The Heart is Where it is.

Chapter 3: Dust into Hope

Rainbow Dash raced to Twilight's tree with Fluttershy, her heart pounding loudly.
Keep it cool, RD. she thought with a deep breath. Fluttershy glanced at the cyan pony worriedly, earning a grin from her.
"Don't worry about me, Shy," Rainbow said with a wink. "I'm fine, honestly." Only, she wasn't fine. Rainbow Dash felt horrible and was still debating if she should confront her friends about her sexual interest. The dreams were only making it worse for Rainbow Dash, trying her best to hide it for the sake of her friends.

As they reached Twilights house they stepped inside, Rainbow Dash a little less excited and merrily as Fluttershy.
"Rainbow Dash!"
Pinkie Pie pounced on the startled pegasus with a screech of joy, knocking them both to the ground.
"I told you girls she would come!"
Rainbow Dash smiled nervously and gave a small laugh.
"Of course I did!" she retorted, rolling her pink eyes. "I wouldn't miss this party for the world as long as I'm with you guys." Her friends all laughed with her, making Rainbow Dash feel suddenly confident about talking to her friends.

"C'mon girls, I've got games planed for us!" the alicorn exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hooves. Her friends all cheered and gathered around Twilight, all except for Rainbow Dash. She hesitated and thought of what might become of her once she confessed. Earning a worried glance from Fluttershy, she shook her head and flashed a sweet smile, trotting over to the group.

"Alright, this game is called 'Name the Thought'. Somepony has to think of a secret they've kept for a while and give hints. The others have to guess what it is they're thinking from the hint's they've received. Understood?" The ponies nodded as Twilight explained the game, a bolt of fear striking Rainbow Dash.
Reveal... a secret? I only have two! And that's... Rainbow Dash jerked back in panic with a realization that she'd have to tell them about her crush on Fluttershy or about her love for Mares and not Colts.
Make up a secret, but what should it be...? The gears in her mind suddenly stopped churning as Twilight called out her name.
"Rainbow, how about you go first?"
"Uh, somepony else can--" Applejack cut her off.
"Are you scared RD?" Rainbow Dash put an aghast look on her face, narrowing her eyes.
"No way!"
"Then why don't you just drop a hint?"
"Fine! I will."

Rainbow Dash took in a deep breath and looked at the anxious ponies around her, thinking of something she could say.
This is it, she thought. the time is now.
"Uhh, I find a personal interest in this... topic." Rainbow began nervously. Pinkie Pie squealed and bounced in the air.
"You like BAKING!?"
"No,"
Applejack grinned slyly, resting a hoof on her chin.
"You enjoy silent ballet flying?"
"Gross, no way!' The pegasus exclaimed. Twilight repeated Rainbow Dash's sentence, deep in thought.
"Hm," she began. "a personal interest in a topic..."

Rainbow Dash started to get nervous as she saw how deeply they were all thinking, quivering slightly.
"Is it a hobby?" the purple alicorn queered.
"N-no..."
Twilight grinned as if she won a prize, thinking about her sentence once more.
"Is it about dating?" Fluttershy asked softly, not meeting Rainbow's wide eyes. Rainbow Dash swallowed a lump past her throat, her voice hoarse as she said, "Y-yes."

They all grew silent, too silent for comfort as Rainbow Dash sucked in a sharp breath, closing her eyes.
"Girls, I need to tell you all something. But you have to promise not to hate me or disregard me for it."
The ponies all nodded in unison, leaning in towards Rainbow Dash.
"I broke up with Soarin'--"
"WHAT!?" Pinkie Pie cried, pulling on her pink hair.
"Be quiet, Pinkie," Twilight snapped sternly. Her purple eyes softened as she looked at Rainbow Dash.
"You two were so happy together. What happened?"
Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, sweat misting on her body as they all leaned in closer.
"I-I...well..."
"It's ok, sugarcube," Applejack said gently. "take your time."

The cyan pegasus grinded her teeth together and cried out, "I was never happy! I don't like Colts; I like Mares!" The room was chillingly silent as Rainbow Dash buried her face into her hooves, a few tears rolling down her face. The memories of the dream rushed back to her like a ton of bricks as she lifted her head.
"I'm so sorry!" she cried, dashing out of the house. Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could, hearing the desperate calls of her friends.
I can't go home, Rainbow thought sadly.
"They'd follow me there..."
She wanted to go home badly, but was afraid they would break down her door and yell at her. Rainbow Dash didn't care anymore, fore she would have no where to go anyways if she stayed away from home.

Rainbow Dash flew into her cloud home and slammed the door shut, collapsing on her bed in tears.
"I blew it!" she scolded, mentally kicking herself. As Rainbow Dash crawled under her blankets, she thought about the party.
What are they saying about me? she thought sadly. Her eyes grew heavy as sleep sucked her in like a giant black wave.

Rainbow Dash awoke in the middle of the night, feeling somebody behind her. A hoof was wrapped around her waist and the cyan pegasus gasped as she saw the soft yellow coat.
Fluttershy...? Rainbow Dash closed her eyes once more, feeling safer with her crush holding her tightly. A few joyful tears fell and she felt Fluttershy stir behind her, stroking Rainbow's mane.
"I knew you could do it Dashie," the yellow pegasus whispered gently, making Rainbow smile a genuine smile. And with that, Rainbow Dash fell asleep, knowing she would sleep undisturbed that night cuddling against the pony she loved: Fluttershy