Appledashery

by Just Essay

Between the Sky and Earth There Is Nothing

Rainbow Dash flew over Ponyville.

The mare glided in circles.

She realized this several revolutions in, having passed the same stream of baked scents wafting out of the west windows of Sugarcube Corner for the twelfth time in a row.

Staring down, Rainbow spotted familiar figures and colors through the front entrance of the bakery. She recognized Carrot and Cup Cake's yellow and blue coats. She spotted the flouncing fuchsia fibers of Pinkie Pie's mane. She found Filthy Rich and his daughter off in the distance, making their way for the popular local snack destination.

A few thatched rooftops towards the east, Rainbow saw Golden Harvest and Roseluck conversing in the marketplace. Cheerilee was busy browsing through nearby rows of flowers with a saddlebag across her flank. Somepony said something funny and the three mares laughed into the warm noon air.

Rainbow's eyes wandered to the left. There, she spotted Cloud Kicker and Sharp Quill chatting with one another. A mutal smile hovered across both pegasi's faces. Rainbow decided to glide on without saying a thing.

Along the east edge of town, Rainbow spotted Rarity returning to Carousel Boutique along with Sweetie Belle. The younger sister was carrying a stack of shopping bags for her older sibling. The Mayor brushed past them, and the three paused to talk. Even still, Rainbow Dash skirted by.

Two more revolutions later, and Rainbow Dash eventually touched down. She perched on a balcony overlooking the closest thing Ponyville had to a "downtown." There, she paused, folding her wings at her side as she observed the local hooftraffic. She recognized Big Macintosh, Minuette, Time Turner, and even Caramel. Her drinking buddy had his head bowed, so that he didn't notice Rainbow Dash peering down at him. In fact, almost everypony had their eyes on the street and the storefronts surrounding them. If Rainbow Dash wanted to be invisible, she could have.

For several months or years, even.

"I wonder," she muttered to herself in a dull, dry tone. "Do I recognize them better from far away?"

There was no answer to that; she wasn't looking for one.

With a sigh, Rainbow Dash descended... touching down onto soft earth. She could scarcely feel the grass blades from how numb her hooves had become. The buildings stretched above her. The trees' branches spread, constricting, overpowering.

Rainbow Dash felt very small on the ground. And what's more... for as far as she could tell... she was just as invisible as she was from high above. The only thing that even made her feel as though she was anywhere was the tiniest flutter of the wind through her feathers... and the occasional glance she stole of her own shadow.

In a strange way, it was fitting, and she let the thought carry her across town without a single conversation.

Comments

[Sharp Quill]

There, she spotted Cloud Kicker and Sharp Quill chatting with one another. A mutal smile hovered across both pegasi's faces. Rainbow decided to glide on without saying a thing.

That's a shame, Dash. You'd've found out about the Poker Night I was organizing.

[Shotgunmerc]

It's almost like she's become a Background Pony...

[Leftover of Saikano]

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere

[zaponator]

Hmm, this is different. This isn't depression, though it is still rather melancholy. Interested to see where, exactly, this arc goes.

[DeathFox4]

7271117 You just had to...
*whimpers*

[Finelita]

Don’t know how is applejack now