//------------------------------// // Flock (8/25/2016) // Story: A Pony a Day // by OfTheIronwilled //------------------------------// They look so happy over there. Rainbow and Gilda are smiling and laughing, laying on their backs and staring up to the open sky yawning above them. The sun is dying away, leaving streaks of fiery gold and red as the world slowly succumbs to the blue-black of night -- but they don't notice. They're laughing and... and talking about going to parties and wowing the Wonderbolts. About moving in together. Things Fluttershy isn't sure she'll ever get, now that her two best friends are moving on without her. She means, h-how are they so excited, and not scared? She wonders what that would feel like. To feel prepared. Maybe she should ask. "Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy says. "Are you kidding, Gilda? Of course we're going to Canterlot -- we already agreed, and that's only where the Wonderbolt's themselves visit most often. How are they gonna see how awesome I am at flying if they don't see me?" "I dunno, maybe in the annual competitions we already go to, and a that stupid academy or whatever? Look, I know I said yes, Dash, but that was before I... you know, thought it through. I mean think about it; all that town is made of is a bunch of snobby, stupid unicorns who want to bring us down. If we went flying around too fast they'd probably tell us we were being 'uncivilized'. What we need is... someplace else. And maybe even somewhere where... I don't know, Dash, maybe somewhere where even those stupid Wonderbolts aren't. All this freaking hero worship is bad for you." "What? Gilda, you said you would help me train this season. In Canterlot. You can't just bail on me for no reason, G." "Umm, Rainbow Dash. Um, not to bother you but... but, I uh...." "Hey, cool it, Rainbow Dash! I never said I was bailing on you or whatever. All I'm saying is that there's like, no guarantee that lame flight team is gonna let you in." "Oh, Gilda, that... that wasn't very nice. Maybe you should, uh, a-apologize? Maybe?" "What the hay is that supposed to mean?!" "Hey! I said to cool it! I'm not saying I don't believe in you or any junk like that, you know, like I already told you once. Like I said, that Canterlot place is just filled with snobs who want you to be in some elite class, and I bet you anything that those Wonderbolt guys aren't going to be any different. You really want to turn into some frilly pansy, Dash?" "Gilda, you know I've been trying to get into the Wonderbolts for years; it's why I went to flight camp and met you in the first place! The Wonderbolts are the premiere fliers of--" "Oh yeah, yeah, the greatest, most totally radical and super-cool ponies on the whole planet. Yeah, you've fed me that barf before, Dash. At least a million times." "Hey! That's not any way to talk to a friend, G-Gilda! Rainbow Dash is very p-passionate about--" "Oh, shut it, Fluttercry! As if I need somepony like you telling me what to do; you couldn't even get up to this stupid cloud by yourself. You-- you see, Rainbow, it's this stuff I'm talking about! You always idolize these frilly wimps who probably don't even give a flying feather about you; they need you to do everything for them, but you tell yourself they're these virtuous spirits who are the best at everything." "I... I don't need her to do everything for me. I... just recently I started flying to the ground, and categorizing the animal life present there. My therapist told me that I was doing really well lately and--" "Uh, excuse me, but did you not hear me tell you to shut it?! Don't you get it: Rainbow Dash and I don't want you here. It's ponies like you and that stupid team that are just dragging us down. And if Rainbow could figure that out and ditch every last one of them, we could go down to Manehatten and actually have a little fun. You hear that, Dash? Or are you just gonna stand up for her again?" "I... uh. I mean, come on, Gilda, this isn't--" "..... R-Rainbow, is what she said.... is what she said true? Do you really not want me around?" "Aw, Fluttershy. I. I--" "I'm sorry for wasting your time." "Wait, no! Fluttershy, come back! Gilda, why the hay did you have to say that stuff? She didn't deserve it!" "Listen, all I said was the truth, Dashie. We both know you're better off without her anyway. That pegasus can barely jump, let alone fly in a show." "We don't know anything. You don't know anything about me and Fluttershy. You're just jealous because I have another friend to hang out with now instead of you!" "Oh yeah?! I don't need you, Rainbow; you're the one who needs me to keep you in line. You'd be a wreck and a dweeb if it wasn't for me teaching you how to get with the right ponies. Besides, I don't see you flying after your so called 'friend'. Face it, you're afraid to leave because-- because -- h-hey! I was talking to you! Dash! Get back here and finish this , Rainbow Dash. Or-- Or should I say Rainbow Crash?!" ... "Hey! Come on! You won't make it big without me, not in Canterlot!" ... "Rainbow Dash?" ... "Fluttershy?" ... "Auugh, come on, you know I didn't really mean it. I just get frustrated sometimes. I just say things, you know? It's not like it's a big deal or anything." ... "Girls...... please? I- I'm sorry, I guess..." ... Fluttershy cries later, but it's okay. She should have known that Gilda didn't need her. They sure look chipper over there. Rainbow and Fluttershy are smiling and laughing, standing at the airbus station and staring up to the open sky yawning above them. The sun is dawning once more, leaving streaks of soft yellows and pink as the world slowly succumbs to the blue-white of day -- but they don't notice. They're laughing and... and talking about getting dumb jobs and eventually wowing the Wonderbolts. About moving to the same town, to pursue their own interests. Things Gilda isn't sure she'll ever get, now that her two best friends are moving on without her. She means, h-how are they so excited, and not scared? She wonders what that would feel like. To feel prepared. Maybe she should ask, or apologize. Maybe both. "Rainbow Dash?" Gilda says. "Are you kidding, Gilda? As if we're gonna talk with you after what you did!" "You were awfully rude, Gilda... if you don't mind me saying that..." ... "Tch. W-Whatever. I was just coming over here to tell you how big I'm gonna get without you. You just wait, Rainbow; you're gonna see my name up in lights and--" "Actually, Gilda, me and Fluttershy were just talking about you." "Yeah, we were. It was a nice conversation... b-before you interrupted it with your loud mouth, I mean....... Oh, Rainbow Dash, was that too rude? I know she said nasty things to me, but I feel awful saying--" "Wow. You lameos planned this. Oh yeah, that's typical. You just can't function without me there, huh? I told you this would happen, Dash, but you just didn't listen, did you?" ... ... "Listen, Gilda... we could stand here and argue all day, but I have some training for the weather team I've gotta do, so I'll get to the point: Fluttershy and I don't want you here." "Yeah, yeah, that's rich. Use my own stupid line against me. I bet you feel real nice about yourself for that one. What, one of those unicorns in Canterlot teach you that one. Come on, Fluttershy, so I said some 'mean words' to you. Who cares? It's not like you guys really don't want me around... right?" "Guess again. Call back when you decide to be a loyal friend, Gilda. Come on, Fluttershy." "Are you kidding. Dash. Cool it and just talk it through. We can get through this." ... "... Sorry for... f-for w-wasting your time Gilda, but. But I...." "Hey, Fluttershy it's alright. Let's just fly to Ponyville." "Oh, okay. I promise I won't slow you down much. And... bye, Gilda. Maybe one day we can be friends again." ... "Wait, no! Rainbow, Fluttershy!" ... "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to mess it up like this again. I-- p-please!" ... Gilda cries later, but it's okay. She knows she never needed them in the first place.