The Mail Mare
"You don't get it, Fluttershy! It was awful!" Dash ruffled her mane in a panic.
A confused and startled yellow pegasus pony was sitting across from Rainbow Dash. Her long pink hair was hanging down her face and covering an eye. She leaned forward and spoke in a soft voice. "Oh, Rainbow, I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think."
Dash smothered her face against the wooden table and groaned. "I kissed him! Some stallion I barely know! That is not who I am! He can't even fly well!"
"It'll be okay. Just calm down a bit and try to relax." Fluttershy smiled. Her smooth voice poured into Dash's frenzied head. "You mentioned him once before. He sounded very nice. Maybe you two-"
"No, no, no, no! Don't finish that sentence! Never again! I can't see him again. Ever!" She lifted her head from the table and looked around in a frenzy. Her heart was beating rapidly. "I'm so embarrassed. I don't even want to go back to Cloudsdale! What if he is telling everypony? Can you imagine what ponies will say when they hear about this? This is a complete disaster!"
Fluttershy leaned closer and whispered. "Rainbow, it's okay. Why don't we go for a walk? We can go back to my place and talk if you'd like. You can just lie down and take a nice nap to clear your head."
Rainbow's mane was a mess. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying. Overreacting definitely wasn't even close to describing her current state. She had never been that close to a stallion before. Even if Skye was being a perfect gentlecolt, Dash couldn't get over the fact that her pride as a pegasus was crashing down all around her. A simple peck on the cheek had turned her world upside down.
"Do you care if I just stay with you for a while?" Dash grabbed Fluttershy's hooves from across the table. "Please? I can't go back up to Cloudsdale until I get myself sorted out!"
"Of course! Angel will be so excited to have company! Plus, you'll be back in Ponyville again. We've missed you so much!" Fluttershy clapped her hooves together and giggled. "You can even say goodbye to Rarity before she leaves for Canterlot." She hovered over to Rainbow and smiled. "I think she's leaving for the theater tonight."
Rainbow's face drooped as she let her forelegs fall against the table. "First Twilight leaves for Canterlot, then Pinkie randomly plans a visit to Maud, Applejack's been so busy on deliveries everywhere… Now Rarity… What's going on, Fluttershy?"
"They're just a little busy, that's all. We'll all be together again soon enough, you'll see." Fluttershy nuzzled Rainbow's neck. "We're all still friends; even if we are apart right now. I'm still here for you, Rainbow."
"I know… I just miss the adventures and being around the gang. I guess…" She looked up to the stray clouds in the sky and sighed. "I guess being with Skye made me realize how much I missed being around my own friends. He's probably already forgotten about last night, and this whole thing will just blow over. Right?" Dash cast her eyes upon the shrugging Fluttershy and answered her own question. "Right."
. . . . . .
A scream followed by a loud crash on the other side of Rainbow Dash's house startled Skye to attention. He quickly flew over to inspect the noise.
"What the…" His eyes were locked on a grey rump sticking out of the clouds swaying back and forth. "E-excuse me… Are you okay?" A blonde maned mare popped out from the clouds and pieces of paper flew in all directions. Skye grabbed as many of the letters as his hooves could hold before landing in front of her again. Suddenly, the delays at the post office started making more sense.
"Hiya! Sorry if I scared you!" Her off-centered eyes stared at Skye. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and blam! Lost control." She stated with a perky voice. "Where's Rainbow Dash? I have a letter for her!"
Skye huffed and turned away. "I dunno. I'm wondering the same thing."
"Oh, okay. I was hoping to hoof-deliver this letter to her. It's an important one! She's joined the elbmuR eladsduolC!" She chirped excitedly.
"Huh?" Skye's head tilted to the side.
"Whoops! Upside down mail is the hardest kind to read!" She fumbled her hooves around and squinted. "Cloudsdale Rumble! Woah, no way! She never told me about that! I've heard that a lot of ponies are signing up. Maybe I should too!"
"You? Join the Cloudsdale Rumble? You wouldn't last a second." Skye realized the severity of his words, but it was too late.
"Hey… that's a little harsh, don't you think?" The mare wiped her watery eyes and sniffled.
"Sorry. I'm just having a bad day… Forget I said anything." Skye waved a hoof and forced a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Miss…"
"Derpy!"
"Come again?"
"Derpy Hooves!" She gave a hearty smile. "Um, are you Dash's new roommate or something?"
Skye's mind raced through countless images of last night. Rainbow Dash curled up against him as they slept. That innocent kiss she placed on his cheek. Her softer side nopony else had seen. Had all of that been a lie? Maybe it was all just a dream. His heart sank. The mare of his dreams had finally opened up to him and now she was gone.
"Nope, just an old friend." Skye flew over and slid the letters back into Derpy's mailbag. "Good luck finding her." He flapped into the air and climbed higher over the clouds; flying into the eastern sky back to New Jockey.
. . . . . .
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Oh, the mail! Wait here, Rainbow." Fluttershy trotted towards the door as Rainbow lay face down on the couch.
"I'm not going anywhere, Fluttershy. We've been over this…" Dash muttered into the throw pillow.
"I know, I just wanted to make sure." Fluttershy looked through the peephole and placed a hoof on the doorknob. "It's Miss Hooves!"
The door opened and the grey mail mare was standing at attention with a hoof held over her chest. "Your mail has been delivered! Please make sure to read it!" Derpy dropped back down to all fours and reached her mouth into the mail bag. "Have you see Rainbow Dash? I have an important letter for her."
"Oh, um, well, you see, Miss Hooves-" Fluttershy stammered.
A blue hoof pushed Fluttershy out of the doorway. Dash was glaring at Derpy. "Whaddya want, Derpy? I'm visiting a friend. Can't you just leave the mail in the box? Ya know, like the other mail ponies do? Like anypony would do if somepony wasn't home?" She grinded her teeth together.
Derpy backed away slowly and dropped the letter onto her hoof. She gently reached out to Dash, who swiped the letter and slammed the door.
"Ugh, she can be so dense. Me not being home doesn't mean she has to search all over Ponyville." Dash ripped the letter open and scanned over the formal invitation for the Cloudsdale Rumble. "Nothing new here. I already knew this was coming."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"For the love of Celestia!" Dash shouted as she yanked the door open. "What, Derpy?"
"There was a dark blue pegasus at your house looking for you." Derpy slammed her rump onto the ground as if expecting a long conversation.
"Y-yeah, Skye Shot's a friend of mine." It took Rainbow every muscle she had to force that sentence from her mouth.
"He was a little odd, but he did grab a bunch of the letters that fell out of my bag. I can't imagine how late I'd be if they'd have fallen to the ground!" Derpy smiled.
"Uh huh. Where exactly are you going with this conversation, Derpy?" Rainbow impatiently drummed her hoof against the door.
"I'm supposed to be going somewhere?" she shook her head. "I'm just out delivering the mail!"
Rainbow facehoofed and stepped back into Fluttershy's house. "Okay, good luck with that." The door slammed shut once again. The force caused Derpy's mane to lift from her neck.
"'Kay, bye bye, Rainbow Dash!" Derpy stood up and trotted away from Fluttershy's cottage.
Dash breathed a sigh of relief as Derpy crossed the grassy bridge leading back to Ponyville.
Her partner was nowhere to be found. He hadn't come looking for her, and she hadn't made any effort to contact him. Thoughts of the night were replaying in her head as well. No matter how much she tried to push Skye's image away, he resurfaced. No matter how badly she wanted to erase everything she had said and done, she couldn't.
Rainbow sniffed the air and swallowed her emotions back into her body. Fluttershy placed a hoof around her friend's shoulders and gave a supportive hug. Neither pony moved or spoke. There were no words to magically make everything better. At least, no words Fluttershy could offer. This problem was between Rainbow and Skye. The only dilemma was now their friendship was on the brink of extinction. Skye knew how she really felt about him, and she was to blame for letting it slip.
"I think I need to go for a flight." Rainbow gently pushed Fluttershy away.
"Do you want me to-" Fluttershy's ears lowered. Rainbow didn't look any happier despite her best efforts.
"I just need to be alone for a while." Rainbow whispered.
"Oh, right. Okay. Well, I'll be here whenever you want to come home. Everything will be okay. I promise."
. . . . . .
Derpy pushed open the bakery door with a muffin between her hooves. Her mailbag was almost empty. A much needed break was on the horizon for the busy mare. She nibbled on the top of the muffin and swallowed a blueberry. "Mmmm, so fresh!" She took a large bite and chewed slowly trying to savor each and every molecule. The mail mare rested her back against a tree and breathed a sigh of relaxation.
"Sweetie Belle, you are coming and that is final! I'm not going to tell you again!" an irritated voice demanded.
Derpy looked over the top of her muffin and watched as a white mare with a fashionably curled purple mane dragged a white filly by her purple and pink swirled tail.
"This isn't fair, Rarity! I didn't do anything! Let me go back!" Sweetie Belle clawed at the ground with her hooves.
"Absolutely not! You're just lucky poor Scootaloo didn't hurt herself more than she did! That filly needs her rest now, no thanks to you and Apple Bloom. I hope Applejack gives that uncouth filly a stern lecture." Rarity yanked harder at Sweetie's tail. "You're coming with me to Canterlot. This cutie mark crusade is getting out of control! I can only allow so much before I must put a hoof down on your disastrous plans!"
"Rarity, you don't understand! We tried to stop her! Honest! Scootaloo wouldn't listen! Please! I at least need to see Button before we go!" Sweetie planted her hooves in the dirt to slow Rarity's pull. "He doesn't even know what happened!"
"I'm sorry, Sweetie, but you'll just have to send him a letter once we get to Canterlot. The train leaves soon and you've sealed your own fate. Honestly, if you'd just behave like a normal pony-"
"Please! I have to see Bu-"
"Sweetie Belle, stop this tantrum at once!" Rarity shouted with every ounce of breath in her body. The entire town square came to a halt. Even Sweetie Belle relaxed a bit. "This is for your own good. We'll have some time away from Ponyville and can talk about this more on the train. We're both upset, so let's just calm down before we say something we'll regret."
Sweetie nodded in defeat. "Okay…" She knew that if Rarity wanted to take her to Canterlot there was no point in fighting. Her parents always took Rarity's side, so pleading with them was pointless as well. She felt the teeth on her tail release. Sweetie was free to run, but what good would come of it? Another big scene to embarrass herself and her sister? Rarity was just being overly dramatic and would calm down eventually. She didn't even know the whole story yet.
"Scootaloo needs to rest in the hospital for now. By the time we get back she'll be better and we can… talk… more about these adventures you all have together. Please, Sweetie Belle, try to see it from my point of view." Rarity knelt down to the teary-eyed filly. "If you promise to meet me at the train station in one hour I will let you say goodbye to your little coltfriend, okay?"
Sweetie nodded slowly and sniffed. "Okay. I'll be at the station in an hour." Her voice was hoarse from shouting. "I think I know where I'll find Button…"
Derpy chomped on the last bit of her muffin and wiped the crumbs from her mouth. "I guess I better go too."
. . . . . .
"Aww yeah! Bring it on!"
[Level One: Start!]
A brown colt was furiously pounding on two buttons and erratically jerking a joystick back and forth. A spinning propeller was fixed atop his red and white beanie. On the screen, a pony clad in a white robe was running down a city street not unlike Manehattan.
"Uh oh. Shadow Ponies! You're no match for my-"
[Rocket Wings Engaged! Mecha Pegasus Mode!]
Two metallic wings attached onto the back of the robed pony and launched him through several waves of shadowy figures. Obnoxiously sized numbers were appearing all over the screen. The score counter on the top right corner was quickly adding up. Then, a giant manticore burst from a building and grabbed the hero pony.
"No! You're not supposed to be able to grab me while I'm flying! Gimmie a break!"
["You dare defy the Mighty Manticore? Your mane shall be my dinner!"]
The screen turned black and a blood curdling scream was heard.
[You lose! Insert 1 Bit(s) to Continue! 10…9…8…7]
"Crud! I should try to clear this level, but mom might start worrying if I stay out any later."
[6…5…4...]
"So tempting! Decisions, decisions…"
[3…2…1…]
"Button!" A panicked voice yelled out. Without a moment to spare the voice tackled the colt from behind.
[No more continues! Game over! "Iron Will says, 'Maybes are for Babies!' Pony up today and-"]
Button's mind wandered from the game to the sobbing filly sitting on top of him. "Um, Sweetie Belle? Why are you crying?" He blinked.
"Rarity's taking me to Canterlot for a few weeks! We won't be able to see each other!"
"B-but we were going to start a new game in Mineshaft! Did you tell her that? I've been digging for cobbystone all day. My hooves are sore from holding the button down! What happened?"
Sweetie jumped off him and wiped her eyes. "Scootaloo got hurt doing a stunt and now we're all getting in trouble. I don't even want to think about how much Applejack and Big Mac are going to scold Apple Bloom!"
"Is Scootaloo okay?" Button questioned quickly. "She's like the toughest filly around! Well, after you of course, Sweetie! No other filly has my back like you!"
"Aww, Button…"
"Until you wander off and I die a buncha times."
Sweetie groaned and stomped her hoof. "You're talking about that game again? I'm going to be gone for weeks and you're rattling on about how I help you play a game?" Her voice cracked before she took a breath.
"Um, well, I just meant…" Button's eyes looked over to his saddlebag resting against the arcade machine. He had to try and calm down Sweetie somehow. It seemed like all the ponies in Rarity's family had a penchant for drama.
Button trotted to his bag and shoved his head inside. After some inaudible speaking, he pulled his head out. Clenched between his teeth was a JoyBoy handheld game device. "Ye can play dis while yer gone." He spoke trying not to drool onto the screen.
Sweetie's horn glowed as the device left Button's mouth and hovered in front of her. "A-are you sure? I know how much you love this thing."
"Um, well, I also love-" Button blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "You'll write me when you get to Canterlot, right?"
Sweetie nodded slowly, making sure his JoyBoy stayed safely elevated above the ground. "Of course!" She flung her forelegs around Button and gave him a big hug. "And you better make sure I have all new equipment when I get back! We'll have a lot of mines to explore together!"
. . . . . .
Rainbow was slumped against a cart of apples. The rickety wooden cart was casting a protective layer of shade over her body as the hot sun beat down onto the land below. She could easily push some clouds to block the sun, but Rainbow was having a hard time doing anything other than sulking and panicking today.
"Even the smell of apples is making me sick…"
"Now I know ya don't mean that. We both know apples don't get any sweeter than the ones behind ya!" A voice shouted over with a delightful twang.
Rainbow lifted her head and watched as an orange earth pony wiped the sweat from her freckled face. Her blonde mane and tail were each wrapped in a ponytail by two red bands. Placed above her green eyes was a light brown cowpony hat. She bucked a tree behind her with her hind legs and covered her ears as apples cascaded from above.
"You're makin' a big deal over nothin', sugarcube. Though I wish you would've come talk to me sooner."
"Sorry, Applejack. I know you've been really busy-"
"Ain't busy enough to turn down a friend! You know whenever you're having a problem that I always have two ears ready to listen." Applejack said with a smile.
"I wish I hadn't drank all that cider…" Rainbow sighed.
"I don't think the cider was the problem. I think the problem is that somepony had the time of her life with somepony else and doesn't know what to make of it. From what ya told me, this, er-"
"Skye Shot."
"-Skye Shot fella was a real nice stallion. Ya can't just go throwin' away a friendship because something made ya uncomfortable. Go talk to him." Applejack took a seat next to Rainbow. "Sun's sure doing its job today."
"I probably should get ready to move some clouds in…"
"C'mon, Rainbow, ya gotta pull yourself together. Just imagine how Skye feels right now. You at least have friends to come run to. You're his only friend in this neck of the woods. Poor guy can't even get any advice right now; even if he wanted some."
Rainbow banged her head against the back of the cart. "Ohmigosh… you're right… I-I left him all alone and didn't even think about how he'd take everything."
"It's natural to feel strange after a night like you had, but you're gonna feel even worse if you lose his friendship too. Sounded to me like he was doing an awful lot just for you."
"He really did… And all I could do was abandon him. Not very loyal of me, was it?" Rainbow hovered over the ground and dusted off her body. "He's probably flying back to New Jockey as we speak. I think he has a week-long assignment there. I could send him a letter and tell him to come find me when he's back in Cloudsdale."
"If he comes back." Applejack lowered her hat to cover her eyes.
"That's not funny! He has to come back if he wants to keep his job as a weather pony!" Rainbow declared defensively.
"I'm tuckered out, so I'm gonna rest a spell before we cart out the next shipment. You know where to find me if anything else comes up."
"Thanks for squeezing me in, AJ. Glad we could chat." Rainbow flew over and gave Applejack a big hug before flying away.
"Anytime, hun." Applejack watched as the rainbow trail slowly vanished over the orchard.
. . . . . .
Night had set over the Ponyville train station. Rarity had several ornate pieces of luggage stacked behind her. Sweetie was seated with her head staring down at the ground. The faint street lights cast dim outlines of the ponies against the wall of the station. Standing across from Rarity and Sweetie Belle were Fluttershy and Applejack. All of their expressions matched the night's bleak grip over the town.
"Thank you both for coming. It means a lot to me. To us." Rarity placed a hoof on Sweetie's head. "I'm sorry for any grief I'm causing you."
"Ya don't need to bring down the mood any more than it already is." Applejack retorted.
Sweetie picked up her head and looked shyly at Applejack. "Don't be too hard on Apple Bloom…"
Applejack trotted over and lowered her head down to Sweetie. "Now don't ya worry your pretty little mane about Apple Bloom. She's gonna get a talkin' to, but I promise nothing bad will happen. Just enjoy the trip with your sister and come back soon."
Sweetie wiped her runny nose with a hoof and sniffled. "Okay…"
"Really, Sweetie Belle, it won't be that awful to visit Canterlot. All things considered, it's a stroke of good luck I was able to get you a pass into the city. You know how tight security has been there. I'm sure we'll be able to see Twilight and Spike when we arrive. It'll be fun!" Rarity's spirit dropped as Sweetie just nodded slowly and shuffled away onto the train.
"Hold on a second!" a voice shouted from above.
Swooping down from the sky was none other than Rainbow Dash. She flapped her wings to stop from smacking into the ground and struggled to catch her breath.
"S-sorry I'm late!" Dash exclaimed with her chest puffing in and out. "I sorta lost track of time."
Tears welled up in Rarity's eyes as she took in the display of three of her best friends standing in front of her. Another bittersweet departure was just around the bend for the group with Rarity and Sweetie leaving Ponyville.
"Rainbow… thank you for coming. I'm glad I could say goodbye to you before I left." A handkerchief hovered in front of Rarity's nose.
"Only for a little while. Don't make it sound like you're not coming back!" Rainbow scoffed.
Rarity blew her nose into the handkerchief and smiled one last time. "I won't make this any harder than it has to be. I'll be sure to write all of you as often as I can!"
"You just worry about getting yourself situated in Canterlot. We'll get along fine here." Applejack tipped her hat to Rarity.
"Then I suppose this is goodbye for now. Rainbow, good luck in your big competition. I expect to hear great things! Applejack, try not to get yourself too filthy while you're clearing the orchard for your big harvest. Perhaps if you keep your hooves clean enough you can come visit me." Rarity sniffed and tried to hold back her tears. "And Fluttershy, thank you so, so much for keeping everyone together here in Ponyville. You've been nothing but kind and understanding to all of us. Without you we would have most certainly lost touch even faster."
Fluttershy blushed and looked away. "I'm just glad we could all be together a bit longer."
Rarity closed her eyes and felt the stream of tears run down her cheeks. She quickly turned and trotted onto the train as the whistle sounded. The three ponies watched as the doors closed and the puffs of smoke rose into the air.
The train cars rolled forward.
A whistle echoed once again through the quiet town.
Within moments, the train – along with Rarity and Sweetie Belle – was gone. Only the smell of soot lingered on the coats of the remaining friends.
. . . . . .
Hey Flyboy,
I'd like to talk to you when you're back in Cloudsdale. Can you meet me at our table at the Old Sky Pub?
I'll be waiting,
Dash
Rainbow laid the quill onto the table and sighed before blowing out the candle. She curled up on the couch in the exact same spot her and Skye shared the night before.
"It's even lonelier now without him…"
/) To be continued (\