Ingredients: Tears, Friendship and Fear

“Rainbow Dash? Rainbow Dash? Focus, hello? Look at me.” Twilight said waving her wings in front of her face. Rainbow Dash slowly turned her eyes towards Twilight, but she was still in shock.

“Twilight- I just…” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Rainbow Dash you need to relax. Really, it’s nothing. I actually don’t think there could be anyone better.”

Rainbow Dash got off of her chair and slumped to the floor. It finally made sense to Rainbow Dash, everything that she had been questioning for weeks, everything that was strange and awkward, it all only led to one answer. Right in front of her face how could she not see that?

“Twilight, I- I couldn’t figure it out…” Rainbow Dash said finally coming down from on high and speaking coherently again.

“What couldn’t you figure out?”

“Just…things. I mean, I’d find myself watching her every once in awhile. Just watching her, I just thought I was being creepy really. Yet there was something so comforting about having her there, sleeping in my bed and watching after her. It was nice to have to look after her, to feed her meals and sit with her and talk. Just talking. It kind of took me out of the world for a little."

Rainbow paused and glanced at Twilight who was listening intently. The good thing about Twilight is that she knew when to just sit and listen, to soak it all in.

“Then you know, I would start to scratch her head or run my hoof through her mane just to calm her you know. She seemed to like it so I kept doing it, and I really liked it. I’ve never really been that touchy with someone Twilight, but with her I felt like anything I did was comforting and it made me happy, and made her happy."

"Then when she started walking around and got her sight back I guess she wanted to return the, she’d once in awhile scratch my leg or back with her hooves too and it was so soothing Twilight. I really don’t know how to explain it. I was in another world and the only thing I could feel was her hoof drawing patterns against me.”

Rainbow Dash started welling up with emotions and tears began forming at her eyes. She was trying to be tough, but the more she recounted the more that added on to the lump in her throat. Twilight was smiling and used her wing to rub her friends arm.

“And then when I came home one day she started to massage my wings cause they were really sore-” Rainbow Dash now had tears streaming down her face and mucus was starting to drip and block her from speaking.

She sniffed hard and pressed on trying to get it all out.

“Then, I laid down on the couch and she got on top of me, started massaging my back and wings, Twilight it felt so good. It was so tender and felt like there was something more to it. I knew it was just going to my head, but then she started massaging my butt and that really went to my head. The pressure of her on top of me, she was so warm. So warm.”

It all came out now and she sobbed quietly letting the tears fall on her lap. Twilight quickly embraced her friend and put her head against her shoulder. She held tightly and used her wings to wrap her around even more, trying to create as much privacy for her as possible. Twilight couldn’t even begin to understand what she was going through.

With all her experience and book smarts this was totally out of her science. It wasn’t even science at all. She let Rainbow Dash continue to cry for nearly twenty minutes and it took just as long for her to feel ready to talk again. Twilight simply brushed her mane with her hoof. Rainbow Dash sat up and whipped her eyes, with assistance from Twilight.

“You’re great Twilight.” Rainbow Dash said through red eyes.

“I’ve had lots of practice and learned from the best.” She replied giving her wink. Rainbow Dash sniffed hard and then tried to pick her thoughts up off the floor.

“After the massage, I looked and…well…I got…excited?” She looked at Twilight hoping she’d get her euphemism. It took Twilight a second, but it clicked. “Oh! Really?” Rainbow Dash nodded.

“Well that’s nothing to be ashamed of again Rainbow Dash. That’s actually great, it means that you have two important components needed for a relationship to work.” Rainbow Dash shook her head and looked off.

“No Twilight, there’s no way. Lightning Dust would never be in a relationship especially with a mare. I mean she’s way to focused on her guilt and she’s had her heart ripped out by just her friends. I can’t image trying to replace it with me, never the less being that responsible for not making the whole thing collapse again. I also don’t want it to feel like I’m taking advantage of her” Twilight face contorted and she felt sad for her friend. There was so much going on and hardly a way to figure it all out. She put a hoof on Rainbow Dashes leg.

“You know, the Florence Nightingale effect can work both ways? It often does in most cases. A patient can feel protected by someone who healed them and cared for them. “

“Maybe…” Rainbow Dash muttered, she checked the clock and realized she was over an hour late to work. “I’ve gotta go back to work Twilight, thanks for all your help.”

“Of course, and hey-” Twilight responded getting up from the floor and walking to the front door. “Don’t try to make sense of it all at once. Let it settle in a day or two and then try to figure things out.” Rainbow Dash nodded and flew up into the air.

She was exhausted emotionally and physically and she had a whole day of work in front of her. Yet she could finally see things fitting into place in her mind, and started to understand the things around her.

Lightning Dust came in holding a tea tray for Fluttershy. Why do all these ponies drink tea! She thought. By the end of the week she’d be a tea-making master.

“Why thank you Lightning Dust. You know I could get use to having somepony to help out now and again.” She took the cup and blew into it, to take small sips.

Lightning Dust looked at a chair and nearly sat in it before her memory kicked in and she plopped down on the floor next to it. A loud thud on the floor startled Fluttershy as her hooves shook her tea. She looked over at Lightning Dust and giggled a bit. Lightning Dust blushed and put her legs underneath her.

“You don’t have to sit on the floor for me.”

“I think it’s better, I gotta get the muscle memory working.” Lightning Dust said rubbing her butt. Again Fluttershy giggled and put her tea down.

“So how are you doing Lightning Dust?” she asked. Lightning Dust sighed as she got this question already three times this week, Fluttershy saw this and quickly added quietly

“You don’t have to answer…um if you don’t…want to…” Lightning Dust instantly felt bad as Fluttershy was like a stuffed animal she made feel bad.

“No, no it’s nothing. Just you guys are really nice for even caring. Everything is fine, Twilight and Rarity seem like I’ve been around forever having quite a bit for me to do. It’s still a bit awkward for Rainbow Dash and I wish that she would just get with it like everypony else seems to have…” Lightning Dust was a bit shocked at herself as for the first time in a long time she actually had a complaint escape her lips. Fluttershy chuckled and said,

“It’s funny. For somepony who is a maid their main complaint is not having enough work to do. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, she’ll come around to it eventually.” Lightning Dust sighed again as Twilight’s and Rarities words echoed through Fluttershy.

There was something else bothering her though, and it had been eating her up for awhile. She didn’t think telling Twilight was a good idea because she worked so closely with Rainbow Dash when it was concerns about her. She didn’t want to tell Rarity either, because she took things way too lightly and wouldn’t give her the real advice she needed.

She decided Fluttershy was far enough removed from the situation, but also caring enough to offer real advice. Lightning Dust took a deep breath and asked,

“Fluttershy, before we get to work could I ask your advice on something?” Fluttershy put down her tea and understood the seriousness in Lightning Dust’s tone.

“Of course what is it?”

“Well it’s kind of a big deal, I mean…okay it’s about a pony I like…a lot.”

“Oh!” Fluttershy said her eyes widening in surprise. “I’ll do the best I can, but I’ll warn you I don’t have a lot of experience in relationships or stuff like that, but if that doesn’t bother you.”

“Okay, there’s a pony that I like a lot as I said. The thing is… it’s really difficult to try and tell her my feelings, it’s actually kind of impossible.”

“Well why can’t you tell him?” Lighting Dust put her head down and blushed a bit.

“Her actually,” she corrected. Fluttershy’s ears lowered and her eyes grew small in embarrassment.

“I see, that makes a little more sense then.”

“Yeah, so not only to add the fact that it’s another mare and she probably has no interest in girls as it is, in the situation her and I are it kind of makes it impossible to tell her something like that, without being really scared of what would happen if she return the feelings.” Fluttershy pondered a bit raising her hoof up to her chin.

“Hmm,” she said. “And you’re sure you can’t tell her? No matter what?””

“I’m almost positive, it’s just…it’s eating me up inside because I think about her constantly and we hang out a lot…” Lighting Dust paused as to make sure not revel any information that would pinpoint Rainbow Dash.

“Seeing her all the time like I do, only makes it stronger, and harder and…I just need some girly advice.” Lightning Dust said in defeat putting her chin against the floor.

Fluttershy looked at her and then got on the floor as well to pet her mane. Of course, Fluttershy would know how to comfort her at this moment. She worked with pets all day and all things considered that’s basically what she was.

“You know what I say?”

“What?”

“Just do it.” Lighting Dust shot straight up and looked Fluttershy dead in her completely serious eye. She expected several possible responses from someone like Fluttershy, but never did she expect something like that. It almost didn’t register like she had really said it.

“What? Just say ‘I love you’? Just like that?” Lightning said sarcastically.

“Why not?” Fluttershy asked, prodding Lighting Dust to shift a little as it sounded Fluttershy had missed half of the conversation before.
“I told you why not, it’s just…impossible.”

“So? Do the impossible.” Lighting Dust couldn’t believe what she was telling her. It was not comforting advice at all, and sounded like Fluttershy was nearly making fun of her.

“I can’t didn’t you hear?” Lightning Dust spat back. Fluttershy did not loose her gentle composure however,

“You want to know something?” Lighting Dust waited looking at her curiously.

“I’ve never met a colt or a mare who I thought I actually fell in love with There have been rarely any ponies that I thought might be nice to go on a date with. It’s probably just my timid personality holding me back, but you know what I’d do if I did find that magical one?” Lighting Dust sat looking at her blankly.

“I would make sure they were mine and hold onto them forever. If there was a pony out there who could make me feel so happy so confused and angry at the same time I wouldn’t wanna let them go anytime soon. That is a one of a kind treatment and I’d try with all my might to make them love me back…” Fluttershy paused as if something came to her mind, but she quickly shook it off and went back.

“Even if this mare says no, or makes things awkward for you at least you gave it a try and choose to risk being happy, than oblivious and miserable.” There was a long pause and Lightning Dust looked at the floor.

There was definitely truth in what Fluttershy was telling her, and knew that somepony who didn’t know what it was like to love, would do a lot to be in her position. She did love Rainbow Dash and wanted nothing more than to be with her.

She provided the care and support in her life when there was nothing. When her heart was ripped out of her chest and she was cast off like a broken toy. Rainbow Dash accepted her as a broken toy and fixed her.

She was delicate knowing she was fragile. She gave hours upon hours making sure nothing happened to her and that she did everything to perfection. Unbeknownst to her all the waking hours, concern, and emotions she invested into Lightning Dust, fell right into the cavity that should have occupied her heart. It fell in and solidified, it was shaped by Lightning Dust’s own reaction to her care and soon enough, she acquired a new heart.

This heart was soft and flexible, but it was also sensitive. Yet every touch and moment Rainbow Dash made her laugh, the heart threatened to jump out and attach itself to her. Lighting Dust had to call it back time and time again because as much as she wanted her to have it and to care for it forever, there was also the possibility of it being injured and possibly broken.

A wing was waiving in front of Lightning Dust’s line of sight. She had blanked out for a few moments and Fluttershy used her wing to call her back. Lightning Dust smiled and a tear threatened to roll down her cheek.

“You don’t have to do it all at once, take some time to build up a little courage.” Lightning Dust nodded her head and gave Fluttershy a big hug. This conversation made her like Fluttershy a great deal more, and even if she was quite and passive, which Lightning Dust wasn’t use to. She was still a good friend.