Appledashery

by Just Essay

Frankly Speaking

"Please file my notes on teleportation field experiments in tomorrow's early morning 'to-do' file, Spike, not the mid afternoon 'to-do' file." Twilight Sparkle smiled, arranging several almanacs in alphabetical order across a bookshelf. "Then you can head to bed if you like."

"Just one ruby to snack on...?"

"Spiiiike..." Twilight rolled her eyes. "You already had two whole helpings of dinner?"

"Please? I only want a teensy nibble."

"Hehe. Okay, fine." She smirked towards the adjacent corridor to the library's central room. "But so long as it's not a large ruby. We don't want you tossing and turning all night cuz of your rumbling little dragon tummy."

"Woohoo!"

Twilight sighed, trotting across the room as she blew out one of several sets of candles. "Honestly, Princess Celestia, I sometimes think you gave me a vacuum with scales for an assistant."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Twilight shuffled to a stop, blinking. She looked at the door, then at the star-drenched windows. "Huh..." She arched an eyebrow. "Could... it be Trixie with her half of the research paper?" The unicorn trotted swiftly towards the front door. "If she's actually done a day early, I swear, I'll transmogrify a cow into tofu."

She opened the door swiftly, squinting at who was on the other side.

"Rainbow!" Twilight exclaimed. "What a pleasant surprise! Won't you come in?"

Rainbow Dash fidgeted, glancing at the floor. "You... uh... you sure I'm not intruding? I mean, I guess it's super late."

"Well, I wouldn't call it 'super' late." Twilight suppressed a giggle. "The sun only went down an hour ago. Come on in!"

"Okay, cool..." Rainbow shuffled inside on pensive hooves.

"Besides, my head's full of this intricate research on teleportation I'm working on," Twilight said. "I've agreed to help the Trottingham Science Commission with a few key experiments that they can't afford to do in the main city. It's a complicated joint venture, and over the next few days they'll be sending scientists with various tools over to Ponyville so we can extrapoulate data together." She grinned. "I couldn't fall asleep now if I tried!"

"Well... uh... kudos, I-I guess?" Rainbow said.

"I know, I know..." Twilight sighed. "It's hard to properly convey just why I'm enthusiastic about this sort of stuff to another pony, but it could possibly lead to several key developments in wizardry. Also, I have Trixie taking part, and she's doing her best to be useful in a scientific field for a change. I... suppose you're the one to thank for that. For bringing her around and all." Twilight smiled at her papers as she filed a few of them away on a desktop. "She might not admit it straightaway, but Trixie's getting ahead in life. She's got focus... a drive. No longer does she feel compelled to live out of a paltry wooden cart in the middle of nowhere. I mean... there's nothing wrong with a nomadic existence, but so long as it's given depth and purpose... eh..." The unicorn waved. "Anyways, I'm rambling. What brings you here, Rainbow?"

Silence.

Twilight blinked. She turned around with a curious expression. "Rainbow Dash?"

The mare sat in the corner, hugging herself with a contemplative expression across her muzzle.

Twilight's lips pursed. She trotted forward. "Is... is everything alright?"

Eventually, Rainbow looked up. "Can... can I ask you something, Twilight? Even if it sounds stupid?"

"Anything, Rainbow!" Twilight smiled gently. "And it won't be stupid."

Rainbow's eyes narrowed. "Would you say that... I've got it good here in Ponyville?"

"You've... got it good?"

"Like..." Rainbow's nostrils flared. She looked past her reflection in a nearby mirror. "I work a bunch of menial jobs just to get by. I get involved in freaky things, like the crud that went down in Fillyda. Everypony's all over my skin about making sure the clouds get cleared on time. And, to top it all off, I'm a friggin' Element of Harmony, just like you and the rest of the girls."

"Uh huh...?" Twilight listened intently, her head tilted to the side.

"And yet... y'know... despite all of that stuff..." Rainbow shrugged... then shrugged again. "I suddenly feel... feel..." She looked over, her ears folded back. "...chill."

Twilight blinked. "Chill?"

"Doesn't all of that sound boring to you?"

"All of what?"

"My friggin' life," Rainbow grunted. "I mean, you'd think what went down in Fillyda with Applejack and Stu Leaves would have been the highlight of my month, but now that I'm back here in Ponyville... where everything is dull and dry as a rock... I... k-kinda like it." Rainbow grimaced slightly upon the admission. "I kinda like the nothingness."

Twilight smiled. "Well, Rainbow, I suppose that's all a part of getting older."

"Ew, don't say that."

"Just hear me out for a second." Twilight gestured. "When I first met you—"

"I plowed you into a pile of mud."

Twilight winced. "...what I was trying to get at was that you were really, really adamant about getting into the Wonderbolts."

"Same difference."

"Nnngh..." Twilight rolled her eyes, but nevertheless continued. "What we get in life isn't always what we originally expect it to be. And by saying that, I'm in no way trying to say that you should give up on your dream to become a Wonderbolt. But, rather, you shouldn't be so shocked when you find yourself enjoying the other things you get in life... even if they might seem boring or plain or... uhhh... less awesome." Twilight smiled. "I grew up in Canterlot. So when I first came to Ponyville, I thought this was just a town full of overly enthusiastic country bumpkins. I wanted no part of it."

"Heh. I feel ya."

"But then I realized how magical life was here..." Twilight sighed, her cheeks turning rosy. "And just how fulfilling friendship is. It's changed my existence for the better. And... and I haven't given up on my scientific persuits. Not even in the least! I'm just... less devastated when I found out that my goals are a lot further ahead than I anticipated." Twilight shrugged. "Part of life is the living as much as the dreaming, I suppose."

"Mrmfff..." Rainbow glared into the candlelight. "I've done my fair share of dreaming."

"Don't give up, Rainbow." Twilight smiled. "You'll join the Wonderbolts yet. I just think you've come to appreciate that awesomeness has its many forms. Hehe... both exciting and calm."

"What if..." Rainbow bit her lip, fumbling. "...what if I-I'm not quite so jazzed about the Wonderbolts like I used to be?"

Twilight blinked. "...you're not?"

"What if I never join them and... and that's just fine?" Rainbow muttered.

"Am I... talking to the same Rainbow?" Twilight remarked, raising a dainty forelimb.

Rainbow looked over. "What if I have enough to go on right here, with who I am and what I've got?"

"I... I don't think I follow."

Rainbow bit her lip. "Something... happened to me down in Orlandoats, Twilight. D-don't worry! It was nothing bad. Not r-really. But... but I can't stop thinking that maybe... that maybe I put too much on my own plate." She gulped. "Both what's sweet as well as what's healthy. And maybe I've just... lived life hungry all this time when I really don't have to gobble much down at all."

"Rainbow, no offense, but you're not exactly poignant with your metaphors," Twilight said with a nervous chuckle. "Maybe you should just spit it out. What happened to you? What do you feel like giving up?"

"Did I say that?" Rainbow thought out loud, grimacing. "Do... I really want to give her up?"

"Uhhhhhh..." Twilight leaned her head to the side. "Who?"

Rainbow coughed. "It. I meant to say 'it.'"

Silence.

"Meh..." Rainbow sighed, shaking her head. "I'm just rambling, Twi. I'm sorry." She made for the door. "I really didn't need to get you involved. Especially not this late."

"Must you go?" Twilight stood between her and the door. "Really?" She bore a compassionate smile. "You can be a stranger to us, but don't be one to yourself, Rainbow."

"Ehh...?" Rainbow gave her a squinting look.

Twilight chuckled. "Well, we're not exactly attached at the hip, Rainbow. Whenever you fly off at random—which you've been doing a lot of these past few months—it's up to the rest of us to guess where and for what reason. And it's not that we don't trust that you're doing very important things. It's just that... well..." Twilight sniffled slightly, and she fought to keep her eyes dry. "We really miss you, Rainbow. That's all. Plain and simple."

Rainbow gazed at her, deadpan. "I really miss me too," she muttered. "And now I'm starting to think..." She slowly trotted out the front door, leaving a confused Twilight behind. "...that maybe I've been flying too far ahead of myself all this time."

Comments

[zaponator]

Hm, not the crisis I was expecting, but not all that surprising I suppose.
I mean, she's been chasing Applejack for over 600,000 words now with no progress.

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

Well, that was a bit...confusing.

[Sheendough]

5949120 5949130 Does this mean what I think it mean—? Wait, no. Fuck it. She's either:

a) Going to visit Fluttershy
b) Going to visit Zecora
c) Going to hit it at the pub with Bon Bon, Lyra, Vynil and Caramel.
d) Going to ramble on to Sharp Quill (I miss that guy).

Anything but confess.

[TIAS-A1927]

I like the fact that Rainbow is growing emotionally.
Moreover, the "metaphor" RD told Twilight is pretty accurate, I do not know how Elena could have mistaken it.

[Shipmun]

As a reader of this story, I feel really disconnected with the Mane 6. But just like Rainbow, I want to get to know them all again really bad. I never realized how lonely this story has been... The closest thing we have to a second main character is Lancie. We've talked with Fluttershy a few times... But it's still been so lonely for Rainbow Dash.

Also:

but now that I'm back here in Ponyville... where everything is dull and dry as a rock... I... k-kinda like it.

AHAHAHAHA silly rainbow horse. You just jinxed yourself! But it's true that the Ponyville of this world isn't nearly as "exciting" as the one in the show. Probably 'cuz there's only so much excitement to go around in the world, and RD keeps stealing it wherever she goes

[viofriedsevey]

When the Appledashery chapter long

i1.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/006/077/so_good.png

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

5949198 How about "all of the above"?

Including the last one.

Still, I don't think that AJ is quite as clueless about her feelings for Dash as said pegasus seems to think that she is.

But we'll see, I guess.

(Hopefully soon.)

[Sheendough]

5949385 Methinks that AJ has done her share of lies too... At least since "Pinkie-told-you-I-was-grumpy-and I-was-but-I'll-tell-you I-wasn't".

[DoContra]

5949198
5949385
You've missed "Let herself be sassed by Lancie" (bonus points for not putting up a fight).

5949277

But it's still been so lonely for Rainbow Dash.

She's mostly reaping what she's sown. Since becoming the official "Make AJ's life awesome or else" crusader, she's been keeping secrets (and lies )[1] to everypony except Lancie, with the obvious result of becoming withdrawn (not that I'm unsympathetic to Rainbow here...).

[1]: Technically she's been keeping everypony on a need-to-know basis, but the point still stands...

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

5949411 Hmmm, true.

5949452 Crap, you're right; we did!

[Sheendough]

5949476 5949452 I assumed she was going to do all of those while Lancie was sassing her to death (and not even bothering to put up a fight back).

[Lightning Bearer]

I agree with Shipmun that Rainbow's journey through this story has been a largely lonely one, and that the rest of the mane 6 feels almost like strangers. But considering the storm that's on its way to Ponyville, the canyon between Rainbow's life and her adventures is about to close pretty damn firmly.

[Hestia]

The mane six will find out sooner or later about Dash's double life. Probably when all the villains come after her.

[Fishberry]

I hope you DO write the main six some more in this story, Essay. I enjoy seeing how you keep them mostly in character.

This story appears to be getting shades of 'when I was Thirty'. I'm Looking forward to seeing where this goes and how you show Rainbow coping with her evolving outlook and perspectives.

I have one observation to share, and I do hope you not think it too bold of me.

There has been little shown in the way of Rainbow Dash's relationships with her friends. My observation is that upcoming events will have more gravitas if you expound now on the value Rainbow Dash places upon her relationships with the main six and other residents of Ponyville.

It would appear that this may be the purpose of the current arc.

[Autumn Rush]

Sometimes I feel like Rainbow Dash is more lonely in this series than she was in parts of Austraeoh series.

And that's saying something.

Like everybody else is saying, I hope the rest of the mane six play a role here soon. Be it part of fighting back the chaos that's about to unfold in Ponyville (which is almost inevitable, I think) or help with the emotional state RD constantly finds herself in. Either way, she's going to need her best friends.

[Salad king]

Oh god, she's calming down on the adventures just as her previous ones are about to bite her in the ass.

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

5949511 Hmmm, probably.

5950041

Rainbow Dash being Blue Jay, a vigiliante that robs from the rich and gives to the poor is a reference to Inkheart/Inkspell/Inkdeath.

And, of a more ancient vintage, the venerable Robin of Locksley.

AKA Robin Hood.

[314]

5950922 Well, obviously based on Robin Hood, but the name itself was probably from that series. Also because in that series the main character is dropped into the role of the Blue Jay and has to deal with all these things that happened in the past that he didn't actually do.

[arancaytar]

when I found out that my goals are a lot further ahead than I anticipated.

Unless all those goals suddenly get derailed by you growing wings, but what are the odds of that.

"Mrmfff..." Rainbow glared into the candlelight. "I've done my fair share of dreaming."

Oh yes indeed

[berrytone]

I know it's (supposed to be) a appledash fic, but I love Rainbow's talks with Fluttershy. Now that she's back in Ponyville, I hope there will be some more of those chapters, too.