Only a half hour or so had passed since the train pulled out of Canterlot, and Rainbow already found herself missing Twilight. Her cheek rested against the window of her seat, her gaze lazily watching the darkening sky and stars as they appeared one by one.
The sounding wheels against steel tracks filled her ears, helping her relax a bit, and calming her nerves.
Just a bit.
The pegasus slumped further against the glass, letting out a small huff.
It still didn't take her mind off Twilight any.
She remembered the unicorn looking back at her surprised, and, if she had to guess, too stunned to say or do a single thing. The look of mild shock on her face was better than her looking angry, Rainbow supposed; and it gave her hope that Twilight really did feel the same way she did.
But the fact that she didn't stay continued to eat her up on the inside. As selfish as it seemed to wish that she was still with Twilight, she couldn't stop herself from thinking if she had stayed with the unicorn for just a few moments longer, and hopefully bring some closure to her nagging thoughts.
Rainbow smiled slightly as she imagined lying with her, and maybe even sharing a real kiss with the unicorn... were her feelings returned of course.
At least, she hoped they would be.
Of course they will, Rainbow told herself while in thought. I just gotta think positive. Unmoving, she sighed against the window, staring up at the night sky. Even when it's so hard to—
"Hey, Dashie," Rainbow heard the cheerful voice of her companion, bringing her back to consciousness. "Why the long face?"
Rainbow remained silent for a moment, taking in that it was only Pinkie, then sighed, tearing her gaze away from the stars. "Pinkie... a couple things," she said. "One, please don't call me that, and two, it's..." Rainbow paused, turning away. "I-it's nothing."
She went back to staring out the window. "I'm just... having second thoughts I guess."
"Second thoughts?" Pinkie questioned. "You mean like when you're at the ice cream parlor and you can't chose between vanilla or chocolate, or cookies and cream, or rocky road, or cotton candy, or any of the other bazillion flavors! Then you do chose, say... raspberry, but the whole time you can't help but feel that you should have gotten the cotton candy—!"
"Uh... y-yeah," Rainbow cut in, turning once again to Pinkie with a soft smile. "Something like that..."
Rainbow flopped back into her seat, sitting back as a slight hunger built in her mouth. What Pinkie had said caused her to take note of just how empty her stomach really felt.
"Great," she huffed. "Now I'm hungry."
Pinkie looked at her friend for a long moment before breaking into a sheepish grin. "Sorry..."
Rainbow rolled her eyes.
"I-I think this train has a dining cart with a snack and dessert parlor," Pinkie recalled, springing up from her seat. "Why don't you wait here; I'll go find us something to eat."
"Al—" Rainbow paused, Pinkie already having sped off. "—right..."
She let out a soft breath, averting her gaze once more to the window.
"Here you go."
"Wha—?" Rainbow jumped, and quickly looked to her left, visibly relaxing once she saw that it was only Pinkie sitting beside her with a friendly smile, back after what seemed like a matter of seconds.
Pinkie's hoof was held out to her, and in it, was a wrapped ice cream sandwich.
"Oh... um, t-thanks," Rainbow said, accepting the treat as her heart steadily calmed. She returned the smile for a moment before focusing on unwrapping her ice cream, silently pondering how the mare returned as quickly as she did. "Huh?" Rainbow looked curiously at the now-unwrapped bar of ice cream in her hooves, and at the different colors that made it up.
"It's neighpolitan," Pinkie said. "Remember? You like it 'cause of all the different colors."
Pinkie's ears fell as Rainbow's brow furrowed a bit. "I..."
Rainbow hesitated, then broke out into a soft grin, turning to the earth pony. "Thanks."
Pinkie's ears perked up, and she nodded. "No problemo!" Rainbow chuckled at Pinkie's enthusiasm, before both turning away to finish their snacks.
The pale moonlight disappeared from the cart, darkening the interior as the train passed through a long, stone tunnel on the mountainside. Only a few overhead lights kept the carts somewhat lit. Pinkie glanced over at Rainbow, only to see that she had stopped eating, the same sadness from before once again filling her eyes.
"I take it you're all sad... because of her, right?" Pinkie asked. Rainbow's eyes widened a bit, turning to face her the second she heard her question.
"I'm not sad, Pinkie," Rainbow insisted as she looked away, her cheeks reddening. She gave a defeated sigh. "I just... can't help but miss her—"
Rainbow was cut off by Pinkie pressing herself up against her, hugging her around her shoulders. "Aw, Rainbow, you know you'll see her again!"
"I know, but... it's just..."
"Hm... you know..." Pinkie removed one of her hooves from its spot on Rainbow's shoulder, placing it against her chin in thought. "I'm pretty sure she likes you too, if that's what you're worried about."
Rainbow backed out of Pinkie's embrace, taken aback, and for a moment, without words. "Wha—?" She looked at the earth pony. "What makes you think this has anything to do with me liking her?"
Pinkie met her flustered gaze for couple moments before finally shrugging. "Just a hunch," she replied with a simple smile. "If it helps, the two of you do look nice together."
Rainbow bit her tongue, and held back the urge to groan in annoyance. Pinkie wasn't about to give up, was she? So why not just...
Oh what the hay... Rainbow decided. She's not the first pony I've admitted my feelings to anyway.
Letting out a sigh, she turned to Pinkie. "Okay... yes, I like Twilight. Really like even; but please," —She held up her hoof just as Pinkie opened her mouth— "can you keep this between us? Like can you do that... that uh, um... pinkie promise-thing!"
"Hey, you're starting to remember!" Pinkie broke out into a wide grin.
Rainbow turned ahead, lowering her gaze. "Maybe..."
Pinkie, maintaining her smile, straightened up, placing a hoof over her heart. "Well I, Pinkie Pie, swear to never ever again bother Rainbow Dash about her crush on Twilight—"
"Urgh..." Rainbow threw her face into her hooves. "Pinkie!"
"O-oops." Pinkie slumped a little as her smile turned apologetic and sheepish. "Sorry..."
Rainbow rolled her eyes as her face remained buried behind her hooves.
Using her free hoof, Pinkie scratched a spot on the back of her head. Her other hoof softly, and a little slowly at first, traced an X over her own heart. In the softest, and most assuring voice she could muster right then, she said, "Cross my heart, hope to fly... Stick a cupcake in my eye."
Rainbow's hooves slowly lowered from her embarrassed face, the pegasus herself cracking a soft smile as she turned her head to look at the earth pony. "You know that's really gross."
"Oh, totally!" Pinkie agreed without a second's hesitation. She turned to look ahead in thought, her voice softening. "When I thought it up, I... I thought of something that happened to me once—and should never happen to anypony else—to show how serious I was about the promises I make. That if I did tell somepony, something terrible—like getting a cupcake, or maybe just some frosting stuck in my eye—would happen. Pretty good reason not to tell anypony, huh? Crack and you get one right in your eye."
Rainbow merely nodded, breathing in, and holding her breath in her throat. "I guess."
"I mean, seriously," Pinkie continued, "there'd be like, crumbs... frosting, sprinkles... You'd probably have to get disinfected—"
"Pinkie," Rainbow cut in, letting out a shaky breath. "Thanks, I... I get it."
She fell back into their seat once more, the little nod of understanding Pinkie gave her going unnoticed. The pink earth pony laid back as well, her eyes shut gently as she sighed in content.
"You know," she said, after a moment's passing. "This is... kinda nice. Just like old times."
Rainbow's brow furrowed slightly at the remark.
She glanced over at the mare beside her from the corner of her eye. "I take it we were good friends then?"
"I would like to think so," Pinkie said. "But..." She let out a yawn, resting her head, without really thinking, against Rainbow's shoulder. "This is the first time we've ever really talked..."
Pinkie's mane tickled and scratched her as it occasionally wound up getting in her face. She looked away in annoyance, turning away in favor of looking out the window.
It wasn't long before a soft, comical-sounding snoring filled the air around her. Rainbow paid little mind to it, though, not that she was particularly trying to.
Instead, she looked to the sky and to the stars, her eyes full of wonder and worriment... Pinkie's words lingering in her mind. What kind of pony was I...?
Her mind lingered on the thought until she eventually fell asleep, her head resting gently in Pinkie's mane.
The sun shone through the windows of the train car; particularly, into the closed eyes of a certain, sleeping pegasus mare. Her muzzle crinkled a bit, her eyes squinted, before reluctantly opening, adjusting to the light.
Rainbow yawned and arched her back, stretching her forelegs before dropping them to her sides. Shaking her mane back into a shape that wasn't so sleep-ridden, she collapsed back into the seat with a sigh.
"Hey Rainbow!"
Rainbow jumped a bit, startled, her eyes snapping open. She looked beside her, to see Pinkie wide awake and sitting beside her. "P-pinkie?" she questioned. "What? W-where—?"
"We're in Ponyville, silly," Pinkie explained as Rainbow's heartbeat calmed. "We just arrived." The earth pony paused, then smiled at her sheepishly. "I guess all the commotion must of woken you up."
Rainbow blinked. Ponyville, she thought, turning to look out the window. Immediately she noticed the change of scenery... and the fact they that were no longer moving. Huh. She chided herself for not noticing sooner.
Other ponies around them, and from train carts in the further back filed toward the exit.
The more she watched them—mixed with the realization of her once again being in Ponyville—the more she became aware of how scared, deep down, she really was.
It had seemed such a surefire thing in her head, paying her home a visit and meeting the ponies she once knew.
But now that she was finally here...
Rainbow sunk further back into her seat, wanting nothing more right then but to sit and wait until the train returned to Canterlot. She bit her lip, gripping the edge of her seat with her hooves.
"So I'm ready whenever you are," Pinkie piped up, turning to her.
Just what she needed to hear...
Rainbow snapped out of her thoughts, gulping silently. "S-sure," she replied, smiling weakly. "Let's go."
Pinkie nodded, bouncing up out of her seat in a stot, and into the aisle.
Rainbow glanced away, nervously chewing her inner lip.
"I'm almost certain you're not malicious," Twilight said, giving her a warm, reassuring smile.
Rainbow couldn't help but smile softly. Those words, and the memory of Twilight speaking them to her played so clearly in her head. She never realized it, but those words had really stuck with her, even after all this time.
She breathed in deeply in hopes of calming her nerves, expelling the breath in one trembling sigh.
I really hope you're right, Twi, Rainbow thought, getting to her hooves.
She followed Pinkie to the exit, where once outside, she announced, "Well, here we are!"
Rainbow looked around. "This is Ponyville?" No longer obscured by the walls and windows of the train, Rainbow could take in everything... and she wasn't terribly impressed. The grassy scent and rustic scenery, and the sight of so much hay, it made the young pegasus a little sick to her stomach. Haystacks, and hay bushels... rooftops made of hay. Ponyville was seemingly made of it. It had a sort of charm, she supposed, though it was nothing compared to the ivory spires and architecture she had come to know, and miss.
"So..." Pinkie lingered on the word for a bit, nudging Rainbow in the side with her elbow. The pegasus in question quickly returned to consciousness. "Does any of this feel familiar? Oh I bet it does, doesn't it?"
Rainbow turned towards the town once more. "It... kind of feels familiar, but..." Rainbow sighed in anger, shaking her head. "I can't remember."
"Oh, well... hey, let's not bring ourselves down about that." Pinkie perked up, placing a hoof over Rainbow's shoulder. "We're here to meet ponies, aren't we? And maybe you'll start to remember once you meet some of them."
Rainbow shrugged in agreement. "Maybe."
The two walked outside the train station into town, Rainbow glancing around before asking, "So uh, who do you want to introduce me to first?"
"Hm..." Pinkie put a hoof to her chin. "Maybe Rarity," she suggested. "Her boutique is the closest."
Boutique? Rainbow scratched her head. What is even...?
Well, she supposed prissy and gaudy were a couple good words that came to mind. And Rarity... "I take it she's one of a kind?"
"Uh-huh!" Pinkie happily bounced on ahead. Rainbow felt a little excited as she quickened her step, imagining this uniquely awesome friend of hers in her head. The thought triggered a slight sense of nostalgia in the young mare.
The two stood at the doorstep of a large, extravagant boutique. Pinkie stepped forward, giving the door a series of rhythmic knocks.
"Be right there," came a singsong voice in response, capturing Rainbow's curiosity. After a couple moments, the door eventually opened to reveal a white unicorn with a long, elegant indigo blue mane, the ends of her mane and tail curled. A pair of red-framed glasses rested over her muzzle, and measuring tape around her neck.
Rainbow peered curiously over Pinkie's shoulder, taking in every last detail about this friend of hers, and the boutique itself. Mirrors, and modeling stages, and racks of dresses standing against the pink curtains and ribbons that decorated the walls.
Rainbow's eyelids lowered, her expression quickly turning into a look of disappointment. Fashion, she thought. This pony's a fashion queen. Not exactly the uniquely-awesome, one of a kind friend she had envisioned.
Even if she couldn't remember what she liked, she began feeling a little hot, and itchy, bothered even.
Rainbow swore she was having an allergic reaction to it.
"Welcome to Carousel Boutique," Rarity said, her eyes seemingly occupied. "Where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique—" She paused, catching a glimpse of pink from the corner of her eye.
"Oh hello, Pinkie Pie," she greeted a bit flatly, and without a second glance. She looked on, walking over to the pony mannequin she had been working on, and the unfinished outfit it wore. Scissors and scattered bits of fabric and lace lay around its base. "I'm afraid I am working at the moment, but do feel free to make yourself at home." Holding out her measuring tape within a light blue aura, she carefully began taking measurements, asking as she did, "So to what do I owe this visit?"
Pinkie bounced forward excitedly, Rainbow following behind her hesitantly, her gaze fixated on the floor. "Actually, Rarity," Pinkie happily exclaimed. "It's not me who wanted to see you!"
"Hm?" Rarity turned in the direction of the pink pony, when she more closely took notice of the rainbow colors stood behind her. Her eyes widened a little in surprise. "Rainbow Dash? I do say, I wasn't expecting to see you again." A moment passed and her smile strained a bit. "How nice..."
Rainbow glanced up from the floor, meeting Rarity's stare as a small smile formed on her lips. This mare really did like her!
"I do say, what are you wearing?" Rainbow snapped out of her thought, raising an eyebrow, and glancing down at herself. Her lips parted, about to give an explanation, when Rarity cut her off. "Oh silly me. Do excuse me, I forgot about your... love of those stunt performers."
For a moment before she replied, Rainbow remained silent.
"Y-yeah," she chuckled a bit before shrugging, looking back at her unicorn friend with a sheepish smile. "You know me."
Appearing humored, Rarity returned the smile.
Another moment passed, Rarity brandishing a hoof across the floor, Rainbow rubbing the back of her neck.
"So," Rarity spoke up, searching for something to talk about. "If I may ask... where have you been hiding this entire time?"
Rainbow blinked, her heartbeat rapidly quickening. Sure, she had been prepared for ponies to ask her this question, she knew they would, why wouldn't they? And yet, when the first pony finally asked... her mind panicked. Just play it cool, Rainbow, she thought, swallowing a nervous lump in her throat, and passing off the question with a wave of her hoof. "O-oh, you know... Canterlot. I-it's this big city built into this mountain—!"
"Canterlot?" Rarity was genuinely taken aback. "Why ever would a pony such as yourself ever choose such a luxurious city to reside?"
Rainbow chuckled, scratching the back of her head. "Yeah, I uh... I took a liking to it, and... figured I'd hang there. Maybe live there awhile, you know?"
Rarity simply looked back at her with a look of disbelief.
"Oh that figures." She turned around, rolling her eyes and muttering angrily as she walked, "That ruffian Rainbow Dash gets to live a life of luxury in Canterlot while poor me is still stuck living in Ponyville."
Rainbow blinked in confusion, as she watched the unicorn walk away. What... just happened?
Hopeful, she looked over at Pinkie for an answer. What she found instead was a mare who looked as confused as she was, if not a little embarrassed as well.
Pinkie felt Rainbow's eyes on her, and turned, greeting her with a simple, sheepish smile as she shrugged her shoulders.
Rainbow cocked her head. "Is she always like that?" she whispered.
Pinkie looked at her for a moment longer before turning her attention back to Rarity. "Today's probably just a busy day for her, and she's a little on edge," she guessed.
"Come on—" Pinkie smiled warmly, placing a foreleg around Rainbow's shoulders, leading her back to the entrance. "—let's see who else we can find."
As Pinkie led her out, the earth pony looked over her own shoulder. "We'll just be getting out of your mane," she called out to the unicorn. "Bye, Rarity!"
"Bye, dear," came Rarity's late response, Rainbow sensing a hint of annoyance behind her voice.
She glanced behind her again at the seemingly fuming unicorn, finding herself once again occupied with what she was working on. Rainbow's heart grew heavy as she recalled the word Rarity had muttered. Ruffian...
Rainbow bit her lip, turning her gaze ahead. She's a little on edge, she told herself. She's just a little on edge.
The two ponies continued walking through the streets of Ponyville, the sun shining strongly and brightly in the sky. It warmed their coats, though, for Rainbow, was seemingly trying to make it impossible for her to see where she was walking.
With her eyes glued to the ground ahead of her, she almost didn't notice it when she came dangerously close to running into a wooden signboard, about the size of her. In the middle of it was the engraved image of an open book.
Rainbow looked past it to see a large, lush... treehouse? Tree library? The image of a lit candle decorated the front door. Rainbow's smile curved at the homeliness of it all.
Looking with curiosity towards a small sign obscured in the bushes surrounding the door. She took a few steps forward to get a closer look. "Librarian wanted," she read aloud.
"Oh that sign's old," Pinkie noted, reappearing by Rainbow's side suddenly. Rainbow herself jumped back a bit in startlement with a breathless gasp. Seeing it was only Pinkie however, caused her to noticeably relax, breathing out a sigh of relief.
"So," Rainbow asked her, "I take it you guys already have one?"
"Nope!" seeing the look on Rainbow's face, she backtracked, growing a bit sheepish. "We sort of just gave up on finding one..."
Gave up? Rainbow wondered.
"I usually use it for throwing parties," Pinkie continued to explain; "but if anypony does need a book, they just walk in and grab it for themselves. The books here are usually dropped off whenever. Sometimes not at all."
"Doesn't sound very orderly," Rainbow remarked.
"That's life in Ponyville!" she exclaimed, stotting upwards. "There's not exactly a lot of order, but it sure is fun!"
Rainbow watched as Pinkie bounced into the air, and couldn't help but smile. She sure seems to find fun in everything, she thought when her ears perked up suddenly, picking up the voices of ponies walking by.
"Oh joy... Braggart's back," she heard one of them say to the other.
Rainbow tensed, the smile she wore disappearing from her lips.
Pinkie noticed as well, quickly growing excited. "Hey, more ponies!" she pointed out. "Come on, Rainbow Dash!"
Rainbow held her breath, looking worriedly at her. "Pinkie, I don't know—" she tried to say, holding her hoof out, but to no avail. Pinkie ran off to greet the passing ponies.
Rainbow watched as the three talked for a bit, waiting anxiously, and several long moments, Pinkie came bouncing back.
"What were you guys talking about?"
"Oh, they were just wondering why I bothered to bring you back, and I told them it was because of all the friends you have here!"
Rainbow's heart dropped, finding herself quickly growing confused.
"Why... why you bothered...?" All of a sudden, she felt a little lightheaded. She looked, the area suddenly seeming so crowded; and to her, it felt like all eyes were now on her. I need to get out of here. She turned and resumed walking—Pinkie happily trotting alongside her—only for the two of them to inadvertently walk right into more ponies.
Keeping her head low, Rainbow walked past, all while hearing the things they whispered about to one another.
"That pegasus is weird..."
Rainbow shut her eyes, squeezing them tighter. N-no, I... I'm not, I...
"Why she'd ever bother coming back?"
"She can't possibly believe she has friends here."
Rainbow couldn't take them anymore, and ran straight ahead, never once looking ahead of her. Pinkie stood startled as she took off.
"Hey!" she shouted after her. "Rainbow Dash?"
What's going on? Rainbow asked herself. Why... why is everypony—?
She kept on running until she felt herself bump into... something abruptly. Whatever it was, it had fur, and she swore she had heard a gasp a split second before colliding with it.
A pony?
Rainbow opened her eyes slowly, and sure enough, a cream-coated mare stood before her, looking back at her fiercely as she backed away.
Rainbow shrunk back flashing an apologetic grin.
"Watch it, Rainbow Dash!" The anger in her voice surprised her, the grin disappearing from her face as quickly as it came. "As if you crashing into ponies and Celestia-knows-what-else while flying wasn't bad enough."
Rainbow swallowed, a mixed look of hurt and confusion on her face. "Whil... while flying...?"
The mare scoffed. "Those wings of yours may just be the worst thing to happen to this town."
Rainbow shrunk back even further just as Pinkie appeared beside her.
"Oh, Bonnie." Pinkie passed off the comment with a giggle, setting a foreleg around the back of Rainbow's neck. "Rainbow may crash now and again, but she's gotten better. She'll be a future Wonderbolt in no time!" she exclaimed with a grin, seemingly oblivious to Rainbow's own distress.
The earth pony raised an eyebrow. "Dressing like one doesn't exactly make you one," she remarked, turning her attention back again to Rainbow. "I take it you've been hiding out in Canterlot this whole time?"
Looking away a bit, Rainbow stuttered, "Well... y-yeah, I—"
"Figures," she said, cutting off Rainbow and leaving her taken aback. The mare turned away, muttering before walking away, "That's where all Ponyville ponies run off to, isn't it?"
Rainbow looked up at the pony as she walked away from her, bewildered—with the same look of hurt in her eyes. The feeling of her heart, displaced and leaping up into her throat made her feel a little sick. She cleared it softly, sniffling quietly just as Pinkie spoke.
"Well that was rude, though..." Pinkie tapped a hoof against her chin, looking off in thought. "I can't say that... I don't know why." She smiled apologetically down at Rainbow, the pegasus feeling Pinkie's gentle hoof on her shoulder. "Sorry, Rainbow. Bon Bon, she... she's just been a little bitter ever since Lyra left to go to Canterlot. Without a word even."
Lyra? Rainbow wondered. Somepony she knew is the reason why... why she snapped at me?
Somehow Rainbow wasn't so convinced.
"Are you alright?" she heard Pinkie ask.
Rainbow wiped her eyes. "Y-yeah," she replied, a bit shakily as she looked up at Pinkie, smiling reassuringly.
Pinkie broke out into a relieved grin, and soon the two walked on—Pinkie stotting up, and up again rather than walking. Though the haunting voices of the earlier ponies continued to play inside Rainbow's mind.
She lightly bit her inner lip, her vision beginning to grow blurry, as she tried her best to stifle the tears building behind them.
Rainbow's head hung low as she slowly trudged down a forested, and winding dirt path. Pinkie happily bounced on ahead, humming to herself. She stopped when she reached the top of the hill, beckoning for Rainbow to come join her.
Rainbow lifted her head, blinking to clear her bleary eyes. Beneath the hill, rested a farm and a forest full of what looked like apple trees.
"Something tells me you're going to really like Applejack," Pinkie said, looking over at Rainbow with a look of excitement. "Come on!" She resumed bouncing. "Applejack should be working in the apple fields right about now, but I'm sure she won't mind a visit from a couple of old friends!"
Rainbow watched as Pinkie bounced down the hill, before again following along, growing a bit hopeful as she walked.
The sound of hooves hitting wood sounded, capturing the two visiting ponies' attention. They turned to the source, which had come from deep inside an area of apple trees to their right. Stepping closer, Rainbow soon came into view of an orange-coated country mare, a stetson hat on her head, her mane and tail in ponytails.
Her hind legs once again collided with the the tree, triggering more apples to coming loose and falling into the basket below, filling it completely.
"Applejaaaack!" Applejack's curiosity piqued, and she turned to see Pinkie came bouncing toward her, coming to a stop inches before her face. "Applejack! Do I have a surprise for you!"
"Pinkie Pie?" she wondered. "What do you mean by...?" Her voice trailed off, as she noticed Rainbow standing behind Pinkie.
Rainbow shied away, uncertain, as Applejack's eyes met hers.
"Rainbow?" she questioned, stepping forward, past Pinkie. "Reckoned I'd never see you again. What brings you back to these neck of the woods?"
"Oh, you know..." She sniffled, brandishing a laid back grin. "I wanted to see my friends again."
Applejack's head tilted in confusion. "Friends?" she quipped. "Didn't realize you had many."
Rainbow's grin faltered a bit, though not without sharing a quick, awkward chuckle.
Those words had hit her like a ton of bricks.
Pinkie looked back at Rainbow, then over at Applejack, puzzled by the whole exchange. "But you are one of them... aren't ya, AJ?" she asked.
Applejack glanced over at Pinkie from over her shoulder, then sighed, turning back towards Rainbow. "Well, ah suppose I can tolerate her shenanigans and put up with her, if that's what you mean, Pinkie."
"Well, t-that's not exactly what I—"
"It's okay, Pinkie," Rainbow assured, looking over at Pinkie briefly, noting her saddened expression. She redirected her gaze back at Applejack. "I... I wanted to see the ones I do have."
And since when is she ever this polite? Applejack thought, taking a curious step towards the pegasus.
Rainbow in turn, gulped silently, taking a nervous step backwards.
"Ah swear I've never seen you on yer hooves," Applejack remarked, pointing a hoof at them. "There's hardly a moment where you ain't using them wings of yours to fly high above the ground, or hoover above it for that matter."
Rainbow shifted her gaze to the side. "Yeah," she laughed nervously. "How about that..."
Applejack's gaze burrowed into her further.
Feeling Applejack's gaze, Rainbow shrugged. "Thought I'd try something new for a change."
Applejack's gaze remained on her for a couple moments before it fell, defeated. She sighed, looking sternly at the pegasus. "Honestly, Rainbow, you were never a very good liar."
"I..." Rainbow searched her mind for an answer.
After a moment, she began laughing softly. "Oh man, you sure got me, AJ."
Applejack's face softened a bit, showing the slightest hint of confusion. "So why are you here then? Without yer wings out for that matter? Wait..." Her expression softened further, her eyes widening in realization before becoming daring. "You're here to test yer mantle again, aren't ya?"
Rainbow looked back at her, puzzled. What did she have to prove?
"Yes?" She replied after a moment, then quickly shook her head, berating herself right then and there. "Y-yes!"
"Figures. You always did come 'round here looking for me, want'n to prove you're the best at ev'rything. Alright, well, come on then." She wiped the sweat from her brow with a rag that lay around her shoulders, before once again throwing it over them. "Ah suppose I can spare a few minutes."
Rainbow gulped, silently trailing behind the earth pony.
Pinkie trotted beside her, looking worriedly at her.
"So what is it you'd like to play?" Applejack's voice captured their attention. "Hoofball, horseshoes... Maybe a good ol' fashioned hoofwrestle?"
Rainbow thought over it, rubbing the back of her head in hesitation.
She didn't feel up to playing any of those.
"Whatever you want is fine," she replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
Applejack stopped, and turned to look at her for a brief couple of moments with an utter look of bafflement. That, Rainbow could see from the corner of her eye as she continued to look ahead nonchalantly.
"Horseshoes it is then..." Applejack slowly turned her attention away from her, however remaining no less suspicious as she walked on ahead.
Rainbow continued to follow, breathing out a soft sigh of relief.
The two ponies journeyed back behind the farmhouse and barn where there stood chicken coups and stables, and tables perched up on wooden legs. A white picket fence surrounded haystacks and small fields of carrots, and beyond them, apple trees for acres and acres.
Applejack walked over to a rectangular patch of sand—a stick protruding from the end of it—and stopped at two pairs of horseshoes lying in the sand. She took one of the blue ones between her teeth and chucked it at the ground, inches before Rainbow's hooves.
Slowly, Rainbow picked it up by the base of her hoof, examining it. A look of uncertainty appeared on her face.
"Well, come on, partner."
Rainbow's eyebrows raised as she looked back up at Applejack. She softly nodded, walking over.
"Ah'll go first," Applejack said, taking the horseshoe in her mouth and giving it a toss. It landed a hoof's distance apart from the pole."Not bad for a cowgirl, huh Rainbow?"
Rainbow stared down the narrow course. She lined up and threw hers... landing a couple feet away from her.
"Uh, Rainbow... Maybe you forgot, but the object of the game is to get the closest to the pole."
The look on Rainbow's face grew annoyed. "I-I know that AJ, jeez."
She breathed out, looking down at the horseshoe hung over her hoof as Applejack took her next turn.
How hard would Rainbow Dash throw it...?
"Your turn, pony girl," Applejack said, patting her once over the shoulder.
Rainbow's attention returned to the trail of sand, chucking the horseshoe with such force that it broke the stick in half.
Both Applejack's and Pinkie's mouths dropped.
Rainbow blinked, feeling her heart drop at the sight.
"Well, Ah..." Applejack made a wry face, scratching the back of her head. "Ah suppose that's it for the game."
Rainbow gazed down at her hooves, feeling her chest start to grow heavy. Applejack smiled over at her. "Try not to throw it so hard Rainbow—Rainbow?"
Her own smile faded, upon seeing the look Rainbow now wore.
Her tone grew softer. "Why, usually Ah'd give anything to see that smug look of yours disappear, but it's as if you've become a whole new pony or somethin'... Can't say I particularly miss yer old self..." Rainbow's eyebrows raised a little as she heard those words.
Applejack carefully placed a gentle hoof on Rainbow's shoulder, looking worried for her for the first time since they met. "What happened to you, Sugarcube?"
Rainbow's eyes slowly raised to meet Applejack's, Applejack herself abashed at seeing her teary gaze.
"Guess I got some sense knocked into me," she said before turning and running, Applejack holding her foreleg out after her.
A blur blew past her as her foreleg reluctantly withdrew to the ground, Pinkie standing a few feet ahead of her.
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie called out, watching in concern as she continued to run. She bit her lip, then turned to look back at Applejack. "Sorry, Applejack," she said before running off herself, leaving the befuddled apple pony in the dust.
Rainbow ran as far as her legs would take her. She kept running until her legs began to grow tired, eventually forcing her to slow down in some part of town. A part of Ponyville that looked unfamiliar to the young pegasus, and had her swearing, for a moment that she had yet to see it. Or maybe she had; she couldn't tell, and didn't particularly care.
She had bigger things to worry about.
She stopped to catch her breath, feeling tired and dizzy, her heart beating out of her chest.
She collapsed on a nearby sidewalk bench, leaning back into it as she attempted to relax.
All the while, she silently realized she was now lost... without Pinkie Pie to guide her.
Okay, maybe she did care.
She buried her face in her forelegs, letting out a loud, frustrated groan.
"Why did I ever insist on coming back here...?" A warm tear slid down her cheek. She sniffled, squinting her eyes as tightly as could as she felt more tears building.
A pair of forelegs wrapped themselves around her suddenly, the feeling of a pony's woolly mane against the side of her face. "It's alright, Rainbow," Pinkie's familiar voice spoke.
Rainbow's eyes opened up bit by bit, seeing Pinkie beside her as her forelegs dropped into her lap.
At least Pinkie was back.
Rainbow tore her gaze away as she sat there trembling, tears dripping down her muzzle. "I... actually convinced myself that ponies here cared about me..." Rainbow sobbed openly, continuing with a bit of a brief laugh behind her words. "Some joke, right?"
Pinkie nuzzled her cheek, tightening her embrace. "Ponies do care, Rainbow."
Rainbow clenched her hooves. "I came here wanting to meet my friends... to tell them I was okay... only to find that everypony here hates my guts for one reason or another."
"Nopony hates you Dash," Pinkie said, speaking softly, and soothingly.
Rainbow shook her head. "I tried going along with it, sticking it out, but..."
"Being loyal is difficult."
Neither pony said a word after that, the only sound being that of Rainbow's quieting sobs filling the air.
After a couple more moments, Rainbow turned her head to look pleadingly towards Pinkie.
"Show me one pony that gives a flying feather about me."
Pinkie blinked in surprise, easing up as she pulled away a bit. "We've met a lot of them already—"
"I mean a pony that actually misses me..." Her voice softened to that of a whisper. "That will be happy to see me again."
Pinkie's mouth made a silent "Oh," in understanding... even if she didn't fully understand. There was one pony in particular that came to mind however, that... she just knew would make Rainbow happy.
Pinkie sprang up from her seat and sped off to go find her, leaving Rainbow by herself.
Rainbow's shoulders slumped, her gaze falling right back into her lap. Right...
She sat there for a couple minutes, sullen and silently sulking, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Rainbow Dash, you're back!"
Rainbow perked up in surprise at the sound of a pony's voice. The voice sounded younger though, more juvenile. Curious, she looked in the direction it had come from to see a kid—a mere pegasus like herself, with orange fur and a shaggy purple mane, running up to her.
Her smiled seemed genuine enough, Rainbow supposed, the small detail lifting her spirits a little.
She wiped her eyes dry, and sat up, now sitting back on her haunches.
"Psst." Rainbow looked to her right to see Pinkie—from out of nowhere—now leaning up over the bench. "Her name is Scootaloo," Pinkie whispered into her ear. "She's a really big fan!"
Rainbow took in what Pinkie told her as she turned her attention back to the filly.
Scootaloo stopped a couple hoofsteps away from the bench, looking up excitedly. "I heard you flew off... and... I was really worried you weren't ever gonna come back." Her wings did a flutter, causing Rainbow to give a humored smile. "But I'm so happy to know I was wrong, I mean... once Pinkie Pie told me you were back, I just knew you wouldn't leave this town hanging!"
Rainbow's smile fell upon hearing those words.
"So where have you been this whole time?"
"O-oh, um..." Rainbow shied away, scratching the back of her head for an answer, until at last saying the first thing that came to her mind. "I've just... been hanging with this really awesome girl."
The filly climbed up on the bench, sitting beside the older pegasus. She tilted her head. "Where?" she asked.
"Canterlot," Rainbow replied.
"Canterlot?" Scootaloo looked puzzled. "What were you doing up on there?"
"Oh, you know... Wonderbolts..."
"That figures," Scootaloo supposed. "But... then what about the other pony you mentioned?"
"She's something special... Kind, caring, forgiving... Kind of an egghead..." Rainbow put on a sheepish smile. "She's been a great friend though..." She smiled down at Scootaloo. "Something tells me she'd like you," she added, ruffling a hoof through the filly's mane. "Maybe I'll introduce you—"
"T-that's okay." Scootaloo maneuvered her head from underneath Rainbow's hoof. "Does that mean though... that you won't be staying?" She looked worryingly at Rainbow, waiting for the older pegasus's answer.
If only Rainbow knew what to say. After all, she was only a kid...
"Scoots..." Rainbow looked away, speaking as softly as she could. "Sometimes... sometimes adults have to go away, and sometimes for a long time."
"W-wait..." Scootaloo shook her head. "You-you're leaving?"
Rainbow looked down at Scootaloo... the look on her face telling her everything she needed to know regarding how she felt.
Rainbow's look turned sympathetic. "It might not make a whole lot of sense as to why I'm leaving you like this, but..." Rainbow's mind scrambled to try and find the words. She was leaving because of love, because of another mare no less.
If she had to guess, Scootaloo was too young to really understand, but... if it meant choosing between a friend or a special somepony... "You'll get why when you're older—"
"No!" the filly shouted unexpectedly, startling the two older mares. Her voice growing strained, she continued, betrayal and confusion behind her words. "I thought you were my friend, Rainbow Dash! How can you just leave?"
"Scoots... Please understand, I... I would stay, but I..."
She soon found herself without words.
"Urgh, forget it!" Scootaloo turned away, hoping down. "Leave then! Who cares!"
Rainbow's heart felt as though it were on the breaking point, watching as the young pegasus left. Everything had happened so fast, she was almost unsure of what had happened. What she knew for certain though, was that one of the only ponies in Ponyville who liked her, now seemingly hated her... The thought left her feeling so stupid...
Her foreleg weakly reached out in Scootaloo's direction before falling limply by her side.
Tears wasted no time building up in her eyes.
And all of it was because of her memory loss... Her eyes shut tight as she wiped both of them with a foreleg. Maybe I should just tell everypony—
"Well..." Pinkie hesitantly spoke after a couple moments, her forelegs crossed over the back of the bench. "That could've gone better."
Rainbow shot her a sour look, as her eyes continued to fill with tears.
Pinkie shrunk back. "S-sorry..."
Rainbow turned back around, gazing away apathetically. "Just take me somewhere else please."
Pinkie's ears flattened, nodding her head, and stepping out from behind the bench, rejoining Rainbow at her side as she herself stepped down.
The two walked some more until arriving in a slightly forested area, just outside of Ponyville. Beyond a creek and overarching bridge, rested a cottage, decorated in brush and birdhouses. Rainbow sniffled, looking up from the ground, and staring at the home before her.
"W-whose home is this?"
"Fluttershy's," Pinkie replied softly. "She's... she's your best friend, and lives out here because she absolutely loves animals. That's who she is after all, an animal caretaker."
"Oh..." Rainbow slowly nodded. "So in other words... I have another chance to mess up a preexisting friendship." She let out a sigh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Terrific..."
"Rainbow..."
Rainbow shook her head as she walked up the winding path to the front door, giving it a couple light knocks. Her body straightened up as she forced herself to form the nicest, friendliest smile she could muster in her state.
Several moments passed before the door to the cottage creaked open, revealing a seemingly shy, yet beautiful lightly golden-coated mare. Her face obscured at first by her pink mane, it noticeably lightened up the moment she saw who it was at the door.
Rainbow's smile slowly turned genuine, the longer she looked at this mare, taken a little by surprise. "H-hey, Shy—"
Fluttershy stepped forward, capturing her in a sudden hug, and catching her by surprise.
There was something so familiar about this pegasus, and yet... try as she may, she couldn't remember.
A feeling spurred deep inside her as they hugged, and although she didn't quite understand it... she wanted to be there for this pony.
"It... it's alright, Fluttershy." The words left her mouth without warning, Rainbow instinctively running a hoof down her back, closing her eyes as her head rested on her shoulder. "I'm here now."
I'll give them time alone, Pinkie thought, watching from where she still stood at the bridge with a warm smile as the two soon entered the cottage.
She'll be fine now, though... it won't hurt to keep an eye on her, she supposed, taking a spot by one of the windows.
Rainbow's nose crinkled at the slight smell in the cabin. There, in every corner and crevice of the cottage, were furry, woodland creatures, most of which Rainbow found to be rodents. On the floor sat multiple dishes of animal food as well as seeds, and vegetables individually scattered across the woolen carpet and wooden floor boards. Playing her question off as nonchalantly as she could, she asked, "I forget... Are there always so many animals running around?"
"Oh, not usually," Fluttershy replied. "Right about now, it's dinnertime for the little ones." Fluttershy turned to face Rainbow, a smile on her lips... when something caught her attention. Something slithering up Rainbow's back and over her head without the pegasus noticing.
Fluttershy looked back at her with a disapproving look. "Now Cecile, that's not very polite."
Rainbow gave her a funny look, before glancing up to see something slithery above her line of sight. Her eyes immediately went wide.
She gasped, shaking her head frantically, her hooves scrambling to get it out of her mane.
The snake looked wryly at her, before slithering off of her as she continued to rake up her mane, never once stopping until she felt Fluttershy's hoof touch her shoulder.
Rainbow looked directly back at Fluttershy with panicked eyes, feeling herself slowly begin to relax at the touch.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow," Fluttershy said. "Sometimes the snakes like to slither from the rafters once it's time to eat. It seems Cecile slithered onto you by mistake."
Rainbow glanced up at the ceiling petrified, and gulped. Coiled up snakes, and the tails of snakes hung from the wooden beams. Some began to move.
She caught eye contact with one of them for the briefest moment. It yawned, showing its fangs... and that was enough for Rainbow to dart closer to Fluttershy, surprising the timid pegasus.
Fluttershy was about to say something about it when the pegasus cut her off. "Uh, s-so anyway."
Fluttershy smiled in humor at her bravado. "Make yourself comfortable, Rainbow," she said. "I have a meal I need to finish preparing, and... oh, please excuse me. I'll be back before you know it."
"Alright," Rainbow said without thinking. Remembering the snakes, her eyes quickly widened, turning with a foreleg outstretched toward the kitchen. "N-no, wait! Don't leave me inside here with them!"
Fluttershy giggled softly. "It's okay, Rainbow; they won't bite."
Rainbow gulped again, eyeing the very same snake she had briefly spotted earlier. She lifted a hoof, pointing a hoof into her eyes, then back at the snake, making her point clear.
The snake rolled its eyes in response.
Rainbow breathed in deeply, and cautiously turned away, deciding since she had the time, she may as well take a look around the place. A quaint little fireplace sat to her right... birdcages, mouse holes, bookshelves, a lot of cottage-style furniture... She took in everything about her friend's home, only stopping and looking with interest at some framed photographs sitting atop a table.
One in particular caught her attention; for how long, she didn't know.
It was of her—only so much younger, alongside a younger, and frail-looking Fluttershy. The pegasus herself sat smiling happily, surrounded by a circle of woodland creatures—a few birds on her shoulders—while her younger self seemed a little embarrassed, giving only a halfhearted smile. The two of them seemed to be just outside Ponyville, in a grassy field.
All of a sudden, a sharp pain came rushing into her head, Rainbow hearing faint, distorted traces of a voice.
"I'll see if I can go find a photographer," her younger self spoke, flying up off the ground and grinning down at the pegasus filly standing below her. "A moment this awesome deserves to be immortalized!"
Rainbow winced at the voices and images that flashed suddenly throughout her head. What was...? She brought a hoof to the side of her head, rubbing it softly. Was... was that a memory—?
"Do you remember that day?"
Fluttershy's voice startled her. Rainbow looked over her shoulder to see Fluttershy off the side of her.
"O-of course I remember it!" Rainbow replied. "What do I look like? Somepony who doesn't remember her own best friend?" She chuckled nervously through a panicked grin.
Fluttershy shook her head. "You needn't be so defensive Rainbow—unless you'd like to be." She backtracked, walking up to, and standing beside her. "I... I don't mean to tell you what and what not to do. I was only asking; after all, it was such a long time ago."
Rainbow scratched the back of her head. "Right..."
Rainbow turned her attention back to the photograph.
Her brow furrowed.
The longer she stared at these pictures of her supposed life—a life she could no longer remember—the worse she felt. Anger and sadness welled up inside her, so much so that it made her feel a little sick to her stomach.
Then came the pain of trying to remember.
Rainbow grasped the side of her head, her breaths becoming rugged.
The actions hadn't gone unnoticed as Fluttershy turned to look at her, curious.
"Rainbow Dash?"
More memories forced their way into her head, breaking up once inside.
"Isn't this place wonderful, Rainbow?" The image became more and more blurred, the voice scraping at the inside of her head. "Oh, let's live down here together, just the two of us... away from all the mean old bullies."
Rainbow turned from the photographs, walking over to the sofa to sit back and rest, feeling a little sick as she fought aside the pain in her head.
All the while Fluttershy watched her friend worriedly, standing helpless.
"Do you want any help? I-I could—?"
"No!" Rainbow quickly refused, her voice growing softer, more gentle as she continued. "N-no, I... I just need to sit down."
Fluttershy bit her lip. "Are you sure? I could call for somepony—"
Rainbow raised a hoof in protest. "R-really, Shy, it... it's alright. Just give me a moment."
"Oh, well... a-alright. Would you like anything though? Water, tea... perhaps some cocoa?"
Rainbow shook her head. "No... n-no I'm fine, I—" She blinked, looking at Fluttershy in interest. "Cocoa?"
Rainbow sipped from the steaming mug of cocoa Fluttershy had given her as her back lay against the sofa. Fluttershy sat beside her slouched friend, listening carefully to what she had told her.
She had been living in Canterlot this whole time.
"I understand that you needed time to yourself, and, well... I-I suppose Canterlot isn't so surprising," Fluttershy replied. "There's a big Wonderbolts show being held there—j-judging from your clothing, I'm sure you already know that—a-and, well... I just know how much you like them. No wonder you decided to stay for as long as you did."
"Fluttershy..." Rainbow looked at Fluttershy, forcing a smile. "That's... th-that's right, pal."
Fluttershy returned the smile, before falling back into silence.
An awkward pause followed as the two turned their attention away from one another.
"So, um..." Fluttershy fiddled with her mane, twirling a lock of it with her hoof. "If you don't mind me asking, when do you think you'll be coming home for good?"
Rainbow's eyes widened a bit, her heartbeat increasing. For... good? she thought, caught off guard, and finding herself a little confused at first by the question.
It was weird for her, all of a sudden having ponies who really did want her here. First Scootaloo, and now...
She shook off the thought. Canterlot's my home now, she told herself. I go wherever Twi goes, and unless Twi decides to move here, then I...
"I... don't know, Shy," Rainbow gave her somber reply. "I... I'm sorry."
Fluttershy's eyes fell, and upon seeing that, Rainbow quickly held a hoof up before her, reassuring the mare, "B-but I-I'll be back someday, I promise!"
Fluttershy sniffled, catching Rainbow's attention, instantly making her worry, and scrambling to see if she really was hurt. To her dismay, too much of the mare's face found itself obscured by her mane. Anxious, Rainbow bit her lip... waiting for her to say something.
Thankfully, she didn't have to wait long.
"I-it's alright," Fluttershy said softly, after a few moments... much to Rainbow's relief. "I can wait... so long as you're happy." She looked up from under her mane, and smiled at the prismatic pegasus, though... whether or not it was genuine, Rainbow couldn't tell.
At least she chose not to yell at her.
That was something, Rainbow supposed, thinking back.
"You're taking it better than Scootaloo did."
Fluttershy gazed up, surprised by what she said. Scootaloo... Her surprise soon turned into a look of sadness. "The poor dear... She really does look up to you, like an older sister."
Rainbow scoffed at within her own head, a small, saddened smile on her lips. Can't imagine why...
"I suppose she's reacting the same way any other child her age would," Fluttershy continued. She looked again over at Rainbow with a warm, reassuring smile. "I wouldn't worry too much, Rainbow. She still likes you, I'm sure of it."
Rainbow's smile left her face, the pegasus swearing her heart skipped a beat or two upon seeing the kind look Fluttershy gave her.
It made her weak inside. So kind, and so gentle... She couldn't do it anymore.
Fluttershy deserved to know the truth.
"Shy..." Rainbow began, grabbing the mare's attention. "Look, I..." Rainbow's hooves hesitated for a couple moments before tightly clenching the sides of her sweatshirt. "I haven't been completely honest with you here," she said, piquing Fluttershy's curiosity further.
Rainbow slowly started to lift the sides of her sweatshirt, revealing the slightest bit of her bandages, when a lone tapping noise tore Fluttershy's attention away from her. On the floor sat a little white rabbit, impatiently tapping its foot.
He pointed behind himself toward the kitchen. "Oh, the carrot cake! Thank you for reminding me, Angel Bunny." She smiled sweetly at the little rabbit before getting up from the sofa.
Rainbow sighed as she let go of her sweatshirt, her hoof wrapping itself around the mug of cocoa once more.
Before leaving the living room, Fluttershy looked over her shoulder, back at Rainbow. "Um, e-excuse me, Rainbow; I have to go check on the dessert I made for Angel here, and... oh, I'll only be gone a little bit. I hope you don't mind—"
Angel bounced up and grabbed at her mane, tugging at it, moving her step by step. "E-easy, Angel. I'm going, I'm going..."
Rainbow put on a grin. "Y-yeah, no, cool!" she called out to her. "Totally." Her voice softened as she glanced down into her mug. "I'll be here..."
Rainbow sighed, and leaned back into the sofa. A moment passed, and Rainbow's ears stood up, hearing the sound of somepony knocking against the window opposite of her. She looked up and saw Pinkie outside, motioning to her with her eyes before ducking out of sight. Curious, she set her cocoa down on the wooden table beside her, and hopped to her hooves, walking over to the front door. Opening it and stepping hoof outside, she found herself practically and almost immediately pulled to the left of the cottage by Pinkie.
The mare had leaves stuck in her mane, and was partially sticking out of the bushes by the window, her body remaining crouched.
Rainbow found herself crouched as well, lying close to the ground and looking into Pinkie's eyes.
She didn't look very happy.
"Are you crazy?" the earth pony practically yelled, keeping her voice hushed.
"Wh-what?"
"I was watching you in there from the window all stealthily-like!" Pinkie pointed behind her. "You were about to reveal your bandages in front of Fluttershy!"
Rainbow's surprise slowly softened, returning to a normal gaze. She averted it to the side, muttering, "She deserves to know the truth."
The remark caught Pinkie by surprise. Her anger lessened, understanding a little of what she was feeling right then.
Pinkie placed a hoof on her shoulder, speaking softly, and gently. "Telling Fluttershy would hurt her real bad, like... she would be sad for months if you told her!"
Rainbow rolled her eyes in response, letting out a small huff as Pinkie continued.
"If you really care for her, Dash... you wouldn't want to see her upset. Believe me."
Rainbow looked into Pinkie's eyes, her will weakening.
As much as she wanted to, as much as it made her sick... she knew Pinkie had a point.
She stood up, stepping away just enough to give her room to breath. Pinkie herself sat up from her crouched position, cocking her head curiously as her eyes remained on the pegasus.
Rainbow's saddened gaze rested upon the ground as she shrugged her shoulders. "It just... hurts I guess, keeping this all pent up."
Pinkie bit her lip in hesitation, looking to the side for a long moment, then back at Rainbow. "It would also hurt seeing Fluttershy's expression the moment you told her you don't even recognize who she is. That she no longer has her best friend—"
"She does too!" Rainbow retorted suddenly, startling the mare. "It's just, I...!" She let out a frustrated groan. "Whatever! Hay, if I've learned anything from today, it's that nopony ever liked me before any of this!"
Pinkie shrunk back, stunned.
It was the first time she had ever actually seen Rainbow angry.
A smiled formed under the pegasus's muzzle. "Maybe me not remembering who I am gives me a chance to start over with these ponies." She let out a small, bitter laugh. "I'm sure some of them would probably prefer that."
"Fluttershy wouldn't," Pinkie replied, speaking as gingerly as she could. "She's always liked you for that brave, awesome... sometimes hot-headed, and overall stunning personality of yours, so... please, Rainbow."
Rainbow looked back at her directly, then looked away, muttering in response, "She sure has terrible taste in ponies."
Pinkie's eyes narrowed, her voice growing quieter. "If Fluttershy's wrong about you, then I guess so is Twilight."
Rainbow's eyes grew surprised for a short moment before eventually softening. She averted them to the ground, her voice becoming weaker.
"Don't say that about Twilight."
Pinkie sighed, standing up on all fours and walking up to the prismatic mare, Rainbow keeping her gaze fixated on the ground.
Then her gaze widened.
Rainbow stood stunned, shivers running throughout her body as Pinkie reached out, wrapping a foreleg around her shoulders, and bringing her into a sudden embrace.
"You're not a terrible pony, Dash," she whispered.
Rainbow swallowed, feeling her eyes begin to ache, trying her best to prevent the sad feeling that was building.
And the two ponies stayed like that for a few moments, neither one moving until Pinkie had a sniffle, and pulled back.
Rainbow's gaze slowly lifted itself from the ground, Pinkie coming face to face with her teary expression.
"Then... why doesn't anypony else seem to like me?"
Pinkie was taken aback as she found herself at a loss of words... upon seeing Rainbow's expression. Before when she had started crying, she was sad, and a little frustrated... This time however, was different.
This time she looked broken.
Pinkie couldn't bear to look another second, and closed her eyes, bringing Rainbow in for a second embrace.
This time, Rainbow fully returned it, her chin resting over Pinkie's shoulder.
A few rogue tears slipped from her cheeks, freely landing upon the earth pony's back, and not going unnoticed by her either.
Pinkie tightened her forelegs around her. "They do, Dashie," she said in a soft voice. "Please believe me."
How she wanted to, but... she had yet to see— Rainbow's eyes slowly opened as it then occurred to her that she was in the arms of a pony, and outside the home of a pony who really cared for her. She blinked, feeling so featherbrained. She hadn't even considered the fact that she had yet to meet every pony in town.
She cracked a small grin, again sniffling. "I... I thought I told you n-never to call me that."
Pinkie stepped back, and smiled. opened her mouth, about to respond when her ear twitched, a meek voice coming from inside the cottage. "Rainbow Dash?" she swore she heard the voice say.
Pinkie looked over her shoulder, then back at Rainbow. She hesitated on moving, instead looking at the pegasus with a worried look.
Rainbow rolled her eyes, a curved smile on her face as she nodded reassuringly.
Pinkie breathed out a sigh of relief, before smiling, giving her an apologetic look before darting back into her hiding spot.
Rainbow sighed, wiping her eyes real quick with her hoof as she walked over to the cottage door.
Fluttershy heard the sound of hooves clacking softly against the floor, and turned toward the open doorway, lighting up the moment she saw her friend again. "Oh, there you are, Rainbow." She smiled at her, stepping over. "If it's alright of me to ask, what were you doing outside?"
"Oh, you know. Just getting some fresh air," she replied, a hoof behind her head and returning the smile.
Fluttershy nodded. Slowly, her eyes shied away, and as what came to a surprise to Rainbow, her cheeks looked somewhat flushed. "So, um... earlier..." she began to ask, peering up from under her mane. "What were you going to say?"
"Telling Fluttershy would hurt her real bad." Rainbow bit her lip. "She would be sad for months if you told her!"
Seeing Fluttershy's face, Rainbow almost choked on the words, though... what she chose to say instead, she meant from the bottom of her heart.
"I'm just... really happy I got to see you again." Rainbow smiled sincerely at her.
Fluttershy on the other hoof, looked surprised at first, then straightened up. She walked closer to the rainbow-maned pegasus, keeping her gaze to the side of her. Then, in what came as a surprise to Rainbow, she threw her forelegs around her, her head resting upon Rainbow's shoulder; and though Rainbow could not see it, she was also a little misty-eyed.
"I'm happy too, Rainbow," Fluttershy said softly, affectionately nuzzling the crook of her neck.
The whole gesture honestly startled Rainbow, bringing a blush to her own cheeks.
And right then, she supposed, Pinkie had been right.
Maybe lying to Fluttershy had made her feel a little sick—it still did even... but... seeing the smile she gave her, and the feel of her sudden embrace...
Maybe she was lying to her best friend—though not with any ill intent—but... Fluttershy was relieved to have her friend again, and seeing how happy she seemed to be... It brought an actual smile to her own lips.
Rainbow stayed for a few more hours, chatting and playing a few card and board games with her pegasus friend, until the evening sun began to set over the horizon. Saddened, the two looked at one another, exchanging a few last words.
"I'll be back before you know it," said Rainbow, sharing one last hug with her friend.
Fluttershy softly nodded. "I know you will," she replied, and walking with her to the door.
She stepped out and waved goodbye from the winding dirt path, before turning toward the town with a smile, the time spent with Fluttershy providing a breath of fresh air for the young pegasus. She felt light on her hooves, for the first time enjoying the Ponyville scenery and ambiance since she came here with Pinkie— Rainbow blinked, her steps slowing. She glanced behind her wryly, back at the cottage. Wonder where she went?
Then, as if on cue, Pinkie appeared beside her from the corner of her eye.
Rainbow let out a slight, surprised gasp at the sudden appearance of the earth pony. "Where were you?" she asked. "I thought you were hiding out by the bushes back there."
"Oh I was," Pinkie explained, her expression turning sheepish. "'Til I got bored. Besides, I figured you didn't need me watching over you, and... there was something I needed to go take care of."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, and was about to question what, when Pinkie asked,
"I take it you didn't tell her?"
A moment passed before Rainbow shook her head. "Guess I didn't have it in me," she replied. "Besides, you were right." Her lips formed a smile. "She really is something."
Pinkie nodded excitedly. "I told you, didn't I?" She turned to Rainbow with a wide grin. "So, where to now?"
The question caught her off guard.
"Gee, I, uh..." Rainbow thought about it as she looked away, lightly rubbing the back of her head. "I don't know."
"Hm..." Pinkie tapped a hoof against her chin in thought for a moment, when a light bulb suddenly went off above her head. "Party at my place!" she exclaimed, grabbing Rainbow's foreleg in her hoof, and pulling her along with her.
Rainbow's mind immediately began to panic. "W-what?! P-Pinkie?"
Rainbow struggled to break free from the other mare's grasp, her hooves skidding against the road to no avail. A party was the last place she wanted to be! She could only imagine how awkward it would all be...
Then again, Rainbow thought, why would any of those other ponies show up? A smile slowly started to form on her lips. This could be my chance to meet all the ponies I didn't before! She grew a little excited at the thought. Maybe I'll actually meet some that really like me—
"Ta-da!" Pinkie burst through the door of a decorated dessert parlor, Rainbow in tow. "Thank you for waiting everypony. I know it's a little late, but our guest is finally here!"
Panic froze upon Rainbow's face. All the faces of ponies staring back at her... and the feeling of a million eyes staring icily at her. She swallowed hard as her heartbeat grew louder.
Her ear twitched.
"What's she doing here?" she heard one of them whisper.
"Is this really why we're here?" another one asked.
Pinkie placed her hooves on the pegasus's shoulders. "Let's all give Rainbow a warm Ponyville welcome!" Pinkie exclaimed. "And wish her well on her life in Canterlot." She looked at Rainbow with a soft smile as her voice quieted. "However long it may last."
Several of the ponies in the crowd grudgingly clapped their hooves, seemingly out of politeness, and respect for the party planner rather than the guest herself.
Pinkie beamed at her. "Amazing isn't it?"
Rainbow didn't say a word as she stood there, unflinching. "Oh I just knew this would cheer you up!"
Grinning, and unable to contain her excitement, Pinkie dashed off into the shop to start up the activities, leaving Rainbow scared stiff... her breaths rugged.
Her ears picked up the quiet voices of ponies coming from all around her.
"Well," one mare said, "a party's a party."
"I mean, free cake, right?" the stallion beside her quipped. "May as well enjoy it."
Rainbow's vision blurred as her head grew lighter. She stepped backwards—Her forelegs, at this point, trembling uncontrollably—and accidentally bumped into the door frame. Her shrunken pupils darted back and forth, not knowing what to say, or do.
Two mares sat eyeing her, sitting at a table across from her.
"I suppose one good thing can be said about all of this," Rainbow heard one of them say to the other.
Her friend nodded. "Why's she just standing there?"
"Who knows." The other shrugged, the two turning to look at one another with humored smiles. "She's got issues."
Turning back at the spot where Rainbow stood, the two garnished looks of confusion.
It hadn't even been a minute, and she had left, slipping out the door and exiting her surprise party in the blink of an eye.
Rainbow walked out into the night in a cold sweat, her upper body and face burning and flushed. She kept one eye open slightly as she stumbled through the town, rubbing her other eye with her hoof.
She kept walking until she came across the library she had seen before.
She wasted no time stepping inside, pushing past the front door with her body.
Her teeth clenched, Rainbow let out a series of uncontrollable, shaking sobs.
At the same time, a terrible, stressing itch began to build in her wing joints.
It couldn't have become noticeable to her at a worse time.
She grabbed angrily at the sweatshirt concealing her body, forcefully throwing it over her head and across the room. She bit and tore away at her bandages, ripping them from her wings until they shot out from her sides.
Feeling the air against her feathers, her wings made a couple large flaps, shaking loose any excess feathers before returning to her sides.
She breathed out a shaky breath, wiping the tears from her cheeks before glancing around the lobby. Spotting a wall mirror over by the checkout desk, she swallowed down a tearful sob and trudged over to it.
"What is wrong with me?" she asked aloud in a tearful whisper, thinking harder and harder... mulling over her thoughts of all the ponies she had met for an answer.
She looked into the mirror with swollen, tired eyes and tear-stained cheeks, leaning closer until her forehead rested against it. She sighed, looking shakily back at her reflection. "Wh... why d-does nop-pony—"
Her reflection fell forward, cracking the mirror as she faltered.
Rainbow jumped back, startled.
Her reflection slowly got to her hooves. "Urgh... that hurt." Shaking her head, she chided herself under her breath. "I can't even walk five steps without tripping over myself..."
Her shock wearing off, Rainbow snapped back. "I... I walk just fine!"
Her reflection gave a snort of laughter. "I wish that were true. If it were, I wouldn't be flying everywhere... and even then I still crash!" The voice of her reflection became louder, angrier... looking as though it were on the brink of tears. "Into ponies' homes, into their work, into their lives... making their lives so much worse—!"
"Shut up!" Rainbow shouted, looking away and shutting her eyes in anger. She breathed out heavily and slowly opened them again, grabbing the book nearest to her from the counter... throwing it directly into the face of her reflection.
The uppermost part of the mirror shattered, sending shards of glass outwards, seemingly slowing in her eyes. In each shard, did she see a reflection of herself, each one different.
"You hurt ponies all the time."
Another reflection of hers was quick to defend. "But if I don't, then I'm the one who looks bad!"
The clattering sounds of glass hitting the wood floor sounded, but Rainbow could still hear their voices inside her head... each and every reflection clearly visible.
"Urgh, just shut up!" An image of her slammed the surface of her hooves against her ears. "Celestia, you are all so annoying!"
"But... you are me," Rainbow tried to argue, only for the voice to laugh at her.
"Ha, as if I'd ever be a loser like you." The image of her sneered, leaning forward. "Talk about uncool."
Rainbow fell backwards, her pupils growing smaller, her eyes panicked.
In her mind, another image of herself appeared before her. "Are you seriously gonna take that?" it questioned, punching her hoof into the other. "Man, I'd sock 'em right in the face for saying that."
"N-no," Rainbow squeaked out, shaking her head. "That's... I-I would never—!"
Her exclamation caused the image of herself to cower suddenly. "I... I didn't mean it!"
Rainbow's brow furrowed, and her head suddenly throbbed, placing a hoof over it.
She grimaced and slouched forward, placing her free hoof against the floor to keep balance.
"You're all talk," one said. "As always you quiver in fear whenever somepony confronts you."
Tears began leaking out from her eyes.
"All you do is fly around this town like some noisy—"
"Spoiled—"
"Haughty—"
"Neglected little pony who wants everypony to adore her, when in fact... nopony has any reason to."
Rainbow was close to hyperventilating. So many voices argued within her own head that she could no longer hear herself.
Rainbow's trembling form gave way in weakness, her foreleg falling out from under her.
"And," the same voice began to fade as Rainbow herself collapsed on her side. "Anypony who says they like you... is just being nice."
The voices and images of herself vanished from her head, leaving her in dead silence.
She lied there, staring aimlessly ahead of her with a now-lifeless gaze, tears streaming down them.
The throbbing pain in her head began to lessen, her breath steadily returning.
After a moment, she carefully rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, her wings flopping out at her sides.
"Anypony who says they like you... is just being nice."
Her brow scrunched up slightly.
"I mean..." She looked away in puzzlement. "Twi likes me, right? And what about Shy, a-and Scoots?" She bit her lip. "It... doesn't seem like they're just being nice... but..."
She looked up again towards the ceiling.
Annoying, hurtful, clumsy... Those were some of the words that played through her mind. Hay, no wonder Twi hated me, she thought. Just thinking about how I was when we first met... I would've hated myself as well. Her lips formed a saddened smile. It makes me a little sick to think... that that's how I always was. That... even after losing my memory, I... never lost who I was.
She rolled back over onto her stomach, pushing up off the ground. "And I keep wondering why ponies don't seem to like me..."
Feeling physically exhausted, Rainbow slowly stood—her forelegs and hind legs a little wobbly at first—and shook her head. "I need to get my mind off of this..."
Going to fetch her sweatshirt first, she threw it on over herself, breathing in a deep breath, before releasing it in a shaken sigh. She walked over to the wall of books on her left, rubbing her temple with a hoof. Nothing in particular caught her attention at first.
Then, after several long moments of scanning the shelves, did she spot something that piqued her interest.
"Rainbow Dash!"
Pinkie wandered the dark streets of Ponyville, looking for her missing friend. Calling her name out into the empty, nighttime streets, she checked everywhere she could think of; and as she was about to give up hope, she spotted a nearby light coming from inside the library.
That meant only one thing to the pony.
"Rainbow!"
Pinkie ran in and immediately began looking around, at last spotting her feathered friend lying against the side of a spiral set of stairs.
"Rainbow Dash! There you are."
Rainbow glanced up from the open book she held in her hooves, casting a small smile in the direction of the pink earth pony. "Hey, did you know this library has the Daring Do series? Now I just know Twi would love it here."
Pinkie tilted her head a little at the response before she began looking around the room. Blue feathers and bandages lay discarded on the floor before her, and she looked again at Rainbow, noticing a little more closely that her wings were sticking out from the holes of her sweatshirt, full and unkempt. "Your... your wings..."
Rainbow perked up. "Huh? Oh yeah." She glanced down at her left wing with a soft smile. "Pretty neat, right?" She flapped them a little in demonstration. Pinkie's eyebrow's furrowed in thought, the pony turning her attention away once more.
Her expression became stunned once she saw the broken mirror on the left wall.
"What happened to the mirror?"
The smile fell from her lips, Rainbow turning her attention back to the page she was on. "Guess I didn't like what I saw."
Pinkie's ears fell against her head.
Dash... She walked over and sat down beside her. "Why'd you leave?"
Rainbow shrugged, not once glancing from the pages of the book. "I... wanted to go someplace that felt safe... and... when I saw the library, it just... reminded me of home... of Twi. I could tell I wasn't wanted there anyway."
Pinkie looked at her funny. "What are you talking about, Rainbow? Ponies like having you around."
Rainbow shut the book between her hooves suddenly, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the staircase. "Pinkie... you keep saying that, but... I've yet to see anypony besides you, or Shy, or Scoots who seemed to want me around. I mean, Rarity and Applejack sure as hay didn't." She sighed in defeat. "And I'm pretty sure Scoots is still ticked at me," she added in an afterthought.
A moment passed between the two, Pinkie thinking over what she could say. "Sure it might seem that way with some of them," she replied softly; "but, well... You've just yet to show them how awesome you really are. Believe me," —Pinkie smiled— "my sis has the same problem sometimes."
Rainbow ignored the last part, instead letting out a chuckle. "Awesome, yeah, there's a laugh." She shook her head, looking over at Pinkie. "If by "awesome", you mean an obnoxious, rude, self-centered, egotistical slob, then yes." She looked away. "I'm so awesome."
Pinkie shook her head. "I meant the pony you were before you started acting that way," she said, placing a hoof on her shoulder.
Rainbow looked at her confused, though with a look in her eyes that asked her to continue.
"There's another... sweeter, and softer side to you, Dash. It's the side of you that Twilight fell in love with... that Scootaloo, and Fluttershy, and... myself are all familiar with. You don't show it all the time, but..." Pinkie smiled softly at her. "We like it when you do."
Rainbow blinked. "Another... side of me?" she wondered, thinking over the possibility. A possible side of her that she had long since hidden away, and forgotten about... One that she had rarely ever shown anypony...
Her time with Twilight had brought about a different side to her, she supposed. But still... Her eyes weakened, feeling tears building behind them.
"How can I when they won't even give me a chance to show them?"
Pinkie shook her head. "You don't have to show them, Dash... because they'll see just how much of a changed pony you are through your actions. Like you are with Twilight, and how you were with Fluttershy, and Scootaloo; they'll see how helpful... and loyal you can really be." She withdrew her hoof from the pegasus's shoulder, smiling sheepishly at her. "If you do decide to ever come back to Ponyville, that is—"
Rainbow leaned forward, wrapping her forelegs around Pinkie, both cutting her off and leaving her stunned for a moment.
"I will someday," she assured her in a whisper. "And hopefully not by myself either."
Pinkie giggled lightly. "If you do bring Twilight with you, you should show her this library. I'm sure she'd love it!"
Rainbow chuckled. "I know she will."
The hug lasted a couple moments longer until the two mares finally pulled apart. "Thanks," she said, wiping her cheek dry.
Pinkie grinned. "No problemo!" she replied, getting a small laugh out of her pegasus friend.
"You know, Pinkie," Rainbow began as the thought occurred to her. "There's still one place I'd like to visit."
Pinkie's head cocked in curiosity. "And that is?"
"My old home," said Rainbow, genuinely surprising Pinkie, taking her aback. "Think you could point me in the right direction?"
Pinkie snapped out of her momentary surprise. "Oh, well... I-it's this ginormous cloud home, the only one in Ponyville and it's kinda hard to miss actually—like a tower in the sky, with rainbows, and columns... even a rainbow waterfall!" Pinkie exclaimed, for a moment, her voice growing a little excited. "It's a little out there, on the outskirts of town, but no worries; I'll guide you—"
Before Pinkie could say another word, Rainbow held her hoof up, scratching the back of her head with her other hoof. "Actually, Pinkie, I, uh... kinda wanted to do this alone. I'm sorry..." Pinkie's gaze visibly saddened, cuing Rainbow to hold both her hooves out in reassurance. "I mean, you've been a nice help, and a great friend, but... this, I want to do on my own."
Reluctantly, Pinkie nodded in understanding, however she looked no less sad.
"You're going to fly back to her, aren't you?" she asked, looking away a bit. "After tonight... you won't won't be sticking around to say goodbye..."
"Pinkie—"
"I'll miss you!" the earth pony cried, startling Rainbow as she threw her forelegs around her neck, crying softly into the pegasus's shoulder, her mane slightly getting in Rainbow's face.
Rainbow shifted in annoyance, growing uncomfortable, and beginning to feel a little awkward.
"Uh... y-you can come visit me and Twi, Pinkie. I know it's not the same, but..."
Pinkie sniffled, nodding softly. "It won't be easy with me being needed here in Ponyville, but... you guys are my friends, so..." She pulled back a bit, looking at Rainbow with a smile. "I'll definitely try."
Rainbow nodded, returning a halfhearted smile as she backed out of the embrace. "Guess I'll see you soon then."
Her wings made a few flaps before they lifted her body into the air. She did a small salute with her hoof before directing her attention to, and flying out of an open window.
And like that, Rainbow was gone.
Pinkie eventually let out a sigh, walking over to the book Rainbow had been reading, and had seemed so fond of. She held it against her chest. I'll hold onto this, she decided. I'll keep it safe for her, and Twilight.
A moment passed as she rid the floor of Rainbow's bandages, before she glanced once more in the direction of the shattered mirror. I'll tell a repair pony about it in the morning, she thought before heading out, shutting off the light and closing the door behind her.
She wandered around for a bit. I could return to the party, she considered, but all of a sudden... she didn't really feel like partying. Her mane seemingly deflated as she walked around Ponyville, thinking wistfully to herself. I keep following rainbows... looking for a reason to smile.
She looked up at the sky. Why do they keep leaving?
Rainbow flew through the night with renewed confidence and determination, the late summer breeze feeling liberating against her feathers. With a grin so wide, she did a couple of spins before a sharp pain in her left wing caused her to flatten out. She glanced back at her wings with narrowed eyes, and breathed out a huff, understanding what they were telling her. Fine... she thought. I'll take it slow.
She continued flying at the slower pace, never was stopping... until she noticed another pegasus out of the corner of her eye—a grey-coated one with a blonde mane—seemingly sitting alone on a cloud.
The sight made her a little curious, and she glided a little closer, thinking over Pinkie's words.
She rubbed the back of her head in hesitation before speaking up. "Uh, h-hey there," she greeted, capturing the pony's attention. She perked up, looking over her shoulder, and right away, Rainbow noticed that the mare's yellow eyes had a cross-eyed look to them.
The look of her surprised her a bit, but... remembering the way ponies looked at herself, she looked past it.
"Oh, hi Rainbow Dash," the pegasus replied, turning to look back ahead. "I thought you had left."
Rainbow's expression turned sympathetic, and she flew closer, setting a hoof down on the cloud beside the other pegasus before hesitantly sitting down on it.
"I decided to pay a visit," she said, looking over at the mare. "It's been a while... Um..."
"Ditsy," the mare replied.
Rainbow nodded. "Ditsy, right..." She grew a little sheepish as she apologized. "S-sorry, my mind has sorta been all over the place recently."
Ditsy gave a soft nod of understanding as a couple moments passed between them in silence.
"What's going on, Ditsy? Why're you out here all alone?" Rainbow asked.
"No reason I guess. I just don't really fit in."
The answer caught Rainbow off guard, and she glanced away, a little reminded of herself. "Tell me about it." She sighed, returning her gaze to the pegasus. "Still... there's a pony out there for everypony, Ditsy."
Ditsy shook her head. "I would just get in the way." She breathed out a sigh as her eyes fell. "The real me's a klutz."
"Yeah? So am I," Rainbow replied. "Hay, when I first met this really close friend of mine, she called me Rainbow Crash."
Ditsy grimaced. "Ouch."
"And yet—" Rainbow looked off into the distance, smiling fondly at the memories. "—she likes me anyway." Rainbow turned to her with a warm smile. "If the smartest unicorn in the world can tolerate—and even become friends with a pony like me, well..." She nudged Ditsy's foreleg. "I see no reason the same can't be said about you."
For a moment, Rainbow noticed Ditsy's face began to light up a bit before returning to a look of uncertainty. She bit her lip, looking away. "I don't know..."
Rainbow put a hoof on her shoulder. "Believe me, Ditsy, there really is somepony out there for you." She jumped to her hooves, her wings lifting her off the cloud. "Hay, you can consider me a friend if you'd like!"
Ditsy blinked, looking up at Rainbow, stunned. "You'd want to be friends with me?"
"Well, sure!" Rainbow chuckled, a little reminded of Twilight right then. "You seem like an all-around nice pony, and it shouldn't be long before other ponies see that too."
Ditsy's look of disbelief slowly became a look of happiness, Rainbow's words giving her a bit of hope.
She smiled up at her cerulean friend.
"There's someplace I gotta get to," Rainbow continued; "but... just promise me you won't avoid them any longer."
"I won't!"
Rainbow smiled, flying higher up off the cloud, waving goodbye before turning and flying off into the distance.
Ditsy watched until Rainbow disappeared from view, then, with a sigh, turned—her wings unfurling—and looked off nervously in the direction of Ponyville.
It hadn't taken Rainbow long to find—what she presumed to be—her home. Only several or so moments had passed since she left Ditsy that she noticed the large, spiral-like tower that Pinkie had described, floating above a grassy plain.
Sure enough, liquid rainbow poured from the side, becoming raindrops that rained down on the ground below. An arching rainbow curved out the top into a low pool of liquefied rainbow.
Rainbow landed on the winding pathway leading to the front door, stopping only for a moment once she noticed a decorative emblem above the door, resembling her cutie mark.
She smiled, a little humored at the practicality of it.
At least it confirmed it really was her house, she supposed.
Rainbow knocked on the door a few times, then, when not a single response came, she slowly opened the door, sticking her head inside. On a whim, she called out, "Mom?" Her ears fell as she peered around within the dark, her body slouching a bit upon getting no response. "Dad...? Anypony?"
She walked inside worriedly, switching a light on and taking a clearer look around.
Everything seemed so empty... so deserted.
On a wooden corner table, sat a picture frame that caught her eye. She picked it up, taking a closer look. In it was her younger self, her wings fluttering excitedly. Two older ponies sat behind her: one a blue-coated, orange-maned mare, the other a stallion with the same coat and mane colors as her own.
She ran a hoof down the side of the frame as a tear dripped onto the glass.
Wiping the bottom of her eyes dry, Rainbow walked into the kitchen, spotting a handwritten address on her cloud fridge underneath another, smaller picture of her younger self and who she could only assume were her parents.
Cloudsdale... she read the last part aloud, remembering Twilight telling her something about it... that it was where most pegasi lived. So my parents aren't here then...
With that weary thought in mind, Rainbow trudged on, walking up the stairs of her cloudominium. So I moved here... Her steps grew heavier.
She reached the end of the stairs, taking note of a cloud bed on the far side of the room, and wasted no time running over... collapsing on top of her rainbow bolt bedspread. She buried her face in her pillow, squirming desperately underneath the sheets for comfort.
Not being able to remember the other ponies is frustrating... but I can't even remember my own parents, or my childhood... If only I could just see them again...
She could settle on that, she supposed. Just knowing who they were, and knowing they were still there for her.
But hay if I know where in the world Cloudsdale even is...
Her tired, weary eyes—the tears and heartache at last taking their toll on them—softly closed as a hopeful thought then popped into her head. Twi probably does. The realization made her feel a little better, as a small, hopeful smile grew on her lips. Maybe the two of us could go together...
Her mind rested on the happy thought until it could no longer stay awake, falling into a much-needed slumber.
Several hours later, and she awoke, her eyes squinting a bit and her muzzle crinkling slightly at the sun in her eyes. She sat up, letting out a yawn before looking around, the pieces clicking together in her mind of what had happened and where she was.
Her face broke out into a look of panic. "Crud, the sun's up!" She flew up out of her sheets in a hurry, running a hoof up through her mane. "Aw man, I hope it isn't too late!"
Darting over to the window, Rainbow rested her hooves over the window frame, about to leave out of it... when she hesitated. Another thought returned to her, as her gaze now rested on Ponyville in the distance. She tore her gaze away from the town in thought.
I'll return someday, she thought, looking ahead in confidence. Everything... everything will be better in time.
Smiling in determination, she shot out into the brisk morning air, feeling so full of energy, and performing a spin as she flew.
Remembering the night before, she kept it to just one.
Yesterday might not have been everything I had hoped it would be. I didn't have as many friends as I convinced myself I did... Hay... I couldn't even remember a single pony... Her smile fell from her face for only a moment at the memory. And yet... Rainbow flipped over, gazing up at the clouds as she glided through the air. I wouldn't call it a total waste. I'm beginning to remember bits and pieces... and... I... I think they're enough for now.
She recalled them in her head, thinking over what she knew about herself.
I'm Rainbow Dash, Cloudsdale pegasus. I moved here after a while with my friend Fluttershy, but... sort of ended up becoming a huge jerk in the process... That was until Twi helped me. She reminded me of who I really am, and who I want to be... and... I just want to be somepony nice that... that ponies can count on to be there for them—Twi especially.
Rainbow supposed that sounded about right.
I still don't know everything about who I used to be, but... I know who I am right now, and right now there's a unicorn who needs me. She rolled back over, facing straight ahead. And I need her as well—
Rainbow's eyes widened, and she swerved to the side, narrowly avoiding a tall tree growing from the vast forest below. She gulped as she stopped for a moment, hovering beside it and counting herself lucky.
She silently berated herself for not paying more attention to where she was flying.
Thoughts of seeing Twilight again filling her head, she happily took off once more toward the city on the mountain... unaware of a few cerulean blue feather caught in its branches.