When The Music's Not Forgotten
Rainbow Dash packed up her saddlebags. She fit her favorite Daring Do book, some snacks given to her by Pinkie for her trip (though she didn’t know why she needed it because it was a flight away but packed them nonetheless), and a photo of her friends. It was all she would need. Today, she was going home.
It had been a few weeks since Tirek’s attack on Equestria. So much had changed for her in such a short time. She had watched Twilight give up her magic for all of them, defeat Tirek, and gain a castle that had a throne room in which Rainbow herself had a throne for that matter. So much had changed for Twilight, but so much had changed for her too.
There was a feeling of uncertainty in the air, so thick she could cut it with a knife. None of her friends were sure what the thrones meant. Were they royalty? Were they not? What did this mean for all of them? Rainbow certainly didn’t know. Thinking about it too much made her feel like her brain was being warped. She needed to get away for a weekend. So, she decided to go to her parents’ home in Cloudsdale. She had considered going to the Wonderbolts shows, but… it was crowded, it was loud, it was high energy. Ordinarily, she would have loved those things. But now… Now she needed quiet, relaxation, with only a few ponies around. She needed time to think, to process. The best place to do that was at home with her parents.
She often said that her parents were overly supportive, but there was a flip side to the embarrassment. They understood when she needed her peace, or time to think. They knew when to come in and check on her. They knew the right words to say, when a hug was welcomed or not, and when she needed space. But their support was always there, ever constant. She needed that right now.
When her saddlebags were packed, she slung them on her back, and headed out. She took in the azure blue of the sky, the fluffiness of the clouds, the brightness and beauty of Celestia’s sun. And she looked below, to the green and grassy fields, the dotting of colorful flowers on the ground, the occasional line of an animal darting across the plane. It was so beautiful. And for a short while as Tirek was rampaging, she didn’t think she’d see something like that again. She appreciated it more.
Flying always calmed her. Focusing on the feelings of wind in her mane, beneath her wings, pushing through air, floating along like a boat skimming water. It was a soothing salve to her soul. And very soon, she had gotten to Cloudsdale. She was not one to avoid other ponies, except for Pinkie Pie perhaps, but today she flew high enough to keep her vantage point above the city, and low enough to be unbothered by other pegasi. When there were others she zig-zagged to try and avoid them. She didn’t want others interrupting her time to think, to process things. She would likely get more of that when she got home, but flying somehow sped up the process for her.
Finally, she spied her Parents’ home. There was a sense of relief associated with seeing it again, and she adjusted her altitude until she finally landed in the front yard. She had sent a letter to her parents a few days ago, explaining that she was coming. Her parents had replied in kind, saying that they couldn’t wait to see her. She walked to the door, and knocked.
Windy Whistles heard the knock at the door. Ordinarily she would have leapt up at the sound, rushed to open it, and smushed her daughter in a hug. But today, she controlled herself, because she knew her daughter was working through something, and she had to be calm. Being excitable would only push her away. She flew to the door, and opened it, greeting her daughter with a smile.
“Dashie.” She grinned.
“Hi mom.” Rainbow replied, and gave her mother a hug. Windy Whistles took some relief in this, because it meant that Rainbow was not completely closing herself off. Rainbow too found release in that hug. There was comfort that came with her mother’s presence, her scent, that she couldn’t quite define. It was primal. Instinctive. It soothed her.
“Come in, Honey. Your Father is in the backyard if you want to say hello.” Windy said once she pulled away.
“Okay.” Rainbow said. Windy watched her daughter head to the backyard, and let her have a moment alone with her husband.
“Dad?” Rainbow called as she shut the back door.
Bow Hothoof, in his purple and rainbow-maned glory, appeared beside her.
“Hey, little trotter.” He grinned, pulling her into a hug. Rainbow took in the smell of her father, the scent of his cologne and his natural scent that always smelled to her like fresh rain. When she was little, she always found comfort in her father’s embrace. He was so strong, and it had always been comforting to her when she cried. Now, in that hug, she felt that stress that had built up the past few weeks melt away. That was what she loved about her father. He made her feel like there were no worries left to be had. She pulled away and smiled at him.
“How are you?” She asked.
“Alright. The real question is how are you?” He asked. His amber eyes seemed to pierce her. She could not lie under that gaze. Never could. And her mother’s gaze was even worse in that respect.
“I’m… I don’t know. Just trying to figure things out.”
He nodded. “Do you want something to eat before you unpack? Your mother planned to make your favorite.”
She realized then that she hadn’t eaten enough that day, and was hungry. She nodded. “Please.”
Somehow, her mother already was on it by the time she got inside. A pasta and potato sandwich on sourdough with some chips was already plated for her, and Rainbow Dash sat at the table to have it set it in front of her. Rainbow flashed her a grateful smile and began to eat. Windy Whistles and Bow Hothoof sat with her. Nopony spoke, but as Rainbow had thought, their support was quiet. It was calming.
There came a point where the only noises in the room were the crunching of chips. Eventually, the plate was clean, and Windy cleaned it. There was a sort of reciprocity in this gesture, that made Rainbow want to do something kind for her, and she had voiced it, with Windy insisting that it was her pleasure and not to worry about it and unpack. So, Rainbow had complied, and headed to her old room to take out her things. The photo of her friends was on her nightstand, her book nearby, and she took out the snacks to look at what had been packed since she hadn’t looked before. Six cupcakes, ones whose frosting matched her and her friend’s coats. Rainbow smiled, and made a mental note to thank Pinkie. It was an odd but totally Pinkie way to show support and encouragement, and to remind her that they were always there.
Rainbow treated herself to one, the cupcake frosted like Twilight’s coat color, and ate. She brushed the crumbs off of her, and sat there a few minutes after sliding the box to the side. There was a peace that came with being in that room. It reminded her of her fillyhood, when the only pressure on her was internal, and not external as it was now. She laid down, and thought through everything.
She thought about the time with Tirek, when she had lost her wings. That had… well, at the time it had made her angry, but looking back now, she had been scared. She prided herself on being tough, fearless, gutsy- everything cool and confident there was. But in that moment, losing her wings… The fear in that had only come second to the fear of losing her friends. And everything that had happened afterward, all the questions, the confusion, the indecision, it had been worse because she had not admitted her fear. So now, she had to do that.
Like magic, a knock came at her door. Her parents opened it slightly.
“You doing okay?” Asked Windy.
“Better I think.” She said. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.”
Rainbow sat up to let her parents sit with her. They did, and waited for her to speak. “I’ve been scared.” She began. “I don’t think I realized I was. And I don’t think that I wanted to say it until I felt safer, but I feel safe here.”
“You’re always safe with us, Dashie.” Said Windy. “And even the bravest and toughest ponies get scared. It takes real courage to admit it.” She reassured. “I’m proud of you.”
Getting the reassurance she craved, she relaxed completely, and leaned into her parents for a hug.
This was why she came home.