Just Friends

by lonewolf.007

Chapter 8

After a hard day's work apple bucking on the farm, Applejack had some free time that afternoon to spend with her friends. Trotting into town, she soon found them all in the town square. As she drew closer, she could see worry on her friends' faces, and Rainbow Dash was flying about, looking agitated. Confused, she called out, "Hay there! Is everypony alrigh'? Y'all look worried abou' somethin'."

"AJ! You're here! Okay, can we go somewhere more private?"

Twilight nodded. "The library. I'll just put the closed sign on it. We won't be bothered there."

As they all turned to follow the purple unicorn, Applejack glanced at the rainbow-maned Pegasus. "Wha's goin' on here, Rainbow?"

Rainbow looked nervous, as she looked around. "I have to tell all of you something. Remember that day when you asked where I've been?" She simply nodded. "Well… I'm about to tell you."

Applejack's eyes widened. Seeing the distressed look on Rainbow's face, Applejack threw her a smile, "Calm down there, sugarcube. Y'all look mighty worried abou' it. Remember, we'll always be there for ya."

"Thanks, Applejack," the Pegasus smiled back.

When they entered the library, Twilight flipped a card on the door, indicating that the library was closed for the day. Spike looked up at the entry of the group of ponies with some confusion.

"What's going on, Twilight? I thought you were all going to hang out this afternoon."

"Sorry Spike, Rainbow has to tell us something, so we came here."

The baby dragon shrugged his purple shoulders. "That's fine. I'll just go upstairs. Rarity!" Spike caught sight of the fashionista pony. "Is there anything I can do for you, my sweet?" Facing the five other uniformly sceptical faces, he quickly added, "Or the rest of you?"

Everypony shook their heads. "Are you sure, Rarity? Absolutely sure?"

Twilight simply looked amused as Rarity responded. "No thank you, Spike, but thank you for the offer."

Spike purple cheeks glowed red when Rarity addressed him. "No worries! I'll be upstairs if you need me. See you later, Rarity!" And the dragon hopped up the stairs.

"Oh, he is a dear," the elegant unicorn smiled. Then her face turned serious, "Now, darling, what is the matter?" The five friends turned to look at their rainbow-maned companion, worry in their eyes. "You look most pale, do sit down."

Twilight nodded, using her magic to pull six chairs into the centre of the room. Applejack gently pushed Rainbow onto her seat, before they all settled on their own. Applejack watched the Pegasus, happiness, curiosity and worry warring for possession in her heart. Happy that Rainbow was finally letting out something that was clearly bothering her, curious about what it was, and worried about its effect. The cyan pony was visibly anxious, and appeared to be thinking carefully. Finally Rainbow looked up and began her tale:

"Guys, three year ago, I left again after barely two months. There was a reason for that. But I-I have to go back to when I left the first time. After… ya know…th-the event. Uh… anyway, I had to leave, think things over. I-I went to my… childhood home. Where I lived… with my parents. Before they disappeared.

"I-it was… just a normal day, ya know? I came home from school, and my parents were home and everything. It was that night. I was in bed, and my mum tucked me in and I was tossing and turning. Couldn't sleep and TV was going downstairs, and… and then there was a… a knock. I didn't really hear what was going on, and I didn't really pay attention… then… my mum suddenly came up, a-and she told me to be quiet, and to be strong. And she said… I could do anything if I tried hard enough. Even join the Wonderbolts one day. A-and, she said… dad and her loved me very m-much. Then she left, telling me to be really quiet… so I was.

"That's the last time I ever saw them again.

"I tried to find them. I-I tried so hard. I couldn't focus on flying, and I finally dropped out of flight school. Finally… I gave up. The world was too big. But I always remembered what my mum said. Ever since, I've tried so hard to win. To make my mum, my parents, proud…

"So I moved away from my old Cloudsdale home, and came here… to Ponyville. But whenever I was… really unhappy or confused about anything… I always went back there. To remember…

"Anyway… after… ya know… the incident… uh… I went back there again. I stayed there for two days. And on the third day there was just a knock on the door. I went to open it and these two weird Pegasi walked in. I dunno who they are, or where they came from, but they were… actually pretty scary… Well… I told them to get out, this was my house and they couldn't just walk in. And they just… laughed.

"They started asking questions, about somepony called Samael. I had no idea what they were talking about, but they just kept asking, like I had an answer! They'd ask 'Where is Samael?' and 'Where did you lock him away?' No idea what they were going on about, and I was starting to get mad. These guys can't just walk into my home and ask me questions! But they wouldn't listen to me and just kept asking about this guy.

"Finally, I had enough, ya know? These guys just came in looking for answers I obviously didn't have! I told them to get out, and to leave me alone, or I'd kick them out. In ten seconds flat. And they just… laughed. I wanted to give them a good buck right then, like you would, AJ. And th-then… And then…

"They said I shouldn't go against them… or something… o-or… I might never see my parents again.

"They knew something. They knew something about what happened to my mum and dad. I had to find out what it was. But even as I yelled at them… they just smiled. They smiled and said… 'Well, well, well… looks like we got the little filly there haven't we?'

"I was furious. I flew at them, but they sidestepped so fast… and then they were out the door… One of them turned back and told me to tell them about that Samael guy, or they'd make me. Two stupid Pegasi aren't going to make me say anything! And I don't even know who this Samael guy is!

"I chased after them. But after flying through Cloudsdale, I lost them. They knew the back alleys or something, they knew how to get around. But I was determined to catch them! I wasn't going to let some no good ponies slip away. So I stayed in Cloudsdale, trying to find those Pegasi. I tried the police, but they weren't any help. I had to do this on my own.

"I asked around about the two thugs, but nopony knew who I was talking about. They'd never seen any Pegasi that matched the two from that night. Flying around the city, I went through the alleys, down all the backstreets, I learnt all the short cuts around the place, but the two were gone.

"I even got a part time at the weather factory as a minor, helping with the carting of clouds, to gain funds for food and stuff. That's why I was away for so long. I was so determined to find those two. They knew about my parents! But they didn't turn up at my doorstep again.

"This Samael guys was worrying me too, I had no idea who this pony was, and nopony seemed to know who he was either. But if two bully Pegasi like those were looking for him, it couldn't be good. As far as anypony knew, there wasn't a single Pegasi in all of Cloudsdale that was called Samael.

"Finally, I was tired, and I missed home, and Ponyville, and all of you guys. So one day I got up, and went to quit my part time job. I locked the house and flew out, back here. That was the first time I came back. Before I left again…"

Rainbow stopped talking, stretching her wings and looking about tiredly. She had been talking for a while, and her nervousness before added to her sense of exhaustion. Applejack could tell by the way the cyan pony slumped in her seat a little that she was extremely tired. The weight seemed to be slowly lifting of the Pegasi's wings, but AJ could see that the worst wasn't over yet.

"Alrigh', Rainbow, Ah think y'all should rest a minute before ya go on. Y'all look pretty tired."

Rainbow nodded, as Twilight fetched a cup of water for her. The five ponies had listened to their friend's strange tale, intrigued and worried with the events that had unfolded in the rainbow wonder's words.

"Why don't we stop here for now, Rainbow?" Twilight asked, giving the water to Rainbow, who gulped it down quickly.

"But there's still a lot more an–"

"Exactly, sugarcube. Y'all should take a break and res'. And y'all given us a lot ta think abou'."

"Samael, who's this Samael, he sounds like a mysterious pony seeing as nopony knows about him! Maybe we can find him, and meet him and we could all throw a giant party for him, with looooooots of food, and loooooooots of balloons, and CAKE! Lots of cake! We should find this Samael, it would be so fun, oh wait! He isn't in trouble is he? If the two thug ponies are loo–"

"That's enough, Pinkie!" Twilight cut across the energetic pink pony, before turning to frown at Rainbow again.

"Twilight dear, have you ever heard of this Samael?" Rarity inquired, as all five directed their attention to the purple unicorn.

"Samael… Samael… why does the name sound familiar?" Twilight pondered for a moment. "Hmmm… I'll do some research later. No one knew anything about Samael?"

"Not a single pony."

"Why don' we call it a day?" Applejack spoke into the silence. "Rainbow, y'all can tell us the rest of ya story tomorrow, use a night's sleep ta give ya some strength. Ah think we all should take a break."

"I agree with Applejack," Fluttershy's soft spoken voice made itself heard.

They all nodded. "We can all meet here at three tomorrow?" Again, all the ponies nodded. "Alright, let's all leave it here. Rainbow, you're going through a lot, and we can only imagine what it's like. But we're all here for you, and we'll help you."

"We Pinkie Pie Promise!" Pinkie bounded up, and then started to spring around in circles, chanting the famous lines of the vow.

"Of course, darling, you've always been there for us."

"Yes, so we'll be there for you. It's good to let everything out."

Rainbow nodded, "Thanks so much, guys. You're the coolest friends ever!"

The six then parted ways, making their way to their respective homes. Rainbow and Applejack were the last to leave, trotting through Ponyville side by side. They had been in Twilight's library so long, that Luna's moon had replaced Celestia's sun. When they came to the fountain in the Town Square, Rainbow walked over and leaned on the edge, staring into the water. Applejack watched the young flier as she reached out with a hoof, dipping it in the water and creating ripples that distorted her reflection.

"Why don't ya come stay the night at Sweet Apple Acres?" The work pony came up behind the winged pony, her voice soft.

"Thanks, AJ," Rainbow spoke to the water.

"Come on," Applejack nudged Rainbow gently. Slowly, they began the walk to the farm house, in silence. Having known her for such a long time, the Stetson-clad pony knew that what her best friend needed was someone to stay with her tonight, and help her find the strength for tomorrow. Making it just in time for supper, they dined with the Apple family, before the two went upstairs to set the roll out bed again.

Applejack found some clean sheets, and placed them on the bed. Rainbow crawled into bed, and made herself comfortable. "Thanks for everything, AJ." Her words were muffled, as she buried her head into the pillows. "Y'all welcome, RD."

AJ quickly went to the bathroom, taking her hair down, and preparing for bed. When she came back, she heard deeper breathing coming from the makeshift bed. Quietly, Applejack trotted over to see her beloved Rainbow Dash fast asleep. She stood for a moment, looking at the Pegasus. Then she lent down, and kissed Dash on the cheek. "Oh Dash, ya don' have ta do everythin' alone."

Note: Posted onto FiMFiction by Arby Works with permission from Lonewolf.007. All credit goes to him for his fanfic, please check it out here or on FanFiction.

Mr. Masato/Arby Works.

Comments

[Lord-Sparda]

Oh god, come on AJ! SHE IS YOUR DESTINY!!!!! TELL HER THAT YOU LOVE HER!!!! PLEASE, for the sake of your friendship, tell her that you love her!!!!!