//------------------------------// // Chapter Three // Story: Refuge in Flight // by YADAMAN //------------------------------// Applejack stumbled a bit when she arrived at Fluttershy’s cottage. “Boy, I’m mighty clumsy today…” She knocked on the door. No answer. “Figures. She should be asleep by now,” As she slowly trotted away, she was surprised to hear the door slowly open – in sync with her hoofsteps. “Hello?” Fluttershy barely seemed awake. Applejack whispered to not disturb her, “I’m so sorry, Flutters, I didn’t mean tah wake ya. But I just needed somepony tah talk to.” “No problem, AJ. Anything for a friend,” She extended her hoof inside her home, lit by candlelight. “Thanks,” the farm mare smiled as she went on in… Rainbow didn’t hesitate busting the door down. She had a feeling that Rarity was going to be awake anyway. She made her way through the boutique and landed square on the wall. A solid thud reverberated the store while fabric flew up into the air due to her speed. “Oh! Look who it is! The Amazing and Powerful Rainbow Dash!” Rarity was still out of it, and didn’t seem to mind RD’s unannounced entrance. She made her way into the kitchen. “Figures, the potion didn’t wear off yet,” thought Rainbow. She spoke aloud this time, “Rarity I need to talk to you, do you think that you can handle that?” “Sure darling,” as she looked in the fridge, her rear facing RD. “What do you need? Yogurt or pickles? Or a combination of the both? “Im fine, I just need to ask you-“ “I don’t understand why you would eat yogurt with pickles but you know how ponies are - they are craaazy!” Rarity spun her hoof into the air. “Rarity! I need you to concentrate!” “Posterate? Oh you mean preposterous, darling! Sure I absolutely feel the same way! In fact, I may-” “I’M THINKING OF GETTING RID OF MY WINGS!” It finally snapped her out of her loopy state. “Your wings?! Look at them! They are gorgeous!!! I’m jealous that you bear such majestic set of feathers! Why in Equestria would you EVER get rid of them?” “Rarity their just wings. Well,” Rainbow couldn’t help but look behind her. She loved her wings, but she loved Applejack more, she sighed. “I think that if I cut my wings, I don’t have to do pegasus related stuff and I can focus on jobs that Applejack can do. So that we can spend more time together,” she petted her wings, hoping that she wouldn’t miss flying too much. “But you can do whatever you want dear, you can do whatever job you want. Nopony is forcing you. Actually, you don’t need to get rid of your wings at all!” “No, Rarity. Everypony looks up to me. I’m the fastest flyer in Equestria and do errands, and…” Rainbow wasn’t telling the truth, even the drunken fashionista could sense it, “…What is it, Rainbow?” “Okay, I never told anypony this, so you better understand that this is hard for me.” “Go on, I’m listening.” “I’m gonna give it to you straight, I have skeletal growths in my bones. Something about being exposed to high amounts of fluoride, I don’t remember. The Doctor knows all about it. He says that I may need to cut my wings off since it will decrease the chance of spreading the growths and I may never fly again,” She gently lifted her wings, revealing a patch of feathers that seemed to be treated on. Rarity gasped at the sight. “So I was thinking, if I have to lose my wings eventually anyway, why not just get rid of them now?” “Oh dear…I…I can’t tell you what to do darling. However… if you really think that it is the best idea, then follow your heart.” “I know Rarity, I know…” “Are you POSITIVELY sure that nothing can cure whatever you have?” “They say that modern medicine can’t do anything at this point. Even medi-unicorns have tried, and failed.” Rainbow hunched over into Rarity’s couch. “Alright,” She crept closer to Rainbow and picked up her cheek, raising it with her forehoof, “Go for it. You have my support.” “Thanks Rarity,” She hugged the unicorn, being so nervous about the procedure, she never told anypony, not even Applejack, but this way, she can surprise her. “I can help out on the farm, buck apples, pick carrots, clean up the land when it’s winter wrap up, and spend time with AJ!” Her maroon eyes light up, expecting the good times to come. “That’s sweet dear…” “Yeah….” They were still hugging. Rarity refused to let go when Rainbow wiggled. “Uhh, you can let me go now, Rare…” “Just a few more seconds….” “Agghh…” apparently Twilight wasn’t the only one with a soft side for Rainbow Dash, unless the potion truly didn’t wear off yet… “So you want me where?” Fluttershy asked. “At Gilda’s. I need to talk to her, she’s the final piece to this puzzle ya know.” “Well any griffon would do really, right?” “Right, but it’s Rainbow we’re talking about here. Griffons are pretty stubborn, but since it is for Rainbow Dash, I’m pretty sure she would live up to it.” “If you say so.” “I already got it covered! Don’t worry about a thing!” “I just mean that it will take a little convincing. I’m willing to help you, but that’s because your one of my closest friends – I can’t say no to you.” “Like I said, don’t fret. I will get her on board in no time at all!” When morning broke, the two ponies, Rainbow and Applejack, paid no heed to anything. They decided to meet up with each other at dawn. Apparently they had things to say… “Yo Apples!” “Hey RD!” They both drew in and gave each other a big smooch. “So, you wanted to talk to me? What about?” “Oh, you said that ya needed to tell me somethin’ so why not ya go on first.” “No, no AJ! I ASKED first. So I win!” “Hehehe, alrighty then.” AJ prepared for the words that will come out of her mouth – words that she never thought she would ever say. Not the words specifically, just the ‘truth’ in them was warped. This was going to be hard for her, “I just wanted to say that I’m going on a trip this afternoon. My cousin, Bucky, has some trouble out on the orchard, so I might as well stop on by to get ‘em what he needs.” Applejack lied like she never lied before. It was flawless. Yet, her conscience was burning her inner soul to tell the truth. “Really? I was going to say that I was going on a trip too!” The feeling that was aching her very conscience grew more bearable, she relaxed, took a deep breath, then resumed talking, “Aint that a coinkidink! Where to?” Rainbow’s face turned blank, she obviously didn’t prepare as much as AJ, “Toooo, Manehattan! I got some Wonderbolt stuff to do. Important stuff. You know the deal.” “Ya don't have tah tell me twice..." The awkardness set in, but AJ broke the silence once more, "So I'm guessing that we will see each other next week?” “Yeah… But I PROMISE! we will hang out for the whole week when we come back!” “Ya know Rainbow,” the country mare pulled the pegasus to her, green eyes meeting maroon eyes, “Let’s do that.” Pulling away after passionate kissing session, Rainbow stood up, with her chest high. “I’d say that we are going to have the best relationship after all this!” AJ will remember those words, “I bet.” They nuzzled their noses for a bit longer than usual. They weren’t going to do it for a while, might as well make it last. They went on their separate ways, realizing that they lied to their marefriends. It was for a good reason though – to surprise each other with a change…