//------------------------------// // Noir Chance, 'Cuz That's What You Got // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// Rainbow sipped... sipped... and sipped some more. At last, when she had consumed an entire cup of the broth, she leaned back on the bench she was sitting on and exhaled. A few breaths later, and the tingling in her extremities diminished. She looked up with a tender smile and nodded. Zecora grinned. "You are feeling better, I trust?" "Yeah, girl." Rainbow nodded, swiveling the cup around in her grasp. "Hits the spot, as always. You're a life saver." "Hmmmm..." Zecora turned to her still-smoldering pot with a smile. "Then brew more, I must." She stirred with the ladel. "I shall prepare you a hefty supply. That way, your limbs will comply." "I wouldn't expect any less," Rainbow Dash said with a soft sigh. While Zecora resumed brewing, Rainbow leaned back on her seat. The mare became increasingly aware of a shifty shadow to her right. She glanced over to see Noir sitting on a stool beside her. The stallion looked more than a little bit anxious. "What's the matter, Noir?" Rainbow asked quietly. She tilted the cup so she got a few remaining drops down her guzzle. "Run out of buildingsides to glide down?" Noir's leafy ears twitched, one after the other. "If you must know, I've been consumed by thinking..." "Hey... between you and me..." Rainbow leaned in, whispering as she winked towards Zecora. "...I'm pretty sure her stripes go all the way down. Crouch low and you can find out on your own—" "That is not the nature of my mulling." Noir frowned, fangs showing. "And I would prefer it that you don't malign Zecora with such words." Rainbow produced a squeaky giggle. "Malign Zecora? Dude... you've got a lot to learn about being sassy—" "Miss Dash..." Noir sighed, staring directly at her. "I am... troubled by the decision that you are planning." Rainbow blinked. With a sigh, she gazed into her empty cup. "Why so freaked out, tough guy? I mean... you know what I can do in the field. I saved your friggin' life. You of all sarosians should know that I'd be of major service to the Lunar Code." "Miss Dash..." "I can even work in the daytime. That'd be—like—opening a whole new chapter in lunar butt-kicking." "I have no doubt of your talents and exceptionalism," Noir said. "It's the rest of Equestria that I am concerned about." "Buh?" "You are no mere pegasus," Noir said. "You are an Element of Harmony." "Oh boy..." Rainbow rolled her eyes, murmuring: "Here we go." "While your heroism is unquestionable, you are—perhaps unofficially—already committed to national security." "Dude... look..." Rainbow tiredly smirked at Noir. "My gal-pals and I inherited these Elements, right? But we've only ever used them—like—once. Nightmare Moon showed up and we friendblasted the ever-malevolent stink right off her. That was it. Done. And there's not been a need for the Elements of Harmony ever since. What? Were we expected to shoot rainbow lasers at some random, mindless baddie every season? Pffft... come on..." "What you did for Princess Luna is utterly priceless," Noir said. "Equestria would be in a state of darkness if it weren't for your intervention." "All the more reason for me to be part of an organization that protects Luna all the friggin' time!" Rainbow whispered back, side-glancing at Zecora. "Don'tcha think, buddy?" "A valid point. But being part of the Lunar Code necessitates that you are constantly on the move... situating yourself in far-off locations..." "Yeah... so...?" Noir sighed again. "The point I am attempting to make, Miss Dash, is that the Element of Loyalty remains your chief and most exceptional gift, and it is only strong when you are in the presence—or proximity—of the other Element Bearers. I... fear that separating you from them will only endanger the chance of eliminating future threats to Equestrian Harmony." "So... in other words... to be a hero of Equestria, I've gotta be a prisoner," Rainbow grumbled. Noir shook his head. "I did not say that." "Look. If I wanna be an Element Bearer, then I gotta be a healthy pony first." Rainbow swallowed a lump down her throat as she slowly shook her head. "That ain't happening so long as I stick around here." Noir glanced at the empty cup in Rainbow's grasp, then back at her face. "You are certain of that?" "Look... even if I gotta reunite with the other Element bearers... the Lunar Code has gateways leading to 'New Saria' or whatever, right?" "New Saros." "Bingo. So—if worse comes to worst—you guys can just fart me back to Ponyville and I'll fit right back into my day job." Rainbow shrugged. "I can handle it. The girls can handle it. And—best of all..." Rainbow cleared her throat. "I don't lose my friggin' sanity." Noir raised an eyebrow. Rainbow merely nodded. "There are times when a girl's just gotta... jet, y'know?" "No, Miss Rainbow Dash. I do not know," Noir said. "In fact, there are many facets of your life that leave me ignorant." He sat up straight in his seat. "Nevertheless, it must be said... that not all solutions involve a rapid, lonesome flight." Rainbow opened her muzzle... but sat in silence. Noir stared at her. Rainbow inhaled, then muttered: "It's not running away. It's... an extended vacation." She gulped. "From myself." She gazed lethargically across the room. "My friends don't understand... and that's my own friggin' fault." She bit her lip. "I could waste a lot of time trying to undo all of that... but in all that time, I could be doing a lot of good for the world instead... and for myself." Noir blinked. "I'm just ready to move on, that's all," Rainbow remarked, shaking her head. "Something's just gotta... change. No more excuses. No more pretense. Just... move." Noir finally commented: "You speak like someone who's had an opportunity to move before, but didn't." "Heheh... yeah... well..." Rainbow smiled bitterly. "The option to pounce somepony is gone now. So..." Her ears drooped as she nevertheless said: "A flight it is..."