//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Mending a Broken Rainbow // by malikvamp //------------------------------// Mending a Broken Rainbow- Chapter Two- Side by side, Applejack and Rainbow ran. Street after street they ran, their lungs beating angrily In their chests and thoughts roaming freely. What had happened? Why? How? After several minutes of running, the two mares finally began to slow, pulling to a stop near Ponyville Square. As always, it was bustling with excitement. "What the hay was that!?" Applejack coughed as she regained her breath, turning to Rainbow with a fearful expression. Rainbow mimicked AJ's attempt at regular breathing as she spoke. "How should I know? That guy was crazy!" Applejack's gaze quickly became inquisitive as Rainbow continued. "He started trashing his own store just to scare us off!" Many voices filled Ponyville Square, and to the surprise of Applejack, it seemed as if no pony was paying attention to their conversation. The sun rested high in the sky, warmly boasting that it was nearly mid-day. AJ concentrated several moments on what she wanted to say, before she said it. "Ah don't think that's what happened, Sugarcube, " Applejack spoke softly, attempting to not alarm the rainbow Pegasus. Taking in Rainbow's crooked brows, AJ continued. "Ah'm just sayin' that the magical aura wasn't white, like Ralph's shoulda been." "Then what color was it?" "Well darlin', Ah'm not implying nuthin', but..." Applejack slowly placed a comforting hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. "the aura was Rainbow colored." At first Applejack was expecting the Cyan Pegasus to freak out, or yell, or argue. She was expecting Rainbow Dash to fly away, calling AJ a liar and avoiding the situation all together. Instead, Rainbow simply froze, not even batting an eye lash. This worried Applejack even more. "Now don't you fret about this, darlin'," The farm pony spoke comfortingly to her filly-friend, placing a quick kiss on Rainbow's cheek. "Ah don't know how to explain what happened, but let's try to forget about it and move on; enjoy the rest of our day together?" Nodding slowly, the self-proclaimed fastest flyer in Equestria loosened her rigid stance, giving a weak smile before speaking. "Yeah, let's do that. I like that plan." "That's the spirit!" Applejack maneuvered around Rainbow Dash, sneaking in underneath one of the Pegasus's wings. "Now then, where to?" ----- It took some time to get back to their usual, adventurous mood, but soon Applejack and Rainbow Dash were frolicking through the streets of Ponyville. After coming to the conclusion that the two mares no longer wished to spend the day worrying about running into another bigot like Ralph, they decided to make their way home towards Sweet Apple Acres. "By golly is it nice out today," Applejack wiggled out from under Rainbow's wing, and into the warm rays of sunlight blanketing the town. "Don'tchia think Rainbow?" "Yeah..." Rainbow's words were laced in anticipation. "Kinda makes you wanna run, doesn't it?" "Like... A race?" "Yeah, like a race." "You're on." The two friends quickly lined up next to each other, Sweet Apple Acres in their sights. They were on the boarder of Ponyville, and it was a straight road to the orchard. Locking eyes one last time, the two turned their sights to the goal at hoof. "Three," Applejack placed one hoof back, preparing to take off. "Two," the cyan Pegasus took in a deep breath. "One," AJ's muscles tensed, prepared to give her all. "Wait!" Rainbow cried, but AJ had already begun running. However, after a moment Applejack stopped, confused by what she had heard. Turning around, the farm pony spotted Rainbow Dash making her way towards a large poster, plastered onto the side of a household. Quickly the orange earth pony turned, and redirected her run towards Rainbow Dash, slowing only once close enough to see the poster. The Wonderbolts. The poster was bright, advertising Equestria's greatest arial performers. In the center of the picture was the team's captain, a pegasus known as Spitfire. Inserted beside the Pegasus, in bright bold lightning letters, 'We want YOU to join the Wonderbolts!' "H-hold on a second, AJ!" Rainbow whispered. "I just wanna check this out real fast." "What is it? The Wonderbolts try outs?" AJ awaited a reply, but received none. Instead, Rainbow remained transfixed on the poster, eyes scanning the thing left to right. Her usually lively magenta eyes were glassed over in thought, and Applejack knew exactly what the Pegasus was thinking. "Rainbow?" Suddenly Rainbow jerked back to reality, turning with confusion to Applejack. "Oh, hey! Sorry, what's up?" "Ya still wanna try out, Don'tchia?" Applejack spoke, feebly attempting to hide her dis contempt.    "I... I'm not sure." "But- but they turned you down, right?" Applejack pleaded. "They shot down your dreams, and they rejected you!" "I just... Wasn't good enough." "No! They weren't good enough!" Applejack spoke again, distraught as Rainbow's gaze returned to the poster. You're amazin', Dash, and you shouldn't let their opinions get to you! Not picking you for the team was their fault, not yours!" "Well, maybe but..." Suddenly the poster was gone from Rainbow Dash's sight as an orange farm pony moved between her and the thing. Rainbow locked eyes with the beautiful emeralds, and in them found her own angry expression reflected. "What are you-" "Arn't ya happy now, Dash?" Applejack spoke, tears heavy in her eyes and across her cheeks. "With me, and the orchard, and the freedom? You have a family that loves you and a home that welcomes ya each night. Stepping aside to once again reveal the poster, Applejack continued. "Them? They are traveling performers; roamers. They are not a family. They have no home. They are chained by the media, and have no freedom!" Despite Applejack's words, Rainbow's eyes remain transfixed upon the poster. The warm smile of a welcoming Spitfire. It was a smile that Rainbow had looked up to for as long as she could remember. It used to fill her heart with a reason to never give up, but now it brought with it only confusion. "But..." "Please Rainbow, just come home?" Applejack pleaded again, placing a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "Forget about the Wonderbolts and come make a new dream, with me?" "The Wonderbolts are my dream," the poster began to glow a faint rainbow glow as Rainbow spoke. "Why can I not have both?" "No, you have to choose," Applejack spoke. "Ah'm sorry, but it's me, and Ponyville, and the orchard, or them." Turning to the poster, AJ finally saw the glow that was forming. "R-Rainbow, what's going on?" Tears were streaming from a pair of once-beautiful magenta eyes, now tainted with fear and confusion. They ran across her cyan cheeks, and fell to the ground below in a steady Rhythm. Shakily, Rainbow slowly turned her attention once more to Applejack, looking for solace. But found none. Instead, she saw the farm pony slowly backing away from the steadily growing glow around her filly-friend. "Rainbow, please, calm down!" despite her fear of the strange magic, Applejack approached the Pegasus cautiously. "I'm here for you, I love you!" In an attempt to calm down Rainbow Dash, Applejack extended a hoof to the mare, only to have it viciously swiped away. In the blink of an eye the Pegasus's wings shot out from her sides, extending to their full glory. "No!" Rainbow fumbled away from Applejack. "Don't touch me! I... I need to choose!" With a sudden jerk, Rainbow was rocketing into the sky above, a rainbow aura radiating around her. "No! Rainbow!" It was too late. Rainbow Dash was but a dot on the horizon. "I... I'm sorry."