If Wishes Were Pegasi

Dash has only been gone for a week, but the wound on your heart left by her absence is still just as fresh as it was the day of her departure. You had put on a brave face as one by one she said goodbye to all her friends, and her farewell party began winding down. Everypony else had managed to have a good time as they shared their favorite memories with Dash, but you just couldn’t get into the celebration. You had kept mostly to yourself for the duration of the party. Until it was time for Dash to leave.

The room became completely silent as Dash approached each of her dear friends, sharing some meaningful, heartfelt words. Even Pinkie Pie remained silent as Dash spoke, a rare moment indeed. There were a few tears, a tiny bit of laughter as she reminisced on some of the good times she’d shared with each of them, but Dash herself made a concerted effort to not let herself fall victim to emotion.

At last, she had approached you. As you looked deeply into each other’s eyes, all that needed to be said between the two of you was communicated without speaking a word. You placed your hooves around one another, hugging so tightly it felt as though you’d fused into one being, drawing “Awws” and sniffles from those in attendance.

“I’ll see you all soon, I promise,” Dash said just before throwing on her saddlebags and making her way out the door. Just as she was about to take off, you ran up to her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“I’m gonna hold you to that,” you whispered softly into her ear.

*   *   *

You sigh as you pass through your front door and toss your saddlebags aside, having been sent home from your job early. You can’t focus on your work, even though you’ve buried yourself in it lately. Anything to keep your mind off her. Your boss even had to force you to take the rest of today off because of how hard you’ve been pushing yourself. You start to feel like your life has lost all meaning.

Until you notice a letter on the floor, the address on the envelope scrawled in Dash’s unmistakable writing. You eagerly tear the envelope open and pull out its contents.

Sorry it’s taken me this long to write to you, the Wonderbolts have been keeping me REALLY busy.  I’ve been pretty worn out from training so hard with them, but it’s been AWESOME. We’ve already talked about incorporating some of my moves into the act, I’m so pumped! I can’t wait til our first performance together. I think it’s gonna be in Fillydelphia, but I’m not entirely sure. I’ll be sure to let you know, and send you some VIP tickets.

A grin creeps across your face as you read her words. She’s having the time of her life. You can’t help but to be happy for her, and feel yourself welling up with pride as you continue to read.

I know it’s only been a week, but...

I really miss you. I wish there was some way you could be here with me. I still have three more weeks of training before I get a weekend off - you know I’ll be heading straight for Ponyville. In the mean time, write to me, okay? Let me know how you’re doing. I’ve been a little worried about how you’re coping with our time apart.

Love,

Dash

It’s a short letter, but it’s enough. This is just the boost you needed to keep yourself going. A gentle reminder that the world hasn’t ended, and you’ll see the love of your life again. The waiting, however, is going to be the hard part. You take the letter and carefully place it back into the envelope, carrying it over to your desk and safely stashing it away in a secret compartment, along with the note she had left you the morning after your first night together - which you still had after all this time.

You let out a long sigh as you retrieve a pencil and paper and draft your response to her. For several minutes you sit in silent contemplation, tapping a hoof on your desk as you try to think of where to begin. It takes copious restraint to keep from pouring out your soul onto the page, you know you need to keep it brief.

Dash

My beautiful goddess, love of my life, I was so ecstatic to get your letter! Words cannot convey how deeply I have missed your touch. Every evening I dream of you, wishing once more to hold you close. You have always been the heart in my day and the soul in my night. Without you I have been but an empty shell, a ghost of my former self wandering the dim caverns of despair that

Reading back over what you’ve written, you snort in annoyance at yourself as you crumple the paper up and toss it behind you. You pull out a fresh sheet of paper and start again.

Hey baby

Glad to hear you’re having a good time. Things around here have been fine. Just a bit boring though.

Again you frown, grumbling as you wad up another piece of paper and discard it. This isn’t me. I need to just write her something from the heart, you chastise yourself for making the task more difficult than it needs to be. You drop your pencil on the desk and make your way to the kitchen, putting on some water to boil. A relaxing cup of hot tea, that should help you focus.

You return to your desk with the steamy beverage, setting it down and taking a sip as you take up your pencil and begin yet again.

Dash

I understand why it took you so long to write me. I’ve missed you too. I’m so happy for you, and I wish I had the right words to tell you how proud I am of you. I’m sure the Wonderbolts are having a hard time keeping up with you! There’s no doubt in my mind you’re gonna go far with them. I can’t wait to see your first performance.

Yes, it’s only been a week, though it already feels like it’s been an eternity. I’ll be counting down the seconds until we see each other again, praying to Celestia that they past swiftly. I hope to hear from you again soon.

I love you, Dashie.

Reading back over the letter, you silently nod in satisfaction as you prepare it to be sent out first thing the next day. Just as you seal the envelope you hear a gentle knocking at your door.

“Um... excuse me...” you hear a soft, barely audible voice say, “is... is anypony home?”

You smile as you make your way over to the door and open it, revealing a timid yellow pegasus who shrinks away slightly as you open the door.

“Oh... um... sorry to bother you,” Fluttershy squeaks, looking away from you. You find it hard to believe that she’s become more assertive over the last couple of years, even though Dash has commented on it many times. Every time she’s around you she seems just as shy as when you first met her.

You greet her with a warm smile. Any friend of Dash’s is always welcome in your home.

“It’s okay, it’s no bother, really. Would you like to come in? I’ve just made some tea if you’d care for a cup.”

Fluttershy perks up ever so slightly at the invitation.

“Oh... that sounds... um.. delightful, thank you,” she replies gratefully.

You motion for Fluttershy to have a seat on your couch as you proceed to the kitchen and pour her a cup of tea, refreshing your own cup as well. She sheepishly thanks you as you set the cup on a small coffee table in front of her. You climb up into a big comfortable chair positioned at a right angle to the sofa, placing your own cup on a small end table sitting next to it.

There’s a bit of an awkward silence for a moment before you finally speak up.

“Sooo... Fluttershy. What brings you around?” you ask politely, taking a sip of your tea.

“Oh... um... well, you see... I just wanted to... um... see how you were... since... eep!” she replies, turning her head further and further away from you as she speaks.

You grin nervously, the mare’s shyness making you slightly uncomfortable.

“It’s okay... you just wanted to...” you gently urge her to continue.

“Um.. well, I just wanted to... see how you were doing... since Rainbow Dash left,” she replies meekly, looking away and blushing when her gaze meets yours. You can’t help but think to yourself what a kind gesture she’s making, attempting to put her shyness aside to make sure you’re okay in a time she knows must be difficult for you, even though she doesn’t know you all that well.

“That’s very sweet of you, Fluttershy. I really appreciate the gesture,” you say to her in as friendly a manner as you can. You could swear her blushing deepens as she turns her face toward you slowly. “I’m hanging in there. In fact, I just got a letter from her today and-”

“YOU GOT A LETTER FROM RAINBOW DASH? ...eep!” her sudden burst of enthusiasm startles you, causing you to nearly spill your tea all over the place. “Oh... oh I’m so sorry... it’s just that none of us have heard from her yet. How... how is she doing? We all miss her a lot. Did she mention any of us in her letter?”

You shoot the filly an odd look for a moment, still unsure what exactly to make of her outburst.

She squeaks and scoots away from you, hiding behind her bubblegum colored mane.

“I’m terribly sorry... I don’t mean to be so nosey... you... you don’t have to answer that, it’s okay.”

She seems to be nearly in tears, and you feel guilty about your behavior. In an attempt to make her more comfortable, you climb up on the couch next to her and place a hoof around her shoulder.

“It’s okay...” you begin.

She instantly looks mortified and leaps up from the couch at this sudden unexpected gesture from you.

“Oh... I.. I’m sorry... I have to go now... sorry...” she says as she runs past you and hastily makes her way out the front door.

“Fluttershy, wait!” you call after her.

You slowly shut the door as Fluttershy disappears from view, wondering what you did wrong. You’d never purposely hurt any of Dash’s friends. I’ll have to find a way to make it up to her, you think to yourself as you return to your seat to finish your tea.