Sunrise, Sunset, or Better Yet...
Before I begin, I'd like to apologize deeply. For the large wait, for the poor editing in this chapter, and for the possibly 'deus ex machinma' ending. Anyways, reparations are made-but wait. I'm not done. Inspiration strikes like a lightning bolt, and I'm going even further with this-whether you want me to or not.
I've been known to write 'sad' fictions on the internet, I like to invoke emotions. I, myself, couldn't help but feel a bit sad at this one until the end. So be warned. This isn't it. This is not a happy ending.
Back to your feature presentation.
It was frightening.
She tumbled downwards, she had no way to stop herself. If she didn't find a way to get out of this soon, then...well, she didn't want to think about it.
She plummeted downwards, and an echoing, booming monster of a voice called, "You should have told the truth!" ...whatever the heck that meant.
She frantically tried to flap her wings, but they gave about as much lift as two cinderblocks. She squeezed her eyes tight as the ground rushed up beneath her, and-
Rainbow Dash bolted awake, gasping as the supposed impact caught up with her, before she realized that she was just fine.
She rubbed her head, moaning slightly-she had hit her head on something. She looked to the side, realizing that she was on the floor near the side of her bed-she'd apparently rolled off her bed. It explained the now pounding sensation in her head, which matched the rapid pounding of her heart.
Well, she thought. That was a pleasant dream...
But, dreams aside, she had work, for once. And even with her skill, clearing all of the leftover clouds from last night could take a while.
Remembering last night made her stop. There was something big that happened last night...what was it again?
She stopped. Oh yeah. That.
The pegasus trotted outside, and hopped into the air, doing a quick dive before pulling up, and coming parallel to the ground.
D'you think that was a little...you know, harsh? she asked herself uncertainly. Maybe just, uh...a little. I should probably apologize or something.
She shrugged, and did a quick twirl around, and with that movement, headed towards the large countryside. The least she could do was apologize to her friend, since she hadn't had a chance since last night...it probably wouldn't take long.
Dash flew over the large orchard, searching for any signs of Applejack. She wasn't that hard to find-an orange earth pony stood out rather conspicuously in an orchard of greens and reds. So all she had to do was find the odd color out.
But soon, her brow grew lower with worry-the stetson-ed mare was nowhere to be seen. She was always working the fields, why not today? She always, always worked-she either was over in the planting fields, or...well, who knew what else she could be up to?
But, however, she did soon come across a familiar figure- a large red stallion, who moved about the orchard, pulling a cart behind him, the wheel making a slight creaking size.
Perhaps he knows where she is, thought Dash, as she dove downwards towards the steadily moving figure.
"Hey, Mac!" she called, as she came to rest on the ground near the stallion, who paused, and looked at her questioningly. "D'you know where Applejack went?"
Big Mac stopped for a bit, tapping his chin, before replying, "Eeeyup. She's back at the north barn. Mentioned somethin' 'bout you,and grumbled about some sorta' guitar, and, uh, that's kinda it. Know anything about that?"
Dash's gaze met the ground,and she swallowed hard, before responding, "Yeah, I do."
Her vision became blurred as she gazed at the dirt, and the earth became slightly soaked with a few sudden drops of water from above.
"It's..." her voice cracked as she struggled to continue without stuttering. "It's kinda , um...my fault."
Aw, pull it together! You're coming to apologize, and here you are, crying in the middle of an apple orchard! That isn't you, Dash! You aren't a crybaby dweeb!
She heard Big Mac continue, seemly oblivious to her apparent sadness. She didn't catch much, but she was vaguely aware of a few questions. But she had had enough-she was getting out of there, and quickly-Mac can have his answers later... she thought. Preferably when I'm not...like this.
Within mere seconds, she arrived at the northernmost barn of the Acres-but it looked completely abandoned, run down. Obviously, it was hardly used anymore, there likely wasn't even much for storage in there. And to Dash, the place was downright creepy. But she had to do it-Applejack was her friend, and if she couldn't even do what she was supposed to, she felt absolutely horrible-especially since it'd been her fault, in a way.
The door swung open, revealing an actually surprising clear interior. All that remained on the clean (dirt can't get very clean, now can it?) floor was a few sacks, presumably to hold apples or crops, and a few bales of hay. But Applejack couldn't be heard, or seen-if she was there.
Dash perked an ear up, listening-she didn't hear anything but her own heart beating loudly, and her own breath slightly echoing in the dampened air around her.
"A-Applejack?" she called, glancing around. Maybe she wasn't here, but she had to be sure. She stepped inside, looking to both sides of the door-nothing.
She frowned. It was as if the orange mare had simply disappeared overnight, like...entirely. The rainbow-maned pony shrugged dejectedly, trotting slowly back towards the door-when she heard it.
It was barely audible, but she heard a tiny sigh-and she was pretty sure that she hadn't made it. Confused, Dash walked back in, even going as far as to look up towards the rafters, see if she was up there. But nothing was up there, save for a few dust bunnies.
She passed a pile of hay bales, and as she looked down, she knew immediately who'd made the sound-none other than Applejack.
But to Dash, she didn't look like Applejack...
Her hat rest to the side of her, and she was curled up in a ball around it, and she had a vacant frown on her face. Her eyes were closed. She sure wasn't sleeping, because soon enough those eyes opened, and looked slowly up at Dash.
And then her expression slowly changed from vacant, to pure malicious intent.
"You," whispered Applejack malevolently. "I told ya'll to go. As in, out of my life."
Rainbow took a step back, frowning deeply. "That's...hurtful, Applejack. I-"
"Hurtful?" sneered the orange mare, lifting her head up. "Ya'll got the nerve to embarrass me right there in front of mah friends, and say that ah'm hurtful? Just look at yerself!"
Dash did so-and found herself once again tearing up-she couldn't take much more of this 'emotions' game.
"Applejack, that's why I'm kinda' here...I haven't been entirely-" she paused, searching for the right word. But Applejack jumped right upon the hesitation like a hungry bear jumped upon its prey.
"What ain't you entirely been, then? I know it can t be a dreamsmasher, ya'll were one just yesterday, remember?
Rainbow took another step backwards, as the angry mare now advanced upon her with a fury worse than a thousand flaming suns.
"Ya'll have no need ta' be here, I got what ya' meant! You just wanna play yer' little game, thinkin' I'll respond nicely, then, WHAM!" she shouted, smacking a hoof into another right in front of Dash's face. "Ya'll take off, leavin' with me nothin' but laughter, one less friend, and a broken heart! Well guess what, toots?" she scowled, leaning closer to the frightened pegasus.
"It ain't. Happenin'. AGAIN!"
All Dash could do was stare tearfully into Applejack's own green eyes, which had a expression of pure...dislike, there wasn't any other way to say that. I...I've lost her as a friend, too? Was all she could manage to think, before she just choked out an incomprehensible attempt at an apology, and flew out the door faster than Applejack could make a response.
What she left behind was more than a colorful trail. She'd also lost her pride, and her happiness.
Possibly worst, she'd potentially lost a friend...
"Dashie! Daaashie! Open up! I have a surprise for you!"
Pinkie frowned, after waiting for a few seconds. She knocked again on the door, as she slowly twirled around from the balloons tied around her waist. "Dash! Y'there?"
The door soon opened to reveal a rather red-eyed Dash, and Pinkie squealed. "Great! You're here! Let's go, the late pony doesn't get the oats!"
Dash frowned, sniffling. "Uh, what?"
The pink earth pony leaned closer to Dash, studying her with a critical eye, eventually remarking, "You don't look so good, what's up?"
Rainbow sighed, beginning with a reluctant "Well," before Pinkie interrupted yet again.
"Well, nothing that a party can t fix! Come on, let's go! Up up, and awaaaayyy!" she playfully shouted, drifting slowly away on her balloons. Dash followed Pinkie, wondering how she even managed to keep her course in the breeze that now swirled around them.
The pegasus vaguely listened as Pinkie rambled on about the party. "It's gonna be so fun! We have games, there's apple juice-"
Apples. Applejack.
"-we're gonna try the mexican hat dance-"
Hat. Like Applejack s.
"-and we might even have apple pie, thanks to-"
Apple pie. Apples. APPLES. Applejack. Oh for pete's sake, snap out of it!
"-and then Gummy will show us his new dance!"
Dance. Applejack-OK, wait, what? What does Applejack have to do with dancing? Get the heck out of my mind, for Celestia's sake!
But Dash attempted a smile. "That's, uh, great, Pinkie."
Pinkie smiled. "It is! Too bad Applejack isn't-"
She stopped as Dash finally burst out into sudden tears, for as far as Pinkie could see; she'd randomly decided to become a leaky faucet in midair.
The pink party-er stopped in her tracks. "What? Was it something I said? Ooh, it's my breath, isn't it? I knew I should've gone with mint, not candy-cane!"
Dash couldn't help but to chuckle. "No, Pinkie. Your breath is fine. It's just..."
She frowned. Could she tell Pinkie? Her naivety was evident in humongous quantities, but her ability to keep secrets was immensely lacking. Then again, this was Pinkie she was talking about-she d find out sooner, or later. Sooner was more preferable.
"Well, Pinkie...you remember l-"
She stopped. Pinkie was gone.
"...that pony is more random than a donkey riding a unicycle... while juggling..." she muttered. "I 'spose I ll just have to go through with it myself...now, where's my paper..."
Aaaany second now...I'm pretty sure I did use Fluttershy's handwriting...considering I asked to write it herself...she probably wouldn't come if she knew it was me.
Rainbow sighed, as she waited in the tree. Both her head and heart ached, not to mention she was getting fidgety. Applejack should've gotten there about 10 minutes ago...from the looks of it, she probably wasn't coming.
But soon enough, Applejack did rise over the crest of a hill, and Dash nearly forgot to get her attention as she passed under her.
"Hey. Applejack."
The mare spun at mention of her name, and squinted. "Ya'll again? You got some nerve comin' back...whaddya' want? I gotta' get back to work, sun's goin' down soon."
The pegasus sighed, hopping down from the tree. "Applejack...I'm..."
She lifted her head towards Applejack, of whom had a rather rude, but also inquisitive look plastered onto her features.
"I'm...sorry, OK?" she stammered. "There, I said it. I'm sorry for doing that with them around, I'm sorry for this entire thing, and I'm sorry for lying! Now please don't hate me!"
The country pony frowned. "Sorry don't cut it, Dash. Ya'll really did a number on me that night, and ah don't know if I can trust ya'.
But that was where Dash seized upon what she knew was true- "Not trust me? Applejack, I...I'd never do that to a friend! I'd never abandon one for no reason! Loyalty is kinda my gig, and I wouldn't give you up for nothin'!"
She paused, tears in her eyes. "...not for everything, either."
Applejack frowned, tapping a hoof to her chin. "Well," she began eventually. "I 'spose I can't argue with fancy logic like that. Ah accept yer apology, Dash."
The pegasus smiled an ecstatic grin, and rushed forward, engulfing the surprised Applejack in a tight bear hug.
"Ah can't...breathe..." the orange mare managed to gasp. Dash chuckled a bit, and released a bit of pressure.
"Sorry."
"'Sall right."
The sun slowly lowered itself into the horizon, looking all for the world as if bathing the area in a liquid golden aurora, and the two (once again) friends went their separate ways, and by the time the moon sank over the sky, all was quiet once more.
Half-Epilogue, uh, 'thing'...
"Well, I-Y'all-what now?"
"Didn't I tell you yesterday? I said I was sorry for lying. I didn't wanna look stupid in front of the others, I thought you'd take the hint."
Applejack was absolutely astonished, and frankly, a little peeved. "Ya'll could've taken me off to the side or somethin' and said that, y'know! We could'a' avoided all of this shtick!"
Dash s expectant grin faded. "Speaking of shtick...you said again . This...this's happened before?"
The blonde-maned earth pony shrunk back a little. "T'aint nothin' big, but it did happen...I hardly remember the nasty critter's name, and honestly, ah'm glad 'bout that one."
But soon, the young pegasus smiled excitedly. "Well? You still haven't answered my question yet!"
Applejack smiled back at the eager figure before her.
"I think ya'll know the answer to that one."
"Illic est usquequaque a orior oriri ortus pro cado."
R-E-V-I-E-W!