Void: Simple Solution

“Soon madness has worn you down. It’s easier to do what it says than argue. In this way, it takes over your mind. You no longer know where it ends and you begin. You believe anything it says. You do what it tells you, no matter how extreme or absurd. If it says you’re worthless, you agree. You plead for it to stop. You promise to behave. You are on your knees before it, and it laughs.”

― Marya Hornbacher

  When Rainbow Dash stood up, she felt tired. She felt extremely drained... Rainbow Dash wasn't sure how she could help her friend any more.

  She looked around. After all, the void released her long ago, she just didn't have the strength to go on any further, and yet she stood up. Rainbow Dash slowly progressed forward, finding herself in a hallway again. This hallway was different from usual. It had darkness all around it, and there were only small lit up spots to mark the pathway.

  Rainbow Dash tiredly walked up a set of stairs, turning an immediate left to continue following up along the path.

  "Am I a failure for not being able to help?", Rainbow questioned, "No, I'm NOT a failure!... I mean... I haven't found out how to help at all... What am I supposed to do now? I've tried asking, I've begged and pleaded at this point! But I don't HAVE an answer!... I still feel like I failed her..."

  Rainbow Dash continued along a linear path, leading up and down stairs, against edges of the void, and then she finally arrived at the final staircase. Each time she heard the ground shake beneath her, and the sound of sobbing, she felt her heart wrench slightly more each time.

  "Where did I fail her? Where did I go wrong? Should I have been able to do something?...", Rainbow Dash asked herself, trying to find out how this could have been avoided.

  Rainbow Dash felt confused, when she found herself in a warm hallway, with sunlight beaming through a skylight. It was practically the opposite of the previous halls. Lifeless halls, filled with devestation and despair. But the moment she stepped into that room, she felt... Calm.

  The room held nothing. The floor was wooden, and the tan walls had returned from so long before. But for some reason, she felt better. The sick feeling left. Perhaps it was the lack of pain being driven into her head. But Rainbow Dash wasn't sure. She remained silent.

  Rainbow Dash stepped forward, walking through the rooms. The final room was a circular room, full of nothing. But Rainbow Dash could hear words emitting from inside of it. Whispers. When Rainbow Dash walked in, she found herself looking around at the darkness. It was cold in the room. But Rainbow Dash didn't care. She just felt drained, and sad. She really wanted to find a solution. To solve the problem. But she doesn't know how.

  "I really... Really... Want to help... But I just can't figure out the solution! I've tried, I really have! But I just... Can't...", she said the last words, and fell to the ground, resting ontop of her own legs. The one time she couldn't defend Fluttershy, was from Fluttershy's own self. Rainbow Dash just didn't know how. She slipped off into a deep sleep. Rainbow Dash was cold.

  Rainbow Dash had suddenly felt very useless.

  Rainbow Dash slowly awoke, looking around. She was on a cloud. The sky was blue, and the sun was high. She couldn't see the ground, because all that was below the cloud was the prominent black void that constantly tore into the world around her. Rainbow Dash lazily looked behind herself, and saw a bright and vibrant figure standing next to multiple grey figures, while a grey filly Fluttershy remained on a seperate cloud.

  Rainbow Dash gave a look of confusion, and then approached the figures. The light figure seemed to become dust, vanishing from sight, while the grey figures seemed to submit to the same fate. Right then, the blue sky had become dark and no longer welcoming. The sun seemed to slip away, vanishing.

  Leaving the two mares alone.

  Rainbow Dash suddenly felt very nervous. When she slapped her wings against the cold air, she half expected herself to fall back down. She didn't, but she sure felt like she could drop like a rock at that moment. She flew over to the cloud that the filly version of Fluttershy was on, and then landed next to her. She wasn't sure what to say, and she wasn't sure if she would even hear her.

  "...Are you okay?", Rainbow Dash asked.

  Fluttershy didn't seem to notice her, but her mouth opened.

  "I feel alone.... And I'm afraid that it won't ever change."

  "What won't change?", Rainbow Dash asked quietly, seriously hoping for an answer.

  "Me."

  Rainbow Dash felt her heart stop. Did Fluttershy hear her?...

  "I'm afraid that I'll hide away forever. But I'm afraid of leaving hiding."

  "Well, sometimes you gotta take risks.", Rainbow Dash suggested.

  "But that's scary.", Fluttershy mumbled, listlessly looking into the void.

  "You've got me and the others, and we'll support you all the way.", Rainbow Dash nudged her with a wing.

  "But what about when you leave?"

"Huh?", Rainbow Dash didn't understand what she meant. When she leaves?...

  "I'm not confident.", Fluttershy plainly stated.

  "Yeah, and that's what we're gonna be working on! Stick with me, and you'll be confident for the rest of your life!", Rainbow Dash said, trying to fix the situation before it got any worse.

  "...", Fluttershy was silent.

  She opened her mouth, and then...

  Everything went black.

  Rainbow groaned, putting her arm to her forehead. She quickly sat up, and realized she was in her cloudhouse. Had Twilight moved her there? Was she back home now?... She wasn't sure how she ended up back home, but Rainbow Dash guessed that it had to do with magic. Rainbow Dash climbed from her couch, and stood up. She was completely sure she was home now that she had a full view of her home.

  "I think I seriously need to see Fluttershy...", Rainbow Dash thought, quickly walking towards her front door. Once she was there, she exitted her home, and locked the door behind her. She flew up, and then off the clouds. She flew swiftly, and then decreased her altitude. Rainbow Dash soared over Ponyville once more, feeling confident. She felt like she knew how to help Fluttershy now!

  But in reality, she wasn't sure she did... The moment she landed infront of her best friends cottage, she suddenly felt afraid. She felt alone. She felt useless again.

  ...No. She refused. Rainbow Dash was going to help Fluttershy, no matter what. She told herself she wasn't afraid. She knew that Fluttershy felt alone, and Rainbow Dash decided that she should be there to help her. If they both felt alone, then maybe they just needed eachother?...

  That's it.

  Rainbow Dash knew the solution.

  It was simple, wasn't it?

  She felt confident.

  She KNEW the solution...

  Rainbow Dash knocked on Fluttershy's door, and waited for what felt like an hour...

  "Hello?", the timid mare inside spoke.

  Rainbow Dash felt her heart explode, the voice soothened any anxiety she had gained in an instant.

  The wooden door then opened. There was no white room, but there was Fluttershy standing inside of her cottage.

  "Hey, 'Shy.", Rainbow Dash walked in, and almost immediately hugged Fluttershy. Why? She figured it would probably make it easier to speak, and she REALLY wanted to hold Fluttershy close to her after she went through the Hell that seemed to exist in Fluttershy.

  "Hello, Rainbow Dash.", Fluttershy responded, joining into the hug.

  Rainbow Dash cherished the warmth she felt.

  "You know you're not alone, right? I support you all the way. You're perfect however you are, Fluttershy."

  "...Thank you, Rainbow Dash.", Fluttershy responded, her voice shaky. Fluttershy pushed her head against Rainbow Dash's chest, holding her close and deeply. She felt very safe.

  Rainbow Dash felt a stab of fear at the shakiness of her friends voice, but the shy mare giggled slightly, even with the feeling of tears dampening Rainbow Dash's neck and chest. Rainbow Dash felt calm once again.

  "I'm never gonna leave you, Fluttershy...", Rainbow Dash sincerely spoke.

  "I'm glad... I've felt so... Lonely... Useless, and... and...", Fluttershy went quiet.

  "You're not useless, and you're not alone. We're not gonna leave you or anything. You're the kindest pony I've ever had the honour of being friends with. You're sweet, patient, caring... If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm always gonna be here, y'know. When you're sad, I'm sad. When you're scared, I'm sad because I can't make you feel safe... When you're happy, I'm the happiest pony in Equestria...", Rainbow Dash said, lightly petting Fluttershy's mane. She felt tears sliding down her own face now.

  All was right in Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy's world once again.

  Fluttershy lifted her head up from Rainbow's chest, and leaned forward.

  Rainbow Dash froze when she realized that Fluttershy had just kissed her right on the lips.

  "Did... Wh...", Rainbow Dash said outloud. Fluttershy pulled away, with a frown forming on her face.

  "I'm sorry!.. Was it too soon?... Oh, you probably hate me now...", Fluttershy spoke, sadness evident in her voice.

"Did... She just... Kiss me?...", thought Rainbow Dash, as she stared at Fluttershy with a blush forming on her face.

"I'm so sorry!", Fluttershy squeaked, tears building in her eyes as she looked towards the ground in shame. The shame turned to surprise as the blue mare returned the kiss, and the kiss became making out. Once the two stopped, and they caught their breath, Fluttershy lightly giggled and pulled Rainbow Dash into a hug.

  "So, you up for going out to dinner?", Rainbow Dash asked, grinning.

  "Like.. A date?", Fluttershy asked, with a pleased smile on her face.

  "Yeah, pretty much. I mean, we can just stay here and cuddle if you want.", Rainbow Dash shrugged slightly, chuckling at the idea.

  Fluttershy nodded, and said, "I think I would like that. Want me to make dinner for us here? I mean, I think it might be better than going out right now."

"Sure! Just don't tell anypony about this sappy stuff. Well, I dunno. We'll see what happens, I guess.", Rainbow Dash winked, as they went into the kitchen.

"A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away." -Bil Keane