//------------------------------// // Tape 1: First Memories Together // Story: Dashes of Life // by Noble Thought //------------------------------// The video starts, showing a shelf of trophies, golden female figures in various poses, each marked as Track and Field. Some with Ponyville High, others with Canterlot U., Ponyville Campus etched along the base. None is less than second place. I don’t think it’s a surprising thing to say that I love running. Um. And I love my friends. The camera shakes a bit, and Rainbow’s blue face comes into view, rainbow streaks spread from a forelock down her back into a loose ponytail, and she smiles at the camera, showing bright white teeth. Her eyes lift, and she reaches up, as if to tip a hat. So, yeah. I’m Rainbow Dash, and I’m recording this for all my gal pals! Stay cool, y’all! The image swings wide to show Applejack, Stetson perched on her head, frowning at the camera. Say hi to my roomie, y’all. It’s gonna be a gosh durned great day t’day, yep! I do not sound like that! Gimme that! The image jerks to a brief flash of an orange, freckled face, fingers, and the black lens cover. Rainbow laughs, and the sound rustles for a moment. You’re always off doin’ something crazy. What was it last week? Trying to film yourself climbing the tree in the Quad? Didn’t Harshwinny give you a notice for that? Yep. So, what’cha doin’ now? Nothin’. The audio clacks, a brief bit of light. Applejack’s freckled face appears in the frame briefly, then goes black again. Nah. You’re up to somethin’. I can just feel it. What’s with the camera? Um. Just recording some thoughts. You know. Tryin’ to figure out how to ask out— Hush! Not so loud. She’s just in the other room. Huh. So you are thinkin’ about it. Good. So, is that why? Not so rough, AJ. It’s all I could afford. The audio clacks again, rustles, and Rainbow’s face appears in the frame again, then the floor, ceiling, and her face again. The picture goes black again. Uh, sorry. ‘Sokay. It looks fine. Anyway, if it works out… Something to remember. You know. Life. Just a little, here and there. I think it’d be neat, and video’s more—Hey, the light’s still on! The audio cuts out. ❙► Rainbow Dash, hard at work. Yep. Do you think she has a chance? ’Course! Twi’s got this whole training checklist planned out. Thing’s, like, a mile long. Hold still a second, please. Fluttershy’s face appears in the frame, and she taps the cover against camera briefly. Blinding light resolves slowly into a reddish track surrounding real grass that shifts and waves in a breeze that ruffles all through the audio. People are working out at stations along the track, but the image swings to focus on the tiny figure of Rainbow Dash, stretching out next to a purple haired girl with a clipboard. The cover was still on. Thanks, ‘Shy. Shoulda… well. Heh. Anyway, look. There’s Twilight. Zoom in. How? The image bobbles slightly. The tiny figure in purple standing at the starting line grows larger, resolving into a clear image of Twilight Sparkle, shaking slightly. One hand is raised, holding a small, shiny orange object. A puff of smoke, a muffled pop. Rainbow Dash flies down the track, feet barely touching the track. Pinkie Pie waves a checkered flag and leaps about while a figure in white makes a tick-mark on another clipboard and makes a signal to Twilight. Not bad. But I think Pinkie’ll die if she doesn’t make it. Oh, I hope not. It’s a sayin’, Fluttershy. Not a fact. Rainbow Dash lopes back to the start, snags a bottle from Twilight’s outstretched hand, pours a little over her head, drinks, and leans against a stack of hurdles. The two are talking, Rainbow gesturing, Twilight nodding. Is she going to… ask? How should I know? She said we would know when to turn off the camera, so I’m guessing… Twilight’s tiny figure embraces Rainbow. The camera zooms in again, wobbles more, and steadies with a clank. The figures kiss briefly. Applejack clears her throat loudly and laughs. Oops. Didn’t mean ta… The image zooms back out. Applejack coughs. Bout time, if you ask me. Rarity said she was going to stuff them in a closet if they didn’t stop staring at each other over lunch. She’d do it, too. Rainbow’s arm waves wildly. The picture cuts out. ❙► Brilliant light flares high above, and the frame drifts down over a stadium filled with flags, tiny figures lining the stands, the field. A pink cloth and pink fingers darken the screen for a moment, obscuring the wash of cheering with the rustle of fabric. The image comes back, clearer, and music swells. Tiny figures in rainbow jerseys run onto a green grass field, and the picture zooms, picking out individual features. The Nationals! Rainbow Dash actually got here! Oh, I’m so excited! Fluttershy, are you excited? Yes! Do you think she’ll place? When hasn’t she? The image focuses on Rainbow, her blue skin and rainbow streaked hair streaming behind her for a moment when the flag stops, and the bearers plant it solidly in the field. She turns slowly, twisting her hair up into a ponytail, and she covers her eyes with a hand, then points. The entire team turns and waves. The image shakes and steadies as a roar fills the stadium. Ponyville! Ponyville! Ponyville! None are clearer than the five voices closest to the camera. Shut it off! Put in the other tape. She doesn’t want— ❙► Black. The sound of people moving in a small room. Someone coughs. Why is the screen dark? Cap, Rarity. The black lasts a moment longer. White fingers remove the cap and purple hair framing a white face and blue eyes fill the view for a moment. She blinks into the lens and looks up, giving a shot of the bottom of her chin. Is it on? Yes. Red light’s on, see? Now, come on. Point it over there. A blur, shaking, and the camera swings wide to take in a tan queen bed, a curtained window, and two suitcases—one blue and one purple—before settling on Rainbow Dash. Behind her, a gold statue gleams on a hotel tabletop, the lamp behind it casting a short shadow. So, yeah. Little private ceremony. Not much here… just me and Twi’s hotel room— Rainbow jabs a finger off-camera. —not a word, Pinkie, I see that grin—with my best gal pals. Say hi, everyone! Hi! Tell us a little about the event. What did it feel like? Total rush! Like, I can’t even describe it. The best in the country, and I was right there with them. And then the Wonderbolts show up! Total dream come true. Well, except for one thing. She blushes, pulling at her collar for just a moment and grins just to the side of the camera, making a gesture below the camera’s pickup. So, yeah. Hundred meter sprint. Long jump. Four hundred meter relay. And the best part, Spitfire said I’d make a good Wonderbolt myself. She touches the medals from left to right, beaming a white smile all the while. And? Rainbow shakes her head. I sat down with her, y’know. Talked about what it was like. Travelling everywhere, not really settling down in one place. How it was hard on a spirit, sometimes, and it took a certain… disconnectedness to do it. Rainbow shrugs, looking to the side of the camera again, and blushes. She fidgets with her hands, stuffs them into her pockets, and shrugs. I’m not so sure I can disconnect myself like that. Not anymore. I still… I need to talk to… She sighs, smiling. Again, that look off camera. We could barely see you from way up high, but your tunics were perfect. Just the right shade of pink for Ponyville. Rainbow stares at her feet, mouth quirked in something halfway between a frown and a smile. Well, tell us a little about the awards ceremony! Not much to tell. You know. Music, handshakes. Hurrah. She looks up from her feet, her face flushed, and nods to herself. Twi, come over here. Twilight enters the frame, a pale purple dress to her knees, hair hanging to her hips. She melts into an embrace with Rainbow Dash. The camera swings away for a long moment. Shoulda done that at the ceremony, with you there’n all. And one more thing. The camera swings back. Twilight’s cheeks are flushed, a stray strand of purple hair is wound around a finger, her eyes never meet the camera. Rainbow is beckoning at the camera. Rares. Toss that over. No. Second pocket. Yeah. A black box sails across the frame. Twilight begins to tremble. Rainbow goes to one knee in front of her, opening the small velvet box to show a glittering bit of gold set in a white silk pad. I know you don’t like big productions, so… That’s why I didn’t ask earlier. Twilight presses one hand to her mouth, the other to her stomach. Tears shimmer on her cheeks. She’s nodding before Rainbow opens her mouth again. Her glasses skew out of place. She doesn’t seem to notice. Twilight Sparkle. Will you marry me? She is nodding vehemently, and her glasses slip to dangle off the tip of her nose. Rainbow finishes speaking, but her hand remains over her mouth, as if to hold in everything trying to spill out of her. Y-yes! Rainbow pulls her hand down, slips the glittering gold and white band on one finger. Clapping erupts, and the camera shakes. Applejack whistles loudly, and Rarity laughs. It’s about time! Rainbow stands, rubs a hand across her face, her smile still shining white, and pulls Twilight close. The camera drops, skews, and four girls rush in to surround them. Thanks. Thank you. All of you. Her voice cracks. the image stays still, as though frozen in time, with only the sound of murmuring, indistinct voices to say it still moved. Twilight has her face buried in Rainbow’s hair, shaking as she laughs, and stills long enough to whisper. Someone get the camera. I want this all on one tape, okay? No one moves. Someone? Twilight shifts, tears still in her eyes, and looks directly at the camera. You can edit, you know. Oh, Twilight, that’s half the fun! Unscripted life! Art! Twilight breaks from the group, pushing glasses back up to perch on her nose, wipes away the tears trailing down her cheeks, and reaches for the camera. The smile never leaves her face. ❙► Rainbow Dash’s face appears, squeezed in beside Twilight’s bespectacled face, and a blue finger taps the lens. Is it broken? The light’s on. I don’t think so, but the screen isn’t lighting. Turn it off. I’ll take it home and play with it. You’re still coming over tomorrow, right? Yeah. I need to talk to Pinkie about doing the wedding— ❙► White light, brilliant, resolves into a lightbulb momentarily, then swings away and cuts out again. A dog barks, is shushed, and the light returns, muted. So, yeah. I think it works, now. The light cuts out, leaving a dim shadow, slowly growing in resolution as the camera adjusts. A bulletin board, festooned with pictures of the six girls, most together, some solo or duo. All of them have indistinctly lettered labels underneath them, most surrounded by other stickers. Hearts, cupcakes, diamonds. Some are signed. Twilight walks by, stops, touches the photos, and turns. Oh, shoot! I left it— ❙► Rainbow’s face fills the screen, swings wide to take in Twilight, dressed in a simple blue tee with Rainbow’s lightning bolt across the chest. It’s working again? The frame drops to Twilight’s bare feet, swings up slowly to take in the jersey shorts and blue tee again. She blushes and holds her hands out to block the image. Yes. Point that thing elsewhere. It’s recording. Aw… but you’re so cute when you wear my clothes. This isn’t just for us, you goof. They’ll know we— She stops, dragging down on the shirt to cover her thighs, and steps out of the frame while Rainbow laughs. They’d be worried if we weren’t! But they don’t have to know know! The picture goes dark after just another moment. Eh…  Yeah. Might wanna show this to the kids, too. Silence, and the background hum of the recorder linger for several moments. Rainbow speaks up again. You asked, right? Yes. He… said he’d have to think about it. And ask his wife. Even as just a donor… That was the most awkward thing I’ve ever asked anyone. I have no idea how you did it. Silence again. Soft, wet sounds, a sigh. Twilight’s voice murmurs softly in the audio. I’m not comfortable doing this any other way. I want it to be someone we know. Someone we can trust. If not him… Her voice continues, too soft to be understood in the audio over the soft rustle of cloth. A shuffle, as of bare feet on tile. I know. Me, too. A child. Ours. Fabric stirs, more silence follows, a wet sound like that of parting lips. A sigh, a creak of springs. Bare feet shuffling across carpet, growing louder. You wanted to tell me something else, too? Camera’s okay, right? Can’t find these anymore. Well, I left it on for a few minutes by accident. I’m sorry. I know you want to fit as much as you can on this tape. No, no. It’s okay. I saw that. I like it. I can’t believe you still keep all those photos, though. Well, you’re the first real friends I ever had. I love all of you, and I want… Rainbow, I want all of us to be together forever. Rainbow’s sound of assent, not quite spoken, come from close by. Hey, is the light on? It’s kinda dim. ❙► Twilight, gowned in white, stands on a short pedestal, her hair bound in a central bun with two small braids curled around it, then dropping so their tips sway just above her shoulders. Her arms are stretched out wide. She looks over her shoulder, right at the camera, and sighs when Rarity prods her shoulder. Are you sure this isn’t cheating? I admit, I’m kinda worried about that, m’self. Feels wrong, gettin’ around tradition like this. Rarity, plucking at the dress and humming softly, looks up and takes the pins out of her mouth. Of course not. Rainbow won’t see this until after the wedding, satisfying tradition, and Coco said she would film Rainbow, too, so you both get the same treatment. Hold still dear, don’t look at the camera. Just stand still. Just a few more… Rarity’s hands fly along the hem, tucking, plucking, and humming. There we go. Now, let’s see if it doesn’t float like a cloud. Spin for the camera. She does, turning around and around, feet invisible under the white lace floating above the platform. The camera sways, and the image skews. A simply extravagant dress, the bosom and front panel plush cream, the rest white as ivory, hugging her hips and waist, baring her shoulders and neck. The camera shakes briefly as the holder claps. Gorgeous. Rarity, you’ve outdone yourself. Again! Nonsense! Rarity smiles as she says it, and brushes a thumb along her cheek, and waves a hand at the camera. It sways and dips, showing the blue, pleated panels of a satiny shimmering dress. An orange hand reaches into frame to ruffle the pleats and show red-polished orange toenails peeking out from tan sandals. Nice job on the dresses. Don’t even feel like it’s too… fru-fru. Of course, Applejack. I asked Rarity to make sure you would all be comfortable. All of our best maids, and bridesmaids. Or are they all bridesmaids? Oh, terminology… Applejack, I’ll need your help getting into mine after your done here, okay. Sure thing. One last shot. Smile big! The camera pans back up. Twilight smiles at it, spreads her arms, and folds her hands at her waist, makes a small wave, and giggles.