Let me in, Rainbow Dash Ch.2

"Misunderstandings happen, dear. It's just part of life."

> As you walk back to the library, Rarity has been trying to cheer you up with sage words of wisdom.
> You would really like to believe her, but something tells you this is a little more than just a misunderstanding.
> The rain has stopped, but dense clouds still hide the afternoon sun.  You're careful to avoid puddles to keep your recently cleaned clothes fresh.  The damp smell of new rain hangs in the air.
> Several ponies around the town have begun to come out of their houses and go about their business, but none of them give you a second glance.  The sight of a human has long since been common to them.
> As you plod along the streets, mostly starting at the ground right in front of you, your mind drifts to thoughts of Rainbow.
> Would she forgive you? Would Rarity even manage to get her to talk?
> The sight of the library's tree branches growing steadily nearer feeds the growing dread in your gut.
> You suppose she could levitate you to the balcony and you could sneak in through the door there. That is, if Rainbow hasn't locked that as well.
> Your feet start to drag a little. You try not to think of how hopeless this situation is.

> Soon, you and Rarity arrive at the front door to the massive treehouse library.
> "Rainbow Dash!" Rarity calls out while knocking at the door. "Are you in there, dear?"
> There isn't any response. The windows of the library remain dark.
> Rarity tries knocking again.  "Rainbow Da-"
> Suddenly, the latch on the door gives way and the door creaks open.
> Rarity turns to look at you with an expression of pure disappointment. You can only stare back, dumbfounded. You must have tried to open that door a hundred times!
> Rarity pushes the door open and steps inside. You follow, ducking your head to fit through the small door.
> "Rainbow, darling, please come out." Rarity calls into the depths of the library.
> Again there is no response. Maybe she's hiding somewhere upstairs.
> Rarity lets out a sigh. Her horn glows and the magical lamps of the library illuminate.
> A glint of silver on the center table catches your eye.
> Right next to the horsehead statue is a slip of paper and a silver key.

> You walk over to the table and pick up the note.
> Rarity takes notice of this and stops her search. "What is it, Anon?" She inquires.
> You unfold the parchment. A hastily written letter meets your eyes. You begin to read it aloud.
Twilight,
I won't be able to watch the library any more, sorry.
I'm leaving the key you gave me here on the table. Don't worry, no one will rob you.
Also, I'm leaving Ponyville forever.
> The sentence mocks you like a cruel joke as it leaves your mouth. You don't want to believe it. You can't.
> You continue, your speech wavering slightly.
Thanks for being my buddy.
Sincerely,
Rainbow Dash
> You lower the note away from your face. Rarity is horrified, speechless.
> Questions rage around in your head, searching for an exit.
How can she just... why would she...
> You try to phrase your bewilderment into something tangeable. Ultimately you fail.

> "Oh no." Rarity says, her eyes wide as plates, "Oh no no no no no NO."
> "Anon, this is bad." She states, "This isn't like her at all."
> You say nothing, the weight of the situation hanging over you like a black cloud.
> You know you hurt her, broke her tiny pegasus heart in two, but you never thought she'd run away.
> Leave her friends, work. Leave you.
Rarity,
> You say, not even trying to hide the defeat in your tone,
This... this is my fault.
> She is silent, looking at you like you just admitted you had cancer.
> You stare at the note, reading it again and again. The words never change.

> You fold the paper and place it back next to the key.
> A sudden jolt of determination shoots through you. You throw the door to the library open, storming out into the street like a crazed killer.
> Rarity scampers after you, yelling out your name. "Anonymous! Where are you going?"
> You can only reply in a series of grumbles,
To her house! Maybe she hasn't left yet.
> Rarity catches up to you and exclaims,
> "What? You do know she lives in the CLOUDS, right?"
> You don't care. You'll find a way.
> "And you know you can't FLY?" She adds, pressuring you to see reason.
> Ignoring the whiny, snow-colored mare you stomp along the street in the direction of Cloudsdale.
> Ponies in the street stare at you with wide eyes and hushed tones, stepping out of your way as you soldier past.

> You arrive at Rainbow's house.  Or rather, you arrive under it.
> Staring up at the beautiful cloud mansion, you feel a little jealous. Dripping rainbow falls encircle the manor, large cloud pillars supporting a pillowy white roof.  It soars high above the rolling green hills.
> It makes your tiny cottage look like a shed.  Why would she ever want to leave this place?
> Rarity is standing beside you sporting a bemused expression.
> "Well?" She asks, waiting for whatever brilliant plan you had in mind.
Levitate me up.
> You say plainly.
> "What?" She squawks. "You've got to be joking!"
> You sigh and puff out your chest, arguing your point,
Twilight won't get back in two days.  She has the hot air balloon.  She's the only pony we know that can cast spells for flight.  We need to get in there now, so unless you have any better ideas, levitate me. Now.
> "But-but..." She stammers, "It's so high!"

> You put your hand to your face and rub your temples, thinking.
I'll only need to be up there for a second, just to see if I can find any clues as to where she's gone.
> You say, trying to convince the obstinate pony.
It won't take long, I promise.
> Your encouragement chips away at her. Eventually she gives in.
> "Ugh. Fine." She says, "But I'm only doing this for Rainbow."
> Good, that's fine. You beam her a hearty smile and prepare to be floated into the air.
> A light blue aura envelops your body and your feet lift gently off the grass.
> Weightlessness makes your stomach feel like it's floating upwards in your chest.  Your hair wafts around without any gravity to keep it in check.
Good, Rarity! Keep going!
> You call out in encouragement. You're already ten feet in the air.

> Soon, you're few hundred feet in the air.  You're high up. Very, very high up.
> You can see from the yellow thatched roof houses of Ponyvile to the base of Mount Canterlot.
> A fluttering itch tickles your gut. Desperately trying not to flail about in panic, you wonder why you thought this was a good idea.
> Rainbow Dash's home hovers above you, inching closer by the second.
Almost there, Rarity!
> You shout to the small white dot below.  Her response is rather strained and hard to discern, but you think you catch the words "stupid," "uncouth," and "brute."
> You're really happy to be friends with such a generous and kind pony.
> You soar close enough to the base of the house that you can feel the gentle mist of the clouds wafting about your face.
> A few feet closer and your head bursts through the cottony underbelly of the house.

> The damp smell of rain assaults your nose.  The misty substance around you soaks into your clothes and drenches your hair with dew.  You cough and sputter, shutting your eyes tight.
> When you open them again, you find yourself hovering in what looks like a living room, except for the gaping hole in the floor where you entered.
> Rarity has stopped pushing you upward. She must have seen your arrival to the first floor.
> Good.  You take the opportunity to spin your head around, searching for any signs Rainbow may have left.
> A comfortable looking couch made from clouds.  A phonograph on a puffy cloud table.  Pictures of Cloudsdale.  Nothing interesting catches your eye.
> You shout down through the human-sized hole to Rarity.
RARITY! KEEP GOING!
> A wail of disapproval echoes back at you, but you feel yourself gliding up toward the ceiling.
> You certainly hope Rarity can keep holding on.

> Another round of coughing and sputtering, and you arrive at the next level of the house. It appears to be the bedroom.
> Quickly glancing around, you take in the details of the room.
> There's a pile of Daring Do books stacked on a nightstand near the bed. More posters of the Wonderbolts.  Wait, aha!
> You spot a desk on the far wall with various papers scattered on top.
> You awkwardly scramble around, trying to air-swim your way over to the desk.  Eventually you build up enough air resistance to make some headway, and hover above the blue, cloud-constructed table.
> They're... brochures? You read off some of the titles.
> Visit Los Pegasus!  Sunniest Beaches in Equestria!  Home Tours of Pony Stars!
> Strange. You've heard of the place, but Rainbow never expressed any desire to go there. That is, unless she got the idea very recently.

> You snatch the pile of brochures and stack them neatly together, then place them in your pants pocket.
> You begin to turn around, but another object on the desk catches your eye.
> It's a picture of you, Rainbow and the rest of the gang in a frame of silvery blue clouds.
> You're all posing in front of a fair, the coming dawn peeking its way over the horizon.  It must have been during the Summer Sun Celebration.
> You're standing casually between Pinkie and Rainbow, smiling big for the camera. Pinkie looks ecstatic, Rainbow is tired from waking up so early, but also quite happy.  The others are also enthused, especially Twilight.
> You feel a smile melt slowly across your face.  For the first time, you feel nostalgic about a memory of Equestria.
> You grasp the picture delicately, your fingers phasing through the frame's puffy material.
> You carefully slip the photograph into your other pocket.

> Making a half-turn in the air, you call down the series of holes in the floor to your magical support pony.
RARITY! BRING ME DOWN!
> A few seconds pass, you wonder if the words reach her, but then start to gently drift down.
> And then you wobble. Steadily at first, then violently.
Rarity?
> You squeak inquisitively.
> You are no longer surrounded by a magical aura.
> Gravity clenches you tightly in its wrenching grasp.
> You fall.

> You burst through the layers of the cloud house at lightning speed, swallowing puffs of the substance as you scream.
> You see the Equestrian landscape before you, rising up to meet you with a deadly embrace.
> Directly below is a collapsed unicorn.  She appears to be unconscious, or at least incapable of any sort of magic.
> You are fucked.  This is how you die.  Betrayed by a unicorn, falling to death from a house in the clouds.
> Your screams become silent for a moment as you wait for impact.
> But suddenly, there's a noise like a jet turbine above you.
> You crane your neck backwards to see a flash of gold rushing forward.
> There's a yanking, disorientating sensation, and the feel of a cold metallic body under you.
> Your head spins, the sky and the ground are trying to set themselves upright.
> There is a sensation of being slowly lowered down.

> With a careful shove, you are placed face-up on the warm, cushy grass. The ground is solid and not made of clouds.  You are breathless, petrified by fear, but you are alive.
> Staring up into the sky from which you were falling from moments ago, you let out a few nervous laughs.
> That was close. Too fucking close.
> A silhouette of a pony's head, clad in shining golden armor, appears in your field of view.
> A deep, authoritative voice rings out, "Are you Anonymous the human?"
> Your eyes adjust and you see the narrowed, questioning eyes of a stallion glaring down at you.
> You manage to reply, your voice barely a whisper,
Yes?
> This doesn't look good.