Rainbow Dash stared blankly at the words on the page before her. She had long lost track of where she was, or even what book she was reading. She was almost halfway positive it had something to do with Daring Do, at least she was pretty sure that it was the tanned pegasus sporting her signature pith helmet on the cover. Or maybe Twilight finally managed to convince her to try reading something else for a change? She had, after all, only read every Daring Do book at least three times. Hay, she could probably recite most of the first book from memory alone.
“Equestria to Rainbow Dash?” A voice called to her from what sounded like miles away. “Hey, are you feeling okay? You look a little tired...”
Oh right, Twilight!
Rainbow blinked the tiredness from her eyes and shook her head vigorously, shaking herself from her stupor. She raised her head with a considerable amount of effort to meet Twilight’s concerned gaze. They were laying across from each other in an open field not far from Ponyville Lake. Over the last few weeks, Rainbow found herself spending more and more time at the library reading with Twilight. Eventually, Twilight had suggested they go outside while the weather was nice and have an official reading day once a week.
Rainbow was only too happy to agree. As much as she had grown to love reading, she missed the fresh air and open skies overhead. Plus, it stopped Twilight from complaining when she showed up unannounced to do some reading. Every week was the same. She would show up after a long day for some quality reading time with her favourite egghead, Twilight would yell at her for interrupting her schedule, Rainbow would half-listen to her as she curled up on a cushion with the latest Daring Do book, and then a few minutes later she’d feel Twilight curl up next to her with a book of her own.
Sometimes Rainbow would doze off, blanketed in the warmth of the fireplace and Twilight’s coat pressed up against hers, and wake up with a cover tucked snugly around her and a fresh mug of coffee waiting for her. Other times, they would both doze off and wake the next morning, Rainbow’s wing wrapped around Twilight as a makeshift blanket. It didn’t really freak either of them out that much. Now that Rainbow thought about it, she kind of enjoyed it.
A waving purple hoof filled her vision and brought her mind back to the present. The concern on Twilight’s faced had ebbed away and was slowly replaced with exasperation.
Stretching out her legs and wings, Rainbow was rewarded with a series of small, satisfying pops. Yawning widely, she gave Twilight a smile that was just a bit too wide. “Yeah, totally one hundred percent over here.”
Twilight said nothing as she raised an eyebrow, gently closing the book in her hooves with a small thud. Rainbow shrank back from her expectant glare. The dark rings underneath her bloodshot eyes and her matted and messy fur, not to mention her more than usual ragged mane, did little to convince Twilight.
“It’s just been a long day is all. Cloud Kicker kept on dragging these rainclouds over Sweet Apple Acres and it isn’t supposed to rain until Tuesday! And of course the slacker left early, leaving me to clean up her mess.” Rainbow huffed, sliding her book off of her forehooves before crossing them. “Plus there’s all the extra training I’ve been doing for the Wonderbolts tryouts in a couple weeks. So I guess I’m just a little tired and not really focused. Sorry Twi.” She added with a sheepish - if not sleepy - chuckle.
Twilight’s gaze turned studious and suddenly Rainbow knew what it must feel like to be under one of Twilight’s microscopes. Drawing back, Rainbow let out a nervous chuckle and coughed into her hoof. She shuffled her wings and glanced down, lowering her gaze to the ground as an awkward silence grew between the two. The way the blades of grass bending and swaying in the soft breeze was much more appealing to watch than Twilight’s curious stare boring into her. As much as she loved attention, something was just off about the way Twilight was looking at her.
After a few moments of excruciating silence, Twilight leaned forwards with a knowing smile on her face. “Are you sure you’re okay and not overworking yourself? It’s perfectly understandable if you are; you do have a lot on your plate.”
“I told you Twilight, I’m fine. I know my limits, if I had any, and I can take care of myself, okay?”
Twilight’s eyes never left Rainbow as she slowly nodded. “If you’re sure.”
“I am sure!” Rainbow snapped, rubbing her temples with her hooves. “Why won’t you just let this go?”
“It is Tuesday, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight finally looked away, raising her head to the clear blue sky above. “I was wondering why it was so nice outside today when the forecast called for showers. I expect Applejack will be wondering where the rain went, too.”
Another lapse of silence fell between them. If Rainbow didn’t know any better, she would swear her eye started twitching.
“...oh.”
Rainbow raised her head, expecting to be met with a smug smile plastered on Twilight’s face, but instead found herself staring into her friend’s eyes, her features awash with concern. Trepidatiously, Twilight scooched over to Rainbow’s side, biting her lower lip.
“Rainbow...” Twilight started, using a hoof to draw Rainbow’s weary gaze to meet hers. She frowned at her bloodshot eyes. “I’m worried about you. You’re running yourself ragged. You may not want to believe it, but I can see it.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes but rested her tired head on Twilight’s shoulder, taking comfort in the warmth and softness of her fur. “I told ya Twi, I’m fine. Sure, I may be tired today, but I just need a nap and I’ll be good, ‘kay?” She yawned widely, her eyelids several times heavier than they were mere moments ago. “Ain’t nothing I can’t handle. I’m Rainbow Dash, remember?”
Twilight sighed. “But Rainbow... you’re taking on too much at once. Being captain of the weather team is already hard enough work, but all of this extra training you’re doing for the Wonderbolts and trying to do everything for everypony... you’re going to burn yourself out at this rate. You’ll make yourself sick... or worse.” She explained, her own weariness creeping into her voice.
“Well whatchu want me to do about it?” Rainbow mumbled into Twilight’s shoulder, sleep threatening to overtake her. “Stop training? Quit the weather team? I may not be as smart as you Twi, but neither of those sound like good ideas.”
“What about taking a vacation? Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you go on one, so you have to have at least a few vacation days saved up by now.”
Rainbow huffed, her eyes now completely closed. “And go where? I’m not exactly rolling in bits here, Twi. I barely have enough to get by as it is without going on some vacation out of the blue.”
Twilight bit her lip, looking away from Rainbow. “Well... what if you don’t have to go anywhere? You could always take a few days off and stay at home. Please Rainbow, I’m really starting to get worried about you. You need to take a breather from everything.”
The fog of sleep clouding her mind, Rainbow snuggled in closer to the warmth radiating from Twilight’s coat. “You mean like a staycation? I dunno Twi... I’d get bored without anything to do at home... I’ll be fine, really.”
“You could always stay at the library.” Twilight suggested. She blinked slowly as her words caught up to her. The reluctance on Rainbow’s face was enough to motivate her to continue on, her words pouring out in an excited torrent before she could stop herself. “You won’t even have to do anything at all! You can sleep in the spare room, we can read together or go out in the day, I’ll even take care of breakfast and supper. Think of it like a ‘Twilight’s Bed and Breakfast!’”
A sleepy smile spread itself over Rainbow’s face. The lines under her eyes crinkled, like old parchment stretched too thin. Her disheveled mane brushed against Twilight’s coat, coarse and scratchy against Twilight’s skin. Whether she was willing to admit it or not, Rainbow Dash needed a vacation, and Twilight would rather be frozen by another cockatrice then see her friend push herself past her breaking point.
“Hmm... you know, that actually sounds kinda nice...”
“Please, Rainbow?” Twilight pleaded, her gaze fixed on a small patch of dirt. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Just say yes, for me? You don’t even have to tell anypony where you’re going, just that you’re taking a couple of days off. I’ll take care of everything else.”
Already too far gone, Rainbow yawned one last time. As she slipped into a peaceful sleep, she mumbled, “Alright Twi... but just for you...”
“Thank you Rainbow.” Twilight smiled, turning her head to find Rainbow fast asleep against her shoulder. Her cheeks lit up in a faint hue of pink as she realized just how much Rainbow had pressed herself up against her. The heat emanating from Rainbow’s coat was suddenly overwhelming, yet comforting at the same time. She’s just tired and not thinking straight, Twilight reasoned, stealing a glance at the pegasus’ sleeping face, I would probably do the same.
As Rainbow’s soft snores filled the clearing, Twilight picked up the slumbering pegasus in a purple glow. As content as she was to simply sit in the clearing with Rainbow, the cool bite of the evening air was moving in. A small smile tugged at her lips as she began the long trot back to the library, a sleeping Rainbow Dash in her wake.
By the time Twilight made it back to the library, the sun had already begun its descent over the horizon. Vibrant reds and brilliant golds mixed in the sky amongst patches of deep blue and soft pink, coalescing into a myriad of colours overhanging the quaint village as day became night that would make any painter envious.
If it weren’t for a certain slumbering pegasus, Twilight might have had the time to appreciate it.
With a flash of her horn, Twilight marched into the library, her shoulders slumped over from the long walk. She instinctively called out for Spike before remembering he was in Canterlot for the next few days. Grumbling to herself, she carefully set Rainbow down on the sofa before getting to work, her mind already composing a checklist for what needed to be done.
Picking up a piece of parchment and a quill in her purple glow, Twilight began writing out her new to-do list. A few moments later, she smiled in satisfaction as she lowered her quill. Eyes scanning the page, she mumbled out her list, making sure she didn’t forget anything.
“One: prepare checklist of things to do in preparation for Rainbow’s stay, check!” Twilight cheered, checking off the first item on her list. The scratch of the quill against the parchment, the sound of organization at work, was music to Twilight’s ears. “Two: prepare Rainbow’s guest room for the next few days. Three: write to the Ponyville Weather Control station informing them of Rainbow’s temporary vacation leave. Four: plan breakfasts and dinners for the next few nights. That should be everything!”
Twilight rolled up the parchment, replacing it and the quill on her desk before a groan forced its way from her lips. A stack of books, almost rivalling the height of her bookshelves, sat on the floor by her desk, looming over Twilight and casting a shadow in the setting sun running the length of the room.
Twilight was no stranger to spending entire weekends locked indoors, committing herself entirely to her studies. However, the tower of books before her began to test her mettle. The list of books Celestia had sent her for review was seemingly endless, and even Twilight was beginning to find the work tedious and straining.
She looked back to Rainbow, curled up fast asleep on the couch, and back to the book tower. Each book was easily as thick as her leg, and for every one she finished there were two more waiting for her, each drier than the last. After three days of working her way through the stack, it felt as if she were bashing her head against a brick wall. But she couldn’t stop. She had to remind herself that this was the price of being the princess’ star student. Too many times had the nobles in Canterlot questioned her ability. To clear the fog of doubt she had to apply herself, and she would do it proudly.
Stifling a yawn, Twilight rubbed at her tired eyes. Turning on her hoof, she dragged herself upstairs to the spare bedroom. The studying could wait for a moment, she decided. First, Rainbow’s accommodations had to be prepared.
As she ascended the stairs, she cast a glance over her shoulder at the dozing pegasus and then the ominous monolith. Titles of various doctrines and names of dozens upon dozens of scholars looked down on her. The tower seemed to grow in the darkness as the last light of the sun faded from the windows. A crushing guilt and dread of how long it would take to slog through each and every book seemed to surround Twilight as the shadows creeped up around her.
She gulped as she turned away.
As she climbed to stairs to the spare room, she mentally prepared herself for yet another night spent in the company of her books. With the duvet cover spread over Rainbow’s guest bed, she recalled something one of her former classmates had said in passing during her first week at Canterlot’s School for Gifted Unicorns.
You know, they say that once you start going here, you’re going to have to give up one of three things: grades, sleep, or your social life.
Twilight chuckled dryly to herself as she carried Rainbow up to her bed in her magic glow. A few years ago that wasn’t even a choice. Her gaze fell on the sleeping form of Rainbow Dash, watching her chest lightly rise and fall with each breath with a sleepy smile etched on her face.
Twilight sighed audibly, shaking her head and a playful smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Why did I ever have to get a social life?”
Rainbow Dash shifted under her warm and cozy blanket, nuzzling further into her comfortable cocoon as rays of sunlight spilled in from the cracks in the curtains. She had forgotten the last time she felt so relaxed, so rested. Burying her head under her pillow, Rainbow vainly fought to return to her slumber.
The smell of something cooking wafted into her bedroom, enticing a loud grumble from her empty stomach. With a groan, Rainbow kicked off her covers and sat up in her bed, her pillow sagging on her head and her eyes firmly shut from the cruel sunlight pouring onto them.
Trying to blink the sleep from her eyes, Rainbow wondered why her alarm hadn’t gone off. For the past several days Rainbow had found herself jolted awake by the incessant blaring of the infernal device. A brief moment of panic coursed through her veins. If her alarm didn’t go off, then she was already late for work. If her alarm didn’t go off, she was in for an earful from her boss and she would have to make it up in overtime hours, cutting into her training time.
First she was gonna need to get out of her cloud bed and make a beeline for the weather station. A shower and breakfast were going to have to wait for later. She grumbled, gripping at the firm mattress below her with her hoof and hitting the hardwood walls with the other.
Wait, mattress? Wood walls?
Opening her eyes fully, the first thing Rainbow noticed was that she was definitely not in her cloudhouse. The second thing she noticed was that the sun was already climbing higher in the sky. She was definitely late. After another minute Rainbow recognized the room as the library’s spare room. Casting her gaze around the room, she spotted a glass of water accompanied by a vase with a single flower and a small note on a tray sitting on the bedside table.
Removing the pillow from her head, Rainbow picked the note from the tray, opening it with a flick of her wing.
Rainbow Dash,
I didn’t want to disturb you, so I left you this note and a glass of water for when you wake up. Hopefully you’ll be awake by the time breakfast’s ready. If not, the leftovers should be sitting in the fridge for you. If you don’t get up until later, I’ll be in my study!
~Twilight
P.S. - Don’t worry about being late for work, I already took care of it.
Her mind reconnected to the previous day’s events as she read the note. She remembered reading with Twilight, an incredible tiredness weighing down her every action. Then Twilight was talking to her about taking some time off, and the last thing Rainbow recalled was lying down, leaning against Twilight’s shoulder.
She figured Twilight must have brought her back to the library after she dozed off. Another waft of whatever Twilight was cooking made her stomach rumble again. She was going to have to thank Twilight big time for all of this. Downing the glass of water, Rainbow stretched out her stiff and sore muscles. Smiling to herself, she trotted with a skip in her step out of the room for a much wanted breakfast.
She followed her nose down the stairs and through the library, pausing for a moment when she came across the tower of books sitting in the library proper next to Twilight’s reading desk. A much smaller pile of books sat on the other side of the desk, a mere fraction in size. A roll of parchment was stained with several ink splotches and what looked like... are those drool stains?
It almost looked like somepony had fallen asleep while writing on the desk. No, Rainbow had decided it looked exactly like somepony had fallen asleep at the desk. Her empty stomach triumphing over her worry, Rainbow shrugged and made her way into the kitchen to be greeted with the sight of Twilight humming a tune to herself as she poured a generous helping of batter into a frying pan, a white apron tied around her chest.
The tantalising aroma drew a long and loud grumble from Rainbow’s stomach. Her mouth watered at sight of the plate of golden pancakes piled high on the counter. The light of the rising sun seemed to cast a heavenly glow about them, that or Rainbow was just really hungry and they smelled really good.
The rumble drew Twilight’s attention, and a smile spread on her face when she saw Rainbow. Stifling a giggle with her hoof as Rainbow’s stomach continued to rumble and groan, yearning for the pancakes, she said, “Well, look who’s up! Good morning, Rainbow Dash, you’re just in time for breakfast! And by the sound of it,” she pointed at Rainbow’s growling stomach with her hoof, “it sounds like you’ve worked up quite the appetite. Good thing I made an extra large batch.”
Her eyes still glued on the pancakes before her, Rainbow closed her gaping mouth and shifted over to the table. “Wow Twi, thanks. What’s all this for? And where’d you learn how to cook? I thought you’d, like, burn the library down or something if you tried.”
“Really? Where’d you hear that?” Twilight asked as she nervously flipped the half-cooked pancake, the raw half landing with a satisfying sizzle.
Rainbow shrugged, sitting down across from Twilight and watching her cook. “I dunno. Just some rumours around town I guess. Y’know some ponies said that you’re almost as bad as Scoots and her friends when you get down to cooking?”
A light hue of pink crept into Twilight’s cheeks and she coughed into her hoof. “Well... that’s not exactly true. And to be fair, it was only a small fire and just the once too! Besides, since then Spike’s actually been teaching me to cook. I’m nowhere near as good as he is, but I can manage.” Twilight shut the burner off with a flick of her horn. Picking up the stack of pancakes, she levitated them and a bottle of syrup over to the table and an overly-anxious and hungry Rainbow Dash. “Actually, this is his own recipe! I’ve been wanting to try it out for some time now, but I just haven’t had a good excuse to do so.”
“I’m glad you did, these look awesome!” Rainbow squealed, her eyes as wide as her plate. Without another word she set to loading up her plate with several pancakes and a healthy amount of syrup. Twilight stifled another giggle, taking a couple pancakes for herself.
“You never answered my question, though.” Rainbow said between mouthfuls. Dropping her knife and fork on her now empty plate, she looked up at Twilight. “This is awesome and everything, and I really appreciate it, but why’re you doing all this for me?”
Pausing, her fork halfway to her mouth, Twilight matched Rainbow’s confused stare with her own. “Well, I said I would, didn’t I?”
“You did?” Rainbow scratched her head with a hoof incredulously. “When?”
“Yesterday?” Twilight prompted, eliciting a blank stare from Rainbow. “Remember? You said that you would take a few of days off here at the library? I promised that I would take care of everything”
“Not really...” She slowly stood up from the table, wiping a few stray crumbs from her coat. “Look Twi, thanks a bunch for the breakfast and for taking me here yesterday and for everything I guess, but I should be going. Thanks again though!” Rainbow called, taking off out the window only to be stopped by a lavender glow tugging at her tail.
“Hey!” Rainbow jerked at her tail, unsuccessfully pulling it from Twilight’s grasp. “What’s the deal, Twilight? You know how much I have to do!”
“Rainbow! You promised me you would take a few days off!” Twilight retorted, stamping her hoof on the table. “How many times do I have to tell you that you’re going to fly yourself into the ground at this rate? You need a break!”
“And how many times do I have to tell you that I’m fine!” Rainbow snapped, tugging at her tail again. “Besides, you can’t hold me to that promise! I don’t even remember making it!”
“Then that’s just proving my point! You don’t remember because you were just about asleep when you made it! You were so exhausted that you just collapsed!” The pleading in Twilight’s voice made Rainbow wince. She turned her head to see Twilight’s gaze focused squarely on the ground. Rainbow’s wings drooped as she slowly lowered herself to the ground. “Please Rainbow... I can’t stand seeing you do this to yourself...”
Her hooves landed on the hardwood floor with a soft clop. Twilight raised her head as she felt a hoof gingerly placed on her shoulder. Rainbow held Twilight’s stare for a few moments, neither saying anything. With a sigh, Rainbow removed her hoof from Twilight’s shoulder. “Fine, you win.”
Twilight’s features brightened, and despite herself, Rainbow could feel a smile tugging at the corner of her lips to match Twilight’s. “You mean it?”
“Yeah, yeah, I mean it. I’ll take a breather, but just a short one, and just for you, okay?” Rainbow huffed playfully, blowing a lock of orange hair out of her eyes. “But what about everything else? I can’t just up and take a vacation out of the blue.”
Twilight waved her concerns away with a hoof. “I told you, I took care of everything.”
“What about my job? I can’t just disappear without-”
“I sent them a letter this morning explaining that you were feeling over-worked and needed to take a few days off undisturbed to recuperate.”
Rainbow’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, but what about my training? I get I’m on vacation, but I can’t just do nothing.”
“It’s not like you’re in prison or anything Rainbow.” Twilight explained patiently. “You can go off and practice all you want. Promise me you won’t push it though, okay? You are supposed to be relaxing.”
“Fine, but what about Tank-”
“I already explained everything to Fluttershy. She said she’s more than happy to look after him for a few days.”
Rainbow gaped at Twilight, the latter bearing a very smug and very told-you-so smile. “Wow, you really did think of everything.”
“I told you I would.” Twilight said matter-of-factly, collecting the dishes and moving over to the sink. “Now shoo, go enjoy your day off. I’ll clean up.”
Rainbow could only nod dumbly. As she was about to leave the kitchen, she turned back and regarded Twilight, mixtures of fondness, awe, confusion, and a hint of something else colouring her features. “Hey Twi?”
“Yes Rainbow?” Twilight called, her back to Rainbow as the hot water from the tap filled the sink.
A moment of silence passed between the two, the rushing water from the tap filling the room. “Why are you doing all this for me? I get I need a break, but why go this far?” Rainbow couldn’t see Twilight’s face with her back turned, but if she did she would have seen her bite her lip and pink dots colouring her cheeks.
Clearing her throat, she answered, “After seeing Applejack push herself so hard with the last Applebuck Season, I was scared the same thing was happening to you. You’re my friend Rainbow, my best friend, and I can’t bear seeing you of all ponies do that to yourself. I care about you Rainbow, and if there’s something, anything, I can do to help you... I’d do whatever it takes. You taught me that, and it’s a lesson that I cherish. Now go relax. You have all of Ponyville at your hooftips, so go and enjoy your day off already.”
“Thanks Twilight. I’ll find a way to make it up to you.” Rainbow turned and left the kitchen, eyeing the tower of books in the next room. “You can count on it.”
After leaving Twilight’s, Rainbow spent the day flying around Ponyville, occasionally slipping into a dive or looping around a cloud. For once, she was flying for fun, and while she found herself falling into a basic routine, Rainbow felt her muscles begin to relax and any thoughts of training or weather duty carried away by the wind that flowed through her mane. The knot she felt in her stomach for the past week had begun to untie. Shortly after lunch, she ran into Pinkie Pie and Rainbow was happy to find herself on a pranking spree.
Several hours and several painted apples later, Rainbow said her goodbyes to Pinkie and flew back to the library, a content smile on her face. The memory of Applejack’s face when she saw the hoard of apples painted to look like jack-o-lanterns drew a guffaw from Rainbow as she twisted in the air, alighting down at the library door.
“Hey Twi, I’m back.” Rainbow called as she walked through the front door. She spotted the lavender mare at her desk, engrossed in one of her books. Twilight’s quill scribbled furiously against the parchment as she studied the tome, her eyes flicking over the words as she mouthed the words silently. If she heard Rainbow, she certainly didn’t show it.
“Twi?” Rainbow asked again, cantering over to prod her friend in the shoulder with a hoof.
“Huh?” Twilight’s quill stopped and she looked up and noticed Rainbow. “Oh, hey Rainbow! How was your day off?”
She didn’t answer at first, pausing for a moment to take in Twilight’s disheveled appearance. Her eyes were tired and bloodshot with dark rings encircling them. Her mane was a mess, strands of pink and purple sticking out at odd angles. Despite all this, she gave Rainbow a weak smile. “It was alright. I flew around Ponyville for a bit then got pulled into some pranks with Pinkie. Not gonna lie, I don’t think anypony can top my apple painting skills.” Rainbow’s chest swelled with pride, then deflated just as quickly as Twilight did her best to stifle a particularly long yawn. “You feelin’ okay there Twilight? You’re looking a little... totally exhausted.”
Shaking her head rapidly as if to shake the tiredness from her features, Twilight almost absentmindedly rubbed her eye with a hoof while giving Rainbow a confident smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve just been reading these books for what feels like forever.”
Rainbow’s gaze shifted to the tower of books, only a couple books shorter in height from earlier this morning. Her jaw dropped and she turned back to Twilight with a look of disbelief. “All of these? Twilight, that’s-”
“Don’t worry about it Rainbow.” Twilight interrupted her, turning herself back to her desk and inkwell. She dipped her quill in the pot, her eyes trained on the open book. “I’ve handled worse than this... probably. The point is, this is my latest study list from the Princess, and I’m no stranger to reading.”
Rainbow scratched her head with a hoof, staring at Twilight with a look of uncertainty. “Well... I guess, if you’re sure you’re gonna be okay. I’d feel bad if I spent all day lazing around while you’re doing all this work.”
“I’m sure, Rainbow.” Twilight yawned, quill scribbling against the parchment right where it left off. “If you’re hungry, there are some leftovers in the fridge. Just a couple sandwiches, nothing fancy.”
“Okay, thanks.” Rainbow trotted into the kitchen and buried her head in the refrigerator. Picking up a plate with two daffodil sandwiches, she kicked the door shut with her hoof. The plate balanced expertly on her back, she started to climb the stairs. “I think I’m gonna eat and hit the hay. You gonna be down here long, Twi?”
“I’ll probably be down here for a few more hours.” She turned away from her book to meet Rainbow’s concerned stare. Giving her a tired smile of her own, Twilight walked over to give Rainbow a quick hug. “Don’t worry, I won’t push myself too hard. I’ll get some sleep in a couple hours.”
Returning the hug awkwardly, Rainbow sighed. “Alright, if you’re sure Twi. G’night.”
“Good night Rainbow.” Twilight said, turning back to her desk and lighting the candle by her desk. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Rainbow climbed the stairs, and just as she retired to her room, she spared one last concerned glance for Twilight before slinking in underneath her sheets for a fitful night of little sleep.
As Rainbow lay in her bed, trying to will herself to sleep, she found her gaze always drifting back to the hardwood door leading back to the library, back to Twilight. Forcing herself to roll over, Rainbow could still see Twilight’s eyes, red and bloodshot from too much reading and her tired smile, stretched as thin as the paper that filled her books.
Rainbow knew that Twilight was burning herself out, and soon, like her candle, she would burn down to the wick and sputter out. But she couldn’t bring herself to tear Twilight away. She was already doing so much for Rainbow’s sake, how could Rainbow possibly start bossing Twilight around? Yet, no matter how many times she told herself Twilight was a smarter pony than she was, no matter how much she tried to convince herself that Twilight knew what she was doing, she couldn’t shake a feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Rainbow was familiar with this icy ball at the bottom of her stomach, gnawing at her mind and keeping her awake. It was the same feeling that paralyzed her at the Young Flyers Competition.
Rainbow Dash was worried, no, more than that; she was scared, except this time it was for Twilight.
A glance at the clock on her bedside table told her it was well past midnight, and she had gone to bed over an hour ago. Rainbow’s brow furrowed. Had she really been lying in bed for that long? Rolling over, away from the tick-tocking of the clock, Rainbow scrunched her eyes tightly shut, begging for sleep to take her. No matter how hard she tried, her conscience foiled her at every turn, conjuring forth images of Twilight slumped over her desk, the stack of books towering ominously over her, her bedraggled mane and tired smile looking up at Rainbow with bloodshot eyes.
Finally, Rainbow couldn’t take it anymore. With a single flap from her powerful wings, Rainbow flung the covers off of her and sprang from her bed. She didn’t need to open her bedroom door to see the faint light from Twilight’s candle creeping in from the other room, casting a warm orange glow from underneath the door.
Determination fueling her every step, Rainbow opened her bedroom door, a loud and sharp creek, seemingly amplified by the stillness of the night, echoed around the library, making Rainbow cringe. Tiptoeing into the hallway, careful to make as little sound as possible, Rainbow followed the light to the top of the stairs.
Letting out a tired sigh, Rainbow glided down the stairs to the sleeping form of Twilight. Her head was resting on a pile of parchment, the ink trailing off about halfway down the page, probably from when Twilight fell asleep. Her normally well-kept mane had fallen over her eyes, gently swaying back and forth to match her breathing. A book lay open on the desk beside her, a small pool of drool collecting nearby. The candle had long since burnt low and the flame began to flicker as it slowly ran down to the wick.
“Oh Twi...” Rainbow sighed, a piece of parchment by the candle catching her eye. Scrawled on the top in shaky writing were the words “To-Do List.” As Rainbow’s eyes scanned the words on the page, her ears pinned back against her head. “Oh Twi...” she sighed again, shaking her head and rubbing her forehead with a hoof. A tired grimace passed over her face as worry, frustration, exasperation, sympathy, a hint of anger, confusion, and something else she couldn’t quite place her hoof on coursed through her. Her vision throbbed and she groaned. She was too tired to deal with this. Once more, she wished her mind would just shut up.
She closed her eyes. Breathing deeply and exhaling slowly, Rainbow willed her mind quiet until she could practically hear the ambient silence of the night. Opening her eyes, Rainbow’s gaze instinctively fell on Twilight. As she watched Twilight sleep, responsibilities and burdens forgotten, all of the voices and images that had been keeping her mind running in circles suddenly fell silent and dispersed. All she saw was Twilight, and all she could think to do was to take care of her. She couldn’t help but wonder... is this what Twilight felt when she watched Rainbow run herself into the ground?
Rainbow almost laughed as a warm, bubbly feeling swelled up in her chest. It made her feel lighter than air, and Rainbow loved it. Whether Twilight wanted her to or not, Rainbow was officially returning the favour.
Smiling to herself, Rainbow blew out what remained of the candle. Gently brushing Twilight’s bangs from her eyes, Rainbow tucked her head underneath Twilight before lifting her up onto her back. Repositioning her sleeping friend awkwardly, Twilight’s head lying limply in the crook of Rainbow’s neck, Rainbow began the slow walk up to Twilight’s room.
“Mmmngg...” Twilight groaned, burying her face further into Rainbow’s fur. “Rainbow? What are you doing?”
“Carrying you up to bed, duh.” Rainbow succinctly put, compensating for Twilight’s shifting around and keeping up her pace to the stairs.
“Rainbow... I told you I’m fine.” Twilight struggled weakly, vainly trying to slip off of her friend’s back and return to her desk. “Lemme down. I have to get back to studying... Princess Celestia is counting on me to... to...” Twilight’s protests were cut short as a yawn forced its way past her lips. Rainbow spread her wings wide, steadying Twilight on her back and preventing her from falling to the ground.
“No, you’re not. C’mon Twi, you’re acting as bad as I was. And I’ll tell you what,” Rainbow smirked back at the half-lidded gaze from Twilight, “as of now, you are officially on vacation.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Rainbow. I don’t have the time for a vacation. Have you seen my to-do list?”
“Yeah, I have, and that’s exactly why I’m demanding you take a few days off. Don’t bother arguing back Twi, I’m not gonna budge this time.” Rainbow clumsily climbed the stairs, Twilight’s silence bolstering her resolve. If she wasn’t talking, then she had either already fallen back asleep or had given in. Either way, as long as she got some rest Rainbow didn’t care, the rest of this conversation could wait until morning. “Twilight?”
A soft snore was her only response, her even breathing tickling Rainbow’s fur. Chuckling tiredly to herself, Rainbow made her way up to Twilight’s room and carefully tucked her sleeping friend in bed.
Standing over Twilight’s sleeping form, Rainbow felt that same strange warm bubbly feeling swelling in her chest from before. A smile tugged at her lips as she cocked her head at her friend, wondering if Twilight did this exact same thing with her just a night ago.
The ballooning warmth only grew as she watched Twilight sleep, sending tingles spreading from her wings to her hooftips. Overwhelmed and exhausted, Rainbow unthinkingly leaned down to nuzzle Twilight’s cheek. Rainbow’s muzzle left Twilight’s cheek as she quickly pulled away. Staring wide eyed at her, Rainbow struggled to remember how to breathe, wondering where that had come from.
Rainbow searched Twilight’s face. All of the exhaustion and stress had left Twilight’s features, leaving only peaceful, blissful expression. Rainbow’s eyes traced the contours of Twilight’s jaw, lingering over her gentle face and bedraggled mane. A tiny smile floated onto Twilight’s lips, and Rainbow thought she heard her mumble Rainbow’s name.
A relieved smile spread over Rainbow’s own face to match Twilight’s, the tingling feeling returning once more. For whatever reason, she didn’t mind it this time, not that she had really minded it before. This time it was... different somehow. Retiring to her room, Rainbow whispered a silent good night to Twilight. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
The next morning Rainbow found herself rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, humming a nameless but familiar tune to herself. It was already well into the morning by the time Rainbow had woken up, and thanks to the disposal of a certain devilish alarm clock that may have ‘accidentally’ fallen out of a window, Twilight was still fast asleep.
“Where does Twilight keep her cereal? You’d think that everything in this place would be labeled knowing her...” Rainbow grumbled as she poked her head in another cabinet. “Flour, baking soda... There it is!” Grabbing a box of honey oats cereal, Rainbow set to finding a couple of bowls and the milk. Placing the cereal, bowls, and milk on a tray she carefully balanced on her back, Rainbow gave herself a small pat on the back. It may not be a gourmet pancake breakfast, but it would do for a couple ponies on a staycation.
Heading out of the kitchen to wake Twilight, Rainbow eyed the bowl of fruit in the window, darting back to grab a couple of bananas before carefully making her way up the stairs. Creeping into Twilight’s room, she sighed in relief to see her friend still snoozing, tucked underneath her covers.
As quietly as she could, Rainbow sauntered over to Twilight’s bed, placing the tray at the foot of the bed. Taking the initiative, she poured out two bowls of cereal and added a few pieces of banana to each, leaving the peels on the edge of the tray. Rainbow shuffled over to Twilight and nudged her, only to be met with a groan and Twilight rolling over away from the offending muzzle.
“It’s time to wake up sleepy-head.” Rainbow giggled, nudging at Twilight again. Twilight groaned again, this time a little louder, and vainly tried to bury herself away from the world underneath her covers. “C’mon Twi, wake up.”
“Raaaaainbow...” Twilight groaned, though Rainbow could hear the mirth in her voice underneath the grogginess. “It’s too early... Just five more minutes...”
“Twi, it’s almost eleven.” Rainbow deadpanned, poking at the retreating form of Twilight once more.
Twilight’s eyes snapped open, pupil’s shrunk to pinpricks and her mind suddenly on full alert. “What?!” In an instant, she had sent her covers and the tray flying as she scrambled over to her dresser. Grabbing her brush in her magic, she immediately began fervently brushing her bedridden mane to a more presentable state.
“Twilight, calm down it’s oka-”
“Why didn’t my alarm go off?! Oh no oh no oh no, I have so much to do and I’m already behind! If I don’t get caught up how can I call myself Princess Celestia’s Personal Protege?!”
“Twilight will you just listen for a minute-”
“How’d I get up here anyways?! I don’t remember going up to bed! Oh Celestia, I must be losing my mind!”
“Twi-”
“And I haven’t even gotten breakfast started! Oh Rainbow Dash, I’m so sorry! I promise I’ll make it up to you! Please don’t hate me!”
“TWILIGHT!”
“What?!” Twilight turned, her breathing erratic and her eyes, wide as dinner plates, beginning to tear up. Her panicked expression turned to one of confusion when she met Rainbow’s bemused glare. Rainbow was sitting, forelegs crossed over her chest, with a cereal bowl crookedly propped on her head, milk and oats clinging to her mane and coat. A banana peel hung from the cereal bowl, draped over one of Rainbow’s eyes but doing nothing to conceal the frustration and amusement from her stare. Milk and oats had spilt over the floor, mingling and mixing in with Twilight’s blanket and stray pieces of parchment that had fallen to an untimely demise.
The two stared at each other in silence. The banana peel slowly slid off the bowl and further down Rainbow’s face as they stared at each other, the tension reaching its peak when the peel fell to the floor with a plop. A single snort from Twilight broke the tension. She covered her mouth with a hoof in shock, but soon found herself restraining giggles as her whole body shook with barely restrained laughter. Soon another laugh slipped past, then another and another. Her muffled snickers only grew at the perplexed expression on Rainbow’s face and a mountain of stress and worry came crashing down in a landslide around her. It was only a few seconds before Rainbow felt the first of many chuckles push itself past her lips and soon was doubled over with Twilight, howling with laughter and cares forgotten.
“Okay,” Rainbow chuckled, clutching at her chest, “now will you calm down for a minute?”
Breathing deeply to steady herself, Twilight wiped a tear from her eye and nodded shakily. Regaining her composure, she asked, “Rainbow, what in the name of Celestia are you doing with a bowl on your head?”
Glancing up at her makeshift helmet, Rainbow shrugged. “Well I was gonna bring you up breakfast in bed until somepony freaked out and thought it’d be fun to dress me up as some foal’s cereal mascot.”
Twilight pawed at the ground, kicking at a few stray oat crumbs. “Yeah...” She coughed into her hoof, smiling sheepishly at Rainbow. “Sorry about that. I don’t normally freak out like that...” She trailed off and wilted under Rainbow’s deadpan stare. “...too often. What were you doing anyways? I have a lot of work to do and I’m already behind enough as it is-”
Twilight was cut off as a damp, oat-covered hoof was pressed against her lips. “Hold up Twi. Lemme explain.” Twilight nodded against the hoof, sending a tingling sensation up through Rainbow’s foreleg. Removing her hoof and suppressing a shudder, Rainbow continued. “I got up again pretty late last night to check on you and found you snoring on your notes. I dunno if you remember, but I kinda had to carry you upstairs. You woke up along the way and tried to go back to your books, but you musta fallen asleep again. Long story short, I tucked you in, went back to bed, and now we’re here. Dunno what happened to your clock though.” Rainbow’s eyes darted to the window, plotting how to dispose of the evidence. “Oh, and you’re totally on vacation now.”
“Pardon?” Twilight asked, doing her best to keep herself calm. She had already had enough scares for one day. If this was a prank, Twilight wasn’t laughing.
“I told ya. You’re officially on vacation now. With me.” Rainbow said matter-of-factly, flicking a few oats off of her coat. With her attention focused on trying to clean herself, she missed Twilight’s eye twitch. “Y’know what that means? No more studying, no more late night binge-reading, and no more trying to do everything for everypony. Don’t try to argue with me here, Twi. You’re taking a breather and that’s that!”
“What?!” Twilight shrieked, making Rainbow jump. “Rainbow! I can’t just up and go on vacation! Do you have any idea how much I have to do around here without Spike, let alone how far behind I am with my studies thanks to a certain pegasus?!” She grabbed Rainbow’s shoulders and shook her pleadingly. “You of all ponies should understand! I don’t have the time for a break!” She spat the word out with distaste.
Slipping Twilight’s hooves off of her shoulders, Rainbow slowly sat Twilight down. Twilight could feel her breathing quicken and become erratic once more but found herself enraptured by Rainbow’s eyes staring into hers. “Twilight.” Rainbow started, concern shining in her eyes and a serious expression etched on her face. “I do understand. Believe me, I get it. And that’s why you need to take a break.”
“But-”
“No buts!” Rainbow placed her hoof over Twilight’s lips again before moving to rest it on Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight’s gaze followed the hoof, ears flattening against her head as she bit her lip. “Look at me Twi.” Twilight followed the crumb speckled hoof to its owner, meeting Rainbow’s gaze, uncertainty etched on her face. “Remember what you said to me yesterday? I wanted to keep on pushing myself, keep on going no matter what, but you saw what I was doing to myself. Now I’m seeing the same thing happen to you, and it’s killing me Twi.”
Twilight shook her head resolutely. “No, Rainbow, it’s different. I was watching you push your body past its limit. All of that training you were doing on top of your weather duties... your body just couldn’t take it. I’m just studying, and I’m no stranger to a few nights spent awake reading.”
“That’s where you’re wrong Twi.” Rainbow groaned, pressing her head up against Twilight’s, filling her vision with multi hued locks of Rainbow’s mane and magenta eyes studying Twilight pleadingly. “What you’re doing... It’s just as bad. C’mon, I’m nowhere near as smart as you and even I know that you can’t stay awake all night like that. I get it, I get how you felt the other day, and it sucks. D’you remember what you said to me at breakfast yesterday?”
Twilight could only stare into Rainbow’s eyes. Her mouth had gone dry and she had to force herself to shake her head.
“You said that you cared about me. You said that if there was anything you could ever do to help me, you’d do it.” Rainbow smiled, pulling Twilight into a hug. “And I care about you too Twi. If there’s anything I can do to help out a friend, I’d do it in a heartbeat, especially for you.” Twilight heard Rainbow suppress a sniffle, squeezing Twilight a little bit harder. “You’ve already done so much for me... You think I’m just gonna stand by and watch you do this to yourself? No way. You said you learned that from me right? Well then it’s time I showed it.”
Twilight smiled, feeling warmth flush her cheeks and returned the hug, nuzzling into Rainbow’s fur. She sighed, though despite herself a smile began to spread on her face. “You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”
Rainbow snickered, her body shaking against Twilight with the laughter. “Not a chance. Hay, if you don’t take a vacation right now I’m going back to work. Wouldn’t want that, would ya?”
“You are the most impossibly stubborn pony I’ve ever met, you know that?” Twilight chided playfully. “Sometimes you’re just as bad as Applejack.”
“Like you’re one to talk. If I’m as bad as AJ then you’re even worse.” Twilight pulled out of the hug, sticking her tongue out at Rainbow, drawing a giggle from the pegasus. “So? Is that a yes?”
“Alright, alright, you win.” Twilight sighed dramatically. “As of now, I’m officially taking a staycation.”
“With me?”
“Yes, Rainbow. With you.”
“Yes!” Rainbow cheered, somersaulting into the air and pumping a hoof in victory. “This is gonna be the best staycation you’ve ever had. Y’know why? Because it’s gonna be with the one and only Rainbow Dash. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s having fun and relaxing.”
“That’s two things, Rainbow.” Twilight rolled her eyes, just now noticing the state of disarray her room was in. Her sheets lay crumpled on the floor, soaking up the spilled milk. While Rainbow had successfully shaken most of the oats out of her fur and mane, they were now scattered across her room. “First things first. We need to clean up this mess. And you,” she raised a hoof and pointed accusingly at Rainbow, “go take a shower or something. I get we’re supposed to be on vacation, but we’re in my library.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll go grab a shower. Meet you downstairs in a bit?” Rainbow asked, already gliding to the bathroom down the hall.
“Sure. Oh, and Rainbow Dash?” Twilight called over her shoulder as Rainbow slunk into the bathroom.
“Yeah Twi?”
“You owe me a new alarm clock.”
The milk mopped up and her soiled sheets thrown in with the laundry, Twilight had set to making some coffee for her and Rainbow. While the water boiled, she found herself again at her study. Roughly a third of the books Celestia had assigned her had been read with several pages of notes accompanying each.
Lowering her quill, she read over her letter to Celestia one last time before signing her name.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I am writing to let you know that I will be taking the next few days off from my regular studies. It has come to my attention that I have ‘overburdened’ myself with my studies and the rather extensive reading list you assigned me. While at first I was against the idea, my friend Rainbow Dash convinced me that I needed to take a breath for both my mental and physical health. The funny thing is, this came about after I insisted that Rainbow take a vacation and spend her days off at the library with me. I suppose in hindsight I should have known I couldn’t hide how much work I had while Rainbow was here.
I am truly lucky to have a friend like Rainbow Dash looking out for me. I hope to return to my studies after three days at the most.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
Twilight sighed, sealing the letter for Spike to send later. Picking up stray pieces of parchment and filing them away in her desk for later with her magic, her ears perked up as the sound of rushing water from upstairs stopped. Rainbow had finished her shower and would be down any minute to spend the rest of the day. Twilight felt herself smile at the thought and she began to hum to herself as she sorted her notes and books, mentally calculating how much she had left to do. It would take her a long time to finish, but she had decided Rainbow was right. She needed to take a break from it all. What was originally supposed to be a weekend of her making sure Rainbow had a good staycation had turned around on her. Twilight couldn’t help but feel a little grateful. It was nice to have somepony take care of her like that, to be looking out for her... to make sure that she was happy and healthy.
“I wanted to keep on pushing myself, keep on going no matter what, but you saw what I was doing to myself. Now I’m seeing the same thing happen to you, and it’s killing me Twi.” Twilight smiled at the memory of their exchange from this morning, but felt a small pang of guilt all the same. The last thing she wanted was to make Rainbow worry. Twilight had to admit though, she was kinda glad she did.
“You said that you cared about me. You said that if there was anything you could ever do to help me, you’d do it. And I care about you too Twi. If there’s anything I can do to help out a friend, I’d do it in a heartbeat, especially for you Twilight.” Twilight felt her cheeks grow warm, colouring thing a dark red contrasting against her purple coat. She shook her head to dispel the thoughts. Why was she thinking about this now? Rainbow was just her friend, and just because Twilight would do anything in her power to make Rainbow happy didn’t mean a thing. As if to prove her wrong, Twilight could still hear the blood pumping in her ears and feel the warmth in her cheeks.
“Hey Twi.” Twilight turned her head to see Rainbow walking down the stairs, a towel draped around her neck and her mane still damp from the shower. “Who knew a shower after being drenched in milk and oats would make you feel so good? Hey, whatcha doin’? I thought we were on vacation?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not working or anything. I’m just putting all this,” she gestured to her books and scrolls, “away so I don’t have to look at it until I have to.” Twilight didn’t even bother to hide the bite in her voice. As much as she loved her studies, the more she thought about it the more Rainbow’s words rang true. It wasn’t until this morning that she realized how fond she was of sleep.
Twilight felt more than heard Rainbow walk up to her side, draping a comforting wing around her. Twilight shivered, now noticing the crisp air of the early autumn morning, and took comfort in the warmth of Rainbow’s coat. “Did you wanna talk about it?”
Twilight shook her head, crawling out from under Rainbow’s wing. “No thanks, I’m okay. We’re supposed to be on vacation right? Let’s leave all this work stuff behind for now.”
“All right, if you’re sure.”
“I am.” Twilight gave a half-hearted smile. “Oh right! I almost forgot! I actually had a surprise planned for you today!”
“You did?”
“Yup! You’ll never guess what arrived in the mail yesterday while you were out.” Twilight practically skipped over to her desk, pulling out a brown paper-wrapped package. “Technically it should be entered in the library catalogue system, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt for you to get a chance to read it first.”
Rainbow eyed the package with a mixed expression of curiosity and anticipation. “Well? Don’t leave me hangin’, what is it?”
“Open it and find out.” Twilight teased, pushing the package across the floor to Rainbow.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow at Twilight’s excited gaze before turning her befuddlement to the package. With a shrug, Rainbow tore at the brown packing paper. As the first hints of a tan coated pegasus sporting a green jacket and pith helmet peeked through, Rainbow’s eyes widened.
“No. Way.” She looked back up to Twilight, her excitement matching Rainbow’s own. Twilight nodded quickly and waved a hoof, gesturing for Rainbow to finish opening the package. Her smile threatening to split her face, Rainbow continued tearing at the paper until the green-spined book lay in front of her. Rainbow’s favourite pegasus and daredevil, besides herself, stared back up at her with a cocky grin, challenging the world to try and stop her. Rainbow whooped and leapt into the air clutching the latest Daring Do book to her chest.
With no warning, Rainbow dived forward and wrapped Twilight up in a bone-crushing hug. “Twilight! This is awesome! Thank you thank you thank you!”
“It’s no problem Rainbow-” Twilight breathed out, trying to squirm out of Rainbow’s iron grip. “Can’t... breathe...”
Releasing Twilight, Rainbow coughed into a hoof and tucked the book under a wing, her cheeks reddening. “Sorry about that. Guess I got a little carried away. But wait... why’s there only one? I thought you got duplicates of books like this in case a bunch of ponies want to read them at once?”
“This is an advanced copy from the publisher. I was actually planning on letting you keep the copy if you wanted to, and I thought that today we could maybe spend the day inside reading?” Twilight scratched one leg with another, taking interest in the intricate pattern of cracks in the hardwood floor.
“You are the best! But what’re you gonna read?”
“Don’t worry about me Rainbow. There’s literally a whole library for me to choose from. I can wait until you’ve finished it before I read it.”
“No way.” Rainbow waved a hoof in the air, banishing the idea and smiled slyly at Twilight. “We’re just gonna havta read it together if that’s the case.”
“You don’t have to do that for me Rainbow. I don’t mind waiting, honestly.”
“Nuh-uh.” Rainbow shook her head, throwing her foreleg around Twilight’s neck. “If we’re gonna do this ‘staycation’ thing, then we’re gonna do it together. Besides, there’s nopony I’d rather read the new Daring Do book with. Actually, you’re the only pony I’d ever want to read it with. Whatcha say? How ‘bout we go out to the balcony and read there? The leaves are just starting to turn and it isn’t too cool yet.”
“T-thank you Rainbow. Really, I’m flattered.” Twilight sputtered out. She coughed into her hoof before facing Rainbow, smiling genuinely at Rainbow and slinking out from under her leg. “Why don’t you go on up? I’ll grab a couple blankets and some coffee.”
“Sounds great. I’ll go grab a couple pillows on my way up.”
The next two days passed with Twilight and Rainbow constantly at each other’s side. They would wake up in the mornings and mumble a ‘good morning’ to each other over a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal. The day would be spent in each other’s company. They would either out on Twilight’s balcony huddled together with the latest Daring Do book or out on a stroll through Ponyville and the White Tail Woods.
On these walks Twilight would often find herself lying in a field while Rainbow listlessly flew overhead. It was a strange sensation for Twilight to do nothing, to not be reading or dealing with some kind of crisis. Rainbow prided herself as a self-proclaimed ‘mare-of-action,’ and Twilight wasn’t really any different. Even when she was a filly she’d walk around, her muzzle in a book and her eyes ignorant to the world around her. Now though, with Rainbow’s insistence, Twilight had left her books behind. Autumn was always her favourite season, especially the beginning of autumn. The leaves were just beginning to turn, a few already dancing on the wind to the cold ground below. The first of the cool winds would blow through the trees, but not yet too cool to stop ponies from going outside. She relished in how the leaves crunched under her hooves, how the cool grass would tickle at her stomach, and how the sun would warm her coat, all the while surrounded by the dying green leaves giving way to crispy yellows, warm browns, and rusty reds.
Whenever a cold wind blew through, before Twilight could even shiver she’d feel a downy wing spread over her back keeping the chilled air at bay and turn to meet an earnest smile from Rainbow. Twilight was growing to love that smile. It was different from the regular cocky smirk Rainbow showed the rest of the world. It was sincere, and sometimes Twilight felt that it was reserved just for her.
Today, the two found themselves cuddled up on Twilight’s balcony, the Daring Do book laying open between them. From high up all of Ponyville was spread out before them as it slowly turned from summer to autumn while the two curled up underneath a canopy of golden yellow.
Rainbow’s wing was already spread over Twilight’s back, drawing the unicorn in close. Twilight could feel her coat rubbing against Rainbow’s with each breath as they finished the last chapter.
“And Daring Do, with the Lazuline Amulet in hoof, took off into the darkening sky, leaving the temple of Naqsh-i Rustam behind her amongst the cries of revenge from her defeated foe. When she got home, she would be sure to cash in her vacation days. She smirked at the thought of the bewildered faces of her colleagues. Daring Do was the last pony they’d expect to take a sabbatical, but after this adventure, she learned that every now and then a pony needed to slow down and enjoy life while it lasts. The setting sun was testament to this fact, nothing is eternal, so you have to enjoy it while you can.”
Rainbow closed the book with a snap, letting loose a squeal of excitement as she hugged it to her chest. “That was awesome! Totally the best Daring book yet! Hey, you notice how the ending was almost exactly like what we’re doin’ right now? The whole ‘slow down and enjoy life bit’?”
Twilight nodded in agreement, idly rubbing her forelegs together to keep the blood flowing. “It was definitely one of Daring’s better adventures, and I couldn’t agree more. It just took a certain pony to show me that, and I’m glad she did.”
“Yeah, me too. Hey Twi?”
“Yes Rainbow?”
“Thanks. For everything. Just... thanks.” Rainbow drew Twilight in closer, pulling the unicorn into a gentle hug, flashing Twilight that same endearing smile.
Twilight felt her face grow warm as she wrapped her legs around Rainbow, relaxing into the embrace. “You’re welcome, but for what? I should be thanking you.”
Rainbow sighed and pushed the Daring Do book away. “I know it doesn’t sound like much, but if you didn’t slap some sense into me when you did... I dunno, but I probably would be more worse for wear. I don’t know how else to thank you for caring about me that much so... thanks.”
“You don’t need to thank me.” Twilight took Rainbow’s hoof in her own, stroking at her fur idly and sharpening her focus on her friend. “You already returned the favour tenfold. I couldn’t see how much I was burning myself out. I know I can be stubborn sometimes, and it really means a lot to have somepony like you watching out for me.”
“Always.” Rainbow smiled wanly, putting her hoof over Twilight’s and squeezing tight.
The sudden change to an unusually reserved demeanor egged Twilight, albeit warily. “Did you want to talk about it?”
“Well...” Twilight could feel Rainbow fidget her wings restlessly, but she didn’t pull away. Rainbow studied the back of the Daring Do book, searching for the right words. She flicked away a leaf that had fallen on the cover. Her muzzle wrinkled like she had swallowed something bitter. “It’s just... hard, y’know? I mean, it’s like no matter how you finish, no matter how hard you work... there’s always something else. And you can’t say no or stop doing one thing without feeling like you’re letting everypony down. And eventually it starts to bring you down. If you’re not panicking to finish one thing you’re already on your way to do the next. Even being with your friends can become a chore, just another thing to do. It’s horrible. The last thing I want is for spending time with you...with any of the girls, to feel like something I have to do.”
“You get it.” Rainbow nodded, offering Twilight a sympathetic smile, a smile that reflected the same weariness that Twilight felt. Yet, there was the spark of something else in her smile. It wasn’t profound or even really discernable, but Twilight could see it all the same. A spark of happiness, here in the early autumn afternoon with Rainbow Dash, Twilight’s mind had finally fallen silent as she stared into Rainbow’s eyes. Maybe this was all she needed to face the real world again.
Finally Twilight brought herself to speak, though she regretted the words almost the second they left her mouth. “And tomorrow this’ll all be over. Tomorrow you go back to work and training, and I go back to my studies.”
“Yeah...” Rainbow’s voice trailed off and a heavy silence fell over the two. Twilight felt a pit form at the bottom of her stomach and an almost suffocating dread started to weigh down on her shoulders.
She sighed wistfully, resting her head on her and Rainbow’s entwined hooves. “I don’t want this to be over. These last few days have been the best I’ve had in a long time.”
“Maybe it doesn’t have to.” Rainbow tugged a hoof free and raised Twilight’s bewildered gaze to meet her own. “Who says this has to be over? We can still hang out and set a few hours aside, or maybe even a whole day! I don’t really want this to end either. I love hangin’ out with you Twi, and it doesn’t matter what we’re doing. Reading, talking, walking, eating, I don’t care. All I know is that even when I’m just sittin’ beside you doin’ nothing... I dunno, it just makes me feel happy.”
“I would like that.”
Twilight locked gazes with Rainbow as Rainbow lowered her hoof, gently resting it back over Twilight’s. A hypnotic lull fell over both ponies as they lay pressed against each other, staring into each other’s eyes. Twilight’s already warm cheeks grew hotter and her heart started beating erratically. Rainbow’s blush mirrored Twilight’s own, though she didn’t notice.
The front door slammed, drawing a surprised blink from Twilight, ruining the special moment. The pitter-patter of feet climbing the staircase caused both Twilight and Rainbow to turn their heads, hooves still entwined and Rainbow’s wing still over Twilight’s back. A small purple-scaled head poked up from the staircase, smiling and waving at Twilight.
“Hey Twilight! I’m back early!” Spike cheered, stopping dead in his tracks as noticed Rainbow and Twilight. “And uhh, hey Rainbow Dash. Am I interrupting something?”
Blinking in confusion, Twilight and Rainbow looked from Spike, to each other, and to their hooves wrapped around each other. Sporting twin blushes, Rainbow and Twilight quickly separated, faces burning and looking anywhere but at each other or Spike.
“N-no, nothing at all. Rainbow and I were just talking about the latest Daring Do book.” Twilight sputtered, struggling vainly to regain her composure.
Rolling his eyes, Spike turned to descend the staircase. “Riiiight. I’ll be downstairs munching on some gems or something. I’ll leave you two to your date.”
“It’s not a date!” Rainbow shouted after the retreating form of the young dragon. Huffing, she settled back down next to Twilight, her wing instinctively wrapping back around the mare. “Can you believe him Twi?! Just ‘cause we’re up here reading doesn’t make this a date.” Rainbow grumbled, with a pout on her face. Twilight may have found the site cute if she weren’t fiddling with her mane and wondering why her mouth had suddenly gone dry. After a few moments of silence, Rainbow looked over to Twilight to see her biting her lip, her cheeks stained a bright crimson.
“Twilight?” Rainbow prodded her friend’s shoulder. Twilight slowly raised her gaze to meet Rainbow’s, concern etched on her features.
Fidgeting with her hooves, Twilight shivered as she felt Rainbow pull her close again. Steeling her resolve, she locked eyes with Rainbow. “I-is this a date?”
Rainbow gaped at Twilight, two pink dots colouring her cheeks as she sputtered at Twilight. Twilight felt a small pang when she didn’t respond, but was grateful Rainbow didn’t pull away. “W-w-what?! N-no! Of course not! What gave you that idea?!”
Twilight gulped but didn’t look away. “W-well... the breakfasts in bed, the snuggling together under a blanket, going out on day-long walks... it’s almost exactly like in my books.”
Rainbow sputtered, red now staining her entire muzzle. Twilight could feel her heartbeat accelerating against Twilight’s own. “N-no! I didn’t plan this to be a date! Not that I wouldn’t be willing to- I mean, uhm...” Rainbow’s voice trailed off, a deafening silence falling between the two.
Neither could muster the courage to look at the other. Twilight was painfully aware of Rainbow’s wing hugging her close to the pegasus, of the crimson staining her cheeks, and, despite the blood roaring in her ears, Rainbow’s breathing mere inches from her muzzle.
“Could it be?” Twilight whispered almost silently. She stole a glance upwards to see Rainbow staring down at her, her cheeks a bright red and her ears perked up.
“What?”
Twilight cleared her throat, raising her head level to Rainbow’s. Staring deeply into Rainbow’s eyes, Twilight saw emotions normally hidden behind the magenta windows conflict within Rainbow as clearly as she could see words on a page. Twilight read her like an open book, watching surprise, confusion, exhaustion, and a glimmer of hope flash behind her eyes.
Seeing the glimmer gave her the courage to extend a hoof forwards, reaching for Rainbow but never touching.
“Could this be a date?” Much to Twilight’s surprise and relief, Rainbow reached forward with a hoof of her own and rested it on Twilight’s. “I meant what I said... I care about you Rainbow. I want you to be happy, and I know I’m happy when I’m around you. I don’t want this to end but... I think, if we give this a shot, maybe it won’t have to?”
A few minutes of silence passed between the two. If Spike had heard any of what had been said, he didn’t bother to see what was happening. Twilight felt her resolve crumble and drew her hoof away from Rainbow’s, sliding out from under her wing with a pained grimace on her muzzle.
She had just begun muttering a quick apology when a softly spoken ‘yes’ captured her attention. Rainbow had risen to her hooves, a bright and earnest smile spreading over her face.
“Yes. That would be... yes.” Rainbow shuffled around on her hooves, her wings fidgeting at her sides. “What I mean is... I’m not good with this words thing but I’ll try. Twilight, I meant what I said too. I care about you too and even just hangin’ around you... I dunno, I can’t really explain it. Plus,” she added, her smile turning sheepish, “you are the only pony I’d ever read Daring Do with.”
Her muzzle still stained red, Twilight lunged forward, tackling Rainbow to the balcony floor, wrapping her forelegs around the pegasus’ waist. She nuzzled into Rainbow’s fur and felt both of Rainbow’s wing wrap around her, pressing her closer against Rainbow’s chest.
“Twi, this is awesome and everything but... why? Why me? What makes me so specia-”
Rainbow was cut off by a pair of lavender lips pressing lightly against her own. Twilight drew away, a small pecking sound finalizing the act.
“There’ll be time to talk about that later. For now, I just want to enjoy the rest of our ‘date’. Deal?”
“Yeah, you got it, Twi...” Rainbow fell silent and pulled Twilight close. Twilight rested her head against Rainbow's shoulder, nuzzling into the warm fur. Rainbow's questions could wait. For now, she was happy to enjoy the moment with Twilight as the leaves swayed and fell in the cool breeze.
Rainbow was certain of one thing, smirking as she rested her head against Twilight's, taking this staycation was the best thing she'd done in ages.
Author's Note
Ta-da! Hopefully this was worth the wait. Many, many thanks to all of the judges in the TwiDash Group for being so lenient and generous in granting me such a long extension to get this done. Seriously, I am incredibly grateful.
Special thanks to The_Incredible_Blunderbolt for getting me off my arse to write this and for supporting me. Honestly, this probably wouldn't have been finished or started at all without ya Blundy.
I apologize if some of it is a bit rough (the editing was done on overtime with horrible internet connection >.>).
Questions and comments are always appreciated!
