Grounded Dreams

[Faceless 101]

A joint fiction with my good friend, Bait. If you enjoyed it, please leave a favourite on the FIMFiction site:

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/48111/Grounded-Dreams

Enjoy!

Author's Note: Buckle yourself in, we can tell this is going to be a long one! It really was taking too long to do our own stories so, with the inspiration of the Paralympics in mind, we decided to make a story with both of us writing. It's been pretty fun writing together and we hope you enjoy our first ever story! Feedback is appreciated.

Prologue:
When Life Gets You Down

She could feel the wind brushing through her feathers, taking the breath away from her whole body. She felt the cooling feel of clouds as she flew through their soft swirls. She glided over the ponies below her and smiled as she felt their eyes tracking her every move in awe. She then inhaled the scent of the wind, as it blew the sweet smell of apples from the farm. Time to give them more of a show, she thought.

Suddenly, she dived down, letting the wind rip against her skin as she tore the air in a speeding bullet-like state. The ground suddenly lurched forward, as if to grab her for teasing it so. At the last second, she spayed her wings, subjecting her wings to a bombardment of bitter air. The ground reached out, trying to snatch her from the air, but she was already at a standstill - heart pumping, body shaking.

Rainbow Dash smiled as she savored her rush. She let her body calm and grinned as she gave the ground a teasing stare.

"Maybe next time," she joked.


It was a sunny morning in Equestria. Celestia seemed to make everything glow at the sunlight's touch. The birds sang their hushed melodies and a nearby stream gushed gently through the lush greenery. Twilight, however, loathed days like this.

It wasn't the day, per say, it was where she was. On a day like this, she should be in her library, looking at the latest volume of Anatomy's Of All, with a cup of Spike's signature coffee within reach, but out of the way so it did not distract her. Unfortunately, this was all ruined by one pony. Did she even have to say who?

Rainbow Dash.

Sunlight poked through the blinds carefully, playing on Twilight's face to bring her, pleasantly, into the morning snooze. Twilight stretched in her bed and sighed, contently, as the morning aches rolled away. Now this was how a morning should play out!

Twilight nuzzled into her pillow as she relished the touch of the silky cotton. She was in paradise, in between reality and subconscious, relaxed with no alarm clock and the-

Twilight sat up suddenly. The sun was out, she was rested, there was no alarm and she couldn't smell the harsh aromas of her breakfast, made by Spike. Something was definitely not right.

Twilight spun around and saw a black silhouette hovering near the bed, casting a shadow over her.

Now, Twilight was not chosen by Princess Celestia as her personal student for nothing, so Twilight's so-called assailant was surprised when a wardrobe hit her from the side and pinned her to the wall.

"Ow!" cried a familiar voice. "Thanks for the welcome, Twilight!" Twilight suddenly gasped.

"Rainbow! Why, in Celestia's name, are you in my room?!"

"Twi... can't... breath!" Rainbow gasped. Twilight realised that the wardrobe was crushing the cyan pegasus and returned it to it's former place. Rainbow Dash wheezed as she started to, shakily, get to her hooves.

"Wow, Twi. Remind me not to take you on in a Wrestling match!"

"Well technically, you cannot use magic in the sport as it can be seen as an unfair advan- wait, this doesn't matter right now! What matters, is why the hay you are in the library? My room, for that matter."

"Well I wanted you to come to a picnic at Flutter's place, so I came to the library to ask Spike. He said you would wake up soon, but I thought it was way too early since I had just finished the weather for the day. I decided to turn off your alarm so you could sleep in and here we are." Rainbow took a quick breath and continued: "I came in to give you a coffee..." Rainbow Dash cringed as she surveyed the hot liquid spreading across the floor.

"Rainbow, it’s nice that you invited me, but I can’t come today. I’ve got some-."

"Don't try it, Twilight," Rainbow deadpanned, "I have already asked Spike and he said all you were doing today was rearranging the chemicals in your lab in order of the middle name of the pony who named it."

"But... I... I'm... you're..." Twilight searched for a clever excuse, but her groggy mind failed her for a reason.

"I'll see you in half-an-hour," Rainbow said, taking advantage of Twilight's dilemma, "Fluttershy's making a breakfast there, so you don't need too long to get ready. Oh, and I might as well use the window since you broke it when you... um... I'll just see you there."

Rainbow did make a hasty escape through the window as Twilight looked like she was about to explode.

Twilight looked around at the mess in her room and sighed.

"A written invitation, would have sufficed..."

And just like that, Twilight had ended up in one of Rainbow's signature picnics. The five mares lay on a checkered picnic mat next to Fluttershy's cottage, watching Rainbow pulling off amazing tricks that put most pegasi in Equestria to shame. Applejack and Rarity were having an argument about how to pronounce the word ‘hayburger’, while Fluttershy was bringing out a freshly made carrot cake.

Pinkie Pie was acting extremely random, only speaking when spoken to. Her eyes darted around, looking for something which was not there. With Rainbow concentrating on her tricks, Rarity and Applejack having a heated debate which could put the most fierce of meetings at the Royal Courts to the test and Twilight pretending that she wasn't there, only Fluttershy was worried with Pinkie.

“Pinkie-” Fluttershy began, before a pink hoof appeared in her mouth.

“Shh,” hushed Pinkie, “I need to be completely focused on the picnic. Can’t have someone burning their hoof on the carrot cake or falling in the stream.” Pinkie gasped suddenly. “Or even an invasion of huge ants! They can bite, can’t they? Or can they? Can, can’t, can, can’t... Fluttershy! Can’t dilly-daddle now, I need to prepare for an invasion!”

Pinkie gave Fluttershy a determined nod and surveyed the area around the picnic. Fluttershy stood there, stunned by the random outburst. She sat down, confused by the whole speech.

Meanwhile, Twilight had grown bored of the book that she was reading. The book wasn't that exciting anyway, it was about a colt taking in a changeling as a friend and lover. I mean honestly, Twilight thought to herself, as she rested it on her muzzle, who comes up with that garbage?

Suddenly, the book was torn off, rather unceremoniously, by a gust of wind, courtesy of Miss Dash. The book was caught in the angry air and fell into the stream. Twilight snorted and gave a look that could kill at a flailing, multi-coloured tail.

"Twilight, tell Applejack that it is pronounced fabulous," Rarity said, with emphasis on the 'u'.

"Ah horseapples, Rarity. I don't 'ave time for all those... um... speaking manners y'got there. And while ah'm at it, I don't 'ave time for those kind 'o words anyways."

"Applejack, as a lady, it is important to know the correct pronunciations as to not embarrass yourself at social gatherings such as the Gala and the la festa di cappelli. Twilight tell her!" Rarity whined.

Pinkie was suddenly behind Rarity. She started to feel her throat, much to the surprise of Rarity.

“Sorry, I thought your voice broke. I had to check before it became permanent.” Pinkie giggled. “Looks like everything is a-okay!”

Twilight just sighed at the pair and performed a repair spell on the half-melted book.

"Twilight," Rarity began, as she took a piece of carrot pie, dismissing Pinkie’s intrusion of her personal space as just ‘Pinkie being Pinkie Pie’, "you have to realize that you can't be cooped up in your library every day. All of us want to spend time with you, and I don't mean the Twilight who would rather be ten metres within the library" Rarity's hoof searched for another slice of cake but found that it had disappeared.

"Angel!" Fluttershy said sternly to the bunny whose cheeks looked like they were on the point of exploding. "You shouldn't have eaten all of that. How are you going to eat your din-dins? Also, your going to get a dreadful tummy-ache!" Fluttershy turned her attention to Rarity. "I'm so sorry about the cake, Rarity."

"It's quite alright, darling," Rarity said, "besides, one mustn't indulge oneself too much."

"Rarity’s right. Don’t worry about it none," Applejack smiled, "besides, apples are t'best anyways."

"Now that you mention it, Applejack," Fluttershy pondered, "I do have the ingredients for an apple pie."

"Now now, Fluttershy, I can't be intruding on your hospitality."

"Oh no, Applejack. You’re not intruding, in fact, I would love to make one!"

"Well-"

"I wouldn't mind if you made one, darling," Rarity said, cutting of Applejack, " as long as you're sure you want to make it."

Fluttershy assured Rarity and Applejack that she was happy doing it and trotted back into her cottage. Pinkie followed close behind, her eyes darting along the way.

"Anyway," Twilight said, "I think you're right Rarity. Sometimes, I can just be such a bore, I don't realize that other ponies want me to be more fun. It's true for everypony: ponies need others to join the fun."

"Sounds like the start of a friendship report," Rarity smiled.

"Sounds like the egghead has learned the meaning of 'fun'," Rainbow laughed from behind the group
.
"I was wondering when you were going to come down and join us." Twilight smiled, completely forgetting about Pinkie's strange behaviour. "Are you finally tired of doing stunts for one day?"

"Tired? I'm never tired! Tired doesn't get you into the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow puffed herself out, proudly. She didn't know what had happened, but Twilight didn't look upset like she did in the morning.

"And injuring yourself won't help either," Twilight scolded, as the smell of the apple pie that Fluttershy was baking wafted towards the group.

"Twilight, I'm shocked that you don't think I can handle my own skills." Rainbow started to roll around, giggling in mid-air. She then stopped suddenly and awkwardly coughed. "Actually, Twilight, I wouldn't mind if you could help me with the next trick." Rainbow started to shift awkwardly in the air as Fluttershy and Pinkie returned from the cottage. Twilight sighed and looked at Rainbow.

"Dash, by the way you look as jumpy as Spike did when he burned my bed to a cinder, you’re going to try something that I'm not going to like."

"Well... Applejack, do you remember when you were doing that Applebucking Season on your own? Well..." Rainbow Dash flew a to a large canvas where the contraption that she had built loomed above the group. She then wheeled it towards Fluttershy's cottage, as the group gave her a number of glares. Pinkie gasped suddenly, but put her hoof in front of her muzzle before she said anything else. Rainbow smiled apologetically, as if she was a school-filly getting her friends into trouble.

"Oh my," muttered Fluttershy, "I thought you all saw the canvas over there. Was I the only one to notice?"

"Listen," started Rainbow, "I know it didn't work last time, but that was hardly my fault." Rainbow ignored Applejack's killer glare and continued. "I think I have the hang of it now, all I need is Twilight to be an observer, Applejack to jump and then I will definitely get into the Wonderbolts!"

“Maybe we should do this another day!” blurted out Pinkie. Everypony looked at her, confused. “I mean, the weather isn’t too great anyway.” She pointed up at the clear sky, to emphasis the point

"Anyway...” Applejack began, ignoring Pinkie, “we're not doubting ya Rainbow. We know that y'can do it. I think that the Wonderbolts need you more than ever after their recent turn of bad luck. I just think this trick is a might bit dangerous."

"I can handle this, Applejack. Trust me. Now, you can get up on top and I will get my one way ticket to awesomeness"

"Darling, is that even a word?" queried Rarity.

"Actually, Rarity, if my memory proves me correct, that word is in the Equine Language," Twilight claimed.

"Well I wouldn't like to meet the stallion or mare who made that vulgar monstrosity..."

Applejack had already started climbing while the others were rambling on. She got a third of the way up when she felt as if somepony was watching her. She looked down to see Pinkie staring directly at her. Pinkie's curls had deflated slightly and her eyes were as wide as saucers.

Oh dear! Pinkie thought to herself, I don’t know what to do! If I try and stop it, I may cause the doozie, but if I don’t, I may let my friend get hurt!

Applejack was about to go down and ask Pinkie what was wrong when Rainbow told her to speed up. Applejack shook her head. I can ask Pinkie what t'problem is when ah'm back down on ma own four hooves, she thought, ah'll go please that speedster first.

Twilight had started to write and sketch on a large scroll which lay before her. She had worked Rainbow’s route.

"Uh, Twilight?" Fluttershy began. "Aren't you meant to be watching over this?" Twilight briefly looked up at Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy, I’m currently working out the possible flaws now. I have checked the wind speed and atmospheric pressure, the approximate weight and aerodynamic shape of Rainbow and the same for Applejack. I need to make some more checks over the structure itself. There is no way to properly look over the stunt itself until I have a clear model! I am not going to make a single mistake which could be harmful to Rainbow! Now I just need to..."

Applejack had reached the ugly mess of timber and nails and was surveying the land below. Her view was not blocked as the clouds had been cleared earlier in the morning. She could see Sweet Apple Acres in the distance, running red-ripe with apples, ready to be bucked. In the other direction, there was Ponyville, standing proudly against the murky Evergreen Forest that seemed less daunting in the sun.

Applejack felt a pang of happiness as she looked over her home. She sighed, happily, and looked down at the task at hoof. Rainbow was stepping up onto the see-saw-like contraption. She looked up and gave a wave, signalling that she was ready. A grin was plastered on her face as she thought about everything this trick could do for her. It would be better than a Sonic Rainboom or even the Buccaneer Blaze!

"Well here goes nothing," Applejack muttered under her breath. She stepped back, took a run up and jumped into the grasp of gravity.

Meanwhile, Rarity and Twilight watched, with mild interest, as Applejack jumped off. Fluttershy looked away, while Pinkie watched, sadly.

And in only a few moments, everypony's lives changed.

"Rainbow! GET OFF," Pinkie screamed, as Twilight and Rarity jumped and looked at her with confusion. Fluttershy, on the other hoof was looking at the chimney of the cottage, which was spewing out black smoke from the burning apple pie.

Before Fluttershy could say anything, a bang was heard as Applejack's hooves hit her half of the see-saw. Rainbow Dash spread her wings and took off. She could remember the rush of wind, her pounding heart in her chest and the deep, delicious delight of being in the air. That was the main memory that she grew fond of before her world turned a brutal, bleak black.

Twilight turned around just to catch Rainbow being thrown into the black, billowing body. A loud snap cut off the chirping birds and warm breeze. The sound echoed through the ground, even radiating to the mountain where Canterlot sat.

A dull-colour blur shot out of the cloud and continues, lifelessly, out of sight behind the cottage. A short silence followed, cut of by a number of snaps and cracks as trees were torn from their place.

Suddenly, the world came to a stand-still. To some, it stood still almost indefinitely.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan made fiction, based on the animated show “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.” I do not own, nor lay any claim to My Little Pony or any related intellectual property.

This work was made entirely for entertainment value and as a gratitude to the fantastic work of the Friendship is Magic Team. It is not, and will never be, distributed for profit.

Edited December 31, 2012 by Faceless