick skulls. “Yeah, I hit that stupid receptionist,” Rainbow Dash spat. “What do you know about it? I’m sure you already know what happened there too.” Near silence filled the air. The only sounds available were the sounds of Rainbow’s wings flapping in the air. The tension was all but gone. Everypony’s hearts were probably aching right now. The silence was a great reminder that they were in a library. If they didn’t know better, they were just reading the newspaper at the center of the altar, not being able to believe the words that sprung from them. But no. All words came from their mouths instead, and that’s what brought the tension. “When we investigated...” Twilight was the one to break the silence. “We came across the receptionist with the swollen face. She said that she was in charge of maintaining the storage facilities in the weather factory.” Twilight closed her eyes and hung her head down. “S-she said that… you deliberately forced your way inside the storage facilities, attacked her, and purposely set the clouds inside the tested storage chamber to explode, so that it could destroy the entire weather factory.” It took Rainbow Dash a moment to think about the way that was said. She slowly hovered back to the ground, just outside the altar. Her face was no longer serious. She looked away slightly with a frown, thinking those events over. When she found her answer, she sighed. “Yeah… most of that is true.” The other ponies stuttered softly at the answer, but didn’t dare to say anything. They waited for Rainbow Dash to continue. “After that cloud threatened to destroy all of Ponyville, I had to put a stop to it.” Rainbow Dash looked back to the others, narrowing her eyes again. “And after I did… I knew what happened.” Her voice filled with venom recalling this event. “It was no accident that some untested clouds were left in the tested storage chamber, because every single one of those clouds held aftershocks. So I flew to the weather factory to have a word with them, but they denied that there was a single unstable cloud in their storage facility. The receptionist in charge tried to stop me from checking, so I went in, even if I had to use force.” The shock in everypony’s eyes said it all. They didn’t believe that she had attacked anypony, but she did. She waited for a moment to see if anypony would jump up and say something. But they didn’t, so she continued. “If they were so sure that the weather factory was safe from aftershocks, then they would be ready to face the punishment of not doing such an important job.” Rainbow Dash raised a hoof in the air. “In a room full of dangerous clouds, all it takes is one to be set off to cause a chain reaction, a reaction that can generate an explosion powerful enough to destroy all of Ponyville, all of Cloudsdale…-” she paused, looking at Twilight to express her point, “-...even all of Canterlot if it wanted to.” The white orbs in Twilight’s eyes disappeared. It was as if Rainbow Dash threatened that even somepony as powerful as Princess Celestia herself couldn’t contain it. “But, I don’t understand,” Pinkie suddenly started speaking again. “The pegasuses who worked at the factory said you warned them that it would explode.” Her voice turned into a whine. “Why?” The white orbs returned in Twilight’s eyes, making her no longer look possessed. “T-that’s right,” Twilight said. “There were no casualties in the weather factory because of that warning.” Rainbow Dash growled softly under her breath, her body shivering in frustration. She couldn’t handle this anymore. Why couldn’t they see the truth? If there was anything that she would’ve been happy to hear right now, it was that her actions allowed everypony else to avoid harm. But she already knew that. “I did that because I wanted revenge,” Rainbow Dash continued, answering the question Pinkie asked specifically. “When I found out they let those clouds in on purpose, I wanted them to feel the punishment of losing something so precious to them. Since they didn’t do such an important job, they would know what the consequences are for not following them.” Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and looked away. “Of course, I didn’t want anypony dying. So I warned them on the receptionist’s intercom before the fuse went off, so that those who weren’t responsible could get out.” She looked back towards the others with a snarl, her wings shivering in her rage. "They, didn't deserve it!" she shouted, pointing towards the newspaper to express what she meant. Silent sobs could be heard coming from Rarity while she was trying to ease the swelling from Applejack's face. Pinkie made the same sobs, squeezing her eyes shut and looking away. Twilight spoke up. "Rainbow Dash, I know what you're saying, but revenge doesn't solve anyth-" "I KNOW THAT!" Rainbow Dash shouted at the top of her lungs. "WHAT DO YOU THINK I'VE BEEN DOING THESE PAST FEW DAYS?! HUH?!" Her voice was so loud, everypony flinched away in sync. "YOU THINK I DON’T REGRET WHAT I HAVE DONE?! YOU THINK THAT I’VE BEEN SITTING AT HOME, TRYING TO AVOID MY PROBLEMS LIKE A LAZY FEATHER BRAINED PEGASUS?!" The force of her voice blew against the ponies' coats while the chandelier above swung and clattered. "ALL I’VE BEEN DOING IS TRYING TO FIX WHAT I DID! THAT’S WHY I’VE BEEN WORKING THE WEATHER! BUT NO! YOU GUYS DON’T CARE AT ALL!" Her voice only got louder, making the others have to squeeze their eyes and fold their ears. "YOUR FRIVOLOUS MINDS TOOK ME TO TALK ABOUT MY PROBLEMS, TELLING ME TO STOP WORKING WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED!" Her yelling cracked into screaming levels. "AND NOW YOU SHOVE YOUR WORDS INTO MY FACE, SAYING THAT WHAT I HAVE DONE IS WRONG?!" The chandelier swung violently. "THAT’S WHY I’VE BEEN WORKING TO FIX IT! THAT’S WHY I’VE BEEN WORKING ALL THOSE WEATHER CLOUDS EVERY DAY! BUT ALL YOU CARE ABOUT, IS YOUR FLYING FANTASIES, TRYING TO PROVE WRONG WHAT MY FEATHERED MOUTH TOLD YOU FROM THE STAAART!” Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves, cracking the ground to let out all her rage. The chandelier above snapped off due to her screeching voice. Rarity had to immediately pull Applejack out of the altar, while Twilight jumped away from it. The chandelier slammed and shattered on the ground, covering the whole altar. Rainbow Dash stayed where she was, bouncing her figure and snorting her breath while the smoke cleared directly in front of her. Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight safely avoided the chandelier. Pinkie was somehow unharmed, but trapped behind the shattered bars of the chandelier. Rainbow Dash took in the scene without remorse. The tension in the air had peaked. Pinkie was staring at the ground she was locked to, letting her tears drop. She looked like a helpless mare trapped in a prison. Rarity was balling her eyes out, holding Applejack close to her. She looked like she had just lost the life of a special friend, despite the fact that Applejack was still alive and twitching in her hooves. Twilight’s shrunken eyes and hanging mouth said it all. She held the face of one who was betrayed by a special friend. But the only thing that betrayed her, was what her mind wanted to believe. Rainbow Dash’s words had left her friends in both physical and mental pain. She didn’t want any of this, but they gave her no choice. “Are you satisfied now?” Rainbow Dash asked, her throat hurting due to the yelling she did earleir. The other ponies didn’t look like they were gonna say anything, until Pinkie lifted her head up, wrapping a hoof around one of the bars. “W-what about Fluttershy?” The question Pinkie asked wasn’t very direct. What about her? Rainbow let out a soft snort, letting her eyes tame down. “You think I wasn’t looking for her too?” The response left only silence in the air. No pony dared to say anything else. Pinkie closed her eyes and let her forehead lean against the bar. “Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got a lot of weather duties to maintain.” Rainbow Dash turned away from the chandelier, but looked back at her friends. “And unlike you guys… you aren’t capable of helping me set up the weather. Think about that, the next time you think I’m lazy.” That was the last Rainbow Dash said before she walked towards the front door of the castle. The silence made her hoofsteps audible across the library. It seemed like no pony was going to stop her this time. She put her hoof on the door handle and pushed it open, letting the rays of the sunlight inside. “Rainbow Dash, w-wait…” It was Twilight’s voice that called out. “P-please, tell us something…” Rainbow Dash let herself stay where she was. She had already done enough damage, what more did they want? She stood there not moving, just waiting for her to ask. “W-were you… successful…?” ...The way Twilight asked that, pained Rainbow’s heart. It was so much different than before. It was like she was choosing her words very carefully, hoping Rainbow wouldn’t take it the wrong way. “D-did you manage… to find Fluttershy…?” The question pierced at Rainbow’s heart like a freezing blizzard. It was the only question in the entire conversation she felt had any real meaning. Of course they were worried about her, so why wouldn’t they ask that? No pony else knew but her, and it made her realize why she’s been so edgy lately. Rainbow’s eyes pulsated, letting a tear spring out of her eyes. When it dropped to the ground, all she did was answer. She didn’t even turn her head. She just answered by giving a steady nod with her head. She then flared her wings and took off, flying out of the castle. ______________________________________________________________________________ Depression filled Rainbow Dash’s heart when she left that castle. Her friends must’ve been hurting really badly after the display of rage she had unleashed upon them. What choice did she have? It was the only way she could get them to understand. Or perhaps, what she wanted them to understand. How would they feel if they heard that Fluttershy was the one who activated those unstable clouds? All Fluttershy wanted to do, was learn how to work the weather. Why should she have to face the blame of hundreds of animals dying because of her accident? ...Why didn’t Fluttershy just listen? No, Rainbow Dash shook her head. She didn’t want to think like that. Nothing was Fluttershy’s fault. Fluttershy shouldn’t have to face what happened. She didn’t want Fluttershy to have to face it. Fluttershy was the most delicate and innocent pony in Equestria. A pony like Fluttershy should never have to face this. Rainbow Dash thought about the last thing she said to her friends before she left. Of course, Twilight and Rarity did have the magic to assist her with the weather duties, but they didn’t have the knowledge. Twilight was still learning how to simply stand on them without sinking inside, and without a cloud walking spell, while Rarity didn’t know the first thing about how they could be manipulated. And after that tragic event, Rainbow Dash couldn’t trust herself to teach anypony anymore. If there was anything she was thankful for that her friends did, no pony believed that she was responsible for those two events. But the only reason she was thankful for that was because it allowed the ponies to trust her with handling the weather. Otherwise they wouldn’t allow her to even be near any weather factories anymore. But because of those events, a lot of ponies were either relieved of their duties, or quit being a weather pony altogether. Most of the weather duties were now done by her alone. ______________________________________________________________________________ Rainbow Dash treaded across the hallways of her mansion, leaving her satchel by the front door. This place had taken many changes since that tragic event. There were no more damaged walls for her to see. Nothing was knocked over anymore. And of course, it was very quiet. Life had been very stressful lately. With no weather factory in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash had to take it upon herself to call for cloud deliveries from the other towns, even if she had to get them delivered here herself. But before she would have them placed in Ponyville, she would make sure each cloud was safe. She didn’t trust anypony else’s words on them, she tested them herself. It was a very tiring and nerve wrecking job, that she could no longer attend her training to be a Wonderbolt anymore. She would sooner give up her dream then let her friends suffer. But it was all worth it. The reason lied behind the door she was in front of. The door that led to her room. She opened it. “Hey Fluttershy… I’m home.” A yellow figure in one corner of the room stirred awake at the sound of Rainbow’s voice. Fluttershy looked at her owner, but kept herself lying low where she was. She was too scared to move. So Rainbow Dash walked up to her herself, letting the door close behind her. “Come on, Fluttershy, there’s no need to be scared,” Rainbow Dash said with a soothing voice. “It’s only me.” Rainbow rubbed a hoof under her pet’s chin. Fluttershy’s fearful expression turned into a smile. She purred while her tail swished around at the soft feeling. Fluttershy found the courage to move out of her corner. She rolled on her back, allowing her owner to pet her along her stomach. The belly rub she received was scaring all her fears away, giving her only safety and comfort. Rainbow Dash could only smile at the sight of her pet. That smile made everything she did, worth it. Fluttershy was a pet with no responsibilities. Of course Fluttershy wasn't at fault for anything. Rainbow Dash allowed her face to drop down lower so that Fluttershy could lick along her face. The repeated rubbing of that tongue against her eyelids relieved all of her stress. She would do everything she could to take care of Fluttershy, to make her feel happy and safe. Rainbow Dash only wished she didn’t have to leave her pet from time to time to make that possible.