//------------------------------//
// Choose Where You Linger 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	Her eyes were too tired to even be bloodshot.  Rainbow Dash squinted along the lengths of her sighs, lying on her side in the middle of her bed.  She had long lost all energy to toss and turn.  Limp muscles and even limper lungs kept her plastered to the mattress cover as the seconds... minutes... and hours ticked away.

Her jaw muscles clenched.  Ruby pupils traced the ceiling.  The shadows all looked the same, though they weighed heavier now.

That room was a vault for dead things.  Rainbow Dash knew it.

She continued lying in place.

Eventually, daylight peeked through the window, and that drew the deepest sigh of all.  She finally swung herself up into a sitting position.  Dull eyes fell on an even duller alarm clock.

She waited several agonizing, endless seconds.  At last, the alarm went off—and her numb fetlock struck the off-switch milliseconds later.

On stiff legs, Rainbow Dash stood up and trotted towards her shower.





With a grunt, she pushed a cloud into position over the west end of Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash hovered in place, blinking.

She had flown these skies countless times before, kicking and clearing polynumerous clouds that all looked the same.  Part of her wondered if everything was the same, and by some strange whim of fate she was kicking and reforming the exact same water molecules every time.

In the distance, Thunderlane shouted something.  Rainbow saluted back from afar.  Her eyes drifted west—towards Sweet Apple Acres.  There was no chance in identifying any pony on the ranch at that distance, so she didn't bother trying.

Clenching her teeth, Rainbow spun and kicked the thunder cloud, causing it to rain on the park grounds below.





Rainbow drew a chariot with the Banner Company logo across Ponyvillean skies.  She banked to the left, skirting her way towards the north end of town.  Her eyes locked on a warehouse in the distance.

As she passed the round structure of Ponyville Town Hall, Rainbow's vision hung to the left.  She spotted the central marketplace down below.  Vendor after vendor stood, brightly painted in the afternoon light.  Just as soon as her eyes made out the shiny outline of a large wooden apple, the Town Hall building blocked her view.

Rainbow took a deep breath.  Flapping her wings harder, she carried the wagon to her destination.





With a wave of her hoof, Rainbow Dash flipped through the sheets on her clipboard.  Her ruby eyes traveled down the list of pegasus names—along with the data taken from their recent flight measurements.

Her muzzle scrunched as she contemplated the information.  She heard laughter to her left.  The mare pivoted to look.

Stu Leaves, Sharp Quill, and a hoof-full of other pegasi stood along the northern fringes of the Everfree Forest.  While other teams practiced their tornadic motions, Rainbow's group relaxed while sharing anecdote after anecdote.  Stu was evidently the center of attention.  Ponies laughed as he murmured and gestured wildly.  At one point, his eyes made contact with Rainbow's.  With a grin, he motioned her to come join the conversation.

With a gulp, Rainbow calmly shook her head, then pointed at her clipboard.

Stu almost said something—but was distracted by something Sharp Quill was sharing.  The stallion rejoined the discussion, chuckling with warm cheeks.

Rainbow Dash pivoted from everyone else.  With a deep groan, she trotted off, putting as much distance between her and them as she could, until she was someplace quiet that afforded concentration.





Night had fallen.

Rainbow Dash stepped out of the shower, flapping her dexterous wings to dry herself off.  Eventually, she trotted back into her bedroom.

She froze.

The mare stood dead-still, eyes locked on the shadowy interior of her domain.

A long breath rolled through her.  Angrily, she clenched her teeth together, then reached for a pillow and blanket.





Rainbow fwomped onto her side, reclining across a couch in the middle of her foyer.  The seats were small—claustrophobic, even—but that was hardly a problem for her.  With a shuddering breath, Rainbow wrapped the blanket around her petite self.

Once she was absolutely certain that her back was to her bedroom door, she nuzzled her head into the pillow, closed her eyes...

...and actually managed to drift off for once.