I can't...

Chapter 3 - I can’t…

By Curify

Night time has now ascended over Ponyville, it's grasp gripping onto the landscape for the remaining duration it has left. Despite this deathly grasp, many ponies enjoy the night. Most linger about, going into late night clubs and partying til they drop, or they enter a pub to drink their problems away. Other ponies grab a hold of their loved ones, taking a nice night time stroll through the park. Nights like these are always open, allowing many to tap into it for some fun.

So why was Rainbow Dash sobbing?

For Rainbow, she was heartbroken. Not only did she screw up once by running straight into her friend’s home, but also giving her sass and almost blowing her cover.

Wait, what cover?

Rainbow suddenly stops her crying as if she heard a loud noise that shook her emotions away.

“What cover?” she asks to herself, confused by her own statement.

“I want to be with you.”

Rainbow shutters a bit, remembering the first phrase of her supposed ‘cover’. Popping her head off her cloud pillow, she began to continue hearing her voice.

“I want you only to be mine.”

“Why did I say that?” Rainbow asks, puzzled by the view.

“I love you.”

“I don’t love her…” Rainbow says, denying her previous claim with a scrunch of her muzzle.

“You what?”

“I don’t…” Rainbow denies, her facial expression shifting from a softened look to a saddened, downtrodden expression.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Y-you…” Stuttering, unable to respond to the voice. With a sigh, she lays back down and grasps her cloud pillow to her chest. Again the sadness takes over, causing Rainbow to sob and shake uncontrollably.

“I think you’re lying.”

“N-no, I’m not!” She stutters, tightening her grip on her pillow.

“Yes you are.”

“I’m not!” Rainbow shouts, denying the claims with defiance. “I’m not in love with her!”

“I love T-”

The world she once knew, now confuses her. She said she loved Twilight, but now shes at war with her feelings. These new, irrational thoughts that she can’t keep a hold of, swarming her mind like the changeling invasion. I wish Twilight was here…

Groaning at her mind’s betrayal, she flips over and puts the pillow over her head. I’m just going to lay here.

Laying in complete dismay, the pegasus begins to drift away, allowing her to embrace her dreamland of purple and grey.

It’s been two days since the disaster at the library happened.

Twilight has been doing fine, the damage has been cleared and the charred door has been replaced with a brand new one. The only difference with this door is that it’s fireproof. With all of outside repairs complete, the only things left to replace are all the books that were damaged. It’s been a tedious process to say the least. Most of the books had to be re-ordered due to the horrifying condition they were in, while others were in good enough condition to be put back on the shelves. For Twilight, seeing that at least half of her inventory had been damaged, surprised her the most. Most of the time, Rainbow Dash’s crashes weren’t so devastating. She would either hit her head on one of the shelves and topple a few books over, or simply hit the door and slump to the floor. Why did this one suddenly turn her library into a war zone?

With the question in her mind, she begins to list the possibilities. Was she wanting to become a spy with torches on her wings? Was she practicing her new dive-bombing technique? With all these possibilities fluttering in her mind, she couldn’t help but think back to how she reacted to the situation…

“Get out.”

“Get out Rainbow.”

“Why?”

“GET OUT!”

“What was I thinking?” Twilight mutters frustratingly, wondering why she yelled at her friend. “I wasn’t angry at her for simply crashing.” Twilight continues to ponder over the issue, while continuing her daily duties around the house.

Or were you?

Dropping the book in her magical grip, she moves over and sits down on the couch, looking around nervously in search of the voice. “No…I was jus-”

Just what? Antagonizing your friend?

“No…”

Thought she was somepony else for a while? Using her as a way to get back at ‘her’?

‘Her’ she thought. Her. The pony who Twilight fell in love with and tore Twilight to pieces when she left. The pegasus who flew away, promising to come back, but stabbed Twilight through the heart with her letter, telling her that it was over. The pain, the suffering, the hurt. The emotions begin to spring up, wrapping her in a tight grip. She has no escape.

“I...I did think it was her!” the unicorn moaned out, attempting to keep her emotions in tact.

Did she crash into your library too?

“No…” Beginning to lose ground, whimpering a bit.

Did she apologize when she did something wrong?

“N-no…” Stammering a bit, beginning to choke up.

Was she loyal to you and your friends?

“No-o…” Losing her battle of her emotions, beginning to curl up in a ball.

So then how is Rainbow ‘her’?

Twilight couldn’t answer the roving question due to the tense feeling in the back of her throat. She didn’t know the answer. She’s failed. I failed her… Realizing the faults she’s committed, she begins to sob which causes several salty drops to slide down her cheek. She failed. She’ll be losing a friend.

Or will you?