If Wishes Were Pegasi

As the months slowly passed, you’d hoped in vain that the separation would become easier. When Dash had departed after your first long weekend together it had, in a way, been more painful than the first time she’d said goodbye. You didn’t so much as flinch during the thorough reprimanding you received at work for taking time off unannounced to be with her. All you could think about the entire time was Dash, and how she was gone again. You gave little more than an occasional weak grunt of acknowledgement during your tongue-lashing, your stomach all tied up in knots - regret overflowing in your heart that you hadn’t really taken the time to sit Dash down and talk with her about just how difficult things had been; to tell her how badly you wished there were some way, any way, you could be together in the way you used to be.

As before, you eventually managed to convince yourself that life does indeed go on, falling back into your same old grind, going through the motions of life devoid of vim or vigor, doing only what was required of you and nothing more. Occasionally one of Dash’s friends - whom by now you’d come to think of as your friends as well - would drop by for a visit to break up the monotony of your daily rut. In particular, Fluttershy’s visits were becoming more and more frequent, and she seemed to be warming up to you quite a bit. It’s sure nice to see that mare finally starting to come out of her shell a bit, you’d occasionally mused, remaining painfully oblivious to her glaring enamorment.

The occasional good company had definitely helped the time to pass less agonizingly. Before you knew it, you were in the stands at Dash’s very first performance in Fillydelphia. You had a front-row seat along with the rest of her friends just as she’d promised. When she appeared overhead in formation with a grin plastered on her muzzle that just screamed “I’m awesome and I know it!” you couldn’t help but stare in awe. There she was, finally living her dream. All the pain of your separation evaporated. Dash was happy - truly happy. Between your enthusiastic cheers and failed attempts at whistling, you’d nudged some random colt next to you with a hoof, saying “That’s my mare up there! That’s my Dashie!” swelling with pride as you pointed to the sky, tracing Dash’s flight path in mid-air.

“Sure buddy, and I’m having an affair with Spitfire. Ha!” he’d scoffed, though his sardonic quip had fallen on deaf ears as your attention was fully locked on your lover.

Immediately after the performance, before the crowd had even begun to disperse, Dash landed directly in front of you in a way that drew everyone’s attention. She lifted her goggles, gazing lovingly into your eyes as she wordlessly strode toward you and kissed you in a way that made your heart leap into your throat. Dash was publicly claiming you, making it crystal clear to everyone around that you were hers and that she was unavailable. You barely cracked an eyelid and glanced past Dash at the colt who had been mocking you only minutes earlier, his jaw hanging agape and face frozen in disbelief, half tempted to shoot him an “I told you so!” wink.

As the kiss was broken, Dash leaned forward and whispered into your ear, giving you the address of the hotel she’d be staying at that night.

“Go there and wait for me,” she whispered as she stealthily slipped you a room key. “As soon as I take a few minutes to go say hi to Twi and the others, you... are... mine!” she growled hungrily as she bit down on your ear, causing your entire body to shudder and your knees to nearly buckle beneath you. She winked at you over her shoulder as she walked away, flicking her tail sharply, snapping it like a whip against your rump, eliciting a sharp yelp from you as you scrambled away, nearly tripping as you hit a full gallop making a bee-line for the hotel.

Dashie always knew just the right buttons to push.

* * *

Tick. Tick. Tick.

You roll over in bed and look at the clock with a groan. Every tick seems to mock you in your insomnia. It’s been almost three months since Dash’s first performance. Admittedly, things have gotten somewhat easier, though it’s sometimes still a struggle just to get to sleep at night without her warmth to comfort you. With a sigh you roll out of bed, your hooves hitting the floor with a loud “clop” that startles you momentarily.

“Gotta be at work in two hours anyway, might as well just get up,” you grumble.

You stretch and yawn loudly as you walk through the living room, which is dimly lit with the first rays of the morning sun peeking over the horizon and through the windows. You laugh and shake your head as you catch a glimpse of your reflection in one of them - your dishevelled mane and tail giving you the appearance of having just been struck by lightning. You fully intended to put on some coffee, but a sudden noise makes you stop. Your ears perk up and point toward the front door as the handle slowly turns with a soft click.

“I really need to get a lock for that door,” you mutter as your eyes search the room for something to defend yourself with. In your sleep-deprived and somewhat delirious state, you grab an umbrella from the corner thinking it as good a weapon as any. You press your rump and back against the wall as much as you can as you hide behind the slowly opening door. A shadowy hoof steps inside, and you jump out from your hiding place, swinging the umbrella wildly while yelling at the top of your lungs. You feel the umbrella promptly yanked from your grasp as a familiar voice chastises you harshly.

“Hey, knock it off, it’s just me!” the annoyed pegasus mare shouts as she tosses the umbrella aside.

You turn on the lights and rub your eyes, smiling as you sleepily mutter.

“Dash! I didn’t know you were coming home today! If I’d have known I--”

You abruptly cut yourself off as you take in Dash’s appearance. Her ears are pinned flat against her head, she’s breathing heavily, and snorting occasionally as she glares at you. You force your eyes open wide, shaking your head to clear away the sleepy haze filling your mind.

“Dash? What’s going on? What’s wrong?” you quickly ask with concern as you take notice of her puffy eyes and damp cheeks.

“This... this is your fault...” she forces out through gritted teeth as she approaches you. You immediately back away, for the first time in your life you’re absolutely terrified of Dash. Your jaw drops in utter dumbfounded confusion as you skitter backwards clumsily in fear. She closes the distance between you rapidly.

“What!? Dash, I don’t underst-oomf!” you whimper as your rump makes contact with the wall. Dash presses her forehead against yours, still scowling as you shrink away, attempting to make yourself as tiny as possible.

“My time with the Wonderbolts is over, and it’s all your fault!” she shouts.

You become overwhelmed with panic and confusion, desperately looking for any avenue of escape, the angry mare leaving you with none as she unfurls her wings and stomps at the ground in front of you. You wince and look away, fully expecting her to unleash on you in a furious storm of violence. To your surprise and relief, it never comes.

You finally open an eye, and see that Dash has backed away, sitting on her haunches and looking at the floor silently sniffling, her back to you and wings resting limply at her side. You approach her - very carefully - and place a hoof on her shoulder.

“Dash, what do you mean?” you squeak. Surely the Wonderbolts hadn’t kicked her out, she was their best performer. Well, perhaps that opinion is a little biased. Nevertheless, even if they had kicked her out, what could she possibly have meant by saying it was your fault? Your mind spins trying to make sense of it all. You’re shocked when she whips around and throws her hooves around you, sobbing loudly into your neck as she squeezes you with all her might. She quickly calms herself down and releases you with a sigh, wiping her nose and cheeks.

“It’s been getting more and more difficult for me to perform my routine,” Dash begins. “I’ve been feeling... I dunno, just off lately. At first I thought I was just getting out of shape, I had no idea that...” she hesitates for a moment. “I started working out even harder, even put myself on a diet, but no matter how hard I tried... I couldn’t improve my performance. I’ve been having the weirdest cravings for all kinds of crazy food, and noticed I was starting to get a belly...”

You look down and notice she does indeed appear to be getting  noticeably more round in her midsection.

“During my last training session I started feeling really lightheaded... nearly fell out of the sky. I’m lucky Soarin’ caught me or I might have...” Dash shakes her head, a chill running down her spine as she finishes the sentence mentally. “When the doctor checked me out... he... he said...”

Her eyes begin to water again as she sits up on her haunches. Her eyes dart around as though she’s searching for the right words to say, before she finally takes one of your hooves and places it on her belly, speaking her next words to you in a squeaky whisper.

“We’re gonna have a foal.”