Author's Note

WARNING! CONTAINS TWIDASH! BUT NOT MUCH!

Goodbye

Twilight sniffled as she watched her mare walk around their room, packing up a duffel bag. She tried not to cry, but as of late, the chances of her not bursting into tears were very slim. Other than her bright purple eyes following Rainbow Dash, she was motionless on the bed. Her lavender wings sagged more and more the bigger Dash's duffel bag got. She sighed when the two mares' eyes met. Magenta mixed with violet as the two stared into each other. Rainbow's somewhat stoic look softened at the tears forming in her mare's eyes. Twilight ripped her gaze away, now affixing it on a speck of dirt on the wall.

"Twilight..." Rainbow Dash muttered simply.

Twilight gulped and didn't respond, eyes now squeezed shut in the effort to keep her tears in, but all that did was squeeze them out.

Rainbow sighed and seated herself next to her on the bed. She reached out a hoof to rub her back, but Twilight shrugged away. The rainbow maned mare frowned deeply, "Twi--"

"Why?" Twilight interrupted.

"Why what?" Dash asked.

"Why do you have to leave?" Twilight finally looked at Rainbow with red, wet eyes. Her bottom lip was quivering slightly, and this is what broke Rainbow Dash's heart.

"I'm going to war against King Sombra, Twilight. You know that. The Wonderbolts are all going to battle in this war. And they need me."

"You don't need to go..." Twilight sighed.

"I was drafted," Rainbow Dash said matter-of-factly, "I kinda do."

"Rainbow," Twilight whined childishly, looking at Rainbow with the saddest eyes she could muster.

"I'm sorry." Rainbow stood and continued to pack.

Twilight Sparkle sighed and stared at her hind hooves. Her eyes filled with tears again, and this time, she didn't try to stop them from leaving her eyes.

It was about a week later when Twilight stood outside of the castle with her pegasus. Rainbow Dash stood there with her duffel bag next to her and she was dressed in a camoflauge outfit and hat with a dog tag around her neck. Twilight Sparkle was staring at the ground, occassionally looking at her mare. Rainbow, on the other hand, was staring out at the world, face emotionless.

"Are you sure about this?" Twilight asked slowly after a few minutes.

Rainbow Dash tried not to sigh as she looked at the alicorn. She nodded, "Yes. They need me."

"They don't need you."

"Neither do you."

Twilight stared at Rainbow with wide eyes and her lips parted. Again, Twilight went silent and stayed silent. She stared ahead of herself and saw a herd of pegasi flying towards the two. She gulped down a lump in her throat and closed her eyes.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash!" A dark blue pegasus with a white mane greeted the rainbow-maned mare.

"Heya, Night Glider," Rainbow smiled at her fellow pegasus. She looked at Twilight and her smile faltered when she saw her staring at her with a broken expression.

Rainbow put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder and pulled her back a bit. She then hugged her tightly, "I want this, egghead."

Twilight sniffled. She hugged back and started sobbing, "I-I know you do... You're my hero, Rainbow. I love you."

Rainbow opened her eyes and felt her own eyes fill with tears. She sniffed, "I love you, too." She let her mare go and wiped her eyes.

"Take care of Equestria for me, Dashie," Twilight smiled sadly.

Rainbow grinned back, "I'll make sure to."

The pegasus and alicorn stared into each other's eyes for about a minute or two before Twilight slowly started to lean in. Rainbow's breath hitched, then leaned in as well until their lips met.

"Ahem..." A stallion pegasus by the name of Soarin cleared his throat, and Rainbow Dash jumped. She broke the kiss between her and Twilight and wiped the alicorn's tears away. She sighed slowly and turned away, her wings flapping. She slowly flew into the air and smirked at her fellow pegasi. She gasped when she saw a very familiar pony fly towards the front of the group.

"Spitfire?" Rainbow asked.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash. We're so lucky to have you on the team," Spitfire said with a grin, lowering her silver sunglasses.

"I'm honored to be on the team," Rainbow nodded. She looked back at Twilight, only to see her alicorn marefriend smiling at her with tears in her eyes.

"Good luck," Twilight mouthed with a sniffle.

Rainbow chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. She turned back to Spitfire, and they all took off at super sonic speed. There was a little rainbow ring in the distance, and Twilight sighed slowly. She turned back to the castle and made to go inside, but stopped when she saw a piece of paper taped on the door. She took it off with her magic and read the note.

Dear Twilight,
I love you, egghead. I will win Equestria for you, my love. Take care of the castle, and take care of our friends. I hope to hear from you soon. Goodbye.

Love,

Rainbow Dash.

Twilight smiled and sniffled, wiping her eyes. She hugged the note close to her chest and closed her eyes. After a minute, she sighed and opened the castle door. She walked inside, and slowly closed the door.

EPILOGUE:

Twilight walked into the castle, eyes on the floor in sadness. She sighed, and closed her eyes, then tripped and fell to the floor. She groaned and opened her eyes, seeing Spike staring at her with sad eyes.

"Spike? Why'd you trip me?"

"I didn't mean to," Spike said sadly.

Twilight bit her lip and sighed, "I'm sorry..."

"No need to be, Twilight..." Spike helped the alicorn up to her hooves, and she used her wings to brush herself off.

"Thank you."

Spike nodded in reply, and stared at her, "Are you going to be okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"...You know what I mean..."

Twilight chewed on her bottom lip, then sighed, "I honestly don't know..."

The baby dragon didn't reply as he patted her on the back, then walked to his bed. He laid down on it and covered himself with his blanket, but watched the purple alicorn tentatively. He wasn't so sure that Twilight was going to be okay.