//------------------------------// // Smoke Signals // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash no longer felt the weight of her bit bag, but she could only assume that it was incredibly lighter. The mare had lost count of how many times her ears echoed with the rattle of coins being dropped onto the bar counter. Every time she opened her eyes, she saw a glass in front of her that was empty and emptier. "Mrmmff... is there a minimum here?" she slurred. "Do you feel like bursting yet?" said a pony. "Uh... no?" "Then have your fill." She couldn't tell if it was actually the barkeeper talking or not. Every now and then, Rainbow lifted her head, only to instantly regret it. The strobing lights refused to cease. She considered leaving the establishment altogether, but was afraid of collapsing as soon as she took a single step... or performed a single wingflap. A century ago, she had left the booth, abandoning Lyra and Bon Bon. The mare had promised to return shortly with champagne. Rainbow wondered just how angry they must have been by then... or if they bothered to remember at all. She sighed, and with each exhale the minutes burned away. The techno music tracks switched multiple times. She heard giggles, laughter, and cat-calls. Whenever she glanced through her peripheral vision, she spotted a tail lifting or a flank twirling and she instantly felt nauseating again. Groaning, the mare hung her head, gazing directly into the smoothe granite surface of the bar counter. The swirling stone patterns took shape between light flickers. Rainbow blinked, spotting buffalo locking horns with one another. Somewhere, a basilisk and a cyclops fought over a gigantic chessboard. Floating cities channeled steam in a far-off dreamscape while surly looking criminals marched across the wasteland, shuffling shoulder-to-shoulder with diamond dogs. The colors swirled, and Rainbow envisioned the red-and-yellow mane of a power hungry unicorn. Then the granite grayness returned as if in a deadpan blink, and the edges glistened—sparkling from the contact with the strobing lights. Rainbow envisioned a fluffy mane... a bright smile... purple eyes. "Mrmnnnghhh..." Rainbow Dash rubbed her forehead. Her brain spun, and a lump formed deep and dense at the bottom of her throat. "Epcot... friggin' A..." She reached for her glass, fumbled, and dropped the thing entirely. "Crud—!" A nimble set of wings stretched out from the hazy darkness and caught the glass before it could so much as tip over in mid-air. "Whoah..." Rainbow blinked dizzily. "How... who...?" "Heehee... I'm guessing you're not usually this clumsy." "Hrmmm?" Rainbow looked up, squinting. "I'm... I'm sorry..." "Don't you fret." A smokey pair of eyes winked playfully in Rainbow's direction. "Most ponies come to Las Pegasus to lose control. Celestia knows I do." She pivoted her body, sliding the glass off her wing so that it balanced once more on the bar counter. "There ya go, champ." "Oh..." Rainbow blinked. "Hey..." She blinked again. "Thanks." She fumbled through her bit bag. "I... uh... I g-guess I should tip ya—" The pegasus laughed airily. "Do I look like I work here?" "Uhhhh..." Rainbow teetered slightly, staring at her. Her vision came into focus, and she spotted an undressed mare with full black hair, a dark blue coat, and deep smokey eyes. There wasn't a single hint of jewelry or outrageous makeup on her. "Oh. My bad." "Heehee... quite alright." "Just..." Rainbow gulped, brushing her bangs back. "You look and sound so... y'know..." "Hmmmmm?" "You look good enough to work here," Rainbow slurred. "Better, really. Pffft..." She waved a hoof. "Never was big on all that makeup crud." "Why, thank you." The mare shuffled over. "You're not half-bad yourself, champ. Mind if I sit here?" Rainbow shrugged. "Free cloud." "Heh... that it is." The mare moved with cat-like grace, squatting on the stool beside her. "Why... uhm..." Rainbow squinted. "...do you keep calling me 'champ?'" "'Cuz you look like the athletic type." The mare waggled her eyebrows. "Tell me I'm wrong." "Nah... I'm pretty..." Rainbow smirked stupidly into the distance. "Uhm... fastest flier there ever was." "No kidding?" "Just..." Rainbow grimaced. "Not now." "Oh?" The mare leaned her head to the side. "Having an off day?" "Mrmmmfff... off and in the gutter," Rainbow grumbled, slowly pivoting her glass around. "Which... y'know... sucks." She gulped. "Because this is supposed to be a really snazzy vacation... and my friends are off doing their own thing." "Did they ditch you?" Rainbow winced. "It's... the other way around." She glanced over her shoulder at the distant booth. "I... gotta admit." A cold shudder. "This sort of place isn't my thing." "Well, they should have taken your feeling into consideration when they brought you here." "Well, I didn't think it'd be a problem. I've... gone to places like this before. Just..." Rainbow sighed, gazing back into the glass. "It's been a while." "You're kidding, right?" "Why..." Rainbow fought a wave of nausea and cleared her throat. "...why would I be kidding?" "Well, I guess it's none of my business, but you don't exactly look super old." "Thanks... I think," Rainbow blinked. The mare laughed. "Not that it matters. I think you're very gorgeous too." "Mrmmfff... really...?" "Most definitely. As a matter of fact, this place could use such bright and happy colors more." "Mrmmff... I dunno about the 'happy' part..." Rainbow muttered. "Awwww..." The mare pouted. She boldly reached out, brushing Rainbow's bangs aside. "That's a shame. Because something this bright and bold certainly spells 'happy' to me." She smirked, her smokey eyes fluttering. "Definitely makes me happy to look at." Rainbow's nostrils filled with an intoxicating scent—like dewdrops on fresh grass, laced with daisies. "Mmmmmm..." She closed her eyes, her wingtips extending. "...something you like?" the mare remarked. "That smell... is friggin' awesome," Rainbow muttered. "Haven't smelled that since..." "Cloudsdale?" Rainbow's eyes opened. "You're from Cloudsdale?" "Born and raised," the mare said. "You?" "Heh... born and half-raised." "Half-raised?" The mare giggled. "How does that work?" "It's a long story..." "I wouldn't mind listening," the mare said with a smile. "It's certainly a welcome change of pace from all of this sweat and noise." Rainbow exhaled. "You come here often?" "Heehee... do you really wanna say a phrase like that in a strip club?" Rainbow turned to look at her. "What's your name?" "Smoke Rings," the mare said. "And if you must know, I'm wearing Sapphire Sunrise." "But... I don't see a single inch of silk on you." "Hehe! It's the perfume, silly!" "Oh... hehehehe..." Rainbow's voice cracked as she laughed. "I get it now." "Luna alive! Your laugh is too adorable." Smoke Rings smiled. "I told you my name. What's yours?" "Mrmmm... Rainbow Dash..." "Rainbow Dash..." The mare inhaled, smiling as her wingtips fluttered. "That is the absolute best name I've ever heard." "Thanks..." "No really. It's just too cute." Rainbow chuckled. "What?" "Nothing..." Rainbow exhaled. She took another sip. "Usually don't like being called cute." "First time for everything." "Mrmmmfff... I guess..." "Hehehe..."