//------------------------------// // Figure of Speech // Story: Lost In Translation // by Shaud //------------------------------// "It was rude, Rainbow." Applejack scowled, "How come yer tha element 'o loyalty, but you're usually the one ta start trouble by pickin' on others?" The group trudged down the street as the gloomy sky became darker and darker. They weren't sure if they would make it to Pinkie's by the time it started raining, but with the way Applejack and Rainbow had been arguing some of them were wondering if they'd all even be alive by that point. "All I said was that I didn't care to learn sign language!" Rainbow huffed with a sneer. She crossed her arms, "She has an app on her phone that--" "That's not the point and ya know it! Vinyl wants to be able to communicate--why should it matter if it's sign language or not?! You're her friend, can't ya bother ta learn anything?!" While AJ didn't stop walking, her footsteps grew closer and closer to stomping. Fluttershy began walking slower, and soon found herself at the back of the group, behind Sunset. Said girl gave her a hesitant smile. "But it's hard! And she has an app that talks for her, why can't she use that?" "I think--" Sunset cut in, "You're missing the point. It's not whether she can, but if she wants to. Vinyl likes being able to communicate through her own language, and not just hear herself talk through an app. And you're her friend, so you should respect that." AJ gave Sunset a nod, and smiled at Rainbow. "See?" Rainbow snarled but didn't respond. AJ could see the pride, but also the shame, that covered her friend's face, and decided to drop the subject. Her friends behind her all sighed in relief. Luckily it had only just begun to sprinkle by the time they reached Pinkie's house, though the gloomy mood between them didn't let up. They all trudged upstairs with dismal hellos to Maud, and threw themselves around Pinkie's room. Rainbow and AJ took the game station, Twilight and Sunset sat by them on the floor, and Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie sat on the bed. Sunset ran the scene with Vinyl in her head over and over again. Vinyl and her had been signing, and Rainbow had come up to them to ask a question. When Vinyl made it clear she wanted to sign and not take out her phone, Rainbow had kicked up a fuss about it. Vinyl had been humiliated and left not long after that, and Sunset had wanted to punch Rainbow right then and there. Instead, AJ had taken over, and the rest of the group had watched. Sunset considered sending a text to Vinyl, but she knew the other girl would probably just want to cool down for a bit first. "Ah still can't believe ya did that." Applejack said not twenty minutes later. "You humiliated her." "She was being stubborn--" "She was defending herself." Applejack hissed, "You were being stubborn." "Alright, alright." Rainbow said as she threw her controller in the air, "Fine, I get it! I was a jerk, as I always am! Can we stop beating the dead horse now? It's done! It's over with!" Applejack looked ready to argue, but Sunset spoke first. "You okay, Twily?" The nickname slipped out casually, but Sunset's tone was worried as she eyed the other girl, who had paled and stared at Rainbow. "Beat a dead horse?" She whispered, "Is that--is that some kind of joke?" "No!" Rainbow hastily sat up and waved her arms, "No, no it's not a joke it's--it's a, uh, fi-figment of speech!" "Figure of speech." Rarity corrected. "An idiom." Sunset assured. "What did you call me?" Rainbow accused. "No, an idiom, a figure of speech. Beating a dead horse is an idiom." Sunset rolled her eyes, but Rainbow relaxed a bit. "Yeah, that! It's an idiom, I swear!" "But... Why?" Twilight said hesitantly, "I mean, what does it mean?" "It means not to pursue a lost cause." Rarity said simply, "And, perhaps for our equine friends, we can leave it at that?" Nods around the room, but Twilight still seemed unsure. Sunset grabbed Twilight's hand in her own gently. "Human figures of speech are quite different from pony ones. I'm sure there are all kinds of new sayings you could learn." The light that lit up Twilight's face was worth the look Rainbow gave them before a jab form AJ brought her back to the moment. "Uh, sorry for the phrase, Twilight. Guess it got a bit, uh, lost in translation." She chuckled nervously, and Twilight forgave her. Their hands didn't come apart, however, even as everyone went back to their own thing. Sunset felt uneasy, though she also didn't want to let go of Twilight's hand. Twilight gripped Sunset's hand and gave her a warm and understanding smile, one that made Sunset's doubts ease, but not disappear. With an apologetic whisper she got up and headed downstairs. "Moved on to hand-holding, huh?" Rainbow snickered as her and Sunset stood in the kitchen. Sunset had a tray full of snacks and a smug look on her face despite her sudden intense fear. Her heart pounded in her chest at the thought that Rainbow might tell the others, but she only knew of that one instance of hand holding... If she only knew. "You say that as if it's any of your business." Her reply was harsh, a way of getting distance, and left Rainbow dumbfounded. The other girl seemed about to reply, but Sunset walked out of the kitchen and didn't look back. If distancing herself was what she had to do, she would do it.