"We didn't mean to tie her up at first, we just wanted to talk to her."
Once her thoughts were clear, Twilight Sparkle decided to talk to Rainbow Dash before the party started.
Then, she and Aurora met Pinkie Pie on the road. After Twilight Sparkle explained her plan to Pinkie Pie, Pinkie Pie joined her, and with Pinkie Pie's magical intuition, they found the hiding Rainbow Dash.
At first, everything was fine, but when asked about Rainbow Dash and the Sonic Rainboom, she became evasive. However, under Pinkie Pie's chatty interrogation, Rainbow Dash chose to run away again.
During the chase, passing by Carousel Boutique and Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash realized with dismay that more and more ponies were chasing her.
Until she was caught by Applejack's lasso, finally ending her sinful life. (Just kidding.)
Aurora, who had watched the whole process, found it extremely amusing. It was something that could have been explained in two sentences, but because of the pony's twisted mindset, she had to be driven into a corner before she would finally cooperate.
But this is also an essential part of the my little pony experience.
And when the M6 officially gathered, Aurora's heart rate quickened. The last time she felt this way was the day she first saw the Sonic Rainboom.
Aurora couldn't help but sniff, taking a handkerchief handed over by Aurora Glow to wipe away non-existent tears from the corner of her eyes.
"..."
Feeling her sister's intense gaze, Aurora paused, changed from wiping her eyes to wiping her glasses, and continued to act as a beautiful background character, watching the M6 from not far away.
When the five ponies surrounded Rainbow Dash, perhaps Rainbow Dash's current mood was comparable to Shang Yang's.
Fortunately, Rainbow Dash was a good sport who knew when to admit defeat (Twilight: What are we even comparing?), so facing this situation, she had no choice but to answer every question and tell the truth.
"Why do you want to run when you see us?"
"Because you're chasing me!"
"If you didn't run, we wouldn't chase you!"
"If you didn't chase me, I wouldn't run!"
Rainbow Dash speechlessly slapped a hoof to her face, feeling she would never be able to explain the cause-and-effect relationship to Pinkie Pie.
"Let's ask some useful questions, Pinkie Pie."
Applejack felt a headache listening to this long-winded conversation, extended a hoof to make Pinkie Pie step back, and told her not to just play around and waste time.
"Take it easy, Rainbow Dash, let me untie the rope for you."
"Thanks. I have to say, you might be the strongest Earth Pony I've ever met."
Untied, Rainbow Dash rubbed the areas where the rope had chafed, and with the help of the hoof Applejack extended, she stood back up.
"You're welcome, and you're the fastest Pegasus I've ever seen."
As the saying goes, they didn't know each other until they fought. Through their head-on confrontation, Rainbow Dash and Applejack left a deep impression on each other.
"Rainbow Dash, we mean no harm. We just want to talk to you because you seem sensitive about the topic of the Sonic Rainboom. We want to help you, so can you tell us what you're thinking?"
Twilight Sparkle asked softly and carefully, afraid that Rainbow Dash would suddenly react instinctively.
However, her worry was unnecessary. Because Rainbow Dash had been flying around all day, she no longer had the energy to keep running away.
These ponies surrounding her had all earned their Cutie Marks because of the Sonic Rainboom she had accidentally created back then. Rainbow Dash could understand why they cared so much about the truth of the Sonic Rainboom, but the more they cared, the less Rainbow Dash dared to say it.
Although Rainbow Dash had known them for less than a day, she didn't want to hurt them. Perhaps it would be better to let them keep a beautiful image of the creator of the Sonic Rainboom?
"Um... actually..."
The timidity in Rainbow Dash's heart made her want to babble nonsense.
Seeing Rainbow Dash's shifting eyes, Aurora immediately had a bad premonition. Just as she was thinking about whether to interject to guide the conversation, Fluttershy suddenly spoke up.
"Everyone, wait a moment..."
Fluttershy's voice was not loud, but at this moment, when everyone was holding their breath waiting for Rainbow Dash to speak, it sounded incredibly clear—especially to Rainbow Dash, who felt as if it were a lifeline.
"Actually, I think it's not that important for us to know. Since Rainbow Dash doesn't want to say it, we shouldn't force her."
"But Fluttershy, aren't you curious?"
Seeing that Rainbow Dash seemed about to speak but was interrupted by Fluttershy, Aurora Glow, not wanting to miss the gossip, wanted to try one more time.
"Of course I'm curious, but I think Rainbow Dash's feelings are more important than my curiosity."
As she spoke, Fluttershy cast a gentle gaze at Rainbow Dash.
"Since Rainbow Dash is so resistant to saying it, it must be something really hard for her to admit. It's unfair for so many of us to block her here. You think so too, right, Rainbow Dash?"
"Ah... yeah, you scared me..."
Rainbow Dash awkwardly shifted her gaze, not daring to look into Fluttershy's sincere eyes. She felt that the more Fluttershy acted like this, the more ashamed she felt.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash. This was all my idea. I was too fixated on what you hadn't said. I thought making you say it would help you, but now it seems this isn't a good time."
Calming down, Twilight Sparkle apologized to Rainbow Dash, and Aurora in the back also guiltily glanced elsewhere.
After all, it was Aurora who had encouraged Twilight Sparkle to rush in, so she also had indirect responsibility.
Today was Rainbow Dash's first day moving to Ponyville; there would be plenty of time in the future. Thinking about it now, there was really no need to ask such a sensitive topic before Rainbow Dash had even gotten used to the environment.
"Don't worry, Rainbow Dash. When you helped me regain my dignity from those bully ponies, I knew you were a trustworthy pony. Even if you have some secrets you can't tell, it won't affect our friendship."
Aurora suddenly couldn't smile anymore.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
Facing Aurora Glow's concern, Aurora instinctively wanted to make an excuse and say she was fine, but the sourness welling up in her heart made it impossible for her to be stubborn.
"...Fine, I'm just a little envious."
Rainbow Dash, who was secretly celebrating her narrow escape, suddenly froze in place.
"Fluttershy, do you really think that? Are you willing to believe me?"
"Of course, we're friends. If you're still willing to be friends with me..."
Having said so much just now, Fluttershy had exhausted all her courage and shrunk back at the critical moment.
But this was enough. In fact, this perfectly timed show of vulnerability hit Rainbow Dash's protective instincts and guilt right on the mark.
"Fine, actually what I want to say is, that Sonic Rainboom you saw back then? I actually did it."
"What?!"
"Seriously, I didn't want to say this at this time, especially not tell you guys."
"What?!"
"Because I wasn't sure if this was a good time. I thought maybe I should wait a few more months or years?"
"Wha—"
Applejack covered Pinkie Pie's mouth.
Although they were also surprised by what Rainbow Dash said, Pinkie Pie had already done the surprising for them. With that buffer, they accepted the fact more quickly.
Twilight Sparkle had anticipated many reasons and had even prepared for the worst, such as Rainbow Dash not wanting to be friends with them, but she never expected it to be because of this.
"But why?"
"Because ever since that race when I was a filly, I haven't been able to successfully fly a Sonic Rainboom again. If it weren't for my Cutie Mark still being there, I would have thought everything that happened that day was just a dream."
Rainbow Dash turned slightly and looked back at her rainbow lightning bolt Cutie Mark.
Seeing this, Aurora Glow, who had still been in shock, suddenly widened her eyes again. It seemed she was undergoing a brainstorm so intense that she started muttering uncontrollably.
"Sister, am I seeing things? Why is a future ace pilot of the Wonderbolts suddenly appearing before my eyes? I have to tell Dad to invest immediately..."
"Don't talk, just watch the situation."
Aurora held down the restless Aurora Glow, telling her not to have a head full of greed at such a young age and to watch more my little pony to cultivate her character.
While the background sisters were bantering, Rainbow Dash continued.
"I was afraid you wouldn't believe me, and I didn't want you to think I was bragging! So I thought, I'd tell you all this after I'd practiced the Sonic Rainboom."
Rainbow Dash wasn't used to feeling weak in front of others, but things had reached this point, and she had to spill the secrets she had been hiding.
Compared to her own pride, Rainbow Dash chose to be loyal to these friends who cared so much about her.
"I'm sorry you were so kind to me, but I didn't return the same trust. Can you forgive me?"
"What are you saying? Rainbow Dash, darling! We're too happy right now, how could we blame you?"
Rarity stepped forward, looking moved, her eyes filled with a soft light.
"You have no idea how hard we looked for you. Now we've finally found you!"
"Look here, partner! Every one of our Cutie Marks is thanks to your Sonic Rainboom. You can imagine how important you are to us!"
"How could we ever doubt our friend?"
Watching the six ponies, connected by the rainbow, hugging each other affectionately, it made the ponies and dragon watching this scene very envious.
Just then, Aurora Glow was suddenly dazzled by the flash and shutter sound coming from beside her. She realized that Aurora had pulled out a camera from somewhere and taken a picture of the six ponies hugging.
She knew that in a while, Twilight Sparkle would likely need to submit a report to dear Princess Celestia to conclude, so she just helped prepare the material, and incidentally, could keep a memento for herself.
"Hey! Girls! Do you know what we should do now? A big party!"
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