“Rainbow Dash?” Sky Blossom said with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I was walking around in the Ponyville market when I bumped into my friend Applejack.” Rainbow Dash said as she placed a hoof around Applejack’s shoulders.
“I told RD here about how I found you out on the path. She then told me that ya’ll had meet before. Of course I asked her if she wanted to come over to see you.” Applejack said with a smile. She tipped her hat to Sky Blossom and walked over to talk to her sister.
“Um…” Sky Blossom said as she circled her front hoof on the ground.
“Listen Sky Blossom, I know that we didn’t really get off on the right hoof.” Rainbow Dash said with a hint of irritation in her voice. She hated having to be careful when talking to other ponies. The way she saw it, ponies needed to toughen up. The only pony she was all right with tip toeing around was her long time friend Fluttershy.
“I know.” Sky Blossom said with a sigh. Her eyes flashed but she said nothing.
“But, I figured I should come over and make sure you were all right. Pinkie Pie is bound to hear about this and I wanted to be able to tell her you were ok.” Rainbow Dash said with a bored expression.
“Well, you can tell her that I am fine. I was just taking a walk and I… tripped.” Sky Blossom said with burning eyes. Her tone remained calm however, she did not want to spark anything in the rainbow maned pony.
“All right… I will.” Rainbow Dash said with slightly narrowed eyes. It felt like Sky Blossom was hiding something from her. Her thoughts flashed back to the conversation they had held in Twilight’s castle. She searched further back in her mind to when she had tried to teach the timid pegasus to fly. Her red violet eyes narrowed even more when she got an idea about why Sky Blossom was so reluctant to answer.
“Sky Blossom… have you been talking to the voice again?” Rainbow Dash asked quietly.
“What?” The pegasus said while averting her gaze.
“The… voice.” Rainbow Dash said a little louder.
Sky Blossom did not know what to do and remained silent for a few seconds. ‘What should I say?’ Her chest tightened as she felt a burst of protectiveness for the voice that had helped her through tough situations when she had first arrived. What right did this overbearing pegasus have to judge him when she did nothing but judge her since she first came to Equestria? Sky Blossom raised her head slightly before giving a cold answer. “No.”
“You’re lying.” Rainbow Dash said thorough gritted teeth. It was true that Sky Blossom was a better lier than Applejack, but everypony was a better lier than Applejack.
“How do you know?” Sky Blossom said with a raised eyebrow.
“Because I know you are. You were obsessed with finding out who the owner of the voice was.” Rainbow Dash said.
“You know who it is… don’t you?” The pale pegasus said quietly.
“Sky Blossom, I will say this one more time. Stay away from the voice.” The blue pony said as she turned around. Without another word, she streaked out of the farm house and into the clear sky. Her mind whirled as she tried to comprehend what had happened. She had wished for the pegasus to grow a backbone… but this was too much. After all the times she had tried to warn her about Discord, Sky Blossom continued to talk to him. ‘Don’t be too hasty. Maybe the voice is not Discord.’ Rainbow thought.
She smashed into a cloud as she flew, spewing its fluff everywhere. Shaking her head to clear the white around her eyes, she chastised herself for being so careless. ‘Yeah, right. If the voice is not Discord in the middle of some evil scheme to take over Equestria then I am an earth pony who hates to fly.’ She suddenly stopped before looking back at the small farm she had left behind. Her eyes hardened as she imagined the ponies inside. One of them was going to cause trouble for all of the others… and everypony else in all of Equestria. Rainbow Dash needed help. Her burning eyes flashed as she realized who she needed to go to.
Sky Blossom sighed as the fiery pegasus flew away. She knew that she should not have lied to her. She should have mumbled something and remained quiet. Maybe then Rainbow Dash would have assumed she was cowed and left her alone. Denying the fact that she had talked to him let Rainbow Dash know that she had done exactly that. ‘Why didn’t I say nothing? Things are better when I don’t speak. I know that. I know that!’ She thought in despair as she turned around. The Apple sisters were still chatting in a corner.
Sky Blossom suddenly remembered that she had left Rarity a note saying that she had went out for a quick walk. She estimated that she had been at the farm for at least a few hours while she recovered. The poor dressmaker would be worried sick about her. Wincing, she trotted over to the talking ponies and cleared her throat. The pair turned to her in surprise. Applejack smiled and turned to face Sky Blossom. Her darting eyes and fidgeting hooves told the farm pony that the pegasus was nervous, so she put her at ease by talking first.
“What is it Sky Blossom?” She asked in a soothing voice.
“Yeah. What’s got ya’ so fidgety?” Apple Bloom piped as she tried to follow her sister’s lead.
“I stayed with a unicorn last night, her name was Rarity. You probably know her?” Sky Blossom assumed that the earth pony and unicorn were friends. After all, she had seen both of their portraits in Twilight’s castle.
“I know Rarity. She’s one of ma closest friends.” Applejack said with a chuckle. “I bet she made ya model some of her clothes.”
“Yes… she did.” Sky Blossom continued. Not wanting to cause Rarity alarm for much longer, she quickly explained what was bothering her. “I left her a note before I left the house. I told her I was taking a walk and would be right back. How long have I been gone?”
“Shoot.” The cowpony said with a wince. “You were out cold for at least a couple hours. Not to mention I’ve been doing my chores for at least a couple more.”
“Way longer than a quick walk.” Apple Bloom said with a worried frown.
Sky Blossom groaned quietly. She pranced in place for a few minutes as she silently pleaded the two ponies to realize what she was asking of them.
“Don’t worry sugarcube.” Applejack said as she placed a comforting hoof around Sky Blossom’s shoulder. With a wink, she continued. “We’ll get ya to Rarity’s quicker than a snake can slither on a patch of ice.”
“Thanks.” Sky Blossom said with a small smile.
Applejack told Apple Bloom to keep an eye on the place while she escorted Sky Blossom back to Rarity’s. The walk was a quiet one. The pegasus did not feel like talking and the farm pony did not want to intrude on something that was not her business. Occasionally, Sky Blossom would glance in Applejack’s direction. She admired the way the farm pony walked. Her strides were strong and proud. But she was not overly proud, more like she knew what she was capable of but was not one to go around boasting about it to every pony. Her hat was always straight on her head and her mouth remained fixed in a smile. Sky Blossom blushed in embarrassment as she realized how small and weak she must look in comparison. With her large waves and small stature. Her steps were quick and quiet, not at all like the deep strides of the pony next to her.
Finally, they arrived at the Boutique. Sky Blossom called out in a timid voice. “Rarity, I’m back.” Her ears lay against her head as she waited for the unicorn.
Rarity’s surprised face poked out from the side of the door as she heard the small voice. Her eyes lit up when she saw Sky Blossom. Quickly opening the door, she raced out of the building and enveloped the small pony in a hug. Making cooing sounds as she hugged her, Rarity pressed Sky Blossom’s face into her mane as if she was shielding her from whatever had kept her away so long. When the hug had ceased Rarity let go of the yellow pony and spoke.