//------------------------------//
// As I Lay Scooting 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	"So the ground gave way, and the cave collapsed.  But the prisoners were able to make their escape," Rainbow Dash said, reclining on the rooftop as she gazed at the darkening evening sky.  "I got separated from the gang.  But when I made it to the surface, I could see that they all had gotten free.  They were galloping... bounding for the hills by the time I figured it was safe enough to fly home."

"Wowwww..."  I blinked, gaping at her.  "All in a day's work for you, huh?"

"Eh.  Yeah, sure."  She flicked her tail, smiling wryly.  "For all they know, I probably bit it in the cave-in.  But whatever."  She rubbed her hoof nonchalantly against her chest.  "Legends live longer than ponies.  S'all awesome."

"But... aren't you sad that they might be sad... th-thinking that you're dead?"

"Hey, they're alive, kiddo," Rainbow Dash said.  "And they're free.  Heh..."  She stifled a yawn.  "They should be glad they got the chance to think of anything."

"Hehe..."  I smiled as my wings fluttered.  "I guess that's a cool way of looking at it."

"Cool enough for me."

"Still, I gotta ask..."  My face scrunched.  "If that minotaur could beat up the diamond dogs' tank with his bare fists, then why was he so obsessed with looking for a folding chair to smack the bad guys with?"

"Beats the heck out of me, squirt," Rainbow said with a shrug.  "The dude was all brawn."

"And you were the brains!"  I smirked.  "Right?"

"Eugh... yeesh, when you put it that way..."

"Heeheehee!"

"Nah..."  Rainbow smirked, fiddling with the golden straw of the thatched rooftop.  "I was just in the right time and at the right place.  All those prisoners needed was a teensy little shove and then they were homeward bound."

"Rainbow, you did more than give 'em a 'teeny little shove!'  You carried that whole group!"

"Yeah, well, don't let it get around."

"Not even with Twilight Sparkle and your other friends?"

"Especially not with them," she grumbled.  "No need for them to know any of that."

"Er... I don't get it.  Why not?"

"Cuz I don't want them freaking out over all the trouble I've gotten myself into."

"So?  You survived okay!"

"Mmmf.  Barely."

I blinked.  "Just how did you survive the cave-in anyways?"

"Heh... dumb luck, I guess."

"You say that as if it was bad dumb luck."

"Er... no."  Rainbow's ears twitched.  "Just... not everything happens cuz of awesome reasons.  Sometimes you're just fortunate."

"Fortunate to be so cool and brave and loyal!" I said, sticking my tongue out.

"Hey, we each get a chance to shine, kid," she said.  "And when it happens to you, I bet you'll consider yourself just plain 'lucky' as well."

"Yeah, but you got to shine plenty of times, Rainbow!"

"Well..."

"For realsies!"  I stood up, grinning.  "The buffalo!  The diamond dogs!  Those mobsters in Manehattan?!  You've been kicking the butts of all the bad guys!"  I giggled.  "And here I thought all this time you were just doing boring delivery jobs!"

Rainbow squinted my way.  "Who said I was doing 'boring delivery jobs?'"

"Ermm..."  I instantly bit my lip, squirming.  "Uhhhh... Sweetie Belle... made it sound... erm... like—"

"Rarity," she uttered, chuckling.  "Got it."

"Oh please don't be mad at Sweetie's sister, Rainbow!" I stammered, fidgeting.  "She thinks the world of you."  I cleared my throat.  "It's not that hard to do, really."

"Nah, Rarity's great."  Rainbow smiled casually.  "It's just that she can be really... really generous with word of mouth... if you catch my drift."

"Heeheehee..."

Rainbow looked at me quizzically.

"Hehehehehe!" I continued giggling.

"Okay," she droned.  "I give.  Who slid you the magic oatmeal?"

"It's just so nifty, Rainbow Dash.  You must be beyond cool."

"How do you mean?"

"Just... you live the most interesting life!" I exclaimed breathfully.  "And nopony knows it but you!"

"Yeah, so?"

"I guess you're just above all of it by now."  I smiled her way.  "That perfectly explains why you look bored all the time."

"I look... bored all the time?"

"Well, yeah.  You've got the long face.  You only smile when you feel like it."

"Err..."

"I guess if life threw me things I could kick the flank of in a beat, I'd be bored too!"

She sighed heavily.  "It's not boredom, kid."

"Oh?"  I blinked.  "I don't get it.  What's the problem?"

"Uhhhh..."

"You've done some really awesome, amazing things!  Super radical things!  The kind of things that ponies... could only dream of!  Hah!"  I slapped a hoof against the roof.  "And you've even got that beat, Rainbow!  What... with all the cider space stuff?"

"Huh... yeah..."  She blinked, staring off into the melting horizon.  "I suppose I have run the awesome gauntlet.  For sure."

"If I were you, Rainbow, I'd be flying all over Ponyville!  Shouting it to the streets!"  Just like that, I stood on the edge of the rooftop and bellowed:  "'My name is Rainbow Dash and I'm the most awesome hero in all of Equestria—'"

Her hoof immediately flew over my muzzle.  She swiveled me to face her.  "Kiddo...!" She breathed, seething.  "There's a time and a place!"

I blinked at her.  I slid my muzzle out from beneath the crook of her hoof.  "Like... like when, Rainbow Dash?"

She stared at me, her muzzle agape.  At last, she sighed... bearing an exhausted smile.  "When you've got ponies you care about.  Like cool foals like you."  She playfully shoved my shoulder.  "And the ones that... th-that you love more than anything."  She gulped, her eyes distant.  "Then... and finally then could... a pony earn her place."

I smiled at her.  "Well... I'd say you've more than earned it, Rainbow Dash."

"Yeah, Scoots..."  She exhaled calmly.  "I have... h-haven't I?"