Rendoveous With the Truth - 8

--- Act Three - Chapter Eight --- Rendoveous With the Truth

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Dash awoke from her slumber feeling surprisingly ill. Her body didn't have it's usual can-do feel to it, and she could barely keep her eyes open.

She looked around the room, and noted two ponies in her room. One nurse taking notes on a whiteboard beside her, a marker being levitated by her magic.

The other was a rather large white Pegasus. No, Unicorn. No, a Pegasus...

" Princess... Celestia...? " Dash's eyes widened slightly, realizing she was in the presence of the princess.

" Why, welcome back, Ms. Dash. You gave everypony quite a scare. " She smiled lightly. " How are you feeling? "

Dash wasn't sure how to respond. She felt terrible, but she didn't want the pity...

"I'm... Allright I guess... " Dash lied.

Celestia looked at her guards in the door, and shooed them with a flick of her hoof.

She addressed the nurse as well. " Miss Redheart, could I please have a moment alone with Ms. Dash?"

The mare turned, and smiled lightly. " Certainly, princess... " and with a bow, she left the room.

Celestia sighed. " Ms.Dash... If all is right... Why did you attempt to take your life? "

Dash tilted her head slightly, thinking about the question.

" Young Pegasus, I have always valued and cherished every life equally on this planet, and I've held true to that... Until six ponies and a dragon were introduced to me. " Celestia looked out a window.

" Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Spike, and yourself. You seven have ultimately changed many of my views on things that occur daily in Equestria. You may have even altered history with the influence the seven of you have made on my judgement.

I am telling you this, because I know the others feel the same. If you or any of them left this life before due time... " Celestia paused to look Dash in the eyes. She was crying. Princess Celestia was crying.

" I just don't know... I think you all need to know that... I feel responsible for you all. " Celestia smiled lightly as she wiped her face. " I hear mothers have moments such as this... I may have Twilight research it for me... "

Dash figured she should pipe up.

" But... I didn't mean to kill myself... Honest, I just took eight Tylenol. I thought it would knock me out for a while, I had hoped... Everything would just, you know, fix itself in that time. Please, You shouldn't be crying, not over me. "

There was silence.

A soft * Tap tap tap* was heard from the door as It opened, and Twilight Sparkle stepped in. Seeing Dash awake, she approached the bed.

" Hey Dash, I thought i'd come by and see how you're doing. Anything happen? " She asked.

Dash looked from Twilight, to Celestia, back to Twilight.

" What? " They said at the same time.

(trollestia)

Twilight's eyes widened as she heard her mentor's voice over her shoulder. She dropped to a bow as she faced her. " Sorry, Princess Celestia, I didn't know you were in here... I'm not interrupting, am I? " She blushed, embarrassed.

Celestia smiled again. " Of course not, my faithful student. Ms. Dash and I were just... Talking is all. Please, pardon formalities for now, we are amongst no jurisdictions here. " Celestia smiled more.

Twilight trotted to her mentor and shared a heartwarming hug.

Dash watched the display of affection, and thought of Applejack... She wanted to feel special again, just like Celestia made Twilight feel.

She sighed and closed her eyes, reminiscing as the two chatted about many things that Dash could not comprehend. Instead she thought about the situation.

' Everypony thinks that I tried to kill myself... ' she realized. ' How can I keep my reputation after that? What if this whole mess gets out to the WonderBolts? '

Hours passes, ponies came and went. Some visited Dash, some didn't.

Fluttershy had brought her a lovely bundle of Dandelions that Dash munched on happily. Dandelions were her favorite.

They never spoke of the incident.

-- The next morning --

Dash awoke in a slight daze, a light fog covering her vision.

She was still in the hospital, she knew that much. Nurse Redheart had brought her a tray with some water, an apple, and a lily wrap.

She thanked the nurse as she trotted to the next room, pushing the cart of food out of sight.

Dash stared at the tray, debating if she really wanted to eat it. She hadn't been in the hospital for dinner last time, and had heard some disturbing things about 'hospital food.'

A light rumbling in her stomach forced her into taking a bite of the wrap. There was a slight hint of cabbage about it. She could taste some peppers as well.

Before long the tray was empty, and she sat satisfied on the bed, with little to do.

She pressed a button on the bedside with a label reading " CALL NURSE. "

She waited about two minutes, and Nurse Redheart was walking into the room, chuckling over a joke Dr. Whooves was telling as they walked.

" Hello Ms. Dash, you rang? " She walked to the bedside and pressed the button again, cutting the signal.

" Yeah, Uhm, do I have to stay in this room, or can I walk around a bit...? " Dash asked.

" I'm sorry Ms. Dash, but we need you to stay in your room for the rest of the day; we need to be sure everything is flushed from your system. "

" Can I send a message? " she asked.

" One moment please... " Nurse Redheart trotted out of the room a moment, and returned with another nurse she hadn't seen before.

" My apologies, I haven't any skill with a quill. This is Nurse Cotton Fluff. " Nurse Redheart addressed the Unicorn, who bowed lightly with a smile in response.

Cotton Fluff turned her head behind her, and unlatched her bag. She levitated in front of her a quill, followed by ink and parchment.

" Whenever you're ready. " She spoke softly.

Dash cleared her throat.

" To the weather patrol team:

In my absence, please put steel hoof in authority. Be sure to remember the storm comes from the SOUTH this time, and tonight should be clear skies. "

She thought for a moment, pondering if that was all.

" Oh, and keep Derpy out of trouble. " she added, the nurse recording her words.

" Oh, isn't she changing her legal name? " Nurse Redheart asked.

" Huh? " Dash tilted her head lightly. " I haven't heard anything. "

The nurses nodded their heads.

" Yes, I believe she will be known as Ditzy, Ditzy Doo. " Cotton said with a chuckle. " I don't know how I'll ever get used to that. "

Dash shook her head. " That's our Derpy... Ditzy... Bah, whatever. Just make sure that gets to the weather station within a couple hours, allright? "

The nurses nodded, and walked away, whispering among themselves.

Dash sighed, and hung her head. ' This is so boring... But everypony'll freak if I leave again... '

Looking around her room, she desperately wished to be flying outside. To feel that familiar tug of the wind against her coat, wisps of her mane being strewn about her head and neck, tail fluttering quickly behind...

Dash exhaled slowly, lost in the fantasy that was her daily life.

The door clicked open, and her delicate daydream was obliterated, as her eyes opened.

An orange pony with a mane of blonde peeked inside, making eye contact with dash.

There was silence for a moment.

" Hey Dash, mind if we, eh, talk? " Applejack asked awkwardly. Dash shrugged and nodded her inside.

Applejack stepped inside, closing the door beside her. The silence reinitiated itself without invitation, as the mares did nothing but breathe quietly.

Applejack walked beside Dash's bed, looking at her. Still nothing was said, but Applejack hopped into the bed with Dash, lying beside her.

With a gentle smile Dash rubbed her hoof behind Applejack's ears. She leaned into the motion, feeling comforted by it.

" You know... I didn't know any of this would happen. I did it on accident... " Dash said, continuing her scratching motion.

Applejack opened her eyes, sitting up.

" You mean, you didn't try ta'... " She trailed off, not wanting to say it.

" No, I'd never leave any pony hangin' ... I thought everypony knew that... I wish everypony knew that. " Dash's expression saddened, as she slumped into her covers.

" Oh, sugar cube, don't go buckin' them tears again, ain't no need for that. Everypony knows. I know. You just, we all.... We all had to think what it'd be like if we lost ya'... It wasn't a happy thought... " Applejack hung her head lightly at the mention of the thought.

" I don't reckon the town would be as colorful without you 'round... Even if you are a grade-A egghead. " She chuckled lightly.

" Hey, I call Twilight that, YOU don't call ME that!" Dash exclaimed, pouting at the insult.

Applejack sighed and laughed. " I'm just glad tha' you're back. You're good company, Dash. "

The two stared into the other's eyes, finding comfort and longing in them.

" AJ, I just don't know... I mean... I'm not sure if we... I mean, we're both mares and it's kinda... " Dash trailed off, a blush reddening her cheeks.

Applejack thought very briefly about the pony beside her. " Do you know what day it is...? "

Dash thought... " February... Fourteenth, fifteenth? "

" It's the fourteenth. Reckon' you know what it is? " She grinned as Dash racked her brains for the answer, to no avail.

" It's Hearts and Hooves day... And I... Will you be my... My special somepony? " Now it was Applejack's turn to blush, as she hid her face behind her hoof, shyly smiling.

Dash laughed audibly. " That's it? Heh, you had me nervous! " Dash laughed further, but caught a glimpse of Applejack's face behind her hooves.

" Yeah, reckon it is kind'a silly... I guess... " Applejack said lightly. In that short exchange of words, her feelings had been crushed. " I just thought we could... Ya' know... Be together if we really wanted to... But... "

Dash quickly realized where it was all heading.

" Oh, AJ, I'm sorry... I didn't know Hearts and Hooves day meant anything to you... I didn't mean to laugh at it, and if it helps, I'll... " Dash gulped, and Applejack looked up at her.

" I'll be... Your special somepony.... " The words felt like they would sting coming out, it seemed so feminine to say... But, if it made Applejack happy...

" .... Thanks, Rainbow.... Dashie.... " Applejack smiled warmly, as their gazes connected.

" AJ... "

The longing in their eyes grew to a passionate lust, as their breathing became sporadic. Each hesitantly inched closer, eyes slowly closing.

After eternity, they kissed.

Their hooves touched, and Applejack laid hers firmly on Dash's, as if to hold the moment in her grasp.

The contact continued for a few more precious moments, before they separated.

Applejack smiled, as did Dash. They nuzzled affectionately, and laid down on the bed, falling into peaceful slumber, hoof-in-hoof.

--

Princess Celestia watched the two mares lay on the hospital bed through a window, from the perch of a tree, for a long while.

It reminded her of her own immortality, and her loneliness.

' At least some ponies can go on happily... ' She thought with a smile.

' the gift of eternity is but a curse upon the heart. ' Celestia thought solemnly, as she took off into the starlit sky.

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End Chapter 8

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